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ruthmalan.com
One of the highlights of 2025 for me?
Someone saying
“this was a really good read! i especially like the chaotic layout of the book 😂”
about my Technical Decisions chapbook
Because so true, but also… so not AI in its human quirks 😅
ruthmalan.com/Leadership/2...
Someone saying
“this was a really good read! i especially like the chaotic layout of the book 😂”
about my Technical Decisions chapbook
Because so true, but also… so not AI in its human quirks 😅
ruthmalan.com/Leadership/2...
Reposted by Ruth Malan
8 more days of kickstarter, day 3 of countdown songs! dirty blonde started as a harp-accompanied piece in 2020, and it was finished in 2023 in a co-write with the amazing @patwhoisnice.bsky.social and purser :-)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
January 24, 2026 at 12:31 AM
8 more days of kickstarter, day 3 of countdown songs! dirty blonde started as a harp-accompanied piece in 2020, and it was finished in 2023 in a co-write with the amazing @patwhoisnice.bsky.social and purser :-)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
Reposted by Ruth Malan
9 days left of the midwestern goodbye kickstarter! for today’s countdown clip, here’s my song Past Life, written before i moved in with my dear friend ellie when i was imagining hearing her guitar playing echo through the walls of a shared apartment
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
January 23, 2026 at 2:28 AM
9 days left of the midwestern goodbye kickstarter! for today’s countdown clip, here’s my song Past Life, written before i moved in with my dear friend ellie when i was imagining hearing her guitar playing echo through the walls of a shared apartment
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
Reposted by Ruth Malan
This is the real bsky wrapped
January 15, 2026 at 4:48 AM
This is the real bsky wrapped
Design designs. Dispositions disposition.
Perennial reminder that our tools construct us as subjects.
Designing a tool REQUIRES making decisions that privilege some applications over others. Every usable technology has a path of least resistance (tasks/outcomes for which it's most suited) and will naturally draw you to those outcomes.
Designing a tool REQUIRES making decisions that privilege some applications over others. Every usable technology has a path of least resistance (tasks/outcomes for which it's most suited) and will naturally draw you to those outcomes.
I keep catching strays from "technology is neutral" people, so let's set things straight.
1) Technology is not neutral, especially the subset of technology called "algorithms"
2) The form-factor that makes a technology into a tool is not neutral
3) How tools are productized is not neutral
[rant]
1) Technology is not neutral, especially the subset of technology called "algorithms"
2) The form-factor that makes a technology into a tool is not neutral
3) How tools are productized is not neutral
[rant]
January 15, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Design designs. Dispositions disposition.
Reposted by Ruth Malan
Perennial reminder that our tools construct us as subjects.
Designing a tool REQUIRES making decisions that privilege some applications over others. Every usable technology has a path of least resistance (tasks/outcomes for which it's most suited) and will naturally draw you to those outcomes.
Designing a tool REQUIRES making decisions that privilege some applications over others. Every usable technology has a path of least resistance (tasks/outcomes for which it's most suited) and will naturally draw you to those outcomes.
I keep catching strays from "technology is neutral" people, so let's set things straight.
1) Technology is not neutral, especially the subset of technology called "algorithms"
2) The form-factor that makes a technology into a tool is not neutral
3) How tools are productized is not neutral
[rant]
1) Technology is not neutral, especially the subset of technology called "algorithms"
2) The form-factor that makes a technology into a tool is not neutral
3) How tools are productized is not neutral
[rant]
January 15, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Perennial reminder that our tools construct us as subjects.
Designing a tool REQUIRES making decisions that privilege some applications over others. Every usable technology has a path of least resistance (tasks/outcomes for which it's most suited) and will naturally draw you to those outcomes.
Designing a tool REQUIRES making decisions that privilege some applications over others. Every usable technology has a path of least resistance (tasks/outcomes for which it's most suited) and will naturally draw you to those outcomes.
Reposted by Ruth Malan
Announcing the Effective Public Speaking Kickstarter's First Stretch Goal
www.jrothman.com/mpd/2026/01/...
#ContentMarketing #Kickstarter #ProjectWeLove
www.jrothman.com/mpd/2026/01/...
#ContentMarketing #Kickstarter #ProjectWeLove
Announcing the Effective Public Speaking Kickstarter's First Stretch Goal - Johanna Rothman
If you follow me, you know I'm running a Kickstarter for the Effective Public Speaking book. Once they fund, many Kickstarters offer stretch rewards. I wasn't worried about offering a stretch reward....
www.jrothman.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Announcing the Effective Public Speaking Kickstarter's First Stretch Goal
www.jrothman.com/mpd/2026/01/...
