Things that are bringing me joy this week: 1. The fact it’s dropping below 25 degrees C tomorrow 2. The Elements by John Boyne 3. The size of the blueberries in Sainsbury’s this week 4. Strawberry Tru Fru, to which I am hopelessly addicted 5. Hopeful job chats

This god forsaken weather is going to turn me into a winter lover and I will never forgive big oil for that

Is a whole tin of baked beans too much for one person or is it fine?

Tired and wired has got to be one of the worst feelings objectively speaking

Summer is here which means WDC2026 is just around the corner! Tickets are just £99! We have an awesome lineup of speakers including @hidde.blog , @amyhupe.bsky.social , @cjforms.bsky.social @joshtumath.uk, @paavandesign.com and @duncanpetrie.com (more TBC!) webdevconf.com

WDC2026 - October 9 2026, Watershed, Bristol, UK | Web Developers Conference

WDC is the web design and development conference based in Bristol, taking place in autumn each year.

webdevconf.com

Another day trying to find a job on the pregnancy, birth and marriage notices platform that is now LinkedIn.

I’ve found something I see as a safety concern with Google Gemini / AI search. Last night I was able to find the personal instagram accounts of people through searching a car reg on Google. In some cases it was reading the reg plate from a reel. It often brought back the owners name too.

A generation of managers made a career out of copying ideas from other apps they've seen into their own app. Today, AI (which has seen every app) can do this a hundred times faster than any of them. The only problem is that doing this was always pointless.

Thoughtless features never add up to a thoughtful product

Your first idea for how to solve a problem is most likely to be a low-impact hack. Delightful user experiences require a higher level of thinking.

productpicnic.beehiiv.com

I know I’m late to the table but I’m delaying finishing Tears of the Kingdom because I can’t deal with the Zelda-shaped hole it will leave in my life. What can I play next to fill the void?

It’s Friday, so let’s close out the week with some Good Links™ in The Index #191! piccalil.li/the-index/191/

The Index: Issue #191

It’s Friday, so let’s close out the week with some Good Links™ in The Index #191!

piccalil.li

Fighting for my life in the ocean of clickbait that is LinkedIn. “Why I quit my dream job” “What my divorce taught me about leveraging setbacks” “How I became a multi-gazillionaire overnight” Truly, what fresh hell are we living through?

I’ve helped many many teams develop their design system strategies and what I’ve learned is that good strategies are: - focused - context specific - evidence-based I’ve written a bit about how to build design system strategies you’ll actually be able to deliver: amyhupe.co.uk/articles/des...

How to build a design system strategy you'll actually deliver

Content design and design systems consultant

amyhupe.co.uk

The most English reaction

Nigella Lawson@nigella.bsky.social · 4w ago

OK, I’m going to bed, and already dreading our next match

My Dad went to send an In Post parcel today and entered his own details on on the recipient details screen because: - the field labels don’t contain the word “recipient” so he just read “first name” - even if they did, the labels are placeholder text so disappear when you enter information… 1/2

1. This heat is ruining my life 2. Anxiety is a close second 3. I need to get my shit together and start making money again 4. I’m going to make good on my threats to start blogging again And how are you?

Design system documentation is diplomacy

now that i have emerged from hibernation i would quite like to do some talks or podcasts or interviews or whatever like a real author and educator. if you run a (AI-free) conf/content creation THING and want to me talk about mindful design and/or surviving this hellscape of an industry then HIYA.

What a week. Have been having severe dizzy spells, heart palps, breathlessness and feeling like I’m going to pass out repeatedly for a week now. Ended up in A&E Sunday. After every test under the sun it transpires that I’m chronically hyperventilating from stress 👍🏻

I can’t think of a better slogan than “it’s okay not to be okay” to absolve those in charge of such decisions of the responsibility for providing adequate mental health support.

🦊 Wrote down some rambling thoughts on “AI”: as generational damage, on what repair might look like, and on asking what happens next. ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/all-to...

All tomorrow’s parties. — Ethan Marcotte

What happens next? Well, you tell me.

ethanmarcotte.com

Can we all manifest me getting a job this week? 🤞

Active listening should be taught in schools

Anybody in web dev/design looking for opportunities to get on stage and speak? We're looking for @webdevconf.com lightning speakers for October 9 in Bristol. 15 minutes on stage to strut your stuff! Reply or DM if you're interested!

Hi BlueSky pals 📣 Having just completed a fun project with the folks at Clearleft, I’m on the lookout for my next project. I’m open to part-time or full-time contracts outside IR35 and I can help you with: - design systems consultancy & management - content design - design systems documentation

Testimonials

Content design and design systems consultant

amyhupe.co.uk

Our last newsletter was published yesterday. Includes screenshot of the 2026 web site progress (and visual theme), a callback to mental heath week with @amyhupe.bsky.social's talk, and Global Accessibility Awareness Day with a handful of useful links for devs & designers. ffconf.org/articles/202...

2026 Website Design, Mental Health and Global Accessibility

FF Conf - the UK's best web conference in Brighton.

ffconf.org

Service mapping is an important and useful tool in service design and a core skill for service designers. @ignacia orellana are running a training course on Service mapping in September. www.tickettailor.com/events/ignac...

Did I get really old or have they made Captain Birdseye younger and sexier?

I have written a long piece called I'm an Idiot letorey.co.uk/thoughts/i-a... I'm not an idiot I know that. It's long probably full of mistakes but that is not important I can correct them. Please have a read and let me know what you think. #MentalHealth #School #Teachers #Therapy

I'm an idiot | letorey.co.uk

Or that is is repeatedly what I was told at school by my english teacher.

letorey.co.uk

Had a blast at the final #AllDayHey yesterday with this spectacular bunch of lads.

Who had tomato sauce at 815am?

Amy Hupe@amyhupe.bsky.social · 3mo ago

I have arrived in Leeds for the last All Day Hey. I have on my person one pair of white jeans and have packed no alternative trousers. Please place your bets as to how many stains the jeans will have acquired by the time I return home. We are currently sitting at 2.