Weekly Links — 16th September 2026

🕰️ Ten Minute Focus

• Building A UX ROI Case That Survives The Boardroom — Stop pitching UX like a charity case; prove its boardroom-ready ROI with hard numbers.
• A short history of logos made of data — Tired of generic branding? Embed real data into logos to tell a client’s unique story.

Branding

• Whistles marks 50 years by casting 50 customers found through mysterious fly-posters across London — Fashion’s new muse: 50 real women, found via guerrilla posters, redefine brand beauty.
• Studio South merges rigour and ridiculousness in the best way possible in its superb identity for noodle joint Oodles — Studio South nails noodle joint branding by blending serious craft with skate-punk swagger.
• Koto acquires Stereo Creative to launch new global studio network — Koto’s global expansion kicks off with the acquisition of Stereo Creative, building a branding powerhouse.
• How Kent Wood pivoted to motion design at 30, and what he’s learned so far — At 30, Kent Wood proves it’s never too late to pivot to motion design and conquer the world.
• How Mazda resolutely retains sculpting craft as part of the design process — Mazda’s design chief prioritizes timeless sculpting over rushed production, defying corporate pressures.

Design

• DialKit — DialKit: Tweak interfaces in real-time and nail those crucial micro-interactions.
• — The ’Head of Design’ title is a misnomer; true leadership means fostering a collaborative design ecosystem.
• Agent memory as a file format — Forget complex memory systems; this new file format offers a radically simpler agent memory solution.
• Seasats — Seasats builds autonomous, solar-electric boats, proving that marine tech can be sustainable and smart.
• Why Zero — Zero University ditches traditional education for AI-native learning, connecting students to real projects and jobs.
• The Tuscan Journey Begins — Weekend Max Mara’s Tuscan journey becomes an immersive digital experience, blending craft and code.

Motion

• Motionographer Jobs is back in motion — Motionographer Jobs celebrates 20 years with free postings—a prime opportunity for animators.
• BRAINROT | Lazy Square — Lazy Square’s BRAINROT visuals are a chaotic, glitchy masterpiece of digital decay.
• MAKE’s 2026 Animation Thesis Grant Now Open to Support the Next Generation of Animators — MAKE’s Animation Thesis Grant empowers the next generation of animators with crucial funding and resources.
• Birdie | Ribbit. — Ribbit. by Birdie offers a charming, minimalist take on branding for a tech startup.

AI

• Design sector outpaces retail to become £136.7bn pillar of UK economy — UK’s design sector booms, surpassing retail to become a £136.7bn economic powerhouse.
• The Death Of The Button: Why The Best Interface Is No Interface — The ’death of the button’ signals a shift to intent-driven interfaces, redefining the UX designer’s role.
• Test Complex Interactions Earlier with AI Prototyping — AI prototyping lets you test complex interactions and catch usability issues earlier than ever.
• The real reason everyone hates the viral AI food slop images — AI food ’slop’ images are unsettling because they expose our manufactured desire for perfection.

Misc

• An Ode to Links — Links are more than URLs; they’re cultural invitations, citations, and connections in the digital age.
• Don’t Let Anyone Take Away Your Big Box of Cables — Embrace your ’Big Box of Cables’—sometimes the old, analog ways of finding things still hold value.
• Sometimes it’s better not to say anything — Silence can be golden: sometimes the most powerful response is no response at all.
• Underdesk Treadmill — This $120 underdesk treadmill offers surprising quality, proving budget buys can be surprisingly good.
• I’m done with this podcast! (UX request) — Podcast app UX needs a serious rethink, especially for car interfaces and discoverability.
• Code Snack — Code Snack breaks down complex engineering concepts for designers, bridging the code-design gap.

Nerd Alert

• 7 things to look out for at LDF 2026 — London Design Festival 2026: Get ready for installations, material innovation, and community.
• Turning Names Into Digital Architecture with Three.js — Names transform into dynamic 3D structures with Three.js, blending digital architecture and personal identity.
• Save 35% on all courses for two weeks only — Don’t miss this 35% course discount—your chance to upskill before the year ends.
• The Index: Issue #197 — Mindful Design Products offer a welcome antidote to the ’slopification’ of everyday items.
• Yestalgia: Bringing Decathlon’s ’90s Spirit to Life Through a Playful Digital Experience — Yestalgia channels Decathlon’s ’90s vibe into a playful, retro digital experience.