How Does Design Affect Decision Making?

 

While the way we interact with others changed drastically, the way that we process those interactions is as old as time. For evolutionary purposes, humans have had to detect information as quickly as possible.

The design tricks that keep skyscrapers from swaying

Skyscrapers are getting skinnier: As cities get denser, architects are designing builders that are taller and taller on smaller and smaller lots. And that poses one big problem: How do you keep them from swaying in the wind? Behind some of the most iconic shapes on our skylines is a secret design language of architectural tricks —twists, holes, and setbacks— that keep buildings still.

How one designer created the "look" of Jazz

When asked to visualize what jazz looks like, you might picture bold typography, two tone photography, and minimal graphic design. If you did, you’re recalling the work of a jazz label that single-handedly defined the “look” of jazz music in the 1950s and1960s: Blue Note. Inspired by the ever present Swiss lettering style that defined 20th century graphic design (think Paul Rand), Blue Note captured the refined sophistication of jazz during the early 60s, particularly during the hard bop era, and gave it a definitive visual identity through album covers.

It’s not you. Phones are designed to be addicting.

Today’s phones are hard to put down. Push notifications buzz in your pocket, red bubbles demand attention, and endless distractions sit at your fingertips. It can feel impossible to pull away from. But that’s kind of the point. When people talk about the “attention economy,” they’re referring to the fact that your time and attention are the currency on which today’s applications make money. Because apps profit off of the total time you spend on their platform, there’s a strong incentive to use psychological tricks to keep you endlessly hooked. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Tristan Harris, who runs Time Well Spent, is working to create a world where platforms can more honestly respect their users’ time.