Sometimes I look back and wonder who I would be if I hadn't been so tied down by where I lived and things completely out of my control.
It’s hard not to grieve that parallel life—the one that felt bigger, more exciting—when so much energy now just goes into keeping up with the basics.
It doesn't feel fair. I know I have to focus on today, but part of me still misses the potential I never really got to touch.
Sometimes I look back and wonder who I would be if I hadn't been so tied down by where I lived and things completely out of my control.
It’s hard not to grieve that parallel life—the one that felt bigger, more exciting—when so much energy now just goes into keeping up with the basics.
It doesn't feel fair. I know I have to focus on today, but part of me still misses the potential I never really got to touch.
I advise anyone wanting to practice and get better at the craft of visual design (especially in the era of liquid glass and a new form of skeuomorphism) — to study iOS 6 and Mac OS Mavericks (or older).
Even better if you can get your hands on one of the older iPhones/Macs, install a few apps and play with them. It's insane how much magic is buried in the past. The level of detail and meticulousness in the UIs of the past is unprecedented and more relevant than ever if you want to stand out.
And it can serve as a great source of inspiration. Many apps of that era have ceased to exist and have no alternatives today and could very well be revived today with some fresh ideas and practically no entry barrier.
One example that is not new but one that has stuck in my brain ever since I've first installed the app back in 2011 was Path's circular menu interaction. It's really cool and it added a nice touch of personality to the app. It would look especially cool today when everyone is so obsessed over playing it safe for metrics that everyone ends up looking the same because everyone is copying each other's safe choices, reaching an equilibrium in UI design but lacking character that lets you stand out.