#44 / Shut up and let women talk
Hello my friend! š
Iāve got to get something off my chest about a catch-up with my mentee. We went over time, and honestly, Iām totally fine with that. Iām all in when it comes to supporting my student. Design is tricky; itās packed with challenges, and Iām here for it.
But hereās the thing thatās bugging me - after we wrapped up, I realized I did most of the talking. Like, a solid 70% of the time, it was me going on and on. And the worst part? I barely left any room for her to ask questions or share her thoughts. Yeah, my studentās a woman, and no, I didnāt handle that right. Despite my good intentions, I hogged the spotlight, wanting to share every tip and piece of advice I had, but I ended up not letting her get a word in edgewise.
In Michael Monteiroās Ruined By Design, he has an entire chapter to tell all the males to āshut up and let women talkā. Heās right, especially when they are early in their career journey.
Iām not making that mistake again. Next time, I will zip it and make sure my female mentees get to lead the conversation. Itās important that they feel heard and can share their views freely, period.
Hereāre a few things Iād like to share with you today š
Living in the moment is what truly matters
Where we work
One of my best career decisions
I Was Their American Dream
Should you accepts a design challenge for job interview?
Living in the moment is what truly matters
I used to get upset for a long time if I lost personal data, like photos. But this week, when I switched phones and started from scratch, including wiping all photos and various fitness data, I didnāt feel like I lost much. Out of tens of gigabytes of photos, how many do we actually look back on? Very few. Now, I just pick a few photos from each day to save in DayOne app, and occasionally looking back on those is enough. Living in the moment is what truly matters.
Where we work
Setting up a home office area has become a must for everyone after the pandemic. Iāve had my own office space at home, but Iāve always wanted to make it better. For years, Iāve enjoyed seeing how others design their studios. The photo book āWhere We Workā is exactly about this favorite topic of mine. The author categorizes home office spaces into different themes, like library-style, art gallery-style, wellness spaces, zen spaces, hidden spaces, etc., showcasing them through loads of pictures along with some practical tips for designing different styles. Itās super useful and inspiring.
My favorite style would probably be a mix of library and art gallery. Another book I borrowed talked about healthy home design, focusing on nature as a main theme. In reality, thereās a wider variety of themes for studio space design, and this book opened up some new ideas for me. However, some designs are just to admire, like one creative workspace. The designer placed their work area on a chair at the tip of a pyramid-like structure, with the head almost poking through the floor to a glass dome on the second floor. Working there, you definitely wouldnāt be distracted by social media, considering how troublesome it would be to climb up and down for your phone.
What I think I can immediately apply is the concept of a playable workspace, designing one or two standout elements in the work area. This can enhance the whole spaceās vibe, whether through different colors or unique decor pieces. This idea is great and definitely something I can try out.
One of my best career decisions
One of the best decisions I made after immigrating was to step out of my comfort zone as an introverted individual in my career and strive to find opportunities that align and integrate with the local society.
When I first arrived in New Zealand, I was fortunate to get a job in a Kiwi company through a friendās referral. However, the challenges of language and cultural integration were significant. At the same time, I had some media resources and advantages back in China, even some income from there. I was torn at that moment: Should I leverage my strengths in the Chinese domain, or should I start from scratch, ignoring my native language advantage? My decision was to dig deep into my weaknesses, starting from zero in an English-speaking environment.
Looking back, that decision was incredibly right, at least upon reflection, because it determined that I needed to engage fully with society in an immersive manner, rather than relying on my previous knowledge structure.
Being disconnected from the environment you live in can lead to the aging and rigidity of your knowledge structure. Whatās scarier is that you might find various reasons to rationalize it, becoming cynical and disapproving of the younger generation.
This serves as a reminder to myself: Donāt clench your fists; open your hands. Open your eyes to the world outside.
I Was Their American Dream
I just finished reading āI Was Their American Dream,ā a graphic memoir by an author of Filipino and Egyptian descent living in the U.S. Besides loving her narrative style and focus on storytelling, I found some really interesting points. As a second-generation immigrant, she explores identity issues that many like her face. For first-generation immigrants, their homeland identity is clear, but for their children, raised in a new environment, that heritage is part of their culture, not the entirety. What makes the authorās story even more fascinating is her blend of two culturesāEgyptian and Filipinoāand even her parents' differing religions.
Reading about her experiences, from questioning and forming her own cultural identity to navigating a predominantly white culture in America, was captivating. For instance, she mentions how new acquaintances at school would ask, āWhat are you?ā leading to responses that mix various ethnicities. She also talks about adapting to a workplace culture dominated by white colleagues, something that was more challenging years ago than it might be today.
This book made me realize how little I know about other cultures, like those of my Filipino colleagues, not to mention Egyptian or Islamic cultures. Itās a reminder to stay curious about other peopleās ways of life and cultural backgrounds.
Should you accepts a design challenge for job interview?
Ever been thrown a āDesign Challengeā during an interview or job and wondered whatās in it for you? Letās dive into the nitty-gritty of these creative workouts. From why some say āno thanksā to the surprising reasons you might want to say āyesā, this video is all about finding that sweet spot in your design career. Iāll share my own tales from the trenches and the rules I follow when facing these challenges head-on.
Have a great one and see you soon!
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