Louie Mantia discusses app icon design on the Parakeet blog, focusing on Apple's squircle mandate. He argues that this mandate, which forces all app icons into a squircle shape and applies effects like Liquid Glass, ultimately hinders good design. While intended to elevate mediocre icons and ensure platform consistency, it pushes excellent icons toward mediocrity. Mantia believes this approach restricts the best designs and makes bad ones merely acceptable. He contrasts this with "The Macintosh Way," which he feels embraced distinctiveness. He expresses a desire for Apple to allow designers some freedom to extend beyond the squircle boundary. Mantia acknowledges some favorite icons have previously broken convention. However, he also notes that many disliked icons ignored the squircle, appearing jarring. Despite the limitations, Mantia suggests there are still ways to design effectively within the squircle framework. He concludes that the overall direction Apple has taken with Mac app icon design is compelling.