Thoughts on design, AI, and building products https://robboyett.com en-gb Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://robboyett.com/journal/determinism-ai-ux/ https://robboyett.com/journal/determinism-ai-ux/ Fri, 07 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 A long read on command lines, GUIs, AI wreckage, integration patterns, and how to add AI without breaking the user. Scroll-driven reading experience. https://robboyett.com/journal/pocket-money-device/ https://robboyett.com/journal/pocket-money-device/ Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 From a balance display to a local ledger: an M5Stick and Raspberry Pi became a mini bank for sibling transfers. What I learned building a pocket-sized money device. https://robboyett.com/journal/51-million-no-receipts-ai-research/ https://robboyett.com/journal/51-million-no-receipts-ai-research/ Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Venture capital is pouring into synthetic research tools. I ran a parallel study—human vs synthetic—and the findings complicate the simple narratives on both sides. https://robboyett.com/journal/surface-trap/ https://robboyett.com/journal/surface-trap/ Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Why knowledge work feels exhausting and AI assistance underwhelming. We're locking our thinking into the wrong containers—surfaces that freeze insight into form instead of letting it compound. https://robboyett.com/journal/m5-monzo-display/ https://robboyett.com/journal/m5-monzo-display/ Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Connecting an M5Stick to the Monzo Bank API to build a live, physical display of my kids' bank balances. What happens when financial data becomes ambient and tangible? https://robboyett.com/journal/bringing-back-the-fun/ https://robboyett.com/journal/bringing-back-the-fun/ Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Why playfulness matters in digital craft, and a small experiment in making portfolios less static. Try the arrow keys. https://robboyett.com/journal/npm-design-method/ https://robboyett.com/journal/npm-design-method/ Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Engineering compounds knowledge through shared packages and open source. Design has the same tools now—so what's stopping it from doing the same? https://robboyett.com/journal/md-figjam/ https://robboyett.com/journal/md-figjam/ Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 A FigJam plugin to import and export sticky notes as markdown. Write in a simple format, define colours inline, and generate stickies in a grid. https://robboyett.com/journal/ux-insights-vscode/ https://robboyett.com/journal/ux-insights-vscode/ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 An experiment in co-locating research with code—making design context a first-class artefact in the development environment. What if research lived alongside the code it informs? https://robboyett.com/journal/midjourney-material-studies/ https://robboyett.com/journal/midjourney-material-studies/ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Systematic material studies using Midjourney to understand AI image generation capabilities and limitations through constrained experimentation with geometric forms and surface treatments. https://robboyett.com/journal/vibe-coding-field-guide/ https://robboyett.com/journal/vibe-coding-field-guide/ Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Capturing methods and patterns that are proving useful whilst working with AI-assisted prototyping. Covers context management, tool selection, debugging patterns and more. https://robboyett.com/journal/camera-was-always-off/ https://robboyett.com/journal/camera-was-always-off/ Fri, 28 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 If you're still unsure how to get started with large language models, or if prompting feels awkward, this analogy might help. Drawing from experiences working with offshore developers through camera-off calls. https://github.com/robboyett/Becoming-an-AI-designer/blob/main/README.md https://github.com/robboyett/Becoming-an-AI-designer/blob/main/README.md Sun, 23 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 An open source guide to becoming an AI designer, covering tools, techniques, and mindset shifts. https://www.designweek.co.uk/wtf-is-happening-how-ai-is-reshaping-design/ https://www.designweek.co.uk/wtf-is-happening-how-ai-is-reshaping-design/ Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Key insights from 40 conversations with designers about how AI is shaping the industry. https://medium.com/@robboyett/designing-the-designers-for-the-orchestration-era-da866d2e24c7 https://medium.com/@robboyett/designing-the-designers-for-the-orchestration-era-da866d2e24c7 Sat, 01 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Exploring how the role of designers is evolving in an era of AI orchestration. https://medium.com/@robboyett/yes-and-exploring-through-prototyping-proactive-participation-of-an-llm-agent-in-group-519285354fc2 https://medium.com/@robboyett/yes-and-exploring-through-prototyping-proactive-participation-of-an-llm-agent-in-group-519285354fc2 Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Prototyping how an LLM agent can participate proactively in group discussions. https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/ai-as-infrastructure-and-agent-within-the-design-process-a-theory-for-ais-impact-on-design-2dd2e31dd199 https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/ai-as-infrastructure-and-agent-within-the-design-process-a-theory-for-ais-impact-on-design-2dd2e31dd199 Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 A theory for AI's impact on design process. https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/design-managers-guide-to-midjourney-128c2a3cd971 https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/design-managers-guide-to-midjourney-128c2a3cd971 Sun, 10 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 A practical guide to help you understand what Midjourney offers, its limitations, and what you need to know when considering adoption. https://blog.prototypr.io/how-generative-ai-is-reshaping-my-design-practice-78a806dce2e3 https://blog.prototypr.io/how-generative-ai-is-reshaping-my-design-practice-78a806dce2e3 Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Personal reflections on how generative AI tools are changing design workflows. https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/why-cant-services-be-launched-in-a-day-12298562827a https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/why-cant-services-be-launched-in-a-day-12298562827a Tue, 01 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Using a custom GPT to make a 'real' service and test business assumptions. https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/why-cant-dall-e-3-via-chatgpt-draw-diagrams-c47b5a8c83a8 https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/why-cant-dall-e-3-via-chatgpt-draw-diagrams-c47b5a8c83a8 Sat, 01 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Exploring the limitations of AI image generation for technical diagrams. https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/the-skills-paradox-found-after-the-magic-of-ai-image-generation-wains-is-that-rather-than-6b91ba219b6d https://medium.com/design-bootcamp/the-skills-paradox-found-after-the-magic-of-ai-image-generation-wains-is-that-rather-than-6b91ba219b6d Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0000 How AI shifts skill requirements from tooling mastery to cultural and historical understanding. https://uxdesign.cc/tools-for-living-as-a-dyslexic-designer-334ce5a3da5f https://uxdesign.cc/tools-for-living-as-a-dyslexic-designer-334ce5a3da5f Mon, 01 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Tools and strategies for thriving as a designer with dyslexia. https://uxdesign.cc/the-challenges-of-conjuring-your-own-design-culture-c099a6d27d1c https://uxdesign.cc/the-challenges-of-conjuring-your-own-design-culture-c099a6d27d1c Sat, 01 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Building and maintaining design culture within organisations. https://uxdesign.cc/fix-your-product-goals-for-better-human-outcomes-b83a36b171c4 https://uxdesign.cc/fix-your-product-goals-for-better-human-outcomes-b83a36b171c4 Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000 How to align product goals with human-centred outcomes. https://medium.com/ideas-by-idean/what-is-digital-product-in-2019-62240175bd33 https://medium.com/ideas-by-idean/what-is-digital-product-in-2019-62240175bd33 Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Defining digital product in the modern era. https://medium.com/ideas-by-idean/what-product-teams-say-and-what-they-really-mean-10-tips-for-diagnosing-team-issues-f77625fa72e8 https://medium.com/ideas-by-idean/what-product-teams-say-and-what-they-really-mean-10-tips-for-diagnosing-team-issues-f77625fa72e8 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000 10 tips for diagnosing team issues. https://medium.com/ideas-by-idean/what-i-learned-about-innovation-from-60-70s-sci-fi-pulp-700576f84cf2 https://medium.com/ideas-by-idean/what-i-learned-about-innovation-from-60-70s-sci-fi-pulp-700576f84cf2 Sun, 01 Dec 2018 00:00:00 +0000 Lessons about innovation from vintage science fiction.