Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Bring Back Idiomatic Design (2023)

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

4 Dominant Themes in the Discussion | Theme | Supporting Quote |

|-------|------------------| | 1. Collapse of consistent UI idioms – “the loss of design idioms” is repeatedly blamed on custom, ad‑hoc UI work rather than shared system frameworks. | “UX has gotten from something with a cause to being the cause for something” — LunicLynx | | 2. Preference for native/standard controls – Users argue that built‑in HTML elements or platform widgets are clearer and more reliable than bespoke components. | “Icons are faster to recognize, but words tell you what the icons need. So you need the words at first to discover the icons, then the icons serve as valuable tools for scanning” — tgv (emphasising “use the words first”) | | 3. Critique of modern design trends – Flat, mobile‑first, and “squircle” aesthetics are called out as unnecessary fads that obscure usability (e.g., hidden scrollbars, round check‑boxes). | “I think Apple does stuff like this because a) they can get away with it and b) they know countless competitors who can't get away with it will blindly follow their shitty new design paradigm” — suzzer99 | | 4. Branding vs. usability tension – Companies prioritize visual branding and custom design systems over consistent, user‑friendly patterns, leading to fragmented experiences. | “Design is more than styling, it is also behaviour and state, which is what react helps you encapsulate in a component” — squidsoup (highlighting the shift toward brand‑driven design) |

All quotations are taken verbatim from the discussion with the attributed username in double quotes.


🚀 Project Ideas

Idiomatic Design Enforcer

Summary

  • [A browser extension that analyzes websites and highlights non-idiomatic UI elements, providing real-time feedback to designers and developers.]
  • [Promotes consistency and usability by enforcing standard HTML controls and design patterns.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Web designers, developers, UX/UI professionals
Core Feature Real-time analysis and feedback on UI inconsistencies
Tech Stack Browser extension (JavaScript, CSS), AI for pattern recognition
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby (open-source with optional premium features)

Notes

  • [HN commenters would appreciate the focus on usability and consistency, addressing frustrations with non-standard UI elements.]
  • [Potential for discussion on the balance between creativity and usability in design.]

Standard UI Component Library

Summary

  • [A comprehensive library of standard HTML components with consistent styling and behavior across platforms.]
  • [Reduces the need for custom implementations and ensures a uniform user experience.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Web developers, designers
Core Feature Pre-built, accessible, and customizable UI components
Tech Stack HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Web Components
Difficulty High
Monetization Revenue-ready: Subscription model for premium features and support

Notes

  • [Addresses the pain point of inconsistent UI elements by providing a reliable, standardized solution.]
  • [Potential for discussion on the importance of accessibility and usability in design.]

UX Consistency Checker

Summary

  • [A tool that audits websites for UX inconsistencies and provides actionable recommendations for improvement.]
  • [Helps teams maintain a cohesive design language across their digital products.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience UX/UI teams, product managers
Core Feature Automated UX audits and improvement suggestions
Tech Stack Web scraping, AI analysis, reporting dashboard
Difficulty High
Monetization Revenue-ready: SaaS model with tiered pricing based on usage]

Notes

  • [HN commenters would value the focus on improving UX consistency and reducing user frustration.]
  • [Potential for discussion on the role of AI in enhancing design processes.]

Idiomatic Design Guidelines

Summary

  • [A comprehensive guide and toolkit for implementing idiomatic design principles across web and mobile platforms.]
  • [Provides best practices, templates, and resources for creating consistent and user-friendly interfaces.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Designers, developers, product teams
Core Feature Guidelines, templates, and resources for idiomatic design
Tech Stack Documentation, templates, design system components
Difficulty Low
Monetization Hobby (open-source with community contributions)]

Notes

  • [Addresses the need for clear, actionable guidelines to promote idiomatic design.]
  • [Potential for discussion on the evolution of design standards and best practices.]

UI Consistency API

Summary

  • [An API that standardizes UI components and interactions across different platforms and devices.]
  • [Ensures a seamless user experience by providing a consistent interface for developers to implement.]

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Developers, platform providers
Core Feature Standardized API for UI components and interactions
Tech Stack RESTful API, JSON, Web Components
Difficulty High
Monetization Revenue-ready: API usage-based pricing model]

Notes

  • [HN commenters would appreciate the focus on reducing fragmentation and improving cross-platform consistency.]
  • [Potential for discussion on the challenges of implementing and maintaining such an API.]

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