Taking a little break

Thank you for being a part of the Design Buddy community

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to take a moment and say a huge thank you for being a part of the Design Buddy community. Your support as a reader has meant the world to me these past months. It's been a wild ride, and I can't express how much joy I've found in rekindling my love for writing and connecting with all of you.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Since starting this journey, I have published at least one post weekly, which has been a rewarding experience. I'm stoked that our little community has grown to almost 500 subscribers. Though it may not seem like a large number, it is enough to keep me motivated to continue writing fresh content for you all.

It's easy to get caught up in the numbers game. My heart races every time I see new subscribers or likes, instantly igniting a desire to grab my laptop and dive into writing. Even while driving, my mind often churns with ideas for the next post—talking with Otter.ai and turning my voice into a note. How efficient!

But I'm growing weary; I need a little break.

My writing mainly revolves around self-awareness and practicing intentionality; I can't help but feel the need to practice what I preach. It's time to acknowledge that something isn't quite right within myself. I need to get back to the lab and re-engineer myself.

So I've decided to take a break from writing new content for 3-4 weeks. However, I'll still send you older posts that I haven't sent you yet.

Reading list

I have lined up books to gain more insights on topics that matter to me and to fill my empty glass so that I can write with new perspectives. If you are curious about my reading list, here it is.

1. The Reflective Practitioner by Donald Schon
   This book explores the concept of reflective practice in various professional fields—focuses on the idea that architects, engineers, educators, and managers must engage in reflective thinking to enhance their skills and adapt to complex and uncertain situations. I’ve read until chapter 3, and the idea of thinking-through-making resonates with me a lot. I can’t wait to write about it!

2. The Craftsman by Richard Sennett
   It's all about craftsmanship. The entire concept of this book will take you to a whole new perspective on mastering your craft—not only about producing beautiful and well-made objects but cultivating a mindset of care, attention to detail, and lifelong learning.

3. Think Again by Adam Grant
   This book has been helping me become a more open-minded, adaptable, and effective thinker in a work environment that demands continuous learning and reevaluation of our assumptions. I've been reading it for months and haven't finished it yet up until now! Although it's not a page-turner for me, I have to admit that it's a great book that provides me with ideas to apply to myself or when collaborating with my team.

Handbooks

These past months have also given me ideas to write digital handbooks.

1. Frameworks and Tools for Thinking
   It's a simple handbook that promotes intentionality and self-awareness among designers. The book provides various tools and frameworks for critical thinking, problem-solving, and fostering creative practice. It’s free and forever. I swear. A new update is coming every Friday.

2. Deliberate practice for designers
   This upcoming book aims to help you master your craftsmanship through deliberate practice. Once you've acquired all the knowledge and techniques in design, what comes next? It's time to zoom in on a specific topic, dive deeper with immense focus, and achieve mastery through deliberate practice, drawing inspiration from renowned figures such as Kobe Bryant, Benjamin Franklin, and Jiro Ono. It's free while it lasts.

Plan on Substack: Now and Beyond

I’ve been contemplating this matter: “What would I do with Substack? Am I going to charge for paid content?”

Short answer: "No, I won't offer any paid content on Substack."

Long answer: "Unless I stop working as a designer and fully embark on a new journey as a writer, which is not happening now and not within the next 3 to 5 years."

While all my posts on Substack remain free, I’m considering putting a price tag on my upcoming handbook. Trust me; I still have a big dilemma here. Without a price tag, people don’t come with expectations. I love being an underdog. I have no pressure and can just be as authentic as I am. Moreover, it can reach many designers out there.

Community

Lastly, I wanted to gauge your interest in an online meetup. I believe it would be a fantastic opportunity to connect, discuss various topics, share insights, and even explore specific books together.

Since the Design Buddy newsletter has a 60% Indonesian and 40% global audience, I am considering hosting separate sessions in both Indonesian and English. Please let me know in the comments if this idea resonates with you.

So, that’s it. Thank you so much once again, and see you soon.