As a longtime Apple fanboy, it's a little hard for me to appreciate the visual design of Windows—Microsoft is a nemesis, if you will. But I will tip my hat to the design practitioners there who've made the company finally pay attention to design.

Side note, reminds me of a story about what Steve Jobs once told me when I was designing the welcome animation for Mac OS X.

Screenshot of a Windows desktop

A glimpse into the history of Windows design

At the turn of the millennium, the widespread adoption of Microsoft Windows was a pivotal moment in technology. It played a crucial role in the integration of personal computers into both business and home environments. Windows introduced features that revolutionized network management and enhanced support for mobile computing, paving the way for the modern, connected workplace. Harold Gomez, Jeremy Knudsen, and Kim Sealls are three designers at Microsoft who have contributed to Windows design since 2000 and witnessed its design evolution. From the iconic Windows XP to the sleek Windows 11, Windows has constantly evolved to reflect the changing needs and preferences of users worldwide. In this roundtable discussion, we delve into the remarkable journey of Windows design.

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ui design
design history
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Thank You, Steve
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Thank You, Steve

While working at Apple, I had the unique experience of presenting the Mac OS X Panther setup animation directly to Steve Jobs. After 14 rounds of revisions, his dedication to perfection taught me an invaluable lesson: Keep going until it's right. Don't settle.

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A Short History of iOS App Icons

Writing about the big beautiful mess that is making things for the world wide web.