A Bird Wall, a Talking Rotary Phone, and a Game Starring Your Cousins

AI tools can enhance hobbies, create personalized gifts, and generate unique interactive experiences, moving beyond efficiency to foster creative leisure activities.

The Looking Glass

8 min read

In this edition

Stories from Thursday, 17 September 2026

Inspiration

One Page Love

Inspo

Website Inspiration: Colosse Foundry

Colosse Foundry's brutalist one-page website, built with Webflow, utilizes parallax scrolling to showcase its unique typefaces effectively.

17 Sept

NNGroup (YT)

Video

Mini Preview | Task Writing for Usability Tests

Effective task writing for usability tests requires clear, concise instructions that guide participants without revealing solutions, ensuring authentic user behavior and valuable feedback.

15 Sept

Figma (YT)

Video

Pulling Inspiration from John Maeda's Design by Numbers

John Maeda's "Design by Numbers" offers a foundational framework for designers, demonstrating how computational thinking and minimalist aesthetics can inspire modern digital design practices.

Website Inspiration: Miso

Miso, a travel app, uses a sparse landing page resembling a luxury fashion campaign with an isolated traveler, expansive white space, and neutral styling to promote its services.

14 Sept

AI & Tools

OpenAI Blog

Perplexity trusts GPT-6 Astra with end-to-end systems

Perplexity now uses GPT-6 Astra for end-to-end systems, including writing communications, changing software, and monitoring production, requiring less human oversight than previous models.

Website Inspiration: Txt Text Editor

Txt, a forthcoming macOS text editor, offers distraction-free writing and Apple Intelligence features, with its landing page replicating a Mac desktop interface.

13 Sept