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- Feed Preview Ethan Marcotte’s website
Hello, 18F.
I’ve been a designer at 18F for one week now.
Slingshot.
I just attended my first Labor Notes Conference . My head’s full, and my heart’s on fire.
Blockin’ bots.
Here’s how I’m blocking “artificial intelligence” bots, crawlers, and scrapers.
The negotiation cycle.
On the work, and being endlessly clever.
Lowe.
Spotted a copy of You Deserve a Tech Union at my local library. It made my decade.
Generative.
Nineteen thoughts about “generative artificial intelligence,” spanning a few centuries.
Collective.
A prominent investor got excited about collective bargaining. I did too! (But probably for different reasons.)
Reviewed.
My book was reviewed in Labor Notes. I’m still pinching myself.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/you-deserve-a-tech-union-review-labor-notes/
The 2023 that was.
A little marker for myself, from one year to the next.
Broadly.
I’m excited to share a change in You Deserve a Tech Union’s pricing.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/you-deserve-a-tech-union-broadly/
A new op-ed: on OpenAI and worker power.
What happens when workers take collective action, and in an anti-worker industry?
Boston meetup, redux: “You deserve a tech union!”
Tech workers of Boston! Curious about unions? We’re having another meetup about it !
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/boston-still-deserves-a-tech-union-meetup/
Boston meetup: “Why do tech workers deserve a union?”
Tech workers of Boston! Curious about unions? Let’s have a meetup about it !
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/boston-deserves-a-tech-union-meetup/
In medias.
Writin’ up—for you, but also for me—a few book events from last week.
Minetta.
I went to a conference last weekend, and it was wonderful. In fact, I’m still thinking about it—and about what can happen next.
A little book and its author, out in the world.
So! You Deserve a Tech Union ’s been getting a little attention lately! Here’s a short roundup.
Three weeks.
You Deserve a Tech Union ’s launch feels like it was just yesterday! What is time anymore
Labor’s day.
Some tech unions could use our support.
Mail, run.
What else happened this week? Well, I wrote my first op-ed; also, I got some mail.
You Deserve a Tech Union is here!
Well, hey! Happy pub day to my latest book !
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/you-deserve-a-tech-union-launch/
Tick TOC.
Here’s the table of contents for You Deserve a Tech Union . (Also, hey: how about a sample chapter?)
Street team.
My new book, You Deserve a Tech Union , is almost here. Here’s how you can help support it!
Post by post.
Life after Twitter remains, well, weird. Maybe this is better.
Blurbs.
Blurbs are starting to come in for You Deserve a Tech Union, along with several emotions.
Announcing my new book, You Deserve a Tech Union.
I wrote this book for you, for me—for all of us. I hope you like it.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/you-deserve-a-tech-union-book/
Bookin’.
Hey, this is neat: A Book Apart is available in bookstores, and around the world.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/bookin-abookapart-worldwide/
Tooled.
The work, and who gets to do it.
Adoption.
What we talk about when we talk about measuring a design system.
Notes from a dining room chair.
On getting stuck, and what you worry about when you worry about writing.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/notes-from-a-dining-room-chair/
Truthish.
Whose sources, and whose truths?
Points, break.
When did we start using “breakpoint” to talk about layout adaptation? (Honestly, I don’t know!)
Notes from a dining room table.
For what comes next, whatever it is.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/notes-from-a-dining-room-table/
Weekend updates.
Various and sundry design tweaks! Writing bios is still terrible! Dark Mode 2: The Return of Dark Mode! It’s good to be back!
Parts, parcel.
At some point, something shifted.
À la porte.
I should probably check my email again.
Locus.
What’s better, where, and for whom.
Splits.
For now, I’ve got my feet under me. And I’m grateful.
Notes from a week.
Hello. It’s been a week. (A little more than, if I’m being honest.)
Stress systems.
On feeling overwhelmed by systems.
Bookiversary.
The fine folks at A Book Apart asked me to participate in a little interview, as my little yellow book just turned ten years old!
Responsive design and container queries? Oh my!
At long last, container queries might finally become reality! And responsive design just turned eleven! My goodness!
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/responsive-design-at-11-container-queries/
Union.
Tech workers, it’s time we unionize.
New work: Free design systems courses, available at Aquent Gymnasium.
I’ve launched four courses on design systems, available for free at Aquent Gymnasium ! I hope you like them.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/aquent-design-systems-courses/
Design-ish systems.
“Why create a design system?” It’s a good question, if a hard one.
Au revoir, mon AMPmour?
Last year, Google announced AMP will no longer be a requirement for prime search placement. This is good! But I still have questions.
A day, typical.
