Lumen Lab

Essays on type, interfaces, and building software that stays out of the way.

A laptop with code

Ship the boring version first

Portrait of Priya RamanBy Priya Raman

Novelty is a tax. Pay it later. The first cut of a feature should look slightly underdressed. If people can complete the task, you can dress it. If they cannot, no amount of gradie…

Close-up of printed pages and a fountain pen

Type that holds a long article

Portrait of Owen HartBy Owen Hart

Body text is a reading environment. Measure it like a room. Aim for: 65 characters a line Line height that does not look lonely A typeface that does not applaud itself Headings can…

Color swatches and interface sketches on a desk

Buttons should look like they do something

Portrait of Priya RamanBy Priya Raman

If a control does not look pressable, people will not press it. That is not a taste argument. It is a physics argument. A short list Contrast first, brand second One primary action…