#ContentMarketing #Kickstarter #ProjectWeLove
www.jrothman.com/mpd/2026/01/...
#ContentMarketing #Kickstarter #ProjectWeLove
“we should remember that we can never wholly separate the human and the mechanical problem. This would seem too obvious to mention if we did not so often see that separation being made.”
— Mary Parker Follett, Development of Business Management, 1925
in
— Mary Parker Follett, Development of Business Management, 1925
in
January 11, 2026 at 1:00 PM
“we should remember that we can never wholly separate the human and the mechanical problem. This would seem too obvious to mention if we did not so often see that separation being made.”
— Mary Parker Follett, Development of Business Management, 1925
in
— Mary Parker Follett, Development of Business Management, 1925
in
Reposted by Ruth Malan
Hello, bluesky.... it's been a minute but I have some exciting news for the new year :) youtu.be/bU_-OhxcFVI?...
Tessa Violet - Knowing (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by Tessa Violet
youtu.be
January 3, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Hello, bluesky.... it's been a minute but I have some exciting news for the new year :) youtu.be/bU_-OhxcFVI?...
Reposted by Ruth Malan
If we accept that building good software requires many disciplines to come together, then "what's the ROI of UX?" is a meaningless question.
When we attempt to organize based solely on "doing only the important work," categorizing "important" becomes politics, and you have to fight with politics.
When we attempt to organize based solely on "doing only the important work," categorizing "important" becomes politics, and you have to fight with politics.
O that is funny! It really does upset me that we in software have decided that people should *only* do "important work" and thus have created terrible environments where everyone feels like a crab trying to climb out of a bucket over other crabs.
January 6, 2026 at 2:17 PM
If we accept that building good software requires many disciplines to come together, then "what's the ROI of UX?" is a meaningless question.
When we attempt to organize based solely on "doing only the important work," categorizing "important" becomes politics, and you have to fight with politics.
When we attempt to organize based solely on "doing only the important work," categorizing "important" becomes politics, and you have to fight with politics.
This was a wonderful discussion — thank you @yvonnezlam.bsky.social and @johncutle.fish and everyone who participated! A big point of resonance is how much mutual appreciation there is for systems community!
First #PapersInSystems discussion of 2026:
Monday, January 5, 1-2PM Eastern Time (US/Canada):
"20 Things I Learned As A Systems (Over) Thinker" by @johncutle.fish
Here: www.linkedin.com/posts/johnpc...
Discussion will be led by @yvonnezlam.bsky.social
Info/enroll: ti.to/bredemeyer/c...
Monday, January 5, 1-2PM Eastern Time (US/Canada):
"20 Things I Learned As A Systems (Over) Thinker" by @johncutle.fish
Here: www.linkedin.com/posts/johnpc...
Discussion will be led by @yvonnezlam.bsky.social
Info/enroll: ti.to/bredemeyer/c...
January 5, 2026 at 8:27 PM
This was a wonderful discussion — thank you @yvonnezlam.bsky.social and @johncutle.fish and everyone who participated! A big point of resonance is how much mutual appreciation there is for systems community!
This is a *free* 150 page chapbook that explores systems, system design and software architecture.
And it’s … actually *good*??? Well, at least all the parts where I weave in this systems and design community’s insights are good. 😊
And it’s … actually *good*??? Well, at least all the parts where I weave in this systems and design community’s insights are good. 😊
I also continued my self-assigned mission to bring attention to *systems* in system design. Including the various sociotechnical systems we balance (and make trade-offs, and effect consequences) across.
www.ruthmalan.com/systems/2025...
www.ruthmalan.com/systems/2025...
www.ruthmalan.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:32 PM
This is a *free* 150 page chapbook that explores systems, system design and software architecture.
And it’s … actually *good*??? Well, at least all the parts where I weave in this systems and design community’s insights are good. 😊
And it’s … actually *good*??? Well, at least all the parts where I weave in this systems and design community’s insights are good. 😊
One of the highlights of 2025 for me?
Someone saying
“this was a really good read! i especially like the chaotic layout of the book 😂”
about my Technical Decisions chapbook
Because so true, but also… so not AI in its human quirks 😅
ruthmalan.com/Leadership/2...
