Liam
@iamli.am
‧₊˚✧ designer focused on the philosophy of design | ☕ interface.cafe | 📻 https://design-notes.show | 🧑💻 boardmember, queer coding camp ✧˚₊‧
Pinned
I’m Liam—a designer on Material Design at Google focused on adaptive design and the future of the interface.
✍️ I write about design theory and tips on Interface Café
🧑💻 I’ve designed typefaces, like Girassol on Google Fonts
📻 I host Design Notes, a show about creative work and what it teaches us
✍️ I write about design theory and tips on Interface Café
🧑💻 I’ve designed typefaces, like Girassol on Google Fonts
📻 I host Design Notes, a show about creative work and what it teaches us
Reposted by Liam
📣 Calling all Design Notes listeners:
What other design or creative podcasts do you listen to regularly?
Let me know in the replies!
#designsky
What other design or creative podcasts do you listen to regularly?
Let me know in the replies!
#designsky
November 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
📣 Calling all Design Notes listeners:
What other design or creative podcasts do you listen to regularly?
Let me know in the replies!
#designsky
What other design or creative podcasts do you listen to regularly?
Let me know in the replies!
#designsky
Reposted by Liam
October 25, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Reposted by Liam
this is what will happen if mamdani makes bus rides free
October 25, 2025 at 7:24 AM
this is what will happen if mamdani makes bus rides free
Reposted by Liam
In a brand new issue of Doubleshot, I reflect on the importance of careful and intentional abstraction, and the aesthetic impact that can be created by mystery.
interfacecafe.com/levels-of-ab...
#designsky
interfacecafe.com/levels-of-ab...
#designsky
Levels of Abstraction • Doubleshot
The aesthetic effect of mystery in design.
interfacecafe.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:03 PM
In a brand new issue of Doubleshot, I reflect on the importance of careful and intentional abstraction, and the aesthetic impact that can be created by mystery.
interfacecafe.com/levels-of-ab...
#designsky
interfacecafe.com/levels-of-ab...
#designsky
I have a layer with the gradient loop, and a fun mask that mimics the main show art on top. Then I layer in the episode info and subtitles (in different colors based on the speaker)
October 22, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I have a layer with the gradient loop, and a fun mask that mimics the main show art on top. Then I layer in the episode info and subtitles (in different colors based on the speaker)
Reposted by Liam
Trying out a new format for podcast uploads on YouTube—a subtle animated background and the show transcript timed to the episode
youtu.be/P6TEb_Fmflo
youtu.be/P6TEb_Fmflo
October 22, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Trying out a new format for podcast uploads on YouTube—a subtle animated background and the show transcript timed to the episode
youtu.be/P6TEb_Fmflo
youtu.be/P6TEb_Fmflo
I still believe in the idea of letting users channel their content to specific audiences (and letting audiences follow certain content channels). As far as social media goes, I think this was a great idea.
At the height of Google+, many Android dev, customization, and fan community members were hanging out there. Here’s what I think it got right:
interfacecafe.com/one-thing-go...
#GooglePlus #SocialMedia #TBT
interfacecafe.com/one-thing-go...
#GooglePlus #SocialMedia #TBT
One Thing Google+ Got Right
Decentralized platforms are picking up steam, and one reason I’m excited for that comes back to Google+
interfacecafe.com
October 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I still believe in the idea of letting users channel their content to specific audiences (and letting audiences follow certain content channels). As far as social media goes, I think this was a great idea.
Reposted by Liam
It's the fault of a lot of educational programs and some consultancies that design is misunderstood as a magic substance. The dominant lore contributes to designers being less well prepared to engage in these environments and see the true limits of their scope of decision-making and influence.
October 15, 2025 at 2:40 AM
It's the fault of a lot of educational programs and some consultancies that design is misunderstood as a magic substance. The dominant lore contributes to designers being less well prepared to engage in these environments and see the true limits of their scope of decision-making and influence.
Reposted by Liam
In a 🆕 episode, Zürich-based designer Fabian Bircher talks about exposing unseen elements of the environment around us and his unique creative process which combines art and code.
📻 Tune in: design-notes.show#other-than-e...
#designsky
📻 Tune in: design-notes.show#other-than-e...
#designsky
October 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM
In a 🆕 episode, Zürich-based designer Fabian Bircher talks about exposing unseen elements of the environment around us and his unique creative process which combines art and code.
📻 Tune in: design-notes.show#other-than-e...
#designsky
📻 Tune in: design-notes.show#other-than-e...
#designsky
Reposted by Liam
✍️ New post: European Tech Alternatives 🇪🇺
#blogtober #tech #software #europe
matthiasott.com/notes/europe...
#blogtober #tech #software #europe
matthiasott.com/notes/europe...