Sara Soueidan asked how I typically spend my days. Here’s how I typically spend my days.
Beacon.
Looking for a few bright spots in everyone’s worst year.
My design systems reading list.
A friend asked me to share a few favorite resources on design systems. I thought I’d share them with you, too.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/my-design-systems-reading-list/
Before dawn, and after dusk.
I spoke at two events yesterday. I drank a lot of coffee. I talked a lot about design systems. Good day.
Speaking, remotely.
Here’s how I think about my speaking fee for remote events.
Hello, Autogram.
Karen and Jeff and I have launched a little strategic consultancy. We’re calling it Autogram , and I’d like to tell you why.
Replyin’.
I’ve added “Reply via email” links to my RSS feed . Hope you find it useful.
Notes from a hill.
She asked, “Are you looking forward to your birthday?”
The design systems between us.
It’s often suggested that design systems would improve the way organizations work. I’ve been wondering about that.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/the-design-systems-between-us/
Takin’ five.
I’ve been lucky enough to work with Aquent Gymnasium on a series of short video tutorials. I hope you like them.
On context.
I read these two essays some time ago, and I keep returning to them. I bet you’ll like them too.
Power.
Individually, there’s little we can do; but collectively, there’s not much we can’t.
A programming note.
I’m pausing my email newsletter for a bit. More importantly, here are some organizations doing necessary work right now, and some resources I’ve found helpful.
Responsive design: seams & edges.
In some ways, responsive design was an attempt to move past the idea of a “page.” How’s that worked out for us?
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/responsive-design-seams-edges/
Responsive web design turns ten.
The original “Responsive Web Design” article was published a decade ago! Here’s how it happened, and who helped make it happen.
An interview for the Responsive Web Design newsletter.
Justin Avery kindly invited me to do an interview for his wonderful Responsive Web Design newsletter . So you know I had to oblige.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/responsive-design-newsletter-interview/
Gardened.
On JavaScript, frameworks, and how giving a damn doesn’t scale.
Constrained CSS grids without max-width.
Stumbled across a little layout technique while working on my latest redesign . I think it’s helpful; maybe you’ll think so, too.
Writing my accessibility statement.
It was long overdue, but I’ve added an accessibility statement to my website. Here are a few reasons why.
Let a website be a worry stone.
One turn deserves another.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/let-a-website-be-a-worry-stone/
Through a design system, darkly.
Design systems haven’t solved the consistency problem—far from it. What can?
The design systems we swim in.
When was the last time a design system empowered you to make a decision? (I’m honestly asking.)
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/the-design-systems-we-swim-in/
“With Great Tech Comes Great Responsibility.”
I liked Mozilla’s guide to student organizing and workplace ethics so much, I made a web page out of it.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/mozilla-with-great-tech-great-responsibility/
The hoof and the horse.
On objects and slices; on design systems and scale.
Getting to work.
It’s time for us to organize our workplaces, my loves.
The World-Wide Work.
A talk on automation, power, justice, and labor in the tech industry.
Amphora.
I tried navigating some of Google’s featured AMP Stories in a screen reader. And then I wrote this.
Three bowls.
Saying good-bye to our littlest kitty, Rorschach.
Columbia & Elm; Fairfield & Gloucester.
Thinking about web accessibility, and getting from here to there.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/columbia-and-elm-fairfield-and-gloucester/
Theorized.
I’ve been at Theorizing The Web for the last few days. I really liked it; I think you might, too.
Trainers.
How the data gets made, and by whom.
The web we broke.
I read something depressing last Monday, and I can’t stop thinking about it.
A new adventure.
I just got home from attending—and speaking at!—last week’s New Adventures conference. It was an inspiring, marvelous day.
A reading list for “The World-Wide Work.”
I just gave a talk at this year’s New Adventures conference. Here are some books, resources, and videos I cited in it.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-reading-list-the-world-wide-work/
Sonnerie.
I come not to praise 2018, but to bury it.
How I write conference talks.
I’m writing a new talk. This is how I do it.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/how-i-write-conference-talks/
Azeban.
Let’s talk a little about automation, design, and work.
Release.
I went to Demo Day for the latest Resilient Coders bootcamp. The students left an impression on me.
It’s not about the device.
It can feel overwhelming to design for a new device, a new context. Maybe there’s an alternative?
Syenite.
I’ve attended a few community sessions at Resilient Coders . It’s a wonderful organization; maybe you’d like to support them, too.
Vox pop.
I’m working with the team at Vox Media on their design systems. I’m very excited.
Designing, laws, and attitudes.
What would happen if the law required us to design fast websites?
