On craft
Featured · Essay August 2025 7 min read

On craft, and why it cannot be faked

Craft is not a polish you apply at the end. It is a discipline that begins with the first sketch and ends with the last commit. A reflection on what we mean when we say a thing is well-made.

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02 — All articles

Recent writing.

The designer who codes
Practice July 2025 9 min read

The designer who codes — a defense

A response to the recent debate about whether designers should learn to code. Spoiler: they should, but not for the reasons you think.

Dark mode as default
Studio June 2025 5 min read

Dark mode as default — a position

Why our studio ships dark-first. The reasoning is not aesthetic; it is about hierarchy, focus, and the medium itself.

On texture and material
Essay May 2025 7 min read

On texture, and the honest material

A note on grain, weight, and the small imperfections that make a brand feel real. Why we are suspicious of gloss.

A studio of one
Studio April 2025 4 min read

A studio of one — lessons from solo practice

Before MERIDIAN was a team, it was one person. What we kept from those years, and what we gladly left behind.

The brief is the work
Process March 2025 6 min read

The brief is the work

Half of a project is won or lost before design begins. A short note on how we write briefs that survive contact with reality.

Against the hero image
Opinion February 2025 5 min read

Against the hero image

A gentle argument against the giant stock photo at the top of every website. There are other ways to begin.

Quiet interfaces
Craft January 2025 9 min read

Quiet interfaces — motion as restraint

Why the best interface animations are the ones you do not notice. A short treatise on easing, timing, and silence.

On colour
Essay December 2024 7 min read

On colour, and the courage to use less

A note on palettes built from restraint. Why one accent, well chosen, will outperform a system of ten.

The long brief
Studio November 2024 6 min read

The long brief — a year with one client

A case study in patience. What a year of close collaboration taught us about brand stewardship.

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