Creative Selection
Hundreds of millions of people use Apple products every day; several thousand work on Apple's campus in Cupertino, California; but only a handful sit at the drawing board. Creative Selection recounts the life of one of the few who worked behind the scenes, a highly-respected software engineer who worked in the final years of the Steve Jobs era: the Golden Age of Apple.
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27recommend
42mentions
40people
2018–2026years
64% recommend36% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- Also interesting is Ken Kocienda's 2019 memoir:
"Creative Selection: Inside Apple's Design Process During the Golden Age of Steve Jobs"
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ken+kocienda&i=stripbooks&crid=37...
- Just finished Ken Kocienda's "Creative Selection: Inside Apple's Design Process During the Golden Age of Steve Jobs".
It was interesting to read about the various decisions made along the way to the first iPhone launch and remember the real-time launch back then. Even though the first phone had limitations, they were able to do enough things "right" that you could feel the paradigm shift within a few minutes of using it. Coming from a mobile software company at the time (and having access to all the top phones of the time, various Blackerry devices, Moto Razr, etc) it was easy to see that Apple had really made something extraordinary with its software.
- That's unfortunate, I would read Creative Selection if I were you
- Hi HN,
I teach tech design history, and one of the key stories I cover is the development of the original iPhone keyboard by Ken Kocienda. Reading about it in his book "Creative Selection" is great, but I wanted my students (and now you!) to actually feel this step in the process.
So, I built a web simulator of the "Blob Keyboard", Kocienda's very first attempt at a touchscreen keyboard that actually works, from September 2005:
Try the Blob Keyboard: https://juliendorra.github.io/blob-keyboard-simulator/blob-k...
- Tap for the middle letter
- Swipe left or right for the side letters
More on the github repo: https://github.com/juliendorra/blob-keyboard-simulator
The Blob Keyboard prototype emerged during a UX crisis for iPhone team (their software keyboard just didn't work at all, fingers being too big, and the Newton failure loomed over them), highlighting how innovation is rarely a straight path. It was developed on a tethered touchscreen display codenamed "Wallaby".
To make this simulator as authentic as possible, I referenced images from Kocienda's book and even got direct feedback and guidance from Ken Kocienda himself on Bluesky.
What to expect (or… what not to expect):
This is a reconstruction of a very early prototype with limitations reflecting that specific moment. The goal was to test first if typing with accuracy was even possible, as all the rest was moot if it failed!
It's NOT QWERTY: They were still hoping to get us out of QWERTY, but then familiarity won.
No Backspace: You can't delete.
No Cursor Movement: The text field is just a simple display.
No Caps or Numbers: Only lowercase letters.
No Smooth Animations: Keys just "pop" instantly when pressed. Kocienda noted that your eye fills in the gaps, giving a sense of movement.
Best Experience:
While it works with a mouse/trackpad on desktop, it's designed for touchscreens to better replicate the original Wallaby hardware interaction. Use it on your phone!
This project aims to provide a tangible glimpse into a turning point moment in iPhone development and the iterative nature of design. It's like stepping back in time and trying out that early demo on Kocienda's desk.
I would love to hear your reactions and thoughts on experiencing this piece of UI history! What other significant prototype do you wish you could experience?
- I recommend focusing first on UX as it applies to areas that are closest to your expertise. Not a good idea to go head first into art history, color theory, typography or concepts that are so far removed from what you're doing that would feel alien.
Try starting a conversation with a FE engineer friend or even better with a UX engineer / design technologist if you know one. They speak both languages :)
If you prefer reading, NNgroup is great for basics. Start with their 10 usability heuristics: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/
These 3 books should give you some great starting points:
About Face - The Essentials of Interaction Design: https://www.wiley.com/en-gb/About+Face%3A+The+Essentials+of+...
Design of Everyday Things: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Design_of_Everyday_Things
Creative Selection: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37638098-creative-select...
- Ken Kocienda's book Creative Selection mentions Eazel several times. Ken worked there with Don Melton, who founded the Safari web browser for Apple. After Eazel failed, Apple organized a job fair for Eazel employees.
Eazel is also covered in an excellent interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xImAMe32Itg) from the Computer History Museum.
