About Ethan Marcotte

A partner and cofounder at Autogram, a strategic consultancy that works at the intersection of design systems and content management.

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Reacquired.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Last year, I wrote a book. Several months later, my publisher closed its doors. This is about what happens next.

This site goes up to Eleventy.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I just migrated this little website’s internals over to Eleventy. If I did my job right, you won’t notice the change.

Hello, 18F.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve been a designer at 18F for one week now.

Slingshot.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I just attended my first Labor Notes Conference. My head’s full, and my heart’s on fire.

Blockin’ bots.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Here’s how I’m blocking “artificial intelligence” bots, crawlers, and scrapers.

The negotiation cycle.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

On the work, and being endlessly clever.

Lowe.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Spotted a copy of You Deserve a Tech Union at my local library. It made my decade.

Generative.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Nineteen thoughts about “generative artificial intelligence,” spanning a few centuries.

Collective.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A prominent investor got excited about collective bargaining. I did too! (But probably for different reasons.)

Reviewed.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

My book was reviewed in Labor Notes. I’m still pinching myself.

The 2023 that was.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A little marker for myself, from one year to the next.

Broadly.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’m excited to share a change in You Deserve a Tech Union’s pricing.

A new op-ed: on OpenAI and worker power.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

What happens when workers take collective action, and in an anti-worker industry?

Boston meetup, redux: “You deserve a tech union!”

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Tech workers of Boston! Curious about unions? We’re having another meetup about it!

Boston meetup: “Why do tech workers deserve a union?”

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Tech workers of Boston! Curious about unions? Let’s have a meetup about it!

In medias.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Writin’ up—for you, but also for me—a few book events from last week.

Minetta.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I went to a conference last weekend, and it was wonderful. In fact, I’m still thinking about it—and about what can happen next.

A little book and its author, out in the world.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

So! You Deserve a Tech Union’s been getting a little attention lately! Here’s a short roundup.

Three weeks.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

You Deserve a Tech Union’s launch feels like it was just yesterday! What is time anymore

Labor’s day.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Some tech unions could use our support.

Mail, run.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

What else happened this week? Well, I wrote my first op-ed; also, I got some mail.

You Deserve a Tech Union is here!

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Well, hey! Happy pub day to my latest book!

Tick TOC.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Here’s the table of contents for You Deserve a Tech Union. (Also, hey: how about a sample chapter?)

Street team.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

My new book, You Deserve a Tech Union, is almost here. Here’s how you can help support it!

Post by post.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Life after Twitter remains, well, weird. Maybe this is better.

Blurbs.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Blurbs are starting to come in for You Deserve a Tech Union, along with several emotions.

Announcing my new book, You Deserve a Tech Union.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I wrote this book for you, for me—for all of us. I hope you like it.

Bookin’.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Hey, this is neat: A Book Apart is available in bookstores, and around the world.

Tooled.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

The work, and who gets to do it.

Adoption.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

What we talk about when we talk about measuring a design system.

Notes from a dining room chair.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

On getting stuck, and what you worry about when you worry about writing.

Truthish.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Whose sources, and whose truths?

Points, break.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

When did we start using “breakpoint” to talk about layout adaptation? (Honestly, I don’t know!)

Notes from a dining room table.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

For what comes next, whatever it is.

Weekend updates.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Various and sundry design tweaks! Writing bios is still terrible! Dark Mode 2: The Return of Dark Mode! It’s good to be back!

Parts, parcel.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

At some point, something shifted.

À la porte.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I should probably check my email again.

Locus.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

What’s better, where, and for whom.

Splits.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

For now, I’ve got my feet under me. And I’m grateful.

Notes from a week.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Hello. It’s been a week. (A little more than, if I’m being honest.)

Stress systems.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

On feeling overwhelmed by systems.

Bookiversary.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

The fine folks at A Book Apart asked me to participate in a little interview, as my little yellow book just turned ten years old!

Responsive design and container queries? Oh my!

1970-01-01 08:00:00

At long last, container queries might finally become reality! And responsive design just turned eleven! My goodness!

Union.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Tech workers, it’s time we unionize.

New work: Free design systems courses, available at Aquent Gymnasium.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve launched four courses on design systems, available for free at Aquent Gymnasium! I hope you like them.

Design-ish systems.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

“Why create a design system?” It’s a good question, if a hard one.

Au revoir, mon AMPmour?

