Algorithms can’t replace taste

Hey there, it’s Matt—I hope you’re having a great Saturday!

In this edition of Digital Native:

The once-slumbering giant of American innovation is now roaring, fueled by a $1.4 trillion manufacturing investment—how will AI reshape this new era?
Polished UIs aren’t enough anymore. Dive into how one designer shifted from visuals to metrics to transform interview silence into opportunities.
Discover the power of simplicity to streamline your tasks with Tweek Calendar’s innovated approach.
Uncover the under-the-radar strategies modern startups use to dominate the market. Hint: it’s about stacking, not just innovating.
And much more…

Enjoy issue #89—have a great weekend!

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Most interesting

Why good UI is no longer enough for designers to land jobs

Five years ago, designers could rely on their portfolios of polished UIs to secure jobs. Today, it’s about proving impact. As layoffs rise, companies demand designers who address business problems, not just craft visuals. One designer shifted focus to showcase how his designs improved metrics and navigated constraints. This change turned silence into job leads. (Medium)

Why 2024 rekindled america’s innovation flame

After a half-century slump, American innovation roared to life in 2024. A $1.4 trillion investment in manufacturing marked the shift. AI advances like OpenAI’s o3 now demand us to rethink tech’s future, poised to redefine industries and ensure a new era of prosperity. (Rational Optimist Society)

Curation beats algorithms every time

Are algorithms stealing our choices? As machines and crowds dictate taste, individual decision-making fades. It’s time to reclaim autonomy—dare to explore uncharted genres and make choices free from trending dictates. Rediscover the thrill of discovery! (Hot Takes)

Top resources

Maximize output with minimal effort

Evan Armstrong unveils eight tech tools transforming productivity for busy professionals:

Ladder enhances fitness routines with personalized coaching, leading to consistent exercise.
Deglaze revolutionizes kitchen efficiency by auto-organizing recipes and grocery lists.
Brick Device dramatically curbs digital distractions, boosting focus.

Key takeaway: It’s finally time to embrace automations to achieve more with less strain. (Every)

Mastering time blocking: a beginner’s blueprint

Unlock your productivity potential with time blocking—a proven method for managing your day.

Discover the “chunking strategy” for task batching
Learn the 50-minute focus formula
Eliminate distractions with buffer zones

Structure breeds freedom. Start small, stay consistent. (Matt Downey)

The essential typeface for coders: commit mono

Commit Mono is beautifully crafted to enhance readability and comes with a ton of customization:

Smart kerning improves word clarity and boosts reading speed
Settings for weight and style, tailored to your environment
Includes ASCII precision for superior code writing
Open for all uses—commercial, software, and design

I switched this week and haven’t looked back. (Commit Mono)

Tweek calendar: redefine minimalist planning

Explore Tweek Calendar’s unique approach to productivity with a beautifully simple interface and powerful tools for effective planning.

Focus on what matters with a clear, distraction-free layout
Arrange tasks intuitively with drag-and-drop simplicity
Sync seamlessly across devices for real-time updates
Prioritize tasks visually with color-coded labels

Minimalist elegance + productivity? Yes, please. (Tweek)

What’s trending

By 2030, AI-powered glasses with cameras and microphones will endow us with “digital superpowers,” making tasks like finding store hours feel inherently personal. (Big Think)

Only 58% of startups with AI products have monetized them. And that might be on purpose. Successful founders aren’t just building impressive technology—they’re stacking business models to increase retention and revenue. (NfX)

CES 2025 shifted focus from just pixel-packed gadgets to health and sustainability. Innovations like portable clinics and energy-efficient appliances promise a smarter, greener future. (Vox)

My stack

These are the tools that help me run my business every day. I happily pay for each of them—they’re worth every penny. I hope you find them useful, too.

Beehiiv → How I send this newsletter every week. 10/10 would recommend.
Brain.fm → How I kickstart my productivity and find flow-state.
Figma → How I quickly go from idea to design to product.
Mercury → The best business banking I’ve ever used.
Screen Studio → How I record engaging videos.
Typefully → How I post content to my socials.
Kick → My bookkeeping on auto-pilot.

And that’s a wrap!

Thanks for reading today’s issue. If you have any ideas for what you’d like me to cover in future issues, just hit reply and let me know.

And if you found today’s newsletter useful, please share it with your friends!

Matt Downey
Founder, Digital Native
@mattdowney