Butterick’s Practical Typography
I thought this was a great essay about free content on the web more generally, but this specific section was particularly insightful:
ApÂple is ofÂten credÂited with provÂing that deÂsign exÂcelÂlence leads to marÂket sucÂcess. Not reÂally. ApÂpleâs resurÂgence is only inÂciÂdenÂtally about deÂsign. Mostly, itâs about careÂfully seÂlectÂing a terÂriÂtory of valuÂable cusÂtomersâin ApÂpleâs case, staÂtus-conÂscious peoÂple with coÂpiÂous disÂposÂable inÂcomeâand deÂfendÂing that terÂriÂtory tooth and nail. ApÂple does not sell great deÂsign. It sells deÂsign that flatÂters its owner. (And ApÂpleâs timÂing has been perÂfect to exÂploit the risÂing tide of wealth inequality.)
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