Blog

Welcome! This is my personal blog, where I muse about life and personal opinions on a lot of random things, except design. If you’re a designer interested in my design perspectives, head over to the newsletter.

How Travel Helps Designers

14 October 2024

Husavik, a small town in the north of Iceland. I miss Iceland. Always.

As designers, we often find ourselves stuck in routines, confined by the walls of our offices, or limited by the scope of our current projects. We can push pixels all day, solve problems through wireframes, and discuss user flows endlessly, but there’s something about stepping out of our day-to-day lives that opens up new perspectives. Travel, I believe, is one of the best investments a designer can make in their personal and professional growth—if done right.

I’m not just talking about travel for the sake of escape or relaxation (although that has its merits), but traveling with intention. This means immersing yourself in new cultures, paying attention to details, and observing the world around you with a designer’s eye. It’s the kind of travel that can expand your creativity, refresh your problem-solving approach, and help you see design not just as a job, but as an essential part of life. Let’s break it down…

Missing the Mark

1 August 2024

Blurring the lines

We live in an age where social media is woven into the fabric of daily life, blurring the boundaries between personal and professional worlds. For companies, this creates both opportunity and risk. Naturally, many organizations try to manage this by setting up strict social media guidelines for employees. At first glance, it seems like the responsible thing to do—after all, it helps protect the company’s brand, right?

But here’s the thing: when guidelines become too rigid, they often miss the mark. Instead of fostering a sense of responsibility and trust, they can have the opposite effect. Employees start to feel like they’re being micromanaged, forced to suppress their authentic selves just to stay within the lines. And in my experience, that’s where the real problems start.

In Defense of Travel (As a Third-World Citizen)

20 June 2024

In this post, I try to consider the multifaceted nature of travel, inspired by a tweet and Agnes Collard's piece "The Case Against Travel." It explores the privilege associated with travel, particularly for those from less advantaged backgrounds like Indonesians, who face visa restrictions and financial barriers. The motivations for travel vary widely, from seeking self-enlightenment to experiencing different perspectives and cultures.

While some critics argue that travel can be shallow and isolating, the article counters by highlighting its potential for personal growth, empathy, and broadening horizons. Ultimately, it advocates for a nuanced understanding of travel, recognizing its transformative power beyond mere pleasure-seeking.

8 Things I Don't Understand in Singapore

27 May 2024

I always praise Singapore in every circumstance. However, navigating the intricacies of a city like Singapore can bring up many questions and observations.

After my 8th year living in Singapore, I am still baffled by the following issues. Disclaimer: This list is random, and in no particular order, and of my own views.

Putting Myself Out There

23 May 2024

Social media is a big part of our lives now, connecting us to friends and family while also giving us a place to be creative. For me, it's a great way to share my interests and thoughts. But when your social media account is followed mostly by people you know personally, it can be tricky to balance what you want to share with what they expect to see.

So much of it is about putting ourselves out there. Which can be obviously daunting, if not scary…

Rethinking Singapore

22 May 2024

For the past eight years, Singapore has been my home. As an Indonesian, I moved here with great optimism, thinking I might eventually change my citizenship. There were so many reasons that drew me to Singapore initially. However, as time passes, I've found myself rethinking whether this vibrant city-state is the right place for my family and me in the long run.