- Episode Summary
- Topics Covered
- Yann-Edern’s (expanded) Design Inspirations
- Yann-Edern’s Working Routines & Habits
Yann-Edern’s Website → https://yannglt.com/
Episode Summary
Yann-Edern is a software designer and maker based in Paris, focused on developer experience. He’s currently working at Linear and most recently contributed to the new UI of the desktop app. He previously worked at Specify, where he contributed to creating a Design API and its design token format.
On the side, he loves to create tools for designers and engineers, interconnecting tools and providing ways to adopt the same language. He’s the creator of Styles to Variables in Figma, some Raycast extensions, and he teased another plugin he’s currently working on for Framer.
We talked about a bunch of topics, including his award-winning personal website and playground where he’s experimenting a lot with different technologies, most recently with React and Rive.
Topics Covered
- Design System Changes: Insights on Linear's recent design update, focusing on a more cohesive, timeless, neutral aesthetic.
- Inspirations and Admired Products: Discussing the brands and products that influence Linear’s design philosophy.
- Linear’s Impact: Exploring how Linear has become a trendsetter in the design community.
- Yann-Edern’s Experiments and Projects: His journey and contributions, including key projects and design decisions.
- Small Team Dynamics: The dynamics and benefits of small, focused teams in a design-centric company.
- Design Systems and Specify: The importance of robust design systems.
- Tool Building: Yann-Edern’s approach to creating tools and plugins that streamline design workflows.
- Core Design Philosophy: Yann-Edern’s philosophical approach to design and creativity.
- AI in Design: The hype versus reality of AI in design and its implications for the future.
- AI Design Tools: Comparing sketch-based AI design tools to prompt-based ones.
- Admired Tools: Tools admired by Yann-Edern and others at Linear.
- Yann’s Main Quest: A discussion about Yann-Edern’s ‘North Star’
- Yann-Edern’s Side Quests: Yann-Edern’s work outside of Linear, including personal projects and experimentation.
- Work with Framer & Raycast: His ongoing work with Framer and developing new plugins.
- Using Copilot: How Yann-Edern leverages Copilot to enhance his workflow.
- Physicality and Tactility: The importance of incorporating physical elements into a digital work environment.
- Routines and Habits: Yann-Edern’s daily routines and habits that support his creative process.
- Starting with Passion Projects: The value of beginning the day with exciting or educational activities.
- Personal Workspace: Designing a productive and inspiring personal work environment.
- Award-Winning Website: Yann-Edern’s personal website as a creative playground and its recognition.
- Creativity and Constraints: The role of constraints in fostering creativity.
- Animation Tools: Exploring tools like Rive, Cinema 4D, and After Effects in his work.
Yann-Edern’s (expanded) Design Inspirations
Yann-Edern shared a few of his inspirations during the conversation but afterwards told me he’d left loads out so put together this list for everyone.
- Massimo & Lella Vignelli, Dieter Rams, Jonathan Ive
- Rasmus Andersson, Brian Lovin, Karri Saarinen, Daniel Eden, Benjamin Wilkins
- Helen Tran, Luc Chaissac, Katie Dill, Jen Yee, Yesenia Perez-Cruz, Matthew Ström, Gavin Nelson, Jordan Singer, Paco Coursey, Rauno Freiberg, Nicolás Garro, Andy Allen
- Not Boring Software, Ustwo, The New-York Times, Linear, Vercel, Apple, Land & Sea
- Valentin Petit (lots of collaborations with Hip-Hop artists), David Fincher (House of Cards, Fight Club, Seven, The Social Network)
- Electrical networks, cities, thunderstorms
- Glyphs and symbols
Yann-Edern’s Working Routines & Habits
He also made some clarifying notes about how he manages his time during the day.
- I try to focus on the complex work in the morning
- Start of the afternoon I'm spending some time on my Inbox in Linear and quick explorations to help the team going forward (that also the time where the US team is starting to wake up so easier for me to get quicker answers when needed)
- second part of the afternoon is another block of high focus
- half of my evenings (sometimes more) I spend some time exploring concepts in design or code, writing, watching talks or tutorials. Other evenings are for friends, some gaming, and chill.
Sharing some additional tips I've noted down about routines:
- Start: dust off and tidy desk, place accessories, music on headphones.
- Reset senses, breathing, making sure you had enough water, eat, and sleep enough.
- Wake up around 8/8:30 AM.
- Water, shower, breakfast, coffee.
- Watch again what I've been creating the day before.
- Start doing explorations for me, random stuff.
- Start working on work stuff.
- Same stuff on weekends, except I work for myself and have fun in the afternoons and evenings with friends (online or offline).
- Evening: workout right after work (or just before lunch, but starting the year was difficult), then fun online with friends, and then back to personal work (reading, exploring, writing).