Who are you?
I’m Guo, a product designer at Datadog who loves to build and write (website, twitter) .
What is Not Just Pixels?
A few years ago, I started a product design podcast called Not Just Pixels. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done, and that led to 37 wonderful episodes and over 1k followers. Since I have sunsetted it indefinitely, this space is a continuation of that creative spirit.
Why writing?
I write to discover what I know.
— Flannery O’Connor
Ever since I’ve started writing, this quote has stuck with me. It captures the beauty of writing - It’s a tool for learning and exploration. Writing is not always a straight path. You may not know what to write about. You may not know your opinion about a subject. It’s foggy. It’s not quite clear. But, once you think, put in the work, and write that piece, the sky is always clearer on the other side. And I love that about writing.
Then why design specifically? Well, with the emergence of AI, it’s easy to get swept into the overwhelming stream of information, “best practices”, and of course, AI slop. It’s now more important than ever to not only build, but also ask myself:
What do I really know? What are my opinions on this subject? Who am I as a designer? What do I think design will be like?
It’s about understanding myself. Understanding what I like and don’t like and why. My values as a designer. I want to hold my ground as a designer in this AI tsunami. And writing helps me do that.
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