Pavel
@spavel.bsky.social
Raised gifted; non-practicing.
If your reply doesn't have alt text, I won't see it.
🌐 productpicnic.beehiiv.com 💼 UX Design 🟦 Sick of rectangles 🧑 he/him
If your reply doesn't have alt text, I won't see it.
🌐 productpicnic.beehiiv.com 💼 UX Design 🟦 Sick of rectangles 🧑 he/him
Can't spell atheist without heist
If you were really enlightened and logic pilled, you would steal the Declaration of Independence
If you were really enlightened and logic pilled, you would steal the Declaration of Independence
January 6, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Can't spell atheist without heist
If you were really enlightened and logic pilled, you would steal the Declaration of Independence
If you were really enlightened and logic pilled, you would steal the Declaration of Independence
cities skylines jaywalking mod
January 6, 2026 at 10:32 PM
cities skylines jaywalking mod
Wondering whether a diet of only seed oils might keep you alive longer than a diet of only meat.
January 6, 2026 at 10:31 PM
Wondering whether a diet of only seed oils might keep you alive longer than a diet of only meat.
Reposted by Pavel
If people replaced those with photos of their cats they'd probably get more clicks.
January 6, 2026 at 10:27 PM
If people replaced those with photos of their cats they'd probably get more clicks.
The problem with the "brilliant asshole who gets results" archetype is that any work more complex than stacking children's building blocks requires constant renegotiation of what success means.
broke: software design is about managing the client's expectations
woke: most jobs are about managing most stakeholders' expectations
bespoke: "plays well with others" really should have been the most important grade in elementary school
woke: most jobs are about managing most stakeholders' expectations
bespoke: "plays well with others" really should have been the most important grade in elementary school
January 6, 2026 at 10:20 PM
The problem with the "brilliant asshole who gets results" archetype is that any work more complex than stacking children's building blocks requires constant renegotiation of what success means.
Reposted by Pavel
All SaaS products merge and mutate towards the most general of purposes. They collect each others features and use "best practices" to absorb them.
They become big blobs with a logo and we only use them because the boss paid for a subscription
They become big blobs with a logo and we only use them because the boss paid for a subscription
The more universal a "best practice" is, the less it will be relevant to your specific problem.
Managers who are not willing to take the time to understand the problem can use this to their advantage, by setting "implement the best practice" as their main goal.
This creates ~0 value.
Managers who are not willing to take the time to understand the problem can use this to their advantage, by setting "implement the best practice" as their main goal.
This creates ~0 value.
"This has been industry standard for years" is "But this is how we've always done it" for bad UX design.
January 6, 2026 at 9:16 PM
All SaaS products merge and mutate towards the most general of purposes. They collect each others features and use "best practices" to absorb them.
They become big blobs with a logo and we only use them because the boss paid for a subscription
They become big blobs with a logo and we only use them because the boss paid for a subscription
The more universal a "best practice" is, the less it will be relevant to your specific problem.
Managers who are not willing to take the time to understand the problem can use this to their advantage, by setting "implement the best practice" as their main goal.
This creates ~0 value.
Managers who are not willing to take the time to understand the problem can use this to their advantage, by setting "implement the best practice" as their main goal.
This creates ~0 value.
"This has been industry standard for years" is "But this is how we've always done it" for bad UX design.
January 6, 2026 at 9:03 PM
The more universal a "best practice" is, the less it will be relevant to your specific problem.
Managers who are not willing to take the time to understand the problem can use this to their advantage, by setting "implement the best practice" as their main goal.
This creates ~0 value.
Managers who are not willing to take the time to understand the problem can use this to their advantage, by setting "implement the best practice" as their main goal.
This creates ~0 value.
It's incredible how much #UXsky has grown since 2023, when it was a primitive list of keywords on goodfeeds and used by about 10 people. You could catch up on a month of posts in a minute.
Now it gets enough posts to scroll all day, and is even big enough to have its own Main Character (derogatory)
Now it gets enough posts to scroll all day, and is even big enough to have its own Main Character (derogatory)
January 6, 2026 at 8:56 PM
It's incredible how much #UXsky has grown since 2023, when it was a primitive list of keywords on goodfeeds and used by about 10 people. You could catch up on a month of posts in a minute.
