I’ve always seen 'Designing Designing' as a cult classic—it’s not for everyone, but the right audience will absolutely adore it. Think of it as a book for people who underline passages and scribble in margins. If you’re the type who reads 'The Medium is the Message' for fun or geeks out over Bruno Latour’s theories, this is your jam. Jones challenges conventional design education, so students hungry for alternatives to rigid methodologies might find it revolutionary. It’s also great for anyone in UX or service design who wants to step back from wireframes and consider the broader human implications of their work. The way he blends poetry with technical analysis is unlike anything else I’ve read—it’s messy, brilliant, and deeply human.
From my perspective, 'Designing Designing' is for the curious minds who don’t just want to learn how to design but want to understand why we design at all. It’s less about practical tutorials and more about the soul-searching questions that underpin creative work. I’d especially recommend it to mid-career professionals who’ve hit a creative plateau and need a jolt of existential reflection. The book’s fragmented style might frustrate someone looking for clear-cut answers, but if you’re open to meandering through ideas about systems, ethics, and the role of intuition, it’s incredibly rewarding. It’s like having a late-night conversation with a brilliant but slightly eccentric mentor.
Honestly, 'Designing Designing' is a book I’d hand to someone who complains that design writing is too sterile or corporate. It’s raw and personal, almost like reading someone’s diary. That makes it ideal for creatives who feel disillusioned by industry trends and want to reconnect with the weird, subjective heart of design. Artists, philosophers, or even entrepreneurs who value unconventional thinking would appreciate its refusal to conform. It’s not a quick read—you’ll need patience—but the kind of person who enjoys wrestling with big ideas will find it worth the effort.
Designing Designing' by John Chris Jones is such a fascinating book, and I've found myself revisiting it multiple times since I first stumbled upon it. The target audience really depends on how you approach it—it’s not just for designers in the traditional sense. If you're someone who thrives on abstract thinking or loves dissecting the philosophy behind creation, this book feels like a treasure trove. Jones dives deep into the meta aspects of design, questioning everything from process to purpose, which makes it perfect for theorists or academics who enjoy dense, reflective material.
But don’t let that scare you off! I’ve also recommended it to friends who are just starting to explore design as a concept, not necessarily as a profession. There’s something about the way Jones writes—almost like a stream of consciousness—that makes complex ideas feel accessible if you’re willing to sit with them. Artists, writers, even engineers who appreciate interdisciplinary thinking might find unexpected inspiration here. It’s one of those books that grows with you, revealing new layers each time you pick it up.
2025-12-28 02:39:07
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Design of Fate
Shana Allen
10
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Book Two of the Dark Moon Series.
Beta Jackson Anderson lives for his pack and family. They mean everything to him, but there is still a part of him that longs for his mate and feels unfulfilled each year that passes without finding her. He is definitely surprised when he finds her for two reasons. One, she is not a shifter. Two, she is running for her life.
Imeela Precoza has been on the run for the past ten years because she escaped the massacre of her coven, the royal coven of the vampire world. Countless bounty hunters come after her, forcing her to either evade them or kill them before they kill her. She becomes a master of hiding, especially with the use of her abilities, but she wonders if this is how her life will always be – running, escaping, and surviving while being utterly alone in this world.
Fate presents the perfect opportunity that will cause these mates' paths to converge. A man who wants nothing more than to protect and care for his mate, and a woman who is terrified of anyone else getting hurt because of her.
It is the design of fate that takes everyone by surprise. Secrets from the past will come to light, showing the truth about why Imeela's coven was slaughtered in the first place. What does this have to do with the prophecy foretold in Book One regarding Brynn's destiny to slay a vile evil?
Imeela is tired or running and decides it is time to fight back against a tyrant who has destroyed too much in her life. She is not alone any longer and has the help of a multitude of powerful individuals.
Can Imeela and Jackson overcome the adversities in their path?
Two rival architects are forced to co-design a library in a city that holds the secrets of their shared past.
“Elias Thorne builds walls to keep the world out. Clara Vance designs windows to let the light in. When a prestigious commission forces them together, they realize that the hardest thing to build isn't a landmark—it’s a bridge between two broken hearts.”
Ethan Mathews has just landed the opportunity of a lifetime: assisting the world renowned architect Dante Hart on a city defining project. But what begins as professional admiration soon becomes something far more dangerous. Late nights filled with whispered critiques, shared sketches, and stolen glances spark an undeniable attraction but the world is ready to judge.
Colleagues whisper that Ethan is exploiting Dante, while Dante’s past heartbreak makes him wary of love. When a former partner resurfaces, determined to ruin Dante’s career, Ethan is forced to question whether their passion is worth the risk. A rival firm offers Ethan a tempting position, pushing him to choose between ambition and the man who has become his anchor.
As rumors spiral and city officials threaten to remove Dante from the project, the two must navigate jealousy, sabotage, and the ever present scrutiny of a world that refuses to understand their love.
