Scott Jenson
@jenson.org
UX Strategy: Apple System 7, Newton, & Apple HI guidelines. UX Director Symbian, managed Mobile UX at Google, creative director frog design SF. Head of Product for two startups. Google Physical Web + Android UX research. Semi-retired
Reposted by Scott Jenson
Been saying this for a while but the really exciting stuff on the web right now is all about how things we used to need JS for can now be done with pure CSS.
There are a lot of opportunities to cut out client side bloat.
There are a lot of opportunities to cut out client side bloat.
February 4, 2026 at 4:32 AM
Been saying this for a while but the really exciting stuff on the web right now is all about how things we used to need JS for can now be done with pure CSS.
There are a lot of opportunities to cut out client side bloat.
There are a lot of opportunities to cut out client side bloat.
I used to work there and was proud of that work. I'm quite frustrated with them now.
Every other day, I see a new essay by someone disillusioned by Apple.
The themes are consistent. The sycophantic support of the Trump administration. UI design now violates principles they invented. Anti-competitive and predatory actions in the pursuit of revenue.
The rebels have become the empire
The themes are consistent. The sycophantic support of the Trump administration. UI design now violates principles they invented. Anti-competitive and predatory actions in the pursuit of revenue.
The rebels have become the empire
Tim Cook sold Apple's soul
Apple used to stand for something. Now Tim Cook gifts golden statues to Trump, removes apps at the administration's request, and cozies up to accused rapists at White House screenings. The company I o...
www.loopwerk.io
February 3, 2026 at 12:13 AM
I used to work there and was proud of that work. I'm quite frustrated with them now.
Reposted by Scott Jenson
Thank you everyone for suggested books! With help from @jenson.org, I turned it into a page on my website, hoping that maybe it will help someone in the future:
aresluna.org/ux-books-not...
aresluna.org/ux-books-not...
UX books not written by white men
The details of table of contents UI on my site
aresluna.org
February 1, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Thank you everyone for suggested books! With help from @jenson.org, I turned it into a page on my website, hoping that maybe it will help someone in the future:
aresluna.org/ux-books-not...
aresluna.org/ux-books-not...
Yeah, I've heard "design is dead" as well and it really gets old! But this, I think, is more subtle, it's more this new belief that "design is trivial. gAI allows generic UIs to be created quickly, which deludes the stakeholders into thinking it's "Good Enough" which it's far from it.
January 29, 2026 at 11:26 PM
Yeah, I've heard "design is dead" as well and it really gets old! But this, I think, is more subtle, it's more this new belief that "design is trivial. gAI allows generic UIs to be created quickly, which deludes the stakeholders into thinking it's "Good Enough" which it's far from it.
That's a salient point, but I'm more frustrated by the trivialization of what "UX" entails. Too many are confusing pretty pixels with market fit. gAI has made it trivial to whip up something generic that looks reasonable, bit misses the forest from the trees.
January 29, 2026 at 11:24 PM
That's a salient point, but I'm more frustrated by the trivialization of what "UX" entails. Too many are confusing pretty pixels with market fit. gAI has made it trivial to whip up something generic that looks reasonable, bit misses the forest from the trees.
Not exactly. I'm a BIG believer in avoiding navel gazing, don't shoot for some mythical perfection.
But there are folks actively leaning into sub standard design, knowing it's bad and not caring (or thinking it doesn't matter). That's what I'm trying to understand better.
But there are folks actively leaning into sub standard design, knowing it's bad and not caring (or thinking it doesn't matter). That's what I'm trying to understand better.
January 29, 2026 at 5:14 AM
Not exactly. I'm a BIG believer in avoiding navel gazing, don't shoot for some mythical perfection.
But there are folks actively leaning into sub standard design, knowing it's bad and not caring (or thinking it doesn't matter). That's what I'm trying to understand better.
But there are folks actively leaning into sub standard design, knowing it's bad and not caring (or thinking it doesn't matter). That's what I'm trying to understand better.
To be fair, I don't think it's simple or easy. There are cases when good enough is acceptable, but I'm trying to collect examples of how people are framing this.
I'm expecting comments from techbro types that think this is all so easy...
I'm expecting comments from techbro types that think this is all so easy...
