Objects
Why a Door Handle Tells You Where to Push
Learn how a door handle signals push or pull through its shape and placement, so you can read unfamiliar doors and…
The full archive
Articles
Browse essays and explainers on objects, interfaces, graphics, spaces and the choices behind them.
Interfaces
Dropdown or Radio Buttons for a Short List?
Dropdown or radio buttons: choose the control that makes a short list clear, understandable, and easy to answer…
Graphics
From Handbills to the Grid: A Brief History of Page Layout
Page layout history helps you see how print constraints shaped columns, margins, and grids, so you can choose a…
Graphics
The Poster That Tries to Say Everything
A clear poster hierarchy helps people recognize an event, find its essential details, and decide what to do without…
Spaces
A Quiet Corner for Reading in a Shared Room
A quiet reading corner in a shared room can feel distinct without moving the furniture. Use orientation, a small…
Our point of view
Design choices always have consequences
A polished surface cannot rescue a poor decision. We look at what a design makes easier, harder or more visible, and for whom.