Design on Substack
The top 100 Design writers on Substack's Bestsellers and Rising boards, with moves between my reads, follower counts, who's gaining recommendations and who recommends them. Boards read once a day.
Board read · moves compare with the read at Oct 31 19:47 UTC
- Writers on the two boards
- 159
- Median followers, Bestsellers
- 9,318
- Smallest on the board
- 713
- LITTLE MATTERS, #99
- New recommendations, 30 days
- 323
- to writers whose main category this is
Rising in Design: new recommendations
Writers in this category who picked up the most new recommenders in the last 30 days. A new recommendation puts a writer in front of another publication's readers.
The Curiosity Department
293k followers · #12 Design Bestsellers
Felix Haas
57k followers · #81 Design Bestsellers
Jenna O'Brien
54k followers · #20 Design Bestsellers
Designer
20k followers
Amanda Hesser
617k followers · #4 Design Bestsellers
Rose Florence
79k followers · #37 Design Bestsellers
Kelly Wearstler
71k followers · #1 Design BestsellersNew recommenders per week, last 12 weeks; the orange bar is this week to date. Same scale in every panel. Dated by Substack; only recommendations still live. Outlined weeks are incomplete: Substack lists only a publication's 50 newest recommenders, so for busy writers older weeks can't be counted, and a 30-day count marked + is a floor.
Bestsellers
Substack ranks Bestsellers by paid subscribers. Followers are my daily reading.
Climbed most since Oct 31: Corinne Back #86 to #75, Anna Liesemeyer #96 to #85, Rather Particular new at #93, Daniela Bolzmann #81 to #74, Melissa Forbes #59 to #54.
| # | Move | Writer | Followers | Recommended by | Paid | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 |  Kelly WearstlerWEARSTLERWORLD |
71,039 | 64 +10 | Thousands | |
| 2 | 0 |  Lacy PhillipsBy Candlelight |
32,540 | 59 +7 | Thousands | |
| 3 | 0 |  Christopher SchwarzThe American Peasant |
40,695 | 55 +5 | Thousands | |
| 4 | 0 |  Amanda HesserHomeward |
617,259 | 76 +10 | Thousands | |
| 5 | 0 |  W Design CollectiveW.D.C. Journal |
17,994 | 52 +2 | Thousands | |
| 6 | 0 |  Kate Watson-SmythMad About The House by Kate Watson-Smyth |
40,298 | 61 +1 | Thousands | |
| 7 | 0 |  Megan FitzpatrickNever Sponsored |
36,376 | 52 | Thousands | |
| 8 | ▲1 |  Jake ArnoldJake's Take |
3,440 | 6 +3 | 100+ badge | |
| 9 | ▼1 |  Taliathere_y0u_are |
29,255 | 53 +3 | 100+ badge | |
| 10 | ▲1 |  Kristin Ellen HockmanThe Dip by Kristin Ellen Hockman |
8,390 | 46 +1 | 100+ badge | |
| 11 | ▼1 |  Shea McGeeLove, Shea |
24,311 | 33 +6 | Thousands | |
| 12 | ▲1 |  The Curiosity DepartmentDesign Better |
292,703 | 56 +23 | 100+ badge | |
| 13 | ▼1 |  Danielle MossBreakfast at Toast |
12,132 | 52 +4 | Thousands | |
| 14 | ▲1 |  Christene BarberichA Tiny Apt. |
43,967 | 60 | 100+ badge | |
| 15 | ▼1 |  Anthony TsengUX Movement Newsletter |
54,441 | 51 +1 | 100+ badge | |
| 16 | ▲1 |  Virginia ChamleeWhat's Left |
30,093 | 54 +5 | 100+ badge | |
| 17 | ▼1 |  India HicksINDIA HICKS. An Unexpected Journey. |
104,682 | 57 +1 | Thousands | |
| 18 | ▲2 |  Emily Ley@emilyley |
252,641 | 60 +7 | Thousands | |
| 19 | ▼1 |  Josh YoungThese Walls by Josh Young |
8,055 | 28 +2 | 100+ badge | |
| 20 | ▼1 |  Jenna O'BrienFeeling! Magazine |
53,766 | 56 +12 | 100+ badge | |
| 21 | 0 |  Ali LaBelleÀ La Carte |
58,872 | 72 +3 | 100+ badge | |
| 22 | 0 |  Chelsea@legallychelsea1 |
1,494 | 0 | 100+ badge | |
| 23 | 0 |  FOR SCALE@forscale |
25,864 | 53 +1 | 100+ badge | |
| 24 | 0 |  Molly KiddKiddred Spirits |
6,776 | 32 +2 | 100+ badge | |
| 25 | ▲1 |  Marina KrutchinskyUX Mentor Diaries |
10,366 | 51 | 100+ badge | |
| 26 | ▼1 |  Colin KingThe Last Layer by Colin King |
11,137 | 51 +4 | 100+ badge | |
| 27 | 0 |  Domino MagazineHome Front |
56,047 | 59 +3 | 100+ badge | |
