oleg

oleg

@okovalenko.me

designer • collecting things around web #designsky #artsky #aisky #techsky

1.9K followers1.9K following257 posts

kind reminder: custom scroll behavior on your website is painful for people. just use the default one. thank you for your attention to this matter!

it's time for a comeback. in recent years, the industry has written scripts for at least 2 seasons of silicon valley. how many times did you watch it btw?

Imagine designers transforming lives by addressing real user problems instead of getting caught in debates over flat versus skeuomorphic design😍

Plot twist: Siri wasn't born at Apple 2010: Siri launches as an independent app 2011: Apple buys it for $200M 2011: iOS 5 launches with Siri built-in Sometimes the best features are acquired, not built. The original app was actually way more powerful 👀

What's the last app that actually earned its spot on your home screen? Not the popular ones. Not the obvious ones. That unexpected gem. My is Unhinged Your turn 👀

Our brains weren't built for today's information flow. They evolved to process: • Village-worth of news • Tribe-level drama • Local threats Now we're drinking from global fire hose. Every. Single. Day. A thread about digital overwhelm 🧵

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This creates blind spots: • We trust what's repeated • We believe what's emotional • We share what's shocking • We remember what's scary Perfect for survival. Terrible for truth-seeking.

What helps: • Delay your reactions • Check multiple sources • Question emotional triggers • Remember: urgency often serves someone Our brains won't evolve faster. But our habits can.

Our brains weren't built for today's information flow. They evolved to process: • Village-worth of news • Tribe-level drama • Local threats Now we're drinking from global fire hose. Every. Single. Day. A thread about digital overwhelm 🧵

Think about our ancestors: • News traveled at walking speed • Information was verifiable • Sources were known • Context was clear Today: • Instant global news • Unknown sources • Missing context • Infinite scrolling

The hard truth: Our brain's verification system was built for: "My friend told me there's a lion nearby" Not for: "Anonymous source says worldwide conspiracy" Yet we're using same tools for both.

What do great interfaces have in common? They're like good teachers: Start with basics, Add context when ready, Share advanced tips at the right time. That's Progressive Disclosure. Let me explain 🧵

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Why it matters: • Reduces cognitive load • Builds user confidence • Enables feature discovery • Scales with expertise Poor Progressive Disclosure explains why powerful apps feel overwhelming.

Key principles: • Core features must be obvious • Advanced features must be discoverable • Each layer should feel natural • Navigation must be clear It's not about hiding complexity. It's about managing it.

What do great interfaces have in common? They're like good teachers: Start with basics, Add context when ready, Share advanced tips at the right time. That's Progressive Disclosure. Let me explain 🧵

Think about complexity in layers: Layer 1: Essential features Layer 2: Common actions Layer 3: Advanced options Layer 4: Power user tools Each revealed at the right moment, not all at once.

Good example: Apple Mail on macOS Level 1: Write & Send Level 2: Format & Attachments Level 3: Signatures & Smart Mailboxes Level 4: Server Settings & Rules Complex system, clear hierarchy.

Looking at Sigma's camera UI after using Sony: It's like comparing Windows 95 to iOS. No endless menus. No button chaos. Just clean design. Why isn't this the industry standard yet?

Trying to improve my MacBook setup. What apps, extensions, or shortcuts have actually earned their place in your workflow? 🤔

"Consistency should be valued above idiosyncratic cleverness" This is the most important interface design principle you'll ever learn. Let me explain why... 🧵

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The hard truth: • Common solutions > "Creative" ones • Familiar patterns > Fresh ideas • Consistency > Creativity Great interfaces feel boring to designers. But invisible to users.

Next time you're tempted by a "better solution" ask yourself: Is this truly better, or just different? Because users don't want to admire your ideas. They want to get things done. 🎯

"Consistency should be valued above idiosyncratic cleverness" This is the most important interface design principle you'll ever learn. Let me explain why... 🧵

Most designers fall into a trap: "I have a better solution!" "My version is more innovative!" "This new pattern is clearer!" But here's the truth: Users spend 99% of their time in OTHER apps. Your clever solution? It's just cognitive overhead.

Think about it: When users open your app, they're not starting fresh. They bring years of mental models and learned behaviors. Your job isn't to educate them. Your job is to let them be productive instantly.

oleg reposted

So, tell me about this "future phase" where we'll fix everything... is it in the room with us right now?

oleg reposted

iOS 18 Photos app design is good. But it's a bad redesign. Sounds contradictory? Let me explain: Good design: Improves things Good redesign: Improves without disrupting You can nail the first And still fail the second. Breaking muscle memory needs more justification than "it's better"☝️

oleg reposted

Users make mistakes. Not because they're stupid. Because they're human. And that's not a bug. That's how we learn. A thread about forgiveness in design 🧵