This little blog has chugged on for another year. It’s definitely slowed down. It’s challenged me. It’s frustrated me. But it’s still brought me a lot of joy.
So I thought I’d take the time to rummage through 2018’s archive and pick out a few of my (and your) favourite posts from the year. This is also the perfect time to catch up with any you’ve missed.
These are by no means all of my favourites, I love them all, but I thought a top 5 felt like a good round number.
Most read – 12 GREAT PIECES OF DESIGN TO HELP YOU REDUCE WASTE
This was quite a late post to make it into the most viewed category, but it seems to have caught your attention. My kanken design story from last year has also being surprisingly popular – I have no idea how these things work. This 12 piece roundup was a bit of a spur of the moment post if I’m honest, but it was borne out of a genuine interest in reducing waste and love of design. It does seem like these spur of the moment posts often end up being the ones that catch the most attention, perhaps it’s something I should lean into more in the future.
Most comments – How to keep your eyes fit and healthy as a designer
I wrote this one after a trip to the optician where I found out there’s a lot of work involved in looking after your eyes, which isn’t just wearing your glasses. I’m so happy that we’re having a conversation about putting a bit of effort into protecting something a majority of us rely on everyday, especially when your work has a visual aspect.
Favourite to write – I’M A MODERN HERMIT AND I’M PROUD
I was tempted to put one of my design stories as my favourite to write, because I love researching them or my polemic on doing things on your own. But this was the piece for me that felt the most honest and has started to push my thinking towards bigger projects. While I might be considering how personal I want to get on this platform, I’m still so proud to have written this and I completely stand by it.
Favourite to illustrate – BOOK CLUB #20: SAYAKA MURATA’S CONVENIENCE STORE WOMAN
This was probably the hardest favourite to pick, illustrating posts is always the best bit for me. But I think the alternative cover I did for Convenience Store Woman is the proudest I’ve been of a piece for the blog this year. It combined my love of creating patterns, which is something I do pretty much every week on Instagram, and my not so secret desire to design book covers. Plus who doesn’t love a pink on yellow pairing?
Favourite series – The Monthly Roundup
The roundup perhaps isn’t my most creative series, but it’s one I absolutely love putting together, probably because it’s linked to my newsletter. I love sharing the best things I’ve read and the work of brilliant creative people. It’s a post that comes naturally, which something I’m really looking for these days.
