Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 08/09/2026“You’ll watch something anyway, so why not brain rot? It’s actually better than an ad because it doesn’t demand anything from you.” “If everything is content now, then brain rot is anti-content. It’s the only way to be free online, which is to do something so stupid it can’t be monetized.” 100
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 21/08/2026Themes coming up in the next version of Arké. A bit more info on recent work here. gbks.substack.com/p/two-miles-... 000
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 18/08/2026And having AI whip out some first localizations for Arké. Still reads a bit goofy, but it will get there. 000
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 29/07/2026I am with Ben Shneiderman on direct manipulation. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWgP...youtube.comDirect Manipulation (1988 University of Maryland UIS Broadcast)YouTube video by BenShneiderman 000
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 27/07/2026Prototype for quickly going over several transactions and annotating them, via a card stack layout. What do you think? youtu.be/tCVOI7dGt7Yyoutu.beArké transaction swipé prototypeYouTube video by Christoph O 000
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 22/07/2026Experimenting with AI-generated video explainers for critical features in Arké. What do you make of it? www.youtube.com/watch?v=gifJ...youtube.comArké force move (aka unilateral exit) intro videoYouTube video by Christoph O 000
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 20/04/2026"People are not friction". Nice one. daverupert.com/2026/03/peop...daverupert.comPeople are not frictionThe Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect of AI is a pretty well documented phenomenon: The Gell-Mann amnesia effect is a cognitive bias describing the tendency of individuals to critically assess media reports in... 000
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 12/03/2026"The fractures fell neatly along disciplines: engineers using AI to wish away designers, designers wishing away engineers, product managers wishing away both. In this climate, AI becomes frenemy identification technology, another way to avoid working together... 100
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 02/03/2026Arké now has a custom BDK-based onchain wallet to complement the Ark functionality. Onchain transactions now blend in seamlessly with Ark and Lightning. 010
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 27/02/2026Lots of things in Arké are not about re-inventing the wheel, but executing well, sometimes with a bit of playfulness. For the recovery phrase, you scratch to reveal it. And there's a handy printable PDF to note it down. 010
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 13/02/2026We had a nice project intro session about Arké yesterday, covering the origin story, ambitions, UX and design details, and lots more. Check it out. youtu.be/ORIjqn1YMbQyoutu.beArké Project IntroYouTube video by Bitcoin Design 011
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 12/02/2026TestFlight waitlist signup is available if you'd like to help feel out and refine Arké. arke.cash 130
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 07/02/2026When you hide your balance in Arké, you see a scenic view of a Tuscan landscape. 121
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 13/11/2025I've been working on an Ark protocol desktop wallet prototype and it's been a ton of fun busting out the UI. Been sharing video updates for the past four weeks, all summarized in this thread here: community.second.tech/t/arke-macos...community.second.techArké MacOS prototypeThanks for the update. All good, I’m sure you’re all super busy. Here’s another update with the latest refinements: What’s in there: Import native contacts Auto-assignment of contac... 010
Reposted by ChristophMark Hamill @markhamillofficial.bsky.social · 27/10/2025I have a very bad feeling about this... 18345398710118
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 22/05/2025What a great design talk. www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DPW...youtube.comConfig 2025: Designing dystopia: the creative vision behind Severance with Jeremy Hindle | FigmaYouTube video by Figma 020
Reposted by ChristophRyan Hefner @ryanhefner.com · 05/05/2025Dig this. What are you going to release!? 031
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 03/05/2025The Bitcoin Designathon kicks off tomorrow! We’ve got two calls lined up. Join to hear how it all works, learn about prizes, and get your questions answered about projects, teams, or anything else. event.bitcoin.design 010
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 28/04/2025Designathon kick-off is Sunday. Would love to see you there. event.bitcoin.design 000
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 28/04/2025Spent the weekend with my son on the Runway 48-hour hackathon and we came up with this goofy short-film. Was a great chance to tinker with all the latest AI video/image/sound tools. Tons of limitations still, but also very powerful (and fun). www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pvN...youtube.comThe AmuletYouTube video by Christoph O 100
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 23/04/2025Have you tried Saving Satoshi to learn bitcoin tech & coding? Would love to hear what you think. savingsatoshi.comsavingsatoshi.comSaving SatoshiExplore the mysteries of Satoshi and learn about bitcoin along the way. 010
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 11/04/2025Fully in event planning mode at the moment. Between the Designathon, Oslo Freedom Forum, BTC Prague, and Presidio Bitcoin events, there's a lot to organize in the Bitcoin Design Community.event.bitcoin.designBitcoin Designathon 2025We are getting creative with bitcoin. From May 4 to 18, 2025. 110
Reposted by ChristophAnne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 10/04/2025"This is what arbitrary, absolute power looks like. And this is why the men who wrote the Constitution never wanted anyone to have it" www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...theatlantic.comTrump Is Showing Why Dictatorships FailThe authors of the Constitution separated powers for a reason. 11933551056
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 03/04/2025Designathon website and sign-ups are now live. Check it out. event.bitcoin.designevent.bitcoin.designBitcoin Designathon 2025We are getting creative with bitcoin. From May 4 to 18, 2025. 010