January 28, 2026 at 11:41 PM
To be fair, I don't think it's simple or easy. There are cases when good enough is acceptable, but I'm trying to collect examples of how people are framing this.
I'm expecting comments from techbro types that think this is all so easy...
I'm expecting comments from techbro types that think this is all so easy...
Some people seem to think that the "craft of ux" is dead: striving to be polished is naive. E.g. snapchat & Instagram stories, which are horrible UX, are claimed to be "good enough".
I'm writing a blog post exploring this but need links to any examples of this type of thinking?
I'm writing a blog post exploring this but need links to any examples of this type of thinking?
January 28, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Some people seem to think that the "craft of ux" is dead: striving to be polished is naive. E.g. snapchat & Instagram stories, which are horrible UX, are claimed to be "good enough".
I'm writing a blog post exploring this but need links to any examples of this type of thinking?
I'm writing a blog post exploring this but need links to any examples of this type of thinking?
I was hoping to find a list of previous winners but the site doesn't appear to list any... A quick web search wasn't helpful either
January 24, 2026 at 3:13 PM
I was hoping to find a list of previous winners but the site doesn't appear to list any... A quick web search wasn't helpful either
That's very helpful. I wasn't suggesting a PLC ban (I didn't even know what a plc was!) I was seeing this entirely through bsky as its size makes it a. A target and b. Unable to avoid the political issues of banning. Until ATProto can be free of this elephant in the room, it's a tricky conversation
January 23, 2026 at 7:28 PM
That's very helpful. I wasn't suggesting a PLC ban (I didn't even know what a plc was!) I was seeing this entirely through bsky as its size makes it a. A target and b. Unable to avoid the political issues of banning. Until ATProto can be free of this elephant in the room, it's a tricky conversation
That was an excellent write up and mirrors many of my own questions/concerns
January 23, 2026 at 7:17 PM
That was an excellent write up and mirrors many of my own questions/concerns
Making something for https://itty.bitty.site/
January 23, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Making something for https://itty.bitty.site/
My issue isn't with ATProto but the fact that BS feels like the elephant in the room. I want ATProto to succeed, but given it's size I think BS is a burden on the ATProto community. I hope it can decentralize at a faster rate.
My snarky remarks are reserved for BS, not ATProto
My snarky remarks are reserved for BS, not ATProto
January 23, 2026 at 6:51 AM
My issue isn't with ATProto but the fact that BS feels like the elephant in the room. I want ATProto to succeed, but given it's size I think BS is a burden on the ATProto community. I hope it can decentralize at a faster rate.
My snarky remarks are reserved for BS, not ATProto
My snarky remarks are reserved for BS, not ATProto
I'm just trying to understand ATProto. Mea culpa: I'm clearly seeing this through ActivityPub-colored glasses (which I'm learning is NOT good ;-) So please correct away!
My goal is just to understand ATProto (eventually) and what it needs to succeed.
My goal is just to understand ATProto (eventually) and what it needs to succeed.
January 23, 2026 at 6:48 AM
I'm just trying to understand ATProto. Mea culpa: I'm clearly seeing this through ActivityPub-colored glasses (which I'm learning is NOT good ;-) So please correct away!
My goal is just to understand ATProto (eventually) and what it needs to succeed.
My goal is just to understand ATProto (eventually) and what it needs to succeed.
As long as BlueSky is 96+% of ATproto traffic, this discussion will be artificially hamstrung. My OP was about my issues with BS not ATProto. As long as they are the elephant in the room, it's hard for this conversation to feel realistic.
I must be clear, this isn't a critique!
I must be clear, this isn't a critique!
January 23, 2026 at 6:48 AM
As long as BlueSky is 96+% of ATproto traffic, this discussion will be artificially hamstrung. My OP was about my issues with BS not ATProto. As long as they are the elephant in the room, it's hard for this conversation to feel realistic.
I must be clear, this isn't a critique!
I must be clear, this isn't a critique!
There is always something that can be abused in a software system that goes far beyond the intended benefits of an open town squaare. The devil is in the details.
My issue with "anyone can join" is that it ignores the harms that come from this naivete.
My issue with "anyone can join" is that it ignores the harms that come from this naivete.