European Tech Alternatives 🇪🇺 · Matthias Ott
Matthias Ott is an independent user experience designer and web design engineer from Stuttgart, Germany. He also teaches Interface Prototyping at the Muthesius Academy of Fine Arts and Design.
matthiasott.com
October 5, 2025 at 12:27 AM
✍️ New post: European Tech Alternatives 🇪🇺
#blogtober #tech #software #europe
matthiasott.com/notes/europe...
#blogtober #tech #software #europe
matthiasott.com/notes/europe...
Putting the finishing touches on a new @design-notes.show for next week 📻💛
October 6, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Putting the finishing touches on a new @design-notes.show for next week 📻💛
Reposted by Liam
Design Can’t Rely on Logic: Troy Leinster on Type Design and Human Perception, by @interfacecafe.com:
https://interfacecafe.com/design-cant-rely-on-logic-troy-leinster-on-type-design-and-human-perception/
#podcasts #interviews #design #typography #fonts
https://interfacecafe.com/design-cant-rely-on-logic-troy-leinster-on-type-design-and-human-perception/
#podcasts #interviews #design #typography #fonts
Design Can’t Rely on Logic: Troy Leinster on Type Design and Human Perception
Why learning to make letters makes you a better designer.
interfacecafe.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Design Can’t Rely on Logic: Troy Leinster on Type Design and Human Perception, by @interfacecafe.com:
https://interfacecafe.com/design-cant-rely-on-logic-troy-leinster-on-type-design-and-human-perception/
#podcasts #interviews #design #typography #fonts
https://interfacecafe.com/design-cant-rely-on-logic-troy-leinster-on-type-design-and-human-perception/
#podcasts #interviews #design #typography #fonts
Reposted by Liam
Variants have arrived in Penpot! ✨
Optimize your design systems by adding flexibility to your sets of components.
No more excuses to make the switch to Penpot.
Try Variants in Penpot penpot.app
Optimize your design systems by adding flexibility to your sets of components.
No more excuses to make the switch to Penpot.
Try Variants in Penpot penpot.app
September 29, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Variants have arrived in Penpot! ✨
Optimize your design systems by adding flexibility to your sets of components.
No more excuses to make the switch to Penpot.
Try Variants in Penpot penpot.app
Optimize your design systems by adding flexibility to your sets of components.
No more excuses to make the switch to Penpot.
Try Variants in Penpot penpot.app
Reposted by Liam
Reposted by Liam
It's easy to auto generate a high fidelity sketch of an item; it is also obviously possible to mass produce hoodies. But this doesn't negate the value I get out of drawing it myself and slowing myself down to think about it, and transferring reward from a consumption action to a creation action
September 20, 2025 at 3:39 PM
It's easy to auto generate a high fidelity sketch of an item; it is also obviously possible to mass produce hoodies. But this doesn't negate the value I get out of drawing it myself and slowing myself down to think about it, and transferring reward from a consumption action to a creation action
Reposted by Liam
How to Leave Substack You should probably leave Substack.
Here's why and how. Short version: they allow bad actors to monetize, hate speech and misinformation.
leavesubstack.com/
Here's why and how. Short version: they allow bad actors to monetize, hate speech and misinformation.
leavesubstack.com/
You Should Probably Leave Substack
You should probably leave Substack. Here’s why and how.
leavesubstack.com
September 12, 2025 at 7:30 AM
How to Leave Substack You should probably leave Substack.
Here's why and how. Short version: they allow bad actors to monetize, hate speech and misinformation.
leavesubstack.com/
Here's why and how. Short version: they allow bad actors to monetize, hate speech and misinformation.
leavesubstack.com/
Reposted by Liam
Today, Trustfund is launching into private beta. With @trustfnd.com trustworthy creators can set up Collaborations to help each other earn more income and grow faster.
If you post to inform, not to sell, Trustfund is made for you. Reserve your username at trustfnd.com
If you post to inform, not to sell, Trustfund is made for you. Reserve your username at trustfnd.com
Trustfund
Collaboration tools for the world's trustworthy creators.
trustfnd.com
September 11, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Today, Trustfund is launching into private beta. With @trustfnd.com trustworthy creators can set up Collaborations to help each other earn more income and grow faster.
If you post to inform, not to sell, Trustfund is made for you. Reserve your username at trustfnd.com
If you post to inform, not to sell, Trustfund is made for you. Reserve your username at trustfnd.com
Reposted by Liam
🆕 In this episode, type designer, instructor, and design coach Troy Leinster talks about the advantages of a tactile practice, and how learning type design makes you a better designer.
📻 Tune in: design-notes.show#design-cant-...
#designsky
📻 Tune in: design-notes.show#design-cant-...
#designsky
September 9, 2025 at 11:47 AM
🆕 In this episode, type designer, instructor, and design coach Troy Leinster talks about the advantages of a tactile practice, and how learning type design makes you a better designer.
📻 Tune in: design-notes.show#design-cant-...
#designsky
📻 Tune in: design-notes.show#design-cant-...
#designsky