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Last year, Google announced AMP will no longer be a requirement for prime search placement. This is good! But I still have questions.

A day, typical.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Sara Soueidan asked how I typically spend my days. Here’s how I typically spend my days.

Beacon.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Looking for a few bright spots in everyone’s worst year.

My design systems reading list.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A friend asked me to share a few favorite resources on design systems. I thought I’d share them with you, too.

Before dawn, and after dusk.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I spoke at two events yesterday. I drank a lot of coffee. I talked a lot about design systems. Good day.

Speaking, remotely.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Here’s how I think about my speaking fee for remote events.

Hello, Autogram.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Karen and Jeff and I have launched a little strategic consultancy. We’re calling it Autogram, and I’d like to tell you why.

Replyin’.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve added “Reply via email” links to my RSS feed. Hope you find it useful.

Notes from a hill.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

She asked, “Are you looking forward to your birthday?”

The design systems between us.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

It’s often suggested that design systems would improve the way organizations work. I’ve been wondering about that.

Takin’ five.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve been lucky enough to work with Aquent Gymnasium on a series of short video tutorials. I hope you like them.

On context.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I read these two essays some time ago, and I keep returning to them. I bet you’ll like them too.

Power.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Individually, there’s little we can do; but collectively, there’s not much we can’t.

A programming note.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’m pausing my email newsletter for a bit. More importantly, here are some organizations doing necessary work right now, and some resources I’ve found helpful.

Responsive design: seams & edges.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

In some ways, responsive design was an attempt to move past the idea of a “page.” How’s that worked out for us?

Responsive web design turns ten.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

The original “Responsive Web Design” article was published a decade ago! Here’s how it happened, and who helped make it happen.

An interview for the Responsive Web Design newsletter.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Justin Avery kindly invited me to do an interview for his wonderful Responsive Web Design newsletter. So you know I had to oblige.

Gardened.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

On JavaScript, frameworks, and how giving a damn doesn’t scale.

Constrained CSS grids without max-width.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Stumbled across a little layout technique while working on my latest redesign. I think it’s helpful; maybe you’ll think so, too.

Writing my accessibility statement.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

It was long overdue, but I’ve added an accessibility statement to my website. Here are a few reasons why.

Let a website be a worry stone.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

One turn deserves another.

Through a design system, darkly.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Design systems haven’t solved the consistency problem—far from it. What can?

The design systems we swim in.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

When was the last time a design system empowered you to make a decision? (I’m honestly asking.)

“With Great Tech Comes Great Responsibility.”

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I liked Mozilla’s guide to student organizing and workplace ethics so much, I made a web page out of it.

The hoof and the horse.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

On objects and slices; on design systems and scale.

Getting to work.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

It’s time for us to organize our workplaces, my loves.

The World-Wide Work.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A talk on automation, power, justice, and labor in the tech industry.

Amphora.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I tried navigating some of Google’s featured AMP Stories in a screen reader. And then I wrote this.

Three bowls.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Saying good-bye to our littlest kitty, Rorschach.

Columbia & Elm; Fairfield & Gloucester.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Thinking about web accessibility, and getting from here to there.

Theorized.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve been at Theorizing The Web for the last few days. I really liked it; I think you might, too.

Trainers.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

How the data gets made, and by whom.

The web we broke.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I read something depressing last Monday, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

A reading list for “The World-Wide Work.”

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I just gave a talk at this year’s New Adventures conference. Here are some books, resources, and videos I cited in it.

A new adventure.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I just got home from attending—and speaking at!—last week’s New Adventures conference. It was an inspiring, marvelous day.

Sonnerie.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I come not to praise 2018, but to bury it.

How I write conference talks.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’m writing a new talk. This is how I do it.

Azeban.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Let’s talk a little about automation, design, and work.

Release.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I went to Demo Day for the latest Resilient Coders bootcamp. The students left an impression on me.

It’s not about the device.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

It can feel overwhelming to design for a new device, a new context. Maybe there’s an alternative?

Syenite.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve attended a few community sessions at Resilient Coders. It’s a wonderful organization; maybe you’d like to support them, too.

Vox pop.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’m working with the team at Vox Media on their design systems. I’m very excited.

Designing, laws, and attitudes.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

What would happen if the law required us to design fast websites?

The fundamentals of responsive design, now on Skillshare.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

My new class, “Responsive Web Design: Creating Flexible Websites That Last”, is now live on Skillshare. I made it just for you.

