Feelings are the future of apps
Hey, it’s Matt.
Technology has always promised us freedom—a world with fewer constraints and greater possibilities.
Instead, it feels like we’re now buried under more tools, decisions, and distractions than ever. Thankfully, some founders are taking notice—and taking action.
They’re leveraging emotional design to cut through algorithmic chaos, crafting simpler solutions that prioritize clarity over complexity, and developing AI that serves people—not the other way around.
In this edition of Digital Native:
- Discover how Dropbox’s interactive brand guidelines are setting a new standard for immersive brand storytelling.
- Learn from Ryan Darani’s journey from SEO to AI SaaS triumph with Cuppa, showcasing strategic partnerships as a growth catalyst.
- Tom Tunguz predicts 2025 as the pinnacle for AI dominance and a rebirth in Web3 opportunities.
- And much more…
Enjoy issue #91—have a great weekend!
— Matt (@mattdowney)
P.S. If this was forwarded to you, you can sign up here.
Most interesting
Dropbox’s new brand site sets the bar
Dropbox’s revamped brand guidelines site, crafted with Webflow and animated using Rive, exemplifies the future of branding—interactive and immersive. Every animation and interaction on the site feels intentional, making the brand come alive. This is a bold departure from static branding, underscoring how motion deepens brand connections. If you’re curious about design evolution, you’ll want to see this. (Rive)
Reviving personal computing freedom
The PC once epitomized technological freedom, offering control and creativity without corporate strings. Now, surveillance and DRM tip the balance towards predatory practices, undermining user autonomy. Forget that—let’s make computing personal again. (VC&G Insight)
BUIlding big from small: cuppa’s rise in AI saas
From SEO consultancy to AI SaaS success, Ryan Darani mastered growth with Cuppa, taking it to $45k MRR. Thanks to strategic partnerships and an innovative service spinoff hitting $13.5k MRR, Cuppa is now an example of SaaS done right. The secret? Harnessing momentum and leveraging networks. (Indie Hackers)
2025 predictions
Tom Tunguz’s predictions for this year spotlight AI’s unyielding influence and Web3’s emergent vigor. AI now dominates half of VC funding and revolutionizes productivity, while a resurgent interest in Web3, spurred by the Bitcoin ETF, fuels record token inflows and groundbreaking growth. It’s gonna be a wile ride. (Tom Tunguz)
Top resources
The AI that turns your figma designs into code
Imagine a tool that instantly converts your Figma designs into clean, usable code. Enter Builder.io’s AI-powered plugin, transforming design files to React, Vue, Tailwind, and more. It’s a game-changer for founders facing the design-to-development bottleneck. (Plugin)
Managing doom scrolling: a practical reset
Struggling with infinite content feeds? This firsthand account dives into breaking free from the doom scrolling cycle. (All That Jazz)
Flowchart your decisions
Surgeon Shrime offers a pragmatic flowchart linking decisions with personal values to ease complex choices. This method encourages evaluating priorities and adopting staggered deadlines, enhancing decision quality. (Medium)
What’s trending
The internet’s future: humans or Machines?
Traditional SEO practices are being upended as AI-generated answers keep users on search pages rather than clicking through to websites. This change challenges businesses to rethink their online strategies as human visitors dwindle. (Chris Butler)
Time doesn’t matter for newsletters
Switching from a morning to an afternoon send time, a daily newsletter maintained its 32.1% open rate. This debunks the myth of a “best” send time, emphasizing that quality content trumps timing in subscriber loyalty. Find a time that aligns with your workflow, and let your content do the rest. (Inbox Collective)
Emotional apps as the new market moat
Features aren’t enough anymore—you need more emotion. As apps double by 2028, the ones that spark joy and connection, like Pok Pok’s playful interactions or Apple’s satisfying ring closure, will outshine competitors. It’s time to craft with feeling, not just functionality. (Figma)
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