Design Endurance, Framework Fundamentals, UFOs, and Mice
Somethings Novel — Issue #22
✍️ Something I’m writing…
Building Design Endurance
What a 58-mile bike ride taught me about thriving in design careers
What does grinding through 58 miles of Ohio countryside on a bike have to do with your design career? More than you'd think. When my legs were screaming at mile 48 and I was questioning my life choices, I discovered five powerful truths about building the kind of endurance that separates thriving designers from those who burn out. From the unexpected power of adding one small word to your vocabulary to why being an encourager actually makes you stronger, these lessons from the saddle will shift how you think about persistence, community, and what it really takes to go the distance in design.
🧐 Something I’m thinking about…
Too many designers are riding on empathy with their design decisions. They rely on gut feelings, the lates “best practice" they picked up from a Medium article, or whatever monetized framework they learned in their bootcamp. Then when stakeholders challenge their work, they're left stammering about "user happiness" while everyone else rolls their eyes.
But…we already have objective, time-tested frameworks that work. Frameworks that can hold up under scrutiny and actually persuade people who control budgets and timelines. The problem? Most designers have never heard of them.
Instead of reaching for the latest design fad, what if we grounded our work in principles that have been proven over decades? What if we could walk into any room with the confidence that comes from understanding the fundamentals?
I'm thinking it's time we change that conversation.
📚 Something I’m reading…
Imminent: Inside the Pentagon's Hunt for UFOs
By Luis Elizondo
Growing up watching Star Trek TNG made me wonder about what's really out there among the stars. And, the more I think about it, the government hasn't exactly been in the business of declassifying our most advanced tech since the 60s or 70s, so there's a lot we don't know about how far our technology has actually advanced.
That's part of why UAP (unidentified aerial phenomena) fascinates me. Luis Elizondo gives us a rare insider's look into the Department of Defense's research into these phenomena. The patterns that emerged, the technology that defies our current understanding, the bureaucratic maze of investigating the unknown. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, it's a compelling dive into how our government approaches the unexplained.
If you're into this kind of deep-dive investigative stuff, it's worth the read.
🤩 Something I’m enjoying…
My Logitech MX Master 3S mouse. I've tried switching to different mice over the years, thinking maybe there was something better out there. But I keep coming back to this one. The ergonomic grip actually fits my hand and prevents the wrist pain that comes from hours of use. The accuracy is spot-on when I'm from nudging pixels in Figma. The multi-bluetooth connection lets me swap between devices with just a clip.
But my favorite part is that slick, weighted scroll wheel. It's one of those small details that makes a huge difference when you're navigating long documents or endless design files. Since I use this thing every single day, the investment has been more than worth it.
Sometimes the best tools are the ones you stop noticing because they just work.
• • • • •
Confession, I use affiliate links. You can consider them my digital tip jar. When you use these links, I get a few bucks to fund this newsletter. Thanks for keeping the dream alive.