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 28/03/2025We're organizing another Designathon in the Bitcoin Design Community, from May 4-18. Should be fun. 142
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 28/03/2025Hard to make a better case for bitcoin as a credibly neutral global money than the global news section of the HRF financial freedom report. us14.campaign-archive.com?e=063899928b...us14.campaign-archive.comTurkish Lira in Free Fall, Cubans Unable to Access Remittances, and Pakistan Plans to Regulate Digital Assets. 000
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 21/03/2025It was a pleasure presenting the Open Design Guide (opendesign.guide) last week at FOSS Backstage with @erioldoesdesign.bsky.social. It's an effort to provide a smoother path into open-source for designers. Interestingly, there were 3 other talks at the conference that brought up the same problem. 231
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 21/03/2025"We've been successfully removing all friction from our apps — think about how effortless it is to scroll through a social feed. But is that what we want? Compare the feeling of doomscrolling to kneading dough, playing an instrument, sketching... 100
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 17/03/2025I used Penpot (penpot.app) for a presentation at FOSS Backstage last week. It worked great, with a few small hiccups. If you're not ready to go 100% Penpot yet, I'd recommend trying it for smaller design tasks (and give the team feedback). One step at a time.penpot.appPenpot: The Design Tool for Design & Code CollaborationPenpot is the open-source free design software that connects designers and developers with no handoff drama. Prototyping, UI design and code - all in one app. 000
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 23/02/2025Did my usual voting day routine. Show up at 8 right when they open and then go for a run. I hope we get a strong Germany to tackle our short- and mid-term geopolitical challenges and economic issues, while also staying on track on longer-term climate goals. And no more right-wing nonsense, please. 030
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 13/02/2025So, competitive authoritarianism is where this is heading? www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...foreignaffairs.comThe Path to American AuthoritarianismWhat comes after democratic breakdown. 020
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 03/02/2025Summer of Bitcoin applications are open. We're helping organize a design track again via Bitcoin Design, like the last two years. Take a peek. summerofbitcoin.org 020
Reposted by ChristophTimothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 02/02/2025The logic of the coup that is going on now. And how to resist it. snyder.substack.com/p/the-logic-...snyder.substack.comThe Logic of DestructionAnd how to resist it 337108945189
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 30/01/2025Defining user experience design is pretty straightforward. Our life is a linear series of events. Things we had never heard of slide into our awareness. Maybe someone tells us about something, maybe we walk around and see something or someone, etc. 110
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 30/01/2025Cool to see that Block has an OSPO (open-source program office, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_So...). block.xyz/open-sourceen.wikipedia.orgOpen Source Program Office - Wikipedia 000
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 24/01/2025New page about Human-Readable Addresses ("bitcoin emails" 😀) is live in the Bitcoin Design Guide (focusing mostly on BIP-353 and Lightning Address). Take a peek and let me know what you think. bitcoin.design/guide/how-it... 010
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 18/12/2024My talk for FOSS Backstage about the Open Design Guide (opendesign.guide) was accepted. There are several other talks about the role of design(ers) in the line-up. Looking forward to it. 25.foss-backstage.de/sessions/opendesign.guideOpen Design GuideOpen source software is designed by people just like you. Learn how to find your way around and contribute. 010
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 17/12/2024The Saving Satoshi case study in the Bitcoin Design Guide is live. It provides lots of background about this unique and ambitious project. I'm super thankful to and proud of everyone who chipped in (you're all ₿OSSes). bitcoin.design/guide/case-s... 132
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 11/12/2024Design should capture and express the essential properties of a product/technology. If users can't tell the difference between self-custodial and custodial bitcoin apps, then we're doing it wrong. 120
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 03/12/2024Here's a visual for a planned transaction visualizer in the Bitcoin Core App (Sparrow-inspired). Does that look useful to you? You can also try the work-in-progress web prototype: lively-kashata-cfde7e.netlify.app/screen/coin-... 241
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 02/12/2024Latest weekly open-source/design contributions update. Less about contributions this time, and more thoughts around naming things. A bit rambly, but maybe it's useful. gbks.substack.com/p/112-a-rosegbks.substack.com#112 A rose......is a rose. 000
Reposted by Christophdanah boyd @zephoria.bsky.social · 14/11/2024I cannot even begin to express how much joy it gives me to learn that The Onion bought InfoWars in the bankruptcy sale. And this explanation…. Oh I needed this laugh today. theonion.com/heres-why-i-...theonion.comHere’s Why I Decided To Buy ‘InfoWars’Today we celebrate a new addition to the Global Tetrahedron LLC family of brands. And let me say, I really do see it as a family. Much like family members, our brands are abstract nodes of wealth, int... 26915
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 28/10/2024My BlueSky Discover feed is 90% uninformed anti-government whining. Can’t stand this stuff and so the muting begins. Is that the dynamic to expect here? 110
Christoph @gbks.bsky.social · 12/12/2023Alright, our Legends of Lightning hackathon submission for Saving Satoshi is out. Here's the demo video we put together: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW6t...youtube.comSaving Satoshi submission for Legend of Lightning Vol 2This is our submission video for the Legends of Lightning Vol 2 hackathon. Big thanks to the organizers and the team, and all the other projects participatin... 010
