12 thinkers, books, and ideas connected to this field.
German industrial designer who served as chief design officer at Braun from 1961 to 1995 — creating the most influential body of consumer product design of the 20th century — and whose Ten Principles of Good Design became the philosophical foundation for Apple's design under Jony Ive.
A book on reducing friction in product design and customer experience — arguing that removing barriers to desired behavior is more effective than adding incentives.
Ken Segall's 2012 account of Apple's obsession with simplicity — written by the advertising creative director who named the iMac and worked with Steve Jobs for 12 years — arguing that simplicity was not an aesthetic preference but Apple's core business strategy.
Chinese-Canadian entrepreneur who co-founded Notion with Simon Last — building it into the dominant all-in-one workspace for notes, docs, databases, and project management — known for Notion's beautiful design, flexible building blocks, and cult-like user community.
American designer and co-founder of Airbnb, whose RISD training shaped the company's early design-first product philosophy and trust-building visual language.
British industrial designer who served as Apple's Chief Design Officer from 1992 to 2019 — designing the iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watch — making him the most influential industrial designer of the computing era.
Japanese electrical engineer and co-founder of Sony who defined the company's engineering culture — the belief that any technical problem could be solved if you worked hard enough — creating products like the transistor radio and Walkman from the ruins of post-war Japan.
American industrial designer who led Apple's industrial design group from 1989 to 1996 — establishing the design infrastructure and hiring practices (including hiring Jony Ive) that Ive then built upon — before leaving to found Ammunition Group.
Son-in-law and fourth-generation leader of Hermès who expanded the brand into silk scarves, fragrances, and ready-to-wear, and introduced the iconic Hermès carré (silk square scarf) that became a brand emblem.
Hartmut Esslinger is a German industrial designer who founded Frog Design, a company that played a significant role in shaping the aesthetic of modern consumer electronics, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, with clients like Apple and Sony.
Apple software engineer who designed the iPhone's touchscreen keyboard and autocorrect — and author of Creative Selection, the most detailed inside account of Apple's design and engineering culture.
UX Design is a multidisciplinary approach focused on enhancing user satisfaction by improving the usability, accessibility, and pleasure provided in the interaction with a product, system, or service.