The Daniel Stih Podcast

When Style Outpaces Function

What the iPhone's latest UI change reveals about a recurring design failure mode

A recent iPhone UI update sparked a broader question: what happens when style starts to lead function?

I explore why highly stylized interfaces can feel exciting at first—yet introduce subtle friction, reduce clarity, and age poorly under real-world use. This isn't about taste or Apple. It's about understanding a recurring design failure mode that shows up across software, products, and systems.

Walk away with this question: Does this design choice improve clarity under real-world conditions—or just aesthetic novelty?

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