Making Software (MS) represents a manual of visual lessons that helps readers understand everyday technology and software.

What makes MS so unique and interesting is that it features detailed illustrations and animations created by the author himself, Dan Hollick - a seasoned designer and developer. The project is also creatively designed and packaged with care, making for a meaningful, textured user experience that brings complex subject matter to life.

In addition to a thoughtful, engaging aesthetic, Dan goes through the trouble of unpacking the unsung heroes of our technological environment. For example he explores questions such as "How do touch screens actually work?"

The rationale behind the project is to bridge a growing gap between users and the tools they engage with everyday. As Dan writes, "As everything around us has become more complicated our understanding of technology has diminished. It used to be that we needed to understand our tools deeply but today we understand them in a shallow, abstracted way."

The result is a growing manual of artful, engaging information which sets new standards for educational content and design. The project serves as an excellent example of how designers can use education to express themselves and build beautiful portfolio pieces whilst adding value to others. One could pick almost any topic and reimagine how it's taught and visually communicated for a unique design challenge.

Dan's collections will at first be distributed as an e-book. In the future he'll explore publishing a print version, but that's obviously a more complex endeavor.

You can learn sign up for Making Software updates here and follow Dan through his website or X