Benoit
@pixel-one.bsky.social
Designing success for B2B SaaS. Advocate for continuous improvement + elegant design. Posts on design trends + company growth
We rejected 2 paid projects this month
And that's where we get our 3+ year retention rate.
Here's how we operate at Pixel One:
We look at what was successful and work backwards to figure out what made it work.
And that's where we get our 3+ year retention rate.
Here's how we operate at Pixel One:
We look at what was successful and work backwards to figure out what made it work.
December 22, 2025 at 2:34 PM
We rejected 2 paid projects this month
And that's where we get our 3+ year retention rate.
Here's how we operate at Pixel One:
We look at what was successful and work backwards to figure out what made it work.
And that's where we get our 3+ year retention rate.
Here's how we operate at Pixel One:
We look at what was successful and work backwards to figure out what made it work.
My wife said she’d never work for me.
This is someone who loves me and knows me better than anyone.
She said she would never work for me (that stung more than I expected)
I always thought of myself as someone who wasn't overly harsh (I didn't want to be that kind of leader)
This is someone who loves me and knows me better than anyone.
She said she would never work for me (that stung more than I expected)
I always thought of myself as someone who wasn't overly harsh (I didn't want to be that kind of leader)
December 19, 2025 at 4:17 PM
My wife said she’d never work for me.
This is someone who loves me and knows me better than anyone.
She said she would never work for me (that stung more than I expected)
I always thought of myself as someone who wasn't overly harsh (I didn't want to be that kind of leader)
This is someone who loves me and knows me better than anyone.
She said she would never work for me (that stung more than I expected)
I always thought of myself as someone who wasn't overly harsh (I didn't want to be that kind of leader)
AI rewards speed but hides the lack of taste
A lot of designers are offloading their work to AI,
They're using ChatGPT, Cursor, and Lovable to prototype instead of opening Figma.
I get the appeal, and the speed is undeniable.
A lot of designers are offloading their work to AI,
They're using ChatGPT, Cursor, and Lovable to prototype instead of opening Figma.
I get the appeal, and the speed is undeniable.
December 17, 2025 at 4:17 PM
AI rewards speed but hides the lack of taste
A lot of designers are offloading their work to AI,
They're using ChatGPT, Cursor, and Lovable to prototype instead of opening Figma.
I get the appeal, and the speed is undeniable.
A lot of designers are offloading their work to AI,
They're using ChatGPT, Cursor, and Lovable to prototype instead of opening Figma.
I get the appeal, and the speed is undeniable.
I run Pixel One like it’s a company 10X bigger
In my head, I'm constantly thinking about the company as if we're bigger than we actually are.
I have the skills and vision to operate at a much larger scale than where we currently are.
In my head, I'm constantly thinking about the company as if we're bigger than we actually are.
I have the skills and vision to operate at a much larger scale than where we currently are.
December 16, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I run Pixel One like it’s a company 10X bigger
In my head, I'm constantly thinking about the company as if we're bigger than we actually are.
I have the skills and vision to operate at a much larger scale than where we currently are.
In my head, I'm constantly thinking about the company as if we're bigger than we actually are.
I have the skills and vision to operate at a much larger scale than where we currently are.
UI is harder to master than UX.
I know that sounds backwards,
UX has a formula:
Listen to users, understand their needs, iterate based on feedback, and show empathy. Follow those steps, and you'll eventually get to good UX.
UI doesn't work that way.
I know that sounds backwards,
UX has a formula:
Listen to users, understand their needs, iterate based on feedback, and show empathy. Follow those steps, and you'll eventually get to good UX.
UI doesn't work that way.
December 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
UI is harder to master than UX.
I know that sounds backwards,
UX has a formula:
Listen to users, understand their needs, iterate based on feedback, and show empathy. Follow those steps, and you'll eventually get to good UX.
UI doesn't work that way.
I know that sounds backwards,
UX has a formula:
Listen to users, understand their needs, iterate based on feedback, and show empathy. Follow those steps, and you'll eventually get to good UX.
UI doesn't work that way.
I run Pixel One like it’s a company 10X bigger
In my head, I'm constantly thinking about the company as if we're bigger than we actually are.
I have the skills and vision to operate at a much larger scale than where we currently are.
In my head, I'm constantly thinking about the company as if we're bigger than we actually are.
I have the skills and vision to operate at a much larger scale than where we currently are.
December 13, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I run Pixel One like it’s a company 10X bigger
In my head, I'm constantly thinking about the company as if we're bigger than we actually are.
