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Laura Kalbag

@laurakalbag.com
705 followers 137 following 195 posts

½ of Small Technology Foundation. Designs, talks, and writes about web, rights-respecting tech, inclusivity, privacy, design and dev. I wrote a book: Accessibility For Everyone: accessibilityforeveryone.site she/her

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Reposted by Laura Kalbag
Mary Branscombe @marypcbuk.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
People like dhh don’t come from nowhere; they come from a culture where most men in tech expect to have their bad behaviour forgiven and far fewer are ready to apologise or hold each other to account. Enormous appreciation for those few
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 01/10/2026
I’ve been struggling to put my finger on this, but @rachelandrew.co.uk has totally nailed why AI tutorial/educational content just isn’t the same (or as good!) as a human writer. (I’m not saying my writing isn’t flawed, but relevant context and framing is something I really work hard at!)
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Reposted by Laura Kalbag
Rachel Andrew @rachelandrew.co.uk · 30/09/2026
More than words While I've done a lot of reference documentation writing, my favourite type of work is writing tutorials and "how to" content. I enjoy the challenge of understanding a technology and... rachelandrew.co.uk/archives/2026/09…
rachelandrew.co.uk
More than words
While I've done a lot of reference documentation writing, my favourite type of work is writing tutorials and "how to" content. I enjoy the challenge of understanding a technology and an audience, then explaining the technology to that audience. AI seems to be particularly bad at creating this kind of content. When people try, they...
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 30/09/2026
My instructor always made me drive to the lake car park so he could have a coffee and a ciggy.
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 30/09/2026
Penpot pals! Now I’m upright again, it’s time to plan another hands-on livestream. We’re returning to layouts… is there anything layout-related you want to learn in Penpot? Anything you struggle with? Something you want to see created from start to finish?
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 29/09/2026
Brilliant satire for a wonderful event
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 16/09/2026
This plugin works really well if you want to import HTML web pages to redesign. (Also pulls in CSS)
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Reposted by Laura Kalbag
Piccalilli @piccalil.li · 15/09/2026
@bell.bz co-authored Every Layout with @heydonworks.com back in 2019. It transformed how developers approach layout in CSS and in this free lesson of Complete CSS, Andy gives even more detail in how skeletal layouts are the way to get a solid UI piccalilli.link/cc-free-less...
I did a lot of CSS consultancy for various sized organisations — from huge multinational corporations to smaller startups. What do you think the most common downfall in CSS codebases were across nearly all of these organisations? Framework choices? Sass? Less? CSS-in-JS? No, it’s layout and spacing.
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Reposted by Laura Kalbag
Penpot @penpot.app · 15/09/2026
Background grids or grid layouts? They might look similar, but they work very differently. 📐 Background grids guide your alignment ⚡ Grid layouts automate it with responsive, CSS-based rules Learn when to use each in Penpot penpot.app/blog/backgro...
penpot.app
Background grids vs grid layouts: what’s the difference?
Background grids are guides you use to help you manually position design elements by eye. Grid layouts automate layouts (often responsively) based on the design rules you provide.
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Reposted by Laura Kalbag
Penpot @penpot.app · 15/09/2026
Penpot 2.18 is here, and it's a big one: strokes can now become fully editable paths, and we're introducing the first version of Penpot Enterprise🎉 youtu.be/LC6UieFMNE4?...
youtu.be
Penpot 2.18: Stroke to path + Enterprise
YouTube video by Penpot
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Reposted by Laura Kalbag
andy @myfunnyandy.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
New @penpot.app version is out in the wild 💜 community.penpot.app/t/penpot-2-1...
community.penpot.app
Penpot 2.18 release: Born this way
Penpot 2.18 introduces Penpot Enterprise, our new paid plan, shipping alongside the most requested Outline stroke (stroke to path) and a fresh batch of features and fixes. Penpot stays free, unlimited...
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 10/09/2026
“Well, the watch says you called me a ‘ducking rick’…”
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Reposted by Laura Kalbag
Piccalilli @piccalil.li · 09/09/2026
The summer is over and the autumn (or fall, for our American friends) is here, so we're offering a huge 35% discount on all courses if you use the coupon code PRICEFALL at checkout. piccalil.li/links/pricef...
piccalil.li
Save 35% on all courses for two weeks only
The summer is over and the autumn (or fall, for our American friends) is here, so we're offering a huge 35% discount on all courses if you use the coupon code PRICEFALL at checkout.
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 08/09/2026
Context is the same issue I often think about. Maybe it’s because I’m most often sharing images that provide additional context to the text they accompany. Screenshots and diagrams are not the same kind of alt text as stock imagery.
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Reposted by Laura Kalbag
Penpot @penpot.app · 08/09/2026
Designers, devs, open source advocates...this is a safe space! What’s that one thing in your day-to-day workflow that makes you want to cry? A painful handoff? Endless tasks? Tell us your pain. Big, small, weirdly specific… we want to hear it🥲 Drop your tears below💧
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 04/09/2026
💀
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 04/09/2026
Who needs AI to write when I can be longwinded all by myself.
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 04/09/2026
This ended up being longer than I intended, but hopefully there’s lots of useful info in there if you’re new to grids in design, grids in @penpot.app, and the difference between background grids and grid layouts #penpot penpot.app/blog/backgro...
penpot.app
Background grids vs grid layouts: what’s the difference?
Background grids are guides you use to help you manually position design elements by eye. Grid layouts automate layouts (often responsively) based on the design rules you provide.
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Reposted by Laura Kalbag
Rachel Andrew @rachelandrew.co.uk · 04/09/2026
I'm relaunching CSS Layout News on Offprint.
rachelandrew.co.uk
CSS Layout News in the ATmosphere
In 2015 I started my CSS Layout News newsletter mostly to have my own venue to go on about CSS grid, at the time unavailable in any stable browser. I got to 2023 and 343 issues and it fizzled out. Partly because I got busy, but mostly because the newsletter signup form on the platform...
