Post #2764712

2026-05-20 15:07 UTC

One of the most underestimated challenges in (interface) design is relative sizing. Not just making everything coherent within the design, but also coherent with the system it exists within. When using system components, this isn’t a problem since they define the metrics. If everything is custom, it’s really hard to get it right though. In my opinion, Affinity v3 is a great example of screwing this up. All is coherent within the app, but everything feels 1.1-1.2× too large relative to the system

Replies (3)

@zhcet@mastodon.design 2026-05-20 15:12

Also re interface design: Design tools should always have the option to make the interface completely monochrome (looking at you, Sketch on Tahoe)

Open ##3039098
@marceloexc@im-in.space 2026-05-20 15:34

@zhcet@mastodon.design surprised the huge affinity toolbar is still there. i use photoshop with the Application Frame turned off, just like in CS4, to save space. affinity also has a similar toggle but its really half baked, if i recall it also gets rid of the traffic lights which is not what i wanted...

Open ##3039099
@mrudokas@mastodon.social 2026-05-20 19:29

@zhcet@mastodon.design Hm… I didn’t find the internal coherency in Affinity 3 to begin with — inspectors to me look super dense in wrong ways, cramped comparing to the tool/option bars, scaling variation feels wild even looking exclusively inside inspector area elements. Does not look like designed/overseen-by by one pair of hands/eyes.

Open ##3039101