Now it gets enough posts to scroll all day, and is even big enough to have its own Main Character (derogatory)
Now it gets enough posts to scroll all day, and is even big enough to have its own Main Character (derogatory)
The Bible: faith without works is dead
Bros: No problem! we will simply have Christianity without either faith or works
Bros: No problem! we will simply have Christianity without either faith or works
Scott Adams announcing his upcoming conversion to Christianity and mentioning Pascal's wager but nothing about forgiveness, or love, or changing anything is kind of emblematic of the last decade of high-profile "conversions".
January 6, 2026 at 8:18 PM
The Bible: faith without works is dead
Bros: No problem! we will simply have Christianity without either faith or works
Bros: No problem! we will simply have Christianity without either faith or works
Reposted by Pavel
If you want to know who took all of your money, it's the people with all of the money. Famously, we know that's people working in child care.
January 2, 2026 at 8:53 PM
If you want to know who took all of your money, it's the people with all of the money. Famously, we know that's people working in child care.
My hunch is that bsky could do this easily without touching the algorithm, simply by adding a "downvote" button that does nothing on the backend
it is kind of funny how fixing the discovery feed would probably fix the experience for at least 70% of the users on here
agreed, and part of it is the algo needs to sort "ah the ref really blew it on that Hampstercageshire offsides" [insert reference to officiating of whatever sport you don't follow here] type content better
January 6, 2026 at 7:50 PM
My hunch is that bsky could do this easily without touching the algorithm, simply by adding a "downvote" button that does nothing on the backend
Friction is texture, and sometimes that texture is olfactory.
sometimes design friction is correct. like if you're an adult you should regularly hear "where's the trash can" from guests, because the correct answer to that question is: "hidden, because there is trash in it"
January 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Friction is texture, and sometimes that texture is olfactory.
If the product design looks like this, I just assume it will not work.
It’s 2026, we’re all worried about AI taking over design but check this UX out...
Let me explain:
We stayed over at Blackwood Forest over xmas.
When we arrived, I plugged the car into the electric charging point.
After it was charged I tried to release the charging cable.
Let me explain:
We stayed over at Blackwood Forest over xmas.
When we arrived, I plugged the car into the electric charging point.
After it was charged I tried to release the charging cable.
January 6, 2026 at 6:59 PM
If the product design looks like this, I just assume it will not work.
Reposted by Pavel
You cannot technically explain yourself out of UX issues, please stop trying.
So often I see users bring up UX issues, and programmers then tell them how much work it was to create their product.
It doesn't matter how much work it was!! What matters is if your target audience uses it or not.
So often I see users bring up UX issues, and programmers then tell them how much work it was to create their product.
It doesn't matter how much work it was!! What matters is if your target audience uses it or not.
January 6, 2026 at 8:24 AM
You cannot technically explain yourself out of UX issues, please stop trying.
So often I see users bring up UX issues, and programmers then tell them how much work it was to create their product.
It doesn't matter how much work it was!! What matters is if your target audience uses it or not.
So often I see users bring up UX issues, and programmers then tell them how much work it was to create their product.
It doesn't matter how much work it was!! What matters is if your target audience uses it or not.
Reposted by Pavel
also worth remarking that responding to "why can't AI replace you?" is a failure of framing, which @anthonymoser.com advises us that we should always Kirbyrize:
![Frame ("F is happening!"): Why can't AI replace you?"
Negation ("F is not true!"): [grovel for your job]
Kirby (K is happening. That's why they're saying F): THEY ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO PROVE THAT AI CAN REPLACE ANYTHING!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ulsvrqhqegjw5gh7lxyav4yq/bafkreigp7xoa3b272bg4ltybxugdiluylkgww52etughqxvznxdjoj7cia@jpeg)
January 6, 2026 at 5:26 PM
also worth remarking that responding to "why can't AI replace you?" is a failure of framing, which @anthonymoser.com advises us that we should always Kirbyrize:
Reposted by Pavel
What I've observed about UX: the original sin of UX is that it is FUNDAMENTALLY about saving The People In Charge from themselves. This requires telling them that they are wrong. The People In Charge often* HATE being told they're wrong.
*If they lack wisdom and self control, which they often do
*If they lack wisdom and self control, which they often do
"What is the ROI of UX?" is shaped like a question, but it is actually two hostile premises:
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
January 6, 2026 at 4:49 PM
What I've observed about UX: the original sin of UX is that it is FUNDAMENTALLY about saving The People In Charge from themselves. This requires telling them that they are wrong. The People In Charge often* HATE being told they're wrong.