I have the skills and vision to operate at a much larger scale than where we currently are.
In my head, I'm constantly thinking about the company as if we're bigger than we actually are.
I have the skills and vision to operate at a much larger scale than where we currently are.
A client texted mid-project: "I'm scared this won't work."
We were 3 days into a 4-week sprint to build an entirely new product from scratch.
It was a complex niche with a new tool we'd never used, and even the client didn't have full clarity on what they wanted.
We were 3 days into a 4-week sprint to build an entirely new product from scratch.
It was a complex niche with a new tool we'd never used, and even the client didn't have full clarity on what they wanted.
December 11, 2025 at 4:18 PM
A client texted mid-project: "I'm scared this won't work."
We were 3 days into a 4-week sprint to build an entirely new product from scratch.
It was a complex niche with a new tool we'd never used, and even the client didn't have full clarity on what they wanted.
We were 3 days into a 4-week sprint to build an entirely new product from scratch.
It was a complex niche with a new tool we'd never used, and even the client didn't have full clarity on what they wanted.
4,000 artists competed for a Star Wars job.
Star Wars needed concept artists.
We helped them find talent the world had never seen.
ArtStation ran a challenge to recruit concept artists for Star Wars.
We did NOT go with a typical job posting (obviously)
Star Wars needed concept artists.
We helped them find talent the world had never seen.
ArtStation ran a challenge to recruit concept artists for Star Wars.
We did NOT go with a typical job posting (obviously)
November 20, 2025 at 3:01 PM
4,000 artists competed for a Star Wars job.
Star Wars needed concept artists.
We helped them find talent the world had never seen.
ArtStation ran a challenge to recruit concept artists for Star Wars.
We did NOT go with a typical job posting (obviously)
Star Wars needed concept artists.
We helped them find talent the world had never seen.
ArtStation ran a challenge to recruit concept artists for Star Wars.
We did NOT go with a typical job posting (obviously)
9 out of 10 “final ideas” from clients fall apart when we start asking “WHY”
Someone comes to us with a complete solution already figured out. They just need us to design it.
We push back.
People hire us because we're experts.
If we just say yes to everything, we're not adding value.
Someone comes to us with a complete solution already figured out. They just need us to design it.
We push back.
People hire us because we're experts.
If we just say yes to everything, we're not adding value.
November 17, 2025 at 3:10 PM
9 out of 10 “final ideas” from clients fall apart when we start asking “WHY”
Someone comes to us with a complete solution already figured out. They just need us to design it.
We push back.
People hire us because we're experts.
If we just say yes to everything, we're not adding value.
Someone comes to us with a complete solution already figured out. They just need us to design it.
We push back.
People hire us because we're experts.
If we just say yes to everything, we're not adding value.
The secret to closing 100% of leads? NOT sharing your portfolio.
If you've been to our website, you know we don't really have a place where we show all of our projects.
And there's a very specific reason for that.
If you've been to our website, you know we don't really have a place where we show all of our projects.
And there's a very specific reason for that.
November 12, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The secret to closing 100% of leads? NOT sharing your portfolio.
If you've been to our website, you know we don't really have a place where we show all of our projects.
And there's a very specific reason for that.
If you've been to our website, you know we don't really have a place where we show all of our projects.
And there's a very specific reason for that.
After 200+ UX audits, one pattern keeps showing up…
Products fail when you design for process instead of behavior.
FirstClose works in settlement services for real estate transactions.
Products fail when you design for process instead of behavior.
FirstClose works in settlement services for real estate transactions.
November 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
After 200+ UX audits, one pattern keeps showing up…
Products fail when you design for process instead of behavior.
FirstClose works in settlement services for real estate transactions.
Products fail when you design for process instead of behavior.
FirstClose works in settlement services for real estate transactions.
You’re leaving $$$ on the table by settling for "good enough" design.
The biggest misconception founders and VPs have about design ROI is,
They still think design is a function of engineering constraints.
Even now. In 2025.
The biggest misconception founders and VPs have about design ROI is,
They still think design is a function of engineering constraints.
Even now. In 2025.
October 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM
You’re leaving $$$ on the table by settling for "good enough" design.
The biggest misconception founders and VPs have about design ROI is,
They still think design is a function of engineering constraints.
Even now. In 2025.
The biggest misconception founders and VPs have about design ROI is,
They still think design is a function of engineering constraints.
Even now. In 2025.
A (painful) reality check for seed-stage founders:
Traction ≠ time to scale.