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 03/09/2026
Happy Birthday!
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 28/08/2026
Your illustrations are SO good. Your use of colour is just sublime
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 27/08/2026
Search is bad *and* AI slop has poisoned search results.
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 21/08/2026
I have this vestibular issue too! I don’t work with any walkers, but if someone is holding their device in their hand while walking around, 🤢.
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Reposted by Laura Kalbag
Eriol Fox @erioldoesdesign.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Come along and be part of the conversation about open source, decentralised tech and design! luma.com/17sotawb?tk=... #decentralised #oss #design
luma.com
Folk Tech Connection Call - August 2026 - Open Source & Decent Design with Eileen Wagner and Eriol Fox! · Zoom · Luma
Folk Tech is a solidarity-based movement among designers, developers, and people in communities who want digital technology that supports their daily life and…
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 04/08/2026
Excellent choice!
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Reposted by Laura Kalbag
Léonie Watson @tink.uk · 14/07/2026
#AccessibilityIsResistance tink.uk/accessibility-is-resistance
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 28/06/2026
If I’m honest, around €100.
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 24/06/2026
It was just like you said! Felt miraculous to wake up without that pain.
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 24/06/2026
One week since my surgery and I’m so happy. The nerve pain was gone the second I woke up. Today I took an 8 minute walk, no pain, for the first time in 6 months. The hardest part now is restraining myself so I can recover properly!
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Reposted by Laura Kalbag
Large Heydon Collider @heydonworks.com · 22/06/2026
The HTML cat is out of the Web Audio bag. I've finally released HYPERBLAM. It’s my system for sampling, processing, and sequencing sound and music directly in HTML. hyperblam.how
hyperblam.how
Hyperblam Docs Home
Documentation for HyperBlam. Make HTML make music.
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Reposted by Laura Kalbag
Dave Letorey @letorey.co.uk · 12/06/2026
Please sign this petition and share with your networks: Launch a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28 on LGBTQ people petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...
petition.parliament.uk
Petition: Launch a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28 on LGBTQ people
We call on the Government to launch a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28 of the Local Government Act (1988) which specified that Local Authorities could not intentionally promote, through ma...
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026
Thank you! It is so awful. I think I could manage the back pain but the nerve pain is something else. And I’ve been told I have a high tolerance. I really hope mine goes away as quickly as yours!
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026
Not tmi, I appreciate you sharing the detail! Sorry you had to go through all that. I’m hoping that next Wednesday will come around quickly and then I only have the recovery to worry about. (I can’t wait for the nerve pain to go away!)
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026
My relief position is lying on the floor with my legs at ~ a 90 degree angle (45 isn’t enough!) with the monitor mounted above my head 😂
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026
Woah. It sounds really fortunate that you were with the physio when it happened. I’ve been thoroughly drilled on all the warning signs! That’s so reassuring and I’m so glad you’re doing ok.
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026
Sciatica is *the worst* (I am currently lying in a very strange position!) Wishing you a speedy recovery right back. I swear nobody understands the brutality of nerve pain until they experience it. I’m pretending it’s a mere coincidence that this has turned up in my 40th year… 😭
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026
Yikes, yeah I’m having the surgery to hopefully avoid that! It sounds really scary. Did the surgery help you?
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026
(Yes, it turns out the disc was the cause of the back pain and awful sciatica!)
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 11/06/2026
Anyone here had a lumbar discectomy? I’m having the surgery in 6 days and I’m a bit nervous! Not so much about the surgery itself or general anaesthetic, but the stay in hospital and what the recovery will involve. I’d appreciate any insight or advice from people with experience!
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 08/06/2026
Same! Like I’d love to have time to do more tech-related side projects but my non-tech life is sooo much more important to my mental health.
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 29/05/2026
I don’t know if you’ve tried out Threadloop yet, but it is the best when you’re looking for the ideal pattern threadloop.app
threadloop.app
Threadloop - A better way to organize your sewing
Plan your projects, organize your fabric stash, and discover inspiring patterns while connecting with a community of sewists.
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 28/05/2026
The pricing model is pants, but it is *really* good.
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 20/05/2026
Hahahaha. I blast music on my headphones while sewing, but then again my heavy duty machines make such a racket whether they’re behaving or not. (I will pause music for intense activities like topstitching.)
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 20/05/2026
A love for the status quo combined with zero critical thinking. Unfortunately these are not qualities unique to the tech industry, but they are certainly amplified by the speed at which we can deploy terrible decisions.
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 20/05/2026
💜 Frustratingly, the three most common reasons for doing anything in tech are “it’s what everybody else does, so it must be right”, “a big tech company does it, so it must be right,” and “Google makes it easy to embed this in our org for free.”
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 20/05/2026
I say this as someone who has been banging that drum for probably fifteen years… 🫠
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 19/05/2026
My mum stencilled these all over our 1920s era house when I was young
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 19/05/2026
Classic Rennie Mackintosh design!
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 15/05/2026
A great event to speak at or just be at!
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Laura Kalbag @laurakalbag.com · 13/05/2026
I hate how I nodded along to the familiarity of all this.
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