The Wax and the Wane of the Web

Forget death and taxes. The only certainty on the web is change. Ste Grainer takes a brief look at the history of the web and how it has been constantly reinvented. Then he explores where we are now, and how we can shape the future of the web for the better.

Designers, (Re)define Success First

Designing ethically may sound daunting at first, but Lennart Overkamp sets forth a template for engaging stakeholders around new priorities, exploring objectives that span from individual to global impacts, and finally measure their effects.

That’s Not My Burnout

Feeling connected and validated by experiences that mirror your own can help you understand how to conquer, or at least endure, times of struggle. But what if your struggle looks more like achievement? If you don’t see yourself reflected in accounts of burnout, it can be alienating and make you feel even more alone. If you reach the end destination of burnout by stepping on the gas instead of coasting to a stop, Donna Bungard will show you how to recognize that you’re low on fuel and give you a map of rest stops where you can refill your tank.

How to Get a Dysfunctional Team Back on Track

Everyone’s a good manager when their team is functioning perfectly. But what do you do when your team screws up? Liam Nugent tells how to face reality when work goes poorly, and shares practical steps to get your team back on track.

The Never-Ending Job of Selling Design Systems

You didn’t start your web career to be a politician or salesperson. But if you want to work on design systems, you have no choice. Ben Callahan shows you how to convince executives to fund the initial design system push and KEEP funding it.

Webwaste

In this excerpt from World Wide Waste, Gerry McGovern examines the environmental impact of bloated websites and unnecessary assets. Digital is physical. It seems cheap and free, but it’s not—it costs the Earth.

Connecting the Dots

Companies often tout their “culture” as a reason to you should consider working there, but often what they pass off as culture amounts to little more than a foosball table and free snacks. In this excerpt from Creative Culture, Justin Dauer draws direct connections between an organizations’ true culture and the design work that it does.

Building the Woke Web: Web Accessibility, Inclusion & Social Justice

From banking to civil services to education, the internet intersects every part of our lives in a way that was unthinkable 20 years ago. And yet the web remains inaccessible to vast swathes of people, with code issues far from the only roadblock. Olu explores the complexity of true accessibility, and offers a thoughtful approach to building a safer and more welcoming web.

Responsible JavaScript: Part III

Convenience always comes at a price. On the web, developer convenience often means third-party JavaScript—and we pass the hefty cost on to our users. Jeremy Wagner shows us how to get and keep third-party scripts under control through clean-up sprints and eternal vigilance in Part III of Responsible JavaScript.