Adam Marsden

Posted on Feb 12

🧠 3 Psychology Tricks to 2x Onboarding + CSS Custom Functions

#ui #ux #css #html

Unicorn Club Newsletter

Hey 👋

Big thanks to everyone who’s picked up some Unicorn Club merch so far—it’s been great to see the support! Remember, you can still grab free stickers with any T-shirt order, so don’t miss out. See more below!

This week’s newsletter is packed with great finds. We’ve got resources on scroll-driven CSS animations, simplifying product design by borrowing familiar patterns, psychology tips to level up onboarding, and even a look at why NASA had a coding error that literally reached another planet.

Enjoy 🦄 - Adam at Unicorn Club.

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🧠 UX

3 Psychology Tips To 2X Your Onboarding

Learn the 3 psychology tips that Scribe used to double their user onboarding conversions.

🎨 Design

The Interface Is Always There

This might seem like a bold claim in an era obsessed with “invisible” and “UI-less” design, but consider what an interface actually is: any mediating layer between you and information.

Bring back the bezels

Towards a skeuomorphism of the soul.

Simplify your product design — borrow familiar patterns

Simple products are immediately familiar and usable. When I pick up a knife or a cup, I never have to think to myself, “How do I use this?”, even if I’m at a friend’s and have never seen their tableware before.

JavaScript Bugs in Space?! 🪐

In 1999, NASA's Mars Climate Orbiter was destroyed because one team used metric units while another used imperial. But here’s the kicker: the software that ran the orbiter didn’t throw an error—it just silently failed. A reminder that coding errors (and inadequate testing) can have astronomical consequences!

📋 CSS

Scroll Driven Animations

The technique of using CSS to create animations on scroll.

CSS scroll-state()

Like container queries; but for stuck, snapped, and overflowing queries.

CSS Custom Functions are coming … and they are going to be a game changer!

Chrome is currently prototyping CSS Functions, which is very exciting!

Launching Merch 🎉

Unicorn Club merch is officially live.

Huge thanks to everyone thats purchased so far! Can't wait to see everyone in their new merch 🙌

I’m throwing in free Unicorn Club stickers with your order of any T-shirt.

Here’s how it works:

1️⃣ Head to the link: shop.unicornclub.dev/promo/FREESTICKERS

2️⃣ Add any T-shirt and the stickers to your cart.

3️⃣ The discount is applied automatically at checkout. Boom—stickers = free.

Shop now →

🏎️ Performance

Understanding CORS errors in Signed Exchanges

Learn debugging techniques and why the all-or-nothing principle makes these errors critical (part 3 of 8). Over the coming weeks we'll be featuring each part of Paweł’s series.

💭 Resources

Website examples for inspiration

Dedicated to creators focused on getting results rather than collecting awards

🗓️ Upcoming Events

✨ How to Have More Product Influence as a Designer

February 21, 2025 - Virtual Event

Join Femke and Miranda for a free session on mastering product influence as a designer. Learn to strengthen PM partnerships and make your ideas count in 45 minutes of actionable advice.

See Event →

⚡ Productivity Conference - Save 10%

March 27 & 28, 2025 - Online

Boost your or your team’s productivity at the Productivity Conference for developers and tech leaders. Learn to revolutionize your workflows with cutting-edge tools and strategies. Registration is open now!

With promo code UNICORN, you can get 10% off on tickets.

See Event →