| 28 | ▲1 |  Eleanor Cording-BoothA Considered Space |
29,573 | 61 +2 | 100+ badge | |
| 29 | ▼1 |  Kailee McKenzieKailee McKenzie’s Substack |
6,785 | 17 +1 | 100+ badge | |
| 30 | ▲2 |  Sami ReissSNAKE SUPER HEALTH |
29,127 | 33 +2 | 100+ badge | |
| 31 | ▲2 |  Ryan SaghianRyan By Design |
1,281 | 1 +1 | 100+ badge | |
| 32 | ▼1 |  Kate ArendsHouse Call With Kate Arends |
29,799 | 55 +1 | 100+ badge | |
| 33 | ▲2 |  EMILY DAWN LONGBUG ME! |
11,767 | 16 +4 | 100+ badge | |
| 34 | ▲2 |  LilyDesigner's Digest |
9,718 | 15 | 100+ badge | |
| 35 | ▼1 |  The Brownstone BoysBeyond the Pocket Doors |
7,339 | 9 | 100+ badge | |
| 36 | ▲3 |  The Townhouse ProjectThe Townhouse Project’s Substack |
5,394 | 9 +5 | 100+ badge | |
| 37 | ▲1 |  Rose FlorenceThe Rose Period |
78,530 | 73 +10 | 100+ badge | |
| 38 | ▼1 |  Julie ZhuoThe Looking Glass |
154,428 | 52 +3 | 100+ badge | |
| 39 | ▲1 |  SHAND DESIGNThe Designer's Dossier |
4,150 | 4 | 100+ badge | |
| 40 | ▲1 |  Kate | Intuitive LivingIntuitive Living with Kate Van Horn |
16,406 | 52 +3 | 100+ badge | |
| 41 | ▲1 |  The Enthusiasts@theenthusiastswatch |
2,182 | 10 | 100+ badge | |
| 42 | ▲1 |  Leonora EpsteinSchmatta |
12,458 | 52 +1 | 100+ badge | |
| 43 | ▲1 |  Nicolas FairfordNotes from Nicolas |
19,464 | 50 +1 | 100+ badge | |
| 44 | ▲1 |  Himera EstudioHimera Talks |
3,214 | 33 +1 | 100+ badge | |
| 45 | ▲1 |  Behind the Masterpiece@behindthemasterpiece |
42,211 | 52 +24 | 100+ badge | |
| 46 | ▲2 |  Things and Stuff@annieportelli |
4,174 | 7 | 100+ badge | |
| 47 | 0 |  Diana LindThe New Urban Order |
13,104 | 53 +4 | 100+ badge | |
| 48 | ▲1 |  Stephanie Sabbe@stephaniesabbe |
2,686 | 14 | 100+ badge | |
| 49 | ▲1 |  Chloe LegrasA Breath of French Air |
4,856 | 27 +3 | 100+ badge | |
| 50 | ▲1 |  Jennifer HunterThe Hunt |
1,127 | 6 +1 | 100+ badge | |
| 51 | ▲1 |  Lloyd KahnLive From California with Lloyd Kahn |
15,265 | 54 +2 | 100+ badge | |
| 52 | ▲1 |  CityBuilderCITYBUILDER |
4,172 | 28 +3 | 100+ badge | |
| 53 | ▲1 |  Gary SamuelianArtist & Lover |
2,345 | 3 | 100+ badge | |
| 54 | ▲5 |  Melissa ForbesSingular by Sense of Spencer |
5,441 | 19 +1 | 100+ badge | |
| 55 | 0 |  Xinran MaDesign with AI |
49,320 | 53 +9 | 100+ badge | |
| 56 | ▲4 |  Whitney McGregorLAGNIAPPE |
1,697 | 9 | 100+ badge | |
| 57 | ▲1 |  Chelsea HandeganA Firsthand Account |
1,798 | 14 | 100+ badge | |
| 58 | ▼1 |  RIVER BROOK BLUEPRINT@riverbrook |
716 | 0 | none shown | |
| 59 | ▲2 |  Elle HervinElle the Home Bird |
8,905 | 26 +4 | 100+ badge | |
| 60 | ▲2 |  Charlotte ParkerCharlotte’s Web |
5,495 | 30 | 100+ badge | |
| 61 | ▲2 |  Elizabeth DamrichFROM THE SOFA |
3,616 | 18 | 100+ badge | |
| 62 | ▲5 |  Lauren SandsA Whimsical World |
13,679 | 50 +2 | 100+ badge | |
| 63 | ▲1 | Max RadfordM_R.A.A.D |
1,760 | 9 | 100+ badge | |
| 64 | ▲1 |  David LêThe Arcades |
6,490 | 28 +1 | 100+ badge | |
| 65 | ▲3 |  Bria HammelThe Homefront |
8,353 | 14 | 100+ badge | |
| 66 | 0 |  Rebecca | Your House MachineYour House Machine |
16,855 | 47 | 100+ badge | |
| 67 | ▲2 |  Beth MathewsBeth Mathews Design |
10,961 | 50 +2 | 100+ badge | |
| 68 | ▲4 |  Olive CookeFile for Later |
12,929 | 51 +4 | none shown | |
| 69 | ▲1 |  The Pretty PaperThe Pretty Paper by Caitlin Wilson |
58,393 | 50 | 100+ badge | |
| 70 | ▲1 |  Tello and RoseThe American Insider |
12,818 | 24 | 100+ badge | |
| 71 | ▲2 |  Zoë FeldmanSidenote |
5,121 | 11 +1 | 100+ badge | |
| 72 | ▲2 |  Caroline DonahueThe Tattooed Governess |
7,574 | 53 | 100+ badge | |
| 73 | ▲4 |  Club Coverjunkieclub coverjunkie |
9,318 | 51 +4 | 100+ badge | |
| 74 | ▲7 |  Daniela BolzmannDesign Proof - Creative Strategy for Amazon eCommerce Brands |
10,350 | 11 +1 | none shown | |
| 75 | ▲11 |  Corinne BackThe Back Room |
2,101 | 3 | none shown | |