// You’ve raised funding.
// You’re getting traction.
// Everyone’s telling you to "scale fast."
But most waste 6+ months and $50K+ building the wrong thing at the wrong time.
Traction ≠ time to scale.
// You’ve raised funding.
// You’re getting traction.
// Everyone’s telling you to "scale fast."
But most waste 6+ months and $50K+ building the wrong thing at the wrong time.
September 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
A (painful) reality check for seed-stage founders:
Traction ≠ time to scale.
// You’ve raised funding.
// You’re getting traction.
// Everyone’s telling you to "scale fast."
But most waste 6+ months and $50K+ building the wrong thing at the wrong time.
Traction ≠ time to scale.
// You’ve raised funding.
// You’re getting traction.
// Everyone’s telling you to "scale fast."
But most waste 6+ months and $50K+ building the wrong thing at the wrong time.
The hire looked perfect on paper. 6 weeks later, we lost 2 clients.
The most expensive mistake building @PixelOne wasn't pricing or bad clients....
It was hiring (talented people who didn't buy into how we work)
A secret about @PixelOne: We're intentionally low-key.
The most expensive mistake building @PixelOne wasn't pricing or bad clients....
It was hiring (talented people who didn't buy into how we work)
A secret about @PixelOne: We're intentionally low-key.
September 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
The hire looked perfect on paper. 6 weeks later, we lost 2 clients.
The most expensive mistake building @PixelOne wasn't pricing or bad clients....
It was hiring (talented people who didn't buy into how we work)
A secret about @PixelOne: We're intentionally low-key.
The most expensive mistake building @PixelOne wasn't pricing or bad clients....
It was hiring (talented people who didn't buy into how we work)
A secret about @PixelOne: We're intentionally low-key.
We do a "win in 2 weeks" guarantee (even though we don’t need to)
Funny story, we have never had to use it (to date)
Some people are skeptical when they hear it.
Honestly, it sounds like marketing fluff, right?
The real story behind it:
Funny story, we have never had to use it (to date)
Some people are skeptical when they hear it.
Honestly, it sounds like marketing fluff, right?
The real story behind it:
September 23, 2025 at 2:04 PM
We do a "win in 2 weeks" guarantee (even though we don’t need to)
Funny story, we have never had to use it (to date)
Some people are skeptical when they hear it.
Honestly, it sounds like marketing fluff, right?
The real story behind it:
Funny story, we have never had to use it (to date)
Some people are skeptical when they hear it.
Honestly, it sounds like marketing fluff, right?
The real story behind it:
Picasso could’ve played it safe. We’d never remember his name
Artists do what designers rarely attempt.
Artists create by rejecting what society expects.
They're unafraid to follow through with their vision.
Take Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon,
Artists do what designers rarely attempt.
Artists create by rejecting what society expects.
They're unafraid to follow through with their vision.
Take Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon,
September 12, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Picasso could’ve played it safe. We’d never remember his name
Artists do what designers rarely attempt.
Artists create by rejecting what society expects.
They're unafraid to follow through with their vision.
Take Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon,
Artists do what designers rarely attempt.
Artists create by rejecting what society expects.
They're unafraid to follow through with their vision.
Take Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon,
☀️ Appointment Booking Modal
September 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
☀️ Appointment Booking Modal
The pattern across all these choices?
Notion removes decisions, not features.
They'd rather frustrate power users than confuse new ones.
They optimize for the 80%, not the 20%.
Notion removes decisions, not features.
They'd rather frustrate power users than confuse new ones.
They optimize for the 80%, not the 20%.
August 27, 2025 at 6:13 PM
The pattern across all these choices?
Notion removes decisions, not features.
They'd rather frustrate power users than confuse new ones.
They optimize for the 80%, not the 20%.
Notion removes decisions, not features.
They'd rather frustrate power users than confuse new ones.
They optimize for the 80%, not the 20%.
6/ Their welcome page does almost nothing
Just "Click anywhere to start" on a blank canvas.
No tour. No feature callouts. No helpful links to guides.
Generic gray avatars. No color options.
This "laziness" is strategic:
Just "Click anywhere to start" on a blank canvas.
No tour. No feature callouts. No helpful links to guides.
Generic gray avatars. No color options.
This "laziness" is strategic:
August 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
6/ Their welcome page does almost nothing
Just "Click anywhere to start" on a blank canvas.
No tour. No feature callouts. No helpful links to guides.
Generic gray avatars. No color options.