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/designing-laws-and-attitudes/
The fundamentals of responsive design, now on Skillshare.
My new class, “Responsive Web Design: Creating Flexible Websites That Last ”, is now live on Skillshare . I made it just for you.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/responsive-design-fundamentals-skillshare/
The tool and the task.
Our design tools change the design of our products and, at times, they can change us. How do we talk about that?
Notes from a crosswalk.
On the route, the steps, and what follows.
My favorite design tool.
What if someone doesn’t browse the web like I do? Or like you do?
My foreword for Image Performance.
I was asked to write an introduction for Mat Marquis ’ new book on images and performance, which I loved. (I think you’ll love it too.)
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/foreword-for-image-performance/
Revamp.
Google’s Accelerated Mobile Project (AMP) has announced it’s moving to a more open governance model, which is great. I still have some questions.
Accessibility is not a feature.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on some of the language I use to talk about accessibility. It might be language you use, too.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/accessibility-is-not-a-feature/
An interview for Versioning.
I was recently invited to do a Q&A session for Sitepoint’s Versioning newsletter .
Izakaya.
When a dollar becomes ten.
Weft.
About the patterns underneath the patterns.
Bits.
What we talk about when we talk about what we talk about when we talk about web performance.
Notes from a market.
The sun was hot, the smiles were wide.
In the pocket.
“The first level of reality is that nitty-gritty stuff, the direct action and immediate experience, the sort of thing I like to call vernacular reality.” — Ursula Franklin
Chimpin’.
I use Mailchimp’s “RSS campaigns ” to email new blog entries to subscribers. I also use responsive images . Here’s how I got them to play well together!
Fractional.
The more I work with CSS Grid, the more I’ve realized I’m a big fan of the fr unit. And it’s subtly changed how I think about grids.
Just work.
How I work, and how I want to.
My three steps.
I’ve been thinking about how I learn new technologies.
World wide wrist.
WebKit’s coming to the Apple Watch, in some fashion. In my own fashion, I’m excited to see what that means.
Bundt.
Here’s what happened today, today.
A GIFt—or three!—from me, to thee.
I have a website called bukk.it . It’s filled with pointless images. Here’s how I manage it.
Kumiho.
Thoughts on bots.
When patterns get weird.
Usually, you’ll get rid of design patterns that don’t contribute much to your design system. But sometimes, you won’t.
What’s in a pattern name?
The benefit of creating a pattern library isn’t the patterns as such.
Notes from a conference.
I just flew in from Florida, where I’d spoken—and workshopped!—at the 2018 Front End Design Conference. And boy, are my arms tired/sunburnt.
Spinning jenny.
A few thoughts on the task, and the tool.
Framed.
When offering advice, be careful how it’s offered.
The podcast is dead; long live the podcast!
This was the vehicle; these were the people.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/the-end-of-the-responsive-design-podcast/
Campaign.
The Google AMP team has announced they’d like to make the web faster—even for folks who don’t use AMP. That’s wonderful news. But I have some questions.
Notes from a sidewalk.
She stood back up, running to catch her friends, her sign held high.
I, for one.
We’re used to corporations stepping in to fix the problems they see on the web. But what would happen if we could fix the web?
Design, system.
Your design system’s more than the sum of its patterns. (It’s all about the people, maaaaannnn.)
Stupid Jekyll tricks.
Right now, my site runs on Jekyll . Here are two little things I find useful.
AMPlified.
I don’t think there’s much you or I can do about Google’s AMP project. However.
A little advice.
On occasion, people starting a career in web design ask me for advice. Here’s what I currently say to them.
Cardigan.
Farewell, Dean. And thank you.
War rig.
I come here not to praise 2017, but to bury it.
Rated zero.
Google AMP, and services like it, are a kind of “zero-rating.” I worry about that.
Entitled to.
A few thoughts about losing net neutrality protections in the United States, and what happens next.
A new bag.
On a friend’s recommendation, I bought a Tom Bihn backpack for traveling. I really like it.
In range.
Three outlines, each smaller than the last.
Seven into seven.
A few more thoughts on AMP, on Ursula Franklin’s questions, and on just technology.
My foreword for Design Systems.
I was asked to write an introduction for Alla Kholmatova’s new book on design systems, which I loved. (I think you’ll love it too.)
AMPersand.
There’s a price to using Google’s “Accelerated Mobile Project.” I’m not sure the web can afford to pay it.
At dawn.
Waking up, half-dreaming, before the sun’s up.
Upward and worn.
The new Legend of Zelda is a gorgeous, fun game, but it’s also an isolation simulator. And I love that about it.
Designed lines.
Designing a lightweight, inexpensive digital experience is a form of kindness.
