In Defense of Middling

I am not a maximalist.
I am not a minimalist.

So what does that make me?

Middling?

Maybe.

But not in the way the word usually implies.

To me, it’s the sweet spot in between. A space grounded in a strong, minimalist foundation that allows for layering without pushing everything to the edge.

I leave breathing room.

I want the eye to move through a space, to rest, to travel, to notice what matters and ignore what doesn’t.

Not everything needs to compete.

There are incredible maximalist designers. There are incredible minimalists. And the best part is there are clients for them and for my design style...

Somewhere in the middle is a quieter confidence.

A space that doesn’t need to prove anything.

It just works.

designsong

musings from the background of a designer’s life

The name designsong comes from watching films with subtitles and noticing the stage direction (birdsong) — the small caption that appears when birds are singing and chirping somewhere in the background of a scene.

Birds are always singing throughout the day.

Those quiet background sounds reminded me of the thoughts that run through my mind constantly.

designsong is my version of that birdsong.

The design musings that keep chirping in my head throughout the day — observations about interiors, architecture, renovation, cities, travel, materials, fashion, graphics, cinema, and the culture surrounding design.

Some are practical.
Some are philosophical.
Some are a little sarcastic.

All of them come from actually doing the work.