Design has evolved from a specialized craft into a universal human capability for problem-solving and creativity. But if “everyone is a designer,” what sets professionals apart? Expertise, ethics, and the ability to manage complexity. In both professional and personal domains—like navigating a house renovation—balancing diverse opinions, strategic thinking, and clear communication is key. It’s less about imposing decisions and more about influencing thoughtfully. Design isn’t always easy, but when done right, it brings clarity, collaboration, and meaningful outcomes.
Writing
02/2025: Make or Buy
The “Make or Buy” decision applies to more than business—it’s a recurring life challenge. I’ve navigated it in design leadership, and now in renovating our home. Expertise, budget, deadlines, expectations, and availability shape whether we handle things ourselves or hire professionals. It’s never a straightforward choice. For this project’s priority phase we chose to “Buy” by hiring a local contractor. It’s a balancing act between trust and involvement, and while we can’t delegate everything, this feels like the right call… for now.
0/2025: From House to Home
We just bought an old, rugged house. It creaks and cracks, holding stories from a century of life. Renovation isn’t just about fixing what’s broken—it’s about discovering what’s worth keeping and how change shapes us. Every decision carries meaning: what stays, what goes, and what new stories we’ll add. This year, I’ll share weekly reflections on turning this house into a home and exploring what it means to truly feel at home, both in a space and in ourselves.
FIFTY-TWO
If you’ve read even one of these stories, thank you. You’ve been part of this journey, whether by engaging with the words, reflecting on your own life, or simply pausing to think. Writing is, after all, a conversation, and I’m grateful for everyone who has listened and responded.
FIFTY-ONE
This week something touched me, deeply, but I need to be protective of people I love to talk about it. For this reason, forgive me if at times you are curious about details that I am not willing to disclose. But I could not ignore this, as what hit me most this past week.
FIFTY
December is a happy sad month for me. My father and I were born in December, so was my daughter. But my father passed away in December, as well as a cousin who was like my second father, and no matter how many welcomed births I hear about in December, I am always melancholic and deep into my thoughts around this time of the year.
FORTY-NINE
This is my reflection, about my day, a day in my life. I do not intend to pass judgement on those that think and feel differently, nor I am advocating this as a way of life for anyone else, but as I am here listening to classical music, having a drink and writing about my chaotic day, I feel relaxed but want to embrace my entire day, including the chaos.
FORTY-EIGHT
This detailed explanation might make the whole thing seem simple, attainable. Nothing further from the truth, it is very hard to design and maintain. The result is that you end up feeling good when you are in the lodge, you spend hours in there, doing absolutely nothing that you can remember, taking it all in, creating memories that are deep down in your subconscious. And that is what matters. Well done.
FORTY-SEVEN
It seems we have lost the battle for beauty and aesthetics, we lost sight of the value and function of emotion. I understand the impact of having architecture be the playground of creative architects sponsored by deep pocketed investors wanting to create their own obelisk, but I think we have gone too far to the other side of the pendulum, we have homogenized human experience and humans along the way. Bllahhh!
FORTY-SIX
I don’t have complete answers for this, but I know this means we still have a lot of work ahead of us. And while John Maeda has done an incredible journey, we still must travel our own journey to change and transform the future in line with the vision for this new millennium, quitting is not an option.