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> Paul Graham's essay on design

http://www.paulgraham.com/design.html

http://www.paulgraham.com/desres.html

See also: Taste for Makers: http://www.paulgraham.com/taste.html (under section 'Good design is often slightly funny')

It’s because the animation timing and easing, methinks.

Look here for basics https://youtu.be/c7HXLl8YREM

The citymapper hamburger icon definitely has a humorous element too!

I'm not sure I agree with the quote though. It so happens that the websites I linked all had an element of playfulness, but I don't think that's required.

Here's a site I worked on. Check out the hover animation for the four tiles underneath "Our Innovative and Customer-Driven Businesses": https://web.archive.org/web/20190610202159if_/http://2018ar....

IMO, there's nothing playful or "humorous" about this animation. I would describe it instead as "elegant"—it gives the site an extra level of sophistication.

Another (very small) example might be the "Apply Now" button on https://www.airforce.com/

Graham is hardly an authority on design.