IntercomExplainer
For the ‘Building Intercom’ event page, the design team aimed for an ‘unapologetically nerdy’ aesthetic to appeal to engineers without resorting to tired clichés. The author discovered the Hershey fonts, originally created in the 1960s by physicist A.V. Hershey, and revived them into functional font files using FontSelf and then Glyphs for weight variations. A small Python script automated placing outlines into a .glyphs file, and Paper.js enabled interactive vector animations. Testing revealed issues such as event details being overlooked, Paperscript’s JavaScript evaluators forbidden by Intercom’s security team, and poor mobile browser support for Paper.js. The project reinforced the value of taking meaningful risks in design and development, reminding the author that overcoming fear of consequences is part of the work.
The Intercom Blog post details the design process for the ‘Building Intercom’ event page. The goal was an ‘unapologetically nerdy’ aesthetic for an engineering audience without relying on clichés. The designer, Kyle Benson, discovered Hershey fonts from the 1960s and revived them using FontSelf and Glyphs, writing a Python script to automate font generation. The page was built with Paper.js for interactive vector animations. Testing revealed issues with mobile support and security policies. The project exemplified meaningful risk-taking.
The approach involved reviving Hershey fonts by using FontSelf for initial proof-of-concept and Glyphs for weight variations, with a custom Python script to place outlines into .glyphs files. The event page was built using Paper.js for interactive vector animations instead of common frameworks. The designer coded the page personally, conducting extensive testing to address security restrictions on Paperscript’s JavaScript evaluators and poor mobile browser support.
The design team aimed for an ‘unapologetically nerdy’ aesthetic without relying on clichés like nostalgia-heavy themes.
Hershey fonts, created by physicist A.V. Hershey in the 1960s, were revived into functional font files using FontSelf and Glyphs, with a Python script automating part of the process.
Using Paper.js for interactive animations required addressing security restrictions and poor mobile browser support through extensive testing.
The Hershey fonts, created by physicist A.V. Hershey in the 1960s, were revived to create a unique 'unapologetically nerdy' aesthetic without relying on clichés.
The designer used FontSelf for initial proof-of-concept, then switched to Glyphs. A Python script placed outlines into .glyphs files, and Glyphs added custom offset path values to create different weights.
Important event details were overlooked due to animations. Paperscript's JavaScript evaluators were forbidden by Intercom's security team. Many mobile browsers did not support Paper.js or functioned poorly.
Summaries are generated from the original by a language model. Check the original before relying on it.
See the idea
Compare two mental models for brand: a static artifact (logos, guidelines, centralized control) and a living operating system (values, APIs, support, trust). See which choices fit your engineering team.
Keep reading
The Good Stuff
Paid picks we use ourselves. Links carry a referral code — a subscription through one earns us a commission at no extra cost to you.
One useful email. Unsubscribe anytime.
