Building in the Open

There's a certain comfort in only showing finished work. You control the narrative — every pixel considered, every decision justified. But I've started to think that comfort is a trap.

The polished portfolio problem

Most design portfolios are museums. Beautiful, curated, and completely static. They show what was made but rarely how or why. The messy middle — the dead ends, the trade-offs, the moments of genuine confusion — gets edited out.

I've been guilty of this. My portfolio has always been a highlight reel. But highlights don't teach, and they don't connect.

What changes

This journal is an experiment in working with the garage door open. I'll write about:

• Design decisions — the reasoning behind choices, not just the outcomes
• Tools and process — what I actually use day-to-day and why
• Things I got wrong — because that's where the interesting lessons live

Why now

I've spent enough time consuming other people's thinking. It's time to contribute my own — even when it's half-formed, even when I might be wrong.

"The best way to learn is to teach. The best way to teach is to keep learning."

If you're reading this, welcome. Let's see where it goes.