Someone saying
“this was a really good read! i especially like the chaotic layout of the book 😂”
about my Technical Decisions chapbook
Because so true, but also… so not AI in its human quirks 😅
ruthmalan.com/Leadership/2...
ruthmalan.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:28 PM
One of the highlights of 2025 for me?
Someone saying
“this was a really good read! i especially like the chaotic layout of the book 😂”
about my Technical Decisions chapbook
Because so true, but also… so not AI in its human quirks 😅
ruthmalan.com/Leadership/2...
Someone saying
“this was a really good read! i especially like the chaotic layout of the book 😂”
about my Technical Decisions chapbook
Because so true, but also… so not AI in its human quirks 😅
ruthmalan.com/Leadership/2...
Reposted by Ruth Malan
Wow, this is important and practical research.
*And some call this a strawman argument.
*And some call this a strawman argument.
Ever had a reply attack something you didn’t mean? This paper analyzes “scarecrow” moves as a semantic reclassification and shows how “I didn’t say X; I said Y” can flag the shift. doi.org/10.25189/267... #linguistics
December 31, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Wow, this is important and practical research.
*And some call this a strawman argument.
*And some call this a strawman argument.
It’s a vividly written, thought-provoking newsletter, engaging thoughtfully with the challenges we face in product design and related:
It was my goal to enter 2026 with 2026 subscribers for my user experience design newsletter, The Product Picnic.
Currently we are only in 1969, which while a great year is somewhat short of the goal. Help me bring my newsletter into the present!
Currently we are only in 1969, which while a great year is somewhat short of the goal. Help me bring my newsletter into the present!
December 31, 2025 at 1:45 PM
It’s a vividly written, thought-provoking newsletter, engaging thoughtfully with the challenges we face in product design and related:
First #PapersInSystems discussion of 2026:
Monday, January 5, 1-2PM Eastern Time (US/Canada):
"20 Things I Learned As A Systems (Over) Thinker" by @johncutle.fish
Here: www.linkedin.com/posts/johnpc...
Discussion will be led by @yvonnezlam.bsky.social
Info/enroll: ti.to/bredemeyer/c...
Monday, January 5, 1-2PM Eastern Time (US/Canada):
"20 Things I Learned As A Systems (Over) Thinker" by @johncutle.fish
Here: www.linkedin.com/posts/johnpc...
Discussion will be led by @yvonnezlam.bsky.social
Info/enroll: ti.to/bredemeyer/c...
December 31, 2025 at 12:55 PM
First #PapersInSystems discussion of 2026:
Monday, January 5, 1-2PM Eastern Time (US/Canada):
"20 Things I Learned As A Systems (Over) Thinker" by @johncutle.fish
Here: www.linkedin.com/posts/johnpc...
Discussion will be led by @yvonnezlam.bsky.social
Info/enroll: ti.to/bredemeyer/c...
Monday, January 5, 1-2PM Eastern Time (US/Canada):
"20 Things I Learned As A Systems (Over) Thinker" by @johncutle.fish
Here: www.linkedin.com/posts/johnpc...
Discussion will be led by @yvonnezlam.bsky.social
Info/enroll: ti.to/bredemeyer/c...
Copeland James is crowdfunding to bring this loveliness into the world.
Of course, in addition to Copeland’s everlasting gratitude, there’s mine. If you’ve ever thought “I’d like to buy ruth coffee,” here’s a way (pay it forward a gen).
Of course, in addition to Copeland’s everlasting gratitude, there’s mine. If you’ve ever thought “I’d like to buy ruth coffee,” here’s a way (pay it forward a gen).
Here’s a demo of one of the songs that will be on the album, as well as testimonials I have received from my song commission work! If you would like to commission a song and help fund this album project, you can learn more here :)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
December 29, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Copeland James is crowdfunding to bring this loveliness into the world.
Of course, in addition to Copeland’s everlasting gratitude, there’s mine. If you’ve ever thought “I’d like to buy ruth coffee,” here’s a way (pay it forward a gen).
Of course, in addition to Copeland’s everlasting gratitude, there’s mine. If you’ve ever thought “I’d like to buy ruth coffee,” here’s a way (pay it forward a gen).
Reposted by Ruth Malan
Good enough wins because of what you are able to treat as externalities
December 29, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Good enough wins because of what you are able to treat as externalities
Reposted by Ruth Malan
The last issue of the year, where I talk about what's on a lot of people's minds: what they can try to do to stop their 2026 from being like their 2025.