*If they lack wisdom and self control, which they often do
*If they lack wisdom and self control, which they often do
This is why "build-measure-learn" does not work: no one is willing to accept the consequences of their actions, and so a substantial amount of work goes into DESTROYING decision provenance.
"We'll try it this way to see if it works" becomes "we Decided so we must Commit" even if new data comes in.
"We'll try it this way to see if it works" becomes "we Decided so we must Commit" even if new data comes in.
“if you assume that design should *own* those decisions, prepare to get shut out by the established power centers lmao”
Hey, chin up, we’ll always have the grim consolation of chuckling bleakly and muttering “told you so” under our breath when the results play out in a few quarters
Hey, chin up, we’ll always have the grim consolation of chuckling bleakly and muttering “told you so” under our breath when the results play out in a few quarters
January 6, 2026 at 4:33 PM
This is why "build-measure-learn" does not work: no one is willing to accept the consequences of their actions, and so a substantial amount of work goes into DESTROYING decision provenance.
"We'll try it this way to see if it works" becomes "we Decided so we must Commit" even if new data comes in.
"We'll try it this way to see if it works" becomes "we Decided so we must Commit" even if new data comes in.
Adding AI-generated images to your article is the 2020s equivalent of drowning your PowerPoint in clipart.
We do not need to see another picture of blue floating heads and gears connected by glowing lines. It does not help you make your point.
It just makes your thinking come across as low-rent.
We do not need to see another picture of blue floating heads and gears connected by glowing lines. It does not help you make your point.
It just makes your thinking come across as low-rent.
January 6, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Adding AI-generated images to your article is the 2020s equivalent of drowning your PowerPoint in clipart.
We do not need to see another picture of blue floating heads and gears connected by glowing lines. It does not help you make your point.
It just makes your thinking come across as low-rent.
We do not need to see another picture of blue floating heads and gears connected by glowing lines. It does not help you make your point.
It just makes your thinking come across as low-rent.
Stackoverflow is DEAD dead, huh.
ploum (@ploum@mamot.fr)
Attached: 1 image
This is the evolution of the number of new questions per month on Stack Overflow.
Which is one of the main source of data for ChatGPT&co.
People using ChatGPT to program will be s...
mamot.fr
January 6, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Stackoverflow is DEAD dead, huh.
*mournfully, in a thick Russian accent* they yassified Vladimir Lenin
A decision was made to make Hegel wonderfully, unnecessarily blonde and I support it.
January 6, 2026 at 2:12 PM
*mournfully, in a thick Russian accent* they yassified Vladimir Lenin
Reposted by Pavel
Seasonally Assured Destruction
December 17, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Seasonally Assured Destruction
I sure hope LLM vendors didn't get addicted to cheap compute
AWS raises GPU prices 15% on a Saturday
: An anomaly or the beginning of a new trend? My bet's on the latter
www.theregister.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:59 PM
I sure hope LLM vendors didn't get addicted to cheap compute
"What is the ROI of UX?" is shaped like a question, but it is actually two hostile premises:
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
January 6, 2026 at 1:27 PM
"What is the ROI of UX?" is shaped like a question, but it is actually two hostile premises:
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
Going to the truthstore to get some truthstory
So there is this “truthstorian” word, and I think that historians should know this. #skystorians #truthstorians
January 6, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Going to the truthstore to get some truthstory
Reposted by Pavel
> To no one’s surprise, building towards fake productivity metrics rather than real user outcomes makes doing good work essentially impossible. Rather than optimizing the user experience, teams are incentivized to tweak their metrics collection processes
VCs fund companies who get on the latest hype train. But when the product doesn't solve any real problems, showing "progress" is impossible!
So a lot of people are going to come back to the office this week and set goals based on what activity is easiest to measure, rather than what is important.
So a lot of people are going to come back to the office this week and set goals based on what activity is easiest to measure, rather than what is important.
Your metrics are an avoidance strategy
Being able to quantify outcomes doesn't make them meaningful. Moving past artificial metrics requires building shared intention with colleagues.
productpicnic.beehiiv.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:05 PM
> To no one’s surprise, building towards fake productivity metrics rather than real user outcomes makes doing good work essentially impossible. Rather than optimizing the user experience, teams are incentivized to tweak their metrics collection processes