Letter from the Editor
What do people really want from design writing? More importantly, what can people do without?
Our mission for A Brief Message is a simple one : we want to give you design criticism in short form. We want you to do without. And we’re betting that brevity paired with smart editorial — and the occasional felicitous illustration — will go a long way.
Khoi Vinh, ABM’s founder and creative director, wrote me one evening with an impassioned appeal for help with a new project — “It will be quick, readable design.” I was immediately sold.
With increasing sources for design reading and decreasing time to keep up, I looked at it as a large nod toward consilience. There’s a need for less, a need for approachable wisdom, and a silent plea for constraints.
By the time you finish reading each Message, you’ll hardly have finished a cup of coffee or taken the after-lunch stretch. Before you know it, it will be over. Just like that. And just like that you’ll know more. You’ll have more opinions. More context. More inspiration.
Our hope is that you’ll get a lot from what the authors say, but even more from what they don’t.
Liz Danzico is Editor-in-Chief for A Brief Message, Information Architect at Happy Cog Studios, and author of Bobulate.com.
Remarks 12 total remarks were added before the post was closed.
Travis Gertz
Nice.
Can't wait to see more… even just to see how the unique design per post works out.
Matthew McVickar
Though certain messages in my trash suggest that 10nge=R is in fact better, I'm betting big on your approach. This is exciting — please keep pushing and setting the standard like this. Thanks!
Lisa Firke
I loved the idea when you previewed this at An Event Apart, and am going to love getting a weekly dose of design brevity. Congratulations on the launch!
Shane
This is a fantastic idea. I can't wait to see more.
Dylan Kahler
Superb concept!
All too often, online design commentary is messy and verbose. This project seems likely to upset that imbalance, especially if others follow suit.
Congrats on the launch.
Erin Malone
Congrats on your launch. Looking forward to the ongoing dialog.
Jonathan Barrett
Like all great ideas, this is so simple and so brilliant, but also so obvious, that I'm kicking myself for not having done it before.
Beautiful. I predict a lot of blogs follow suit.
I hope so.
Jonathan E
This is such a great idea. I'm sure everyone at one point or another has marked an post as "read" in their RSS reader just because they saw how long it was and realized that they just didn't have the time to read through it completely.
I don't think that will ever happen with this site. Great idea!
Chuz
Interesting... I'll be back for sure.
Bruce
I absolutely love the format and the meme. Talking about design from within constraint has an edge of balance that's critical to understanding the balance in design at all. Kudos.
Mark
Finally, something I actually have time to read in its entirety. Thank you for not forcing me to skim.
Ron K
At this moment disappointed you are so new, so few brief messages. But a mixed blessing, gotta run.
Concept reminds me of an inspirational premise:
I didn't have time to write you a short letter so I wrote a long one instead.