Making things that multiply

Good ideas rarely belong in just one place. This week, Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson share how 37signals lets concepts move freely across products, turning one solid idea into many useful ones. They talk about borrowing from the past without getting stuck in it, giving new concepts time to catch on, and keeping space for creativity as products evolve.

Key Takeaways

• 00:11 – Letting strong ideas travel between products
• 02:49 – Giving each product its own design voice
• 07:26 – Bringing back old features when it makes sense
• 12:03 – Avoiding nostalgia just for the sake of it
• 17:55 – Using real-world use to guide product improvements
• 22:10 – Keeping your creative process flexible
• 23:57 – Leaving space for fun in the design
• 31:13 – Designing around feel instead of rules

Links and Resources

• Newcity Design magazine
• Segura Inc. (Carlos Segura’s Design Firm)
• Fizzy is a modern spin on kanban. Try it for free at fizzy.do
• Record a video question for the podcast
• Sign up for a 30-day free trial at Basecamp.com
• Books by 37signals
• HEY World | HEY
• The REWORK podcast
• The Rework Podcast on YouTube
• The 37signals Dev Blog
• 37signals on YouTube
• @37signals on X