Helpful App
What does it mean to be helpful? Is it important for designers to do so?


Whole Earth Catalog (1968) – Stewart Brand

A publication composed of product listings, how-to-diagrams, and education ephemera for the back-to-the-land movement. All of the items inside are intended to be useful in a DIY living environment.

Steve Jobs described the “Whole Earth Catalog” as “Google in paperback form, thirty-five years before Google came along.” at Stanford’s 2005 commencement address.


The New Woman’s Survival Catalog – Kirsten Grimstad and Susan Rennie (1973)

Inspired by Whole Earth Catalog, The New Woman’s Survival Catalog maps network of Feminist alternative culture activity.


Whole Cosmep Catalog – Dick Higgins (1973)

An Idea for a Website – Ian McDonald

Workbook – Jesse Chun on Triple Canopy (2019)

queer.archive.work – Paul Soulellis (2018 – )