My old robe
In which I think too deeply about a robe.
Things I'm liking right now
It’s Autumn 2023, and here are some things that are floating my boat.
Thoughts on the Apple Vision Pro
Weeks-long ruminations on what Apple Vision Pro means for AR/VR, and some potential applications.
Adventures in AI: Midjourney cars
In which I try my hand at generating some different genres of car image using Midjourney.
The structure of culture in Japan
Exploring the fascinating ways in which culture in Japan breaks down the “spectrum” between high and low culture into a “canvas” of compartmentalised spheres.
ChatGPT uses in knowledge work
How is ChatGPT useful for professionals, a visualisation of what it can and can’t do, example applications, and how to stay relevant in the age of AI.
Has Design Thinking gone “wrong”?
How should companies avoid the pitfalls of Design Thinking to extract the most sustained value from the endeavour?
Why does the Figma acquisition *actually* matter?
The real reason why Adobe had to buy Figma.
Japan’s digital business ecosystem landscape
A snapshot of Japan’s digital business ecosystem landscape in summer 2022 and my initial thoughts on the market structure & dynamics with reference to the zaibatsu.
Annual lookback 2021
This year has been one of unprecedented professional progress. But at what cost to my personal life?
Ways of thinking about careers – after one week at MRM
It's been a year
On watching a global pandemic from Japan.
Just like everybody else, only more so
National character, rock music, and convenience store sweets.
Obligatory ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ production design appreciation post
Stills from the almost Mad Men-esquely beautifully-produced Netflix show.
7 decades of IKEA catalogues
In which year did the IKEA catalogue become “The IKEA Catalogue”? The answer is 1961.
Why are voice assistants still bad for multilingual users?
Or: how Google only fulfils half of its mission.
Today in "who's THEIR agency?" – IKEA
A semiotic reading of an image that IKEA thinks is a good way to sell us some towel boxes.
What is Dentsu?
Or: why is it so easy for Japanese people to pick on them?
We just agreed to buy a brick kiln and cabin in an Izu wood
Welp. No backing out now..
Owning my domain
What are "3rd cultures" and why is that the name of my site?