This "laziness" is strategic:
Just "Click anywhere to start" on a blank canvas.
No tour. No feature callouts. No helpful links to guides.
Generic gray avatars. No color options.
This "laziness" is strategic:
5/ They accept ugly inconsistencies
Button sizes vary randomly. "Request Demo" is blue nowhere else.
CTA styles change page to page. Some black, some blue, some compact.
They could standardize easily. Here's why they don't:
Button sizes vary randomly. "Request Demo" is blue nowhere else.
CTA styles change page to page. Some black, some blue, some compact.
They could standardize easily. Here's why they don't:
August 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
5/ They accept ugly inconsistencies
Button sizes vary randomly. "Request Demo" is blue nowhere else.
CTA styles change page to page. Some black, some blue, some compact.
They could standardize easily. Here's why they don't:
Button sizes vary randomly. "Request Demo" is blue nowhere else.
CTA styles change page to page. Some black, some blue, some compact.
They could standardize easily. Here's why they don't:
4/ Their onboarding recognizes your company
Type a pixelone.com email? It shows "Join Pixel One workspace."
No searching. No invites needed. One click to join.
But here's what's clever:
Type a pixelone.com email? It shows "Join Pixel One workspace."
No searching. No invites needed. One click to join.
But here's what's clever:
August 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
4/ Their onboarding recognizes your company
Type a pixelone.com email? It shows "Join Pixel One workspace."
No searching. No invites needed. One click to join.
But here's what's clever:
Type a pixelone.com email? It shows "Join Pixel One workspace."
No searching. No invites needed. One click to join.
But here's what's clever:
3/ They force you to pick ONE use case
Work, School, or Personal. No multi-select allowed.
Users want both options. Notion says no.
This constraint that frustrates users actually increases activation.
Work, School, or Personal. No multi-select allowed.
Users want both options. Notion says no.
This constraint that frustrates users actually increases activation.
August 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
3/ They force you to pick ONE use case
Work, School, or Personal. No multi-select allowed.
Users want both options. Notion says no.
This constraint that frustrates users actually increases activation.
Work, School, or Personal. No multi-select allowed.
Users want both options. Notion says no.
This constraint that frustrates users actually increases activation.
Apollo has 3 CTAs competing for attention. Linear has both "Get Started" and "Book Demo" equally prominent.
Result? Users freeze from choice paralysis.
Notion forces ONE decision: "Get Notion Free."
Zero competition means faster decisions.
Result? Users freeze from choice paralysis.
Notion forces ONE decision: "Get Notion Free."
Zero competition means faster decisions.
August 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Apollo has 3 CTAs competing for attention. Linear has both "Get Started" and "Book Demo" equally prominent.
Result? Users freeze from choice paralysis.
Notion forces ONE decision: "Get Notion Free."
Zero competition means faster decisions.
Result? Users freeze from choice paralysis.
Notion forces ONE decision: "Get Notion Free."
Zero competition means faster decisions.
1/ They hide their #2 CTA completely
"Request a demo" isn't a button next to login. It's buried as plain text in the navigation menu beside "Explore."
No special styling. No emphasis. Almost invisible.
Why this works:
"Request a demo" isn't a button next to login. It's buried as plain text in the navigation menu beside "Explore."
No special styling. No emphasis. Almost invisible.
Why this works:
August 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
1/ They hide their #2 CTA completely
"Request a demo" isn't a button next to login. It's buried as plain text in the navigation menu beside "Explore."
No special styling. No emphasis. Almost invisible.
Why this works:
"Request a demo" isn't a button next to login. It's buried as plain text in the navigation menu beside "Explore."
No special styling. No emphasis. Almost invisible.
Why this works:
Notion is worth $10 billion.
But their website looks like it was made on a $5 budget.
Plain, minimal, almost boring - but it was ALL intentional.
The 6 'ugly' design tricks that secretly built a $10B company: ⬇️
But their website looks like it was made on a $5 budget.
Plain, minimal, almost boring - but it was ALL intentional.
The 6 'ugly' design tricks that secretly built a $10B company: ⬇️
August 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Notion is worth $10 billion.
But their website looks like it was made on a $5 budget.
Plain, minimal, almost boring - but it was ALL intentional.
The 6 'ugly' design tricks that secretly built a $10B company: ⬇️
But their website looks like it was made on a $5 budget.
Plain, minimal, almost boring - but it was ALL intentional.
The 6 'ugly' design tricks that secretly built a $10B company: ⬇️