A responsive spotlight.
We’ve been trying something new on our little responsive design podcast. I’ve enjoyed the experiment; maybe you will, too.
A working pattern library.
The value of a pattern library is tied directly to how much—and how easily—it is used.
Left to our own devices.
For me, the real value of a device lab isn’t in testing. A device lab is a design tool.
Notes from a chair.
They work kindly, quickly but steadily, under lights cold and bright.
Going offline.
I’ve started taking parts of my site offline. Here’s how it works, right now.
Device intervention.
Done right, a device lab’s a pretty good empathy engine.
The work I like.
I’ve been thinking a lot about why I work the way I do, and how.
MOA—
And yet.
A bit more on container queries.
Paul Robert Lloyd persuasively argues that container queries are obsolete. I respectfully disagree.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-bit-more-on-container-queries/
A sticky situation.
Ran into a little design bug, involving position: sticky and Chrome. Maybe it’d be of interest to you.
The bricks we lay.
Design is not neutral.
Notes from a couch.
I’ve got a week of rest lined up, so here’s what I’m reading and watching. (Riveting stuff, I know.)
On container queries.
A number of prominent web folks have been asking for “container queries.” I think they’re right to do so, and here’s why.
New work: Source
A new design for Source, a non-profit that makes journalism code more visible.
Notes from a protest.
No hate. No fear.
Free, faster.
Many of the free web themes I’ve seen recently are…slow. How can we fix that?
The good by.
A few notes on farewells, and on coming home.
Pattern patter.
On the web, can our patterns be more than just front-end code?
Hyper text.
A few notes on political anxiety and Twitter, and how sentences turn into paragraphs.
Thread.
Welcome to my new website.
Announcing my new book, Responsive Design: Patterns and Principles.
I’ve written a new book! It’s about moving beyond the page, and designing with patterns. I hope you like it.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/responsive-design-patterns-and-principles/
My questions for event organizers.
When I’m asked to speak at an event, I ask a few useful questions. Maybe you’ll find them useful, too.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/my-questions-for-event-organizers/
The second edition of Responsive Web Design.
There’s a second edition of my book! It’s still about responsive design, but quite a bit has changed.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/responsive-web-design-second-edition/
A Responsive Design Podcast.
Along with Karen McGrane, I’m getting into that “pod-casting” game! (Guess what it’s about.)
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-responsive-design-podcast/
Platformed.
The web isn’t a platform. When we design and build for it, we should remember that.
So you’re interested in a responsive design workshop…
Karen McGrane and I have teamed up to offer in-house workshops on—you guessed it!—responsive design. Hire us!
Speaking? Pack a plan.
If you’re doing any public speaking, I have a few small (but useful!) tips.
“The second step is inclusiveness.”
Here’s a quote on inclusive design I quite liked. (Maybe you’ll like it, too.)
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/the-second-step-is-inclusiveness/
Keynote, Magic Move, and you.
One of my favorite features in Apple’s Keynote is “Magic Move.” I bet it might be yours, too.
“Offline First”
I’m so excited about building more offline-friendly experiences. (You should be, too!)
Responsive design, screens, and shearing layers.
Responsive design might begin with the screen, but it doesn’t end there.
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/responsive-web-design-screens-and-shearing-layers/
Hello, Editorially.
I’ve cofounded a startup with some dear friends. It’s called Editorially. I’d like to tell you a little about it.
The Boston Globe
The first large-scale responsive website just launched, and I helped. Here’s how we did it.
So I wrote a book. It’s called Responsive Web Design.
Want to learn responsive design? There’s a book for that. (And I wrote it!)
https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-book-called-responsive-web-design/
Henry.
A few words I quite like.
Toffee-nosed.
Many criticisms of responsive design are based on faulty logic. Let’s look at a few fallacies.
With good references.
Every responsive design begins with a reference layout, either small- or widescreen. Which should you choose?
On being “responsive.”
What makes a responsive design “responsive,” anyway?
Oversewing
I’ve moved on from working at Happy Cog, and I’ve started up my own design practice again.
On fluid grids.
I have a new article on A List Apart. It’s about creating complex grid-based layouts that are fluid. I hope you like it.
Bradley.
A story about my late uncle, who I didn’t know as well as I wish I did.
Squee.
I’ve written my first article for A List Apart. I’m so excited.
Day zero.
Last Friday was my last day at a full-time job.
Stairwell.
Starting a new job.
On emergency rooms.
We were in the process of haggling over which desserts my grandmother should order when the seizure hit.
In progress
A former teacher and his former student, and a house to paint.
She.
Happy anniversary, to my one and lovely.