The tool and the task.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Our design tools change the design of our products and, at times, they can change us. How do we talk about that?

Notes from a crosswalk.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

On the route, the steps, and what follows.

My favorite design tool.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

What if someone doesn’t browse the web like I do? Or like you do?

My foreword for Image Performance.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I was asked to write an introduction for Mat Marquis’ new book on images and performance, which I loved. (I think you’ll love it too.)

Revamp.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Google’s Accelerated Mobile Project (AMP) has announced it’s moving to a more open governance model, which is great. I still have some questions.

Accessibility is not a feature.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on some of the language I use to talk about accessibility. It might be language you use, too.

An interview for Versioning.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I was recently invited to do a Q&A session for Sitepoint’s Versioning newsletter.

Izakaya.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

When a dollar becomes ten.

Weft.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

About the patterns underneath the patterns.

Bits.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

What we talk about when we talk about what we talk about when we talk about web performance.

Notes from a market.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

The sun was hot, the smiles were wide.

In the pocket.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

“The first level of reality is that nitty-gritty stuff, the direct action and immediate experience, the sort of thing I like to call vernacular reality.” — Ursula Franklin

Chimpin’.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I use Mailchimp’s “RSS campaigns” to email new blog entries to subscribers. I also use responsive images. Here’s how I got them to play well together!

Fractional.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

The more I work with CSS Grid, the more I’ve realized I’m a big fan of the fr unit. And it’s subtly changed how I think about grids.

Just work.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

How I work, and how I want to.

My three steps.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve been thinking about how I learn new technologies.

World wide wrist.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

WebKit’s coming to the Apple Watch, in some fashion. In my own fashion, I’m excited to see what that means.

Bundt.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Here’s what happened today, today.

A GIFt—or three!—from me, to thee.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I have a website called bukk.it. It’s filled with pointless images. Here’s how I manage it.

Kumiho.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Thoughts on bots.

When patterns get weird.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Usually, you’ll get rid of design patterns that don’t contribute much to your design system. But sometimes, you won’t.

What’s in a pattern name?

1970-01-01 08:00:00

The benefit of creating a pattern library isn’t the patterns as such.

Notes from a conference.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I just flew in from Florida, where I’d spoken—and workshopped!—at the 2018 Front End Design Conference. And boy, are my arms tired/sunburnt.

Spinning jenny.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A few thoughts on the task, and the tool.

Framed.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

When offering advice, be careful how it’s offered.

The podcast is dead; long live the podcast!

1970-01-01 08:00:00

This was the vehicle; these were the people.

Campaign.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

The Google AMP team has announced they’d like to make the web faster—even for folks who don’t use AMP. That’s wonderful news. But I have some questions.

Notes from a sidewalk.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

She stood back up, running to catch her friends, her sign held high.

I, for one.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

We’re used to corporations stepping in to fix the problems they see on the web. But what would happen if we could fix the web?

Design, system.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Your design system’s more than the sum of its patterns. (It’s all about the people, maaaaannnn.)

Stupid Jekyll tricks.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Right now, my site runs on Jekyll. Here are two little things I find useful.

AMPlified.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I don’t think there’s much you or I can do about Google’s AMP project. However.

A little advice.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

On occasion, people starting a career in web design ask me for advice. Here’s what I currently say to them.

Cardigan.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Farewell, Dean. And thank you.

War rig.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I come here not to praise 2017, but to bury it.

Rated zero.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Google AMP, and services like it, are a kind of “zero-rating.” I worry about that.

Entitled to.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A few thoughts about losing net neutrality protections in the United States, and what happens next.

A new bag.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

On a friend’s recommendation, I bought a Tom Bihn backpack for traveling. I really like it.

In range.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Three outlines, each smaller than the last.

Seven into seven.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A few more thoughts on AMP, on Ursula Franklin’s questions, and on just technology.

My foreword for Design Systems.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I was asked to write an introduction for Alla Kholmatova’s new book on design systems, which I loved. (I think you’ll love it too.)

AMPersand.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

There’s a price to using Google’s “Accelerated Mobile Project.” I’m not sure the web can afford to pay it.

At dawn.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Waking up, half-dreaming, before the sun’s up.

Upward and worn.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

The new Legend of Zelda is a gorgeous, fun game, but it’s also an isolation simulator. And I love that about it.

Designed lines.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Designing a lightweight, inexpensive digital experience is a form of kindness.