January 21, 2026 at 11:21 PM
There is always something that can be abused in a software system that goes far beyond the intended benefits of an open town squaare. The devil is in the details.
My issue with "anyone can join" is that it ignores the harms that come from this naivete.
My issue with "anyone can join" is that it ignores the harms that come from this naivete.
Hello Blaine! So nice to hear from you! At a fundamental level, you are correct of course. I think what we're discovering reluctantly that "social software isn't equivalent to universal rights" (libertarian caterwauling aside)
I hate to hide behind platitudes but "there is always something"
I hate to hide behind platitudes but "there is always something"
January 21, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Hello Blaine! So nice to hear from you! At a fundamental level, you are correct of course. I think what we're discovering reluctantly that "social software isn't equivalent to universal rights" (libertarian caterwauling aside)
I hate to hide behind platitudes but "there is always something"
I hate to hide behind platitudes but "there is always something"
Passkeys are a Potemkin Village of UX promises. They appear on the outside to solve every problem but when you try and use them, it's like, no... not that way.
My latest faceplant was using a passkey in chrome profile A disappearing in profile B. I assumed they were stored at the OS level!
My latest faceplant was using a passkey in chrome profile A disappearing in profile B. I assumed they were stored at the OS level!
It’s been a year and I use them but I have absolutely no idea what a passkey is. Half the time login fails with them and I have to do something else that works (like a password). I refuse to understand more. I’m tired of computers and don’t care. This is what it’s like for every non-nerd, isn’t it?
January 19, 2026 at 1:54 AM
Passkeys are a Potemkin Village of UX promises. They appear on the outside to solve every problem but when you try and use them, it's like, no... not that way.
My latest faceplant was using a passkey in chrome profile A disappearing in profile B. I assumed they were stored at the OS level!
My latest faceplant was using a passkey in chrome profile A disappearing in profile B. I assumed they were stored at the OS level!
Everytime I *think* I understand Bluesky/ATproto, I'm surprised by how complex the underlying user model/technology is.
I've been told a few times now something like "with this app and this bridge you just hit this doohikey and "Bob's your uncle" you're golden!
I'm I'm like.... I guess......?
I've been told a few times now something like "with this app and this bridge you just hit this doohikey and "Bob's your uncle" you're golden!
I'm I'm like.... I guess......?
January 19, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Everytime I *think* I understand Bluesky/ATproto, I'm surprised by how complex the underlying user model/technology is.
I've been told a few times now something like "with this app and this bridge you just hit this doohikey and "Bob's your uncle" you're golden!
I'm I'm like.... I guess......?
I've been told a few times now something like "with this app and this bridge you just hit this doohikey and "Bob's your uncle" you're golden!
I'm I'm like.... I guess......?
That is a great subtle reply that I need for this discussion . Thank you.
January 18, 2026 at 9:07 PM
That is a great subtle reply that I need for this discussion . Thank you.
Fortunately, I'm not asking for that, but you don't seem open to that possibility
January 18, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Fortunately, I'm not asking for that, but you don't seem open to that possibility
I need to back away from this argument. I don't want to throw imagined stones. Let me do some more thoughtful research and return to this. It doesn't help to devolve into myth and accusations.
I honestly thought this was common knowledge. I don't have links to "legally prove" this point.
I honestly thought this was common knowledge. I don't have links to "legally prove" this point.
January 18, 2026 at 7:22 PM
I need to back away from this argument. I don't want to throw imagined stones. Let me do some more thoughtful research and return to this. It doesn't help to devolve into myth and accusations.
I honestly thought this was common knowledge. I don't have links to "legally prove" this point.
I honestly thought this was common knowledge. I don't have links to "legally prove" this point.
and I want to keep that possibility open. My story about palestinian accounts is "just a story" and I should track it down. I'm recalling another story where Paul Frazee dismissed peoples concerns dismissively and it didn't go down well. I should bring receipts, you have every reason to question me
January 18, 2026 at 7:19 PM
and I want to keep that possibility open. My story about palestinian accounts is "just a story" and I should track it down. I'm recalling another story where Paul Frazee dismissed peoples concerns dismissively and it didn't go down well. I should bring receipts, you have every reason to question me