Unfortunately, the answer is not as simple as "try twice as hard." Against systemic causes, even the power of spite can only get you so far.
Unfortunately, the answer is not as simple as "try twice as hard." Against systemic causes, even the power of spite can only get you so far.
Bouncing back from burnout
The causes of burnout are systemic. You can't get out of it just by trying harder.
productpicnic.beehiiv.com
December 26, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The last issue of the year, where I talk about what's on a lot of people's minds: what they can try to do to stop their 2026 from being like their 2025.
Unfortunately, the answer is not as simple as "try twice as hard." Against systemic causes, even the power of spite can only get you so far.
Unfortunately, the answer is not as simple as "try twice as hard." Against systemic causes, even the power of spite can only get you so far.
The Big Idea is short bursts of daily practice, sketching and writing in a Systems Adventure Journal. Through these practices and related reflections, we learn about systems, and as we turn our focus to particular situations, systems become a partner in our learning journey.
'Drawing [isn’t] just for “artists” [..]. Think of it as a way of observing the world and learning' — Anne Quito
#AdventOfSystemSeeing Day 1: Draw a Bicycle (and sketch a key mechanism) www.ruthmalan.com/Advent/2025/...
#AdventOfSystemSeeing Day 1: Draw a Bicycle (and sketch a key mechanism) www.ruthmalan.com/Advent/2025/...
Advent(ure) in System Seeing
If you've done the "draw a bicycle" exercise before: skip step 1, and go to step 2, so that you can get to step 3 (it's new) and 4.
www.ruthmalan.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The Big Idea is short bursts of daily practice, sketching and writing in a Systems Adventure Journal. Through these practices and related reflections, we learn about systems, and as we turn our focus to particular situations, systems become a partner in our learning journey.
Reposted by Ruth Malan
Here’s a demo of one of the songs that will be on the album, as well as testimonials I have received from my song commission work! If you would like to commission a song and help fund this album project, you can learn more here :)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
December 21, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Here’s a demo of one of the songs that will be on the album, as well as testimonials I have received from my song commission work! If you would like to commission a song and help fund this album project, you can learn more here :)
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
Reposted by Ruth Malan
Safety Nerds and @ruthmalan.bsky.social, you might be interested in the paper that @kissane.myatproto.social refers to:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
December 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Safety Nerds and @ruthmalan.bsky.social, you might be interested in the paper that @kissane.myatproto.social refers to:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....
Reposted by Ruth Malan
Love this picture from Ray Ison’s book. The people in the system bring their own personal history of thinking and understanding.
December 15, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Love this picture from Ray Ison’s book. The people in the system bring their own personal history of thinking and understanding.
Give future you a lovely gift!
(Help fund recording expenses now, get digital download later. Be part of making something lovely happen.)
(Help fund recording expenses now, get digital download later. Be part of making something lovely happen.)
i just launched a kickstarter for my second album “midwestern goodbye” reflecting on my hometown, leaving it, and how life is made up of chapters from childhood schemes to living on your own
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cop...
December 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Give future you a lovely gift!
(Help fund recording expenses now, get digital download later. Be part of making something lovely happen.)
(Help fund recording expenses now, get digital download later. Be part of making something lovely happen.)
"I use the word system to refer to any collection of elements that, through preferential interactions between them, generate a boundary with respect to
other elements with which they can also interact in such a way that a totality results"
-- Humberto Maturana
other elements with which they can also interact in such a way that a totality results"
-- Humberto Maturana
"Everything within a system is changed by being part of that system, every element, every relationship is changed."
— Patrick Hoverstadt, The Grammar of Systems
#AdventOfSystemSeeing Day 9: Relationships and Interactions
www.ruthmalan.com/Advent/2025/...
— Patrick Hoverstadt, The Grammar of Systems
#AdventOfSystemSeeing Day 9: Relationships and Interactions
www.ruthmalan.com/Advent/2025/...
Advent(ure) in System Seeing
Image source: Camille Defrenne and Suzanne Simard, "The Secret Language of Trees"
www.ruthmalan.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:15 PM
"I use the word system to refer to any collection of elements that, through preferential interactions between them, generate a boundary with respect to
other elements with which they can also interact in such a way that a totality results"
-- Humberto Maturana
other elements with which they can also interact in such a way that a totality results"
-- Humberto Maturana
Reposted by Ruth Malan
Birds: Buttecup Festival 3-356
November 25, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Birds: Buttecup Festival 3-356