A responsive spotlight.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

We’ve been trying something new on our little responsive design podcast. I’ve enjoyed the experiment; maybe you will, too.

A working pattern library.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

The value of a pattern library is tied directly to how much—and how easily—it is used.

Left to our own devices.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

For me, the real value of a device lab isn’t in testing. A device lab is a design tool.

Notes from a chair.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

They work kindly, quickly but steadily, under lights cold and bright.

Going offline.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve started taking parts of my site offline. Here’s how it works, right now.

Device intervention.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Done right, a device lab’s a pretty good empathy engine.

The work I like.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about why I work the way I do, and how.

MOA—

1970-01-01 08:00:00

And yet.

A bit more on container queries.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Paul Robert Lloyd persuasively argues that container queries are obsolete. I respectfully disagree.

A sticky situation.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Ran into a little design bug, involving position: sticky and Chrome. Maybe it’d be of interest to you.

The bricks we lay.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Design is not neutral.

Notes from a couch.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve got a week of rest lined up, so here’s what I’m reading and watching. (Riveting stuff, I know.)

On container queries.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A number of prominent web folks have been asking for “container queries.” I think they’re right to do so, and here’s why.

New work: Source

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A new design for Source, a non-profit that makes journalism code more visible.

Notes from a protest.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

No hate. No fear.

Free, faster.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Many of the free web themes I’ve seen recently are…slow. How can we fix that?

The good by.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A few notes on farewells, and on coming home.

Pattern patter.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

On the web, can our patterns be more than just front-end code?

Hyper text.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A few notes on political anxiety and Twitter, and how sentences turn into paragraphs.

Thread.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Welcome to my new website.

Announcing my new book, Responsive Design: Patterns and Principles.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve written a new book! It’s about moving beyond the page, and designing with patterns. I hope you like it.

My questions for event organizers.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

When I’m asked to speak at an event, I ask a few useful questions. Maybe you’ll find them useful, too.

The second edition of Responsive Web Design.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

There’s a second edition of my book! It’s still about responsive design, but quite a bit has changed.

A Responsive Design Podcast.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Along with Karen McGrane, I’m getting into that “pod-casting” game! (Guess what it’s about.)

Platformed.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

The web isn’t a platform. When we design and build for it, we should remember that.

So you’re interested in a responsive design workshop…

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Karen McGrane and I have teamed up to offer in-house workshops on—you guessed it!—responsive design. Hire us!

Speaking? Pack a plan.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

If you’re doing any public speaking, I have a few small (but useful!) tips.

“The second step is inclusiveness.”

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Here’s a quote on inclusive design I quite liked. (Maybe you’ll like it, too.)

Keynote, Magic Move, and you.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

One of my favorite features in Apple’s Keynote is “Magic Move.” I bet it might be yours, too.

“Offline First”

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’m so excited about building more offline-friendly experiences. (You should be, too!)

Responsive design, screens, and shearing layers.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Responsive design might begin with the screen, but it doesn’t end there.

Hello, Editorially.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve cofounded a startup with some dear friends. It’s called Editorially. I’d like to tell you a little about it.

The Boston Globe

1970-01-01 08:00:00

The first large-scale responsive website just launched, and I helped. Here’s how we did it.

So I wrote a book. It’s called Responsive Web Design.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Want to learn responsive design? There’s a book for that. (And I wrote it!)

Henry.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A few words I quite like.

Toffee-nosed.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Many criticisms of responsive design are based on faulty logic. Let’s look at a few fallacies.

With good references.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Every responsive design begins with a reference layout, either small- or widescreen. Which should you choose?

On being “responsive.”

1970-01-01 08:00:00

What makes a responsive design “responsive,” anyway?

Oversewing

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve moved on from working at Happy Cog, and I’ve started up my own design practice again.

On fluid grids.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I have a new article on A List Apart. It’s about creating complex grid-based layouts that are fluid. I hope you like it.

Bradley.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A story about my late uncle, who I didn’t know as well as I wish I did.

Squee.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

I’ve written my first article for A List Apart. I’m so excited.

Day zero.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Last Friday was my last day at a full-time job.

Stairwell.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Starting a new job.

On emergency rooms.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

We were in the process of haggling over which desserts my grandmother should order when the seizure hit.

In progress

1970-01-01 08:00:00

A former teacher and his former student, and a house to paint.

She.

1970-01-01 08:00:00

Happy anniversary, to my one and lovely.