Can they prove that their bond is built on trust, talent, and true desire, not just convenience and scandal? Or will ambition, fear, and envy tear them apart before their hearts and their masterpiece are complete?
He is my art coach.
And he sucked my dick after our first lesson, obviously, I didn't know he was gay!
Now, I have to accept that I am impossibly attracted to a man who is eleven years older than me and a relationship between us could never be possible….or?
~~~
“Do you regularly do this with men you meet for the first time?” Min-a asked, his eyes still appearing a little dilated.
“If you mean giving them a ride in my Mustang? No, I don’t do that.” Seung-ho replied, sounding serious. He glanced at Min-a to see a frown knitting his eyebrows close, and he chuckled. “If it would make you less grumpy, sucking your dick bruised my jaw. So, I don’t think I would be giving free blow jobs to any other man I meet in the near future…”
~~~~
22-year-old Model influencer, Korea's number one bad boy, Seo Min-a, has everything a boy could want: great looks, amazing talent, the only son of a billionaire family, millions of followers, and fangirls at his feet. Min-a’s quest to help his sister sign a contract with the defiant artist Kwan Seung-ho, who was a much older man leads him to a brilliant art coach who challenges his understanding of love and identity.
Could they really be a couple in a society where being gay is seen as condemnable? What Epic Love Story will they write?
Nora, a quiet and talented artist, has always kept to herself, letting her creativity speak louder than words. Life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Jaden, a charming and irresistible basketball star whose reputation for heartbreak precedes him. What starts as a casual connection soon spirals into a passionate and consuming romance, filled with stolen glances, secret moments, and undeniable chemistry.
But love is never simple. Betrayal, heartbreak, and jealousy test the strength of their bond, forcing both Nora and Jaden to confront their deepest fears and desires. As they navigate the turbulence of young love, they must decide whether their hearts are strong enough to endure the storms—or if falling in love means falling apart.
Tender, raw, and unforgettably intense, “The Art of Falling” is a story about love’s power to heal, transform, and sometimes, break us completely.
Ailani Hart works as an architect for Skyframe Consortium, a small firm under Dominion Industries, owned by the most feared man in all of Denburg. With complications with her grandmother's health and medical debt from insurance, she is forced to take up a project from a dangerous man that would turn her whole life into different shades of black.
With each shade less prettier than the last.
Dominion Industries is sketchy; Ailani knows this. What she doesn't know is that the CEO of the company she works for is the leader of the Denburg Mafia.
But the real question is…
Will she find out who he is?
And even if she did, is she ready to rub shoulders with the King of the criminal world?
Designing 'Designing' by John Chris Jones is this fascinating deep dive into the philosophy and process behind design itself—like peeling back the layers of an onion to see how creativity works at its core. The book isn’t just about aesthetics or functionality; it’s about questioning what design even means. Jones challenges the idea that design is purely problem-solving, arguing it’s more about exploration and ambiguity. He talks about how designers often start with vague, half-formed ideas and refine them through iteration, which really resonates with my own messy creative process.
One thing that stuck with me is his emphasis on 'unselfconscious design,' where things evolve organically without a rigid plan. It made me think of how some of the best designs in games or architecture feel effortless, like they’ve always existed. The book also critiques industrial-era design thinking, which feels super relevant today when we’re drowning in mass-produced stuff. It’s a bit dense at times, but worth it for anyone who’s ever wondered why some designs just click while others feel forced.
Norman Potter's 'Designing Designing' feels like a radical departure from the glossy, polished design manuals crowding bookstore shelves. It’s less about sleek aesthetics or step-by-step tutorials and more about the messy, philosophical underpinnings of design itself. Potter questions everything—why we design, who it serves, and how it intersects with ethics. Compared to something like 'The Design of Everyday Things,' which breaks down usability in a structured way, 'Designing Designing' reads like a series of passionate, sometimes abrasive letters from a mentor who won’t let you take shortcuts.
What really sticks with me is how personal it feels. Potter doesn’t shy away from his frustrations with the industry, and that raw honesty makes it stand out. It’s not a book you skim for quick tips; it demands reflection. If Dieter Rams’ 'Less but Better' is a calm lecture, Potter’s book is a late-night debate where you leave with more questions than answers.
If you've ever stared at a logo and wondered how it came to be, 'Principles of Logo Design' is probably speaking directly to you. I fell into this rabbit hole when I tried designing a logo for my friend's indie game—turns out, there's a whole science behind those deceptively simple shapes! The book feels tailor-made for budding designers who want to move beyond clipart and understand why certain logos stick in our brains (looking at you, Nike swoosh). It’s not just about software skills; it dives into psychology, color theory, and even cultural symbolism.
What surprised me was how useful it is for non-designers too—like small business owners who need to brainstorm ideas before hiring a pro. The chapters on brand identity helped me articulate what I wanted for my own side project. And if you’re a trivia lover like me, the case studies of iconic logo evolutions are pure gold. Ever notice how the Starbucks siren lost her nipples over time? Yeah, that’s in there.