Designer Things

I used to think art was something you stood in front of, quiet and respectful, like you were in church or something. Then I stumbled into a retrospective

Visual distortion isn’t just some trendy design trick—it’s how we make people feel unsettled in the best way. I used to think experimental

Silicon Valley has a font problem, and it’s worse than you think. I’ve been staring at startup pitch decks for the better part of a decade

I used to think cloisonné was just about enamel and metal—those intricate Byzantine jewelry pieces my aunt used to collect, compartments filled with crushed

I used to think naturalization certificates were just boring government documents. Turns out, they’re actually these fascinating artifacts that mirror

I used to think inlay was just about filling gaps. Then I spent an afternoon in a museum staring at a Zuni bracelet from the 1920s—turquoise, jet, coral

I used to think the Futurists were just loud Italians who liked speed and hated museums. Turns out—and this took me way too long to realize, honestly—Filippo

I used to think postage stamps were just boring little rectangles you stuck on envelopes. Turns out, they’re actually one of the most fascinatingly

I used to think ancient metalwork was just museum stuff—pretty, sure, but not exactly relevant to what jewelers do today. Then I spent an afternoon with

I used to think ancient architectural principles were just museum pieces until I spent three weeks analyzing Chimor design patterns against modern branding systems.