In this episode, Luigi and Ravi literally go into Blank Street Coffee, a coffee company that's been making waves in the industry. From their remarkable financial achievements to their innovative approach to coffee-making, Blank Street Coffee is redefining the way we enjoy our daily caffeine mix.

Blank Street Coffee made headlines last year when they secured an astonishing $67 million in funding from high-profile venture capital funds like General Catalyst and Tiger Global, as well as the founders of Allbirds and Warby Parker, and even the real estate giant Tishman Speyer. Learn how these investments have fueled their rapid expansion, with an incredible 60 shops sprouting around the world in just two years.

Luigi and Ravi discuss the purpose of ‘another’ coffee shop. Their mission is simple: serving a clean, natural, and high-quality menu to customers at affordable prices. At Blank Street, a 16-ounce iced latte priced at $4.25, competes with giants like Dunkin' ($3.75) and Starbucks ($5.50). As one co-founder puts it, they aim to be the go-to place for that "our goal is not to make the best coffee, we just make a really good cup of coffee that you drink twice a day, every day."

Lastly, they delve into the world of Eversys, the company behind the cutting-edge coffee machines that power Blank Street Coffee's success. Discover the partnership between Eversys and the De'Longhi Group, as well as their mission to elevate the role of the barista and let human skills flourish in coffee-making.

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In this episode, Luigi and Ravi explore a captivating blend of economics, architecture, and community impact. They begin with a curious observation about the new Oppenheimer film and the use of the Futura typeface. Then, followed by a dissection of the On Shoes' London in-store experience, has the On brand lived up to its brand standards? Shifting gears, Luigi and Ravi give us a glimpse of Real Madrid’s €1 billion Santiago Bernabeu's stadium rebuild, an endeavour set to redefine sports and tourism.

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In this episode, Luigi and Ravi dive into the world of multiplayer web apps, exploring how they revolutionize online interactions such as Figma, Google Docs, Notion, Call of Duty, and Mario Kart, highlighting the core networking components crucial for multiplayer live online experiences.

They discuss the complexities of maintaining synchronization among players and ensuring accurate representation of game events. They explore how making design decisions on networking architectures and protocols impact the trade-off between reliability and speed, making the difference in your user experience. Drawing insights from Call of Duty's "Favour the Shooter" rule, they illustrate how delayed data impacts the experience. Finally, Luigi and Ravi celebrate the immense value of multiplayer online experiences has brought to our society. Next time you encounter a multiplayer app experience, you will not look at it the same way.

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Arcade Font Design By Us episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/76uPu7kAqcU4bvJinTg3dt?si=1ovwAup8QKGAMHPZnt1p5w

What happens when you click undo (ctrl+Z): https://liveblocks.io/blog/how-to-build-undo-redo-in-a-multiplayer-environment

Figma as a file editor: https://digest.browsertech.com/archive/browsertech-digest-figma-is-a-file-editor/

The mother of all demos: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mother_of_All_Demos

How Figma works: https://www.figma.com/blog/how-figmas-multiplayer-technology-works/

Liveblocks: https://liveblocks.io

Reflect: https://reflect.net/

In this episode Ravi and Luigi discuss what learning Design looks like. Fresh off the back of graduating from Shillington College, Ravi shares some of the tips he picked up in this 9 month course. Plus: can you systematise creativity?

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In this episode, Luigi and Ravi explore Threads, the new social media app launched by Meta. Threads experienced unprecedented success, attracting 70 million users within its first few days and surpassing other Twitter competitors. Its integration with Instagram allowed for seamless profile and content transfer. Threads signifies a shift towards protocol-based social media, does it really? With plans to enable access to an open social media protocol in the future. Luigi and Ravi discuss the limitations of walled garden platforms and the advantages of open protocols, including increased competition and user control. They also emphasise the importance of user education and the development of compelling applications to drive adoption of protocol-based social media. The vision is a future where users have unified digital identities across platforms, fostering collaboration and growth within the social media landscape. Finally, Luigi and Ravi highlight the potential implications for users and companies, including the flexibility to switch platforms without starting from scratch and the opportunity for developers to innovate on shared social media infrastructure. So, what does the future of social media has in store for us?

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In this episode Luigi and Ravi revive one of the earlier episodes about a very important topic, that defines how we design a more inclusive world.

Inclusive Design enables the full range of human diversity by including a range of perspectives throughout the design process. In this episode, Luigi and Ravi talk about Microsoft’s eye-opening Inclusive Design Toolkit that enables designers to push their design thinking skills to fit a wider audience and create superior products.

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In this episode, Luigi and Ravi embark on an immersive journey to uncover the intricacies of the enhanced visionOS documentation. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for user experience, they explore the fundamental design characteristics that define visionOS. They showcase the limitless canvas provided by Apple Vision Pro, where virtual content seamlessly blends with the physical world. They shine a spotlight on the revolutionary Spatial Audio capabilities of visionOS. They guide viewers through captivating sound design explorations, such as opening a window with a touch of realism, and creating a serene and immersive soundscape. They emphasize the importance of maintaining a balance between providing meaningful feedback and avoiding overwhelming users, suggesting techniques like randomizing sound elements to enhance the overall experience. Luigi and Ravi highlight the integration of inclusive design and accessibility within visionOS. They delve into features like VoiceOver, Switch Control, and Guided Access, which empower users to personalize their interactions based on their specific needs.

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In this episode, Luigi and Ravi take a deep dive into the intriguing world of the Arc Browser in this episode of Design By Us. They'll explore the browser's features, design philosophy, and all the quirky aspects that make it either an interesting browsing experience or... well, maybe not so much! They explore the features, design philosophy, and unique aspects of this browser developed by The Browser Company. Also, they share their favorite features including what makes Arc special to them, and some predictions about where Arc might go in the future. Luigi and Ravi then shift their focus to The Browser Company's design system, shedding light on the brand architecture and the decision to give their first product a distinct name from the company itself. They delve into the company's unique branding approach and how they embody a scrappy mindset. Deep dive into the intriguing universe of the Arc Browser.

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In this episode, Luigi and Ravi explore the Apple Campus, an architectural marvel designed by Norman Foster. Opened in 2017, the campus embodies innovation and collaboration, with 175 acres of land and a main building worth $4.17 billion. Powered by 100% renewable energy and featuring the world's largest panels of curved glass, the campus is a symbol of Apple's commitment to sustainability. With 12,000 employees, the campus fosters creativity and idea-sharing through its design. The campus includes a 930m2 fitness center, the Steve Jobs Theatre, and unique offerings like baby clothes and a designated AR area. The Apple Campus synergizes with Pixar Campus, encouraging collaboration and cross-pollination of ideas. From the central cafeteria to the base isolation system, every aspect of the campus reflects Apple's dedication to excellence and employee well-being. Finally, they uncover the visionary design decisions and personal attachment of Steve Jobs to the Apple Campus.

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It's that time of the year again—WWDC is here! As it is tradition, Luigi and Ravi discuss the dive deep into all the exciting announcements made at Apple's annual developer conference. Apple announced their long-awaited mixed reality headset, VisionPro, along with other iOS, MacOS, and WatchOS features. Is the new era of spatial computing really here? This is a long one, enjoy!

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