| 76 | 0 |  Wrong HouseWRONG HOUSE |
3,638 | 22 | 100+ badge | |
| 77 | ▲1 |  Natalie CatalinaWorth Noting |
4,495 | 35 +4 | 100+ badge | |
| 78 | ▲1 |  Matt KenneyA Furniture Maker's Life |
3,211 | 44 | 100+ badge | |
| 79 | ▲1 |  Care of ChanReady to Host |
5,208 | 5 | none shown | |
| 80 | ▼5 |  Jill SingerCounter Space |
4,575 | 23 | 100+ badge | |
| 81 | ▲1 |  Felix Haas Design + AI |
56,731 | 53 +21 | 100+ badge | |
| 82 | ▲2 |  Angela MondlochThe Avenue Edit |
10,084 | 50 +3 | none shown | |
| 83 | ▲2 |  Richard BairdLogo Histories |
56,691 | 53 +2 | 100+ badge | |
| 84 | ▼1 |  IleanaUX + AI |
7,589 | 48 +4 | none shown | |
| 85 | ▲11 |  Anna LiesemeyerThe Weekly Dish |
23,249 | 19 | none shown | |
| 86 | ▲3 |  Swike@swike |
872 | 4 | none shown | |
| 87 | 0 |  Emily Waldo | Wreaths by WaldoBehind the Bow |
3,991 | 1 | none shown | |
| 88 | ▲3 |  Panayiota SoutisThe Goal is to Eat |
3,589 | 30 +3 | none shown | |
| 89 | ▼1 |  Ryan PuzyckiCity of Yes |
9,036 | 51 +5 | 100+ badge | |
| 90 | ▲2 |  Brian Boggs@boggsbench |
3,178 | 7 | none shown | |
| 91 | ▼1 |  Folie ChambreFolie’s Substack |
4,377 | 11 | none shown | |
| 92 | ▲1 |  Haskell Harris@haskellharris |
914 | ? | none shown | |
| 93 | ▲4 |  Rather Particular@lelovelylife |
968 | 2 +2 | none shown | |
| 94 | 0 |  Per My Last Find@permylastfind |
2,419 | 14 +4 | none shown | |
| 95 | 0 |  Eric O’GreyShop Dog Wood Works |
2,030 | 5 | 100+ badge | |
| 96 | ▲3 |  Alicia PedersonCourtyard Urbanist |
3,195 | 17 +2 | none shown | |
| 97 | new |  Ajiri AkiNotes on JOIE with Ajiri Aki |
18,054 | 50 +2 | none shown | |
| 98 | new |  David HoangProof of Concept |
14,751 | ? | none shown | |
| 99 | ▼1 |  LITTLE MATTERS@littlematters |
713 | 0 | none shown | |
| 100 | new |  Paloma MeehanPaloma Bella |
5,711 | ? | none shown |
The top 20 on every read
Rank on each read of the Bestsellers board. Darker is higher. A gap means the writer was outside the top 100 on that read.
| Writer | Oct 3107:00 | Oct 3113:00 | Oct 3119:47 | Nov 621:50 | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Wearstler | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Lacy Phillips | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Christopher Schwarz | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Amanda Hesser | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| W Design Collective | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Kate Watson-Smyth | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Megan Fitzpatrick | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Jake Arnold | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | ▲1 |
| Talia | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | ▼1 |
| Kristin Ellen Hockman | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | ▲1 |
| Shea McGee | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | ▼1 |
| The Curiosity Department | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | ▲1 |
| Danielle Moss | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | ▼1 |
| Christene Barberich | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | ▲1 |
| Anthony Tseng | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | ▼1 |
| Virginia Chamlee | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | ▲1 |
| India Hicks | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | ▼1 |
| Emily Ley | 20 | 20 | 20 | 18 | ▲2 |
| Josh Young | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 0 |
| Jenna O'Brien | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | ▼2 |
History starts on Oct 31, 2026. Each day adds a column.
Who recommends Design writers
Publications with the most live recommendations pointing at writers whose main category is Design. If you write in this category, these are the readers' lists worth being on.