👋 I'm Wai

Thanks for visiting. Design Wisdom is the agency arm of my practice. I help organisations to get on top of their design deliverables.

Four leafs plant
Four leafs plant
Four leafs plant

Anecdote

Design Wisdom: Ageing Like Fine Scotch

Do you ever feel like you're too old for the design space? A has-been, over the hill, too old to work in tech, let alone design? With the industry seemingly younger by the day, it's easy to become cynical.

I'll let you in on a secret: I feel this way sometimes too.

I recently celebrated my 46th birthday, hurtling towards 50 at warp speed, I've been reflecting on age and experience in our field. And you know what? I've realised something important:

Like all good old things, we bring maturity to the table.

Just as a fine Scotch develops character and depth over time, so do we as designers. We bring:

🙇🏻‍♂️ Wisdom accumulated through years of practice

🌏 A plethora of knowledge from diverse experiences

🖼 The ability to see patterns and connections that only come with time

Think of it like a Cal-bung, which is a traditional type of house built to withstand the test of time. Its sturdy structure is shaped by generations of knowledge and adaptation. Similarly, our design expertise is built on a foundation of:

↪ Practice honed over years

↪ Craft refined through countless projects

↪ Wisdom earned through both successes and failures


Exceptional design doesn't come from talent and youth alone. It emerges from:

↪ Experience that allows us to anticipate challenges

↪ Knowledge that informs every decision

↪ Good judgement that comes from seeing long-term consequences

As the ancient Roman philosopher Cicero wisely said:


❝ For as greater age takes away our power of performance in great exploits, it increases our power of giving good counsel.

So the next time you feel "too old" for this industry, remember: Your age isn't a liability - it's your secret weapon. You bring a depth of insight and a breadth of experience that only time can provide.

Embrace your journey. Your best designs may still be ahead of you.

Anecdote

Design Wisdom: Ageing Like Fine Scotch

Do you ever feel like you're too old for the design space? A has-been, over the hill, too old to work in tech, let alone design? With the industry seemingly younger by the day, it's easy to become cynical.

I'll let you in on a secret: I feel this way sometimes too.

I recently celebrated my 46th birthday, hurtling towards 50 at warp speed, I've been reflecting on age and experience in our field. And you know what? I've realised something important:

Like all good old things, we bring maturity to the table.

Just as a fine Scotch develops character and depth over time, so do we as designers. We bring:

🙇🏻‍♂️ Wisdom accumulated through years of practice

🌏 A plethora of knowledge from diverse experiences

🖼 The ability to see patterns and connections that only come with time

Think of it like a Cal-bung, which is a traditional type of house built to withstand the test of time. Its sturdy structure is shaped by generations of knowledge and adaptation. Similarly, our design expertise is built on a foundation of:

↪ Practice honed over years

↪ Craft refined through countless projects

↪ Wisdom earned through both successes and failures


Exceptional design doesn't come from talent and youth alone. It emerges from:

↪ Experience that allows us to anticipate challenges

↪ Knowledge that informs every decision

↪ Good judgement that comes from seeing long-term consequences

As the ancient Roman philosopher Cicero wisely said:


❝ For as greater age takes away our power of performance in great exploits, it increases our power of giving good counsel.

So the next time you feel "too old" for this industry, remember: Your age isn't a liability - it's your secret weapon. You bring a depth of insight and a breadth of experience that only time can provide.

Embrace your journey. Your best designs may still be ahead of you.

Anecdote

Design Wisdom: Ageing Like Fine Scotch

Do you ever feel like you're too old for the design space? A has-been, over the hill, too old to work in tech, let alone design? With the industry seemingly younger by the day, it's easy to become cynical.

I'll let you in on a secret: I feel this way sometimes too.

I recently celebrated my 46th birthday, hurtling towards 50 at warp speed, I've been reflecting on age and experience in our field. And you know what? I've realised something important:

Like all good old things, we bring maturity to the table.

Just as a fine Scotch develops character and depth over time, so do we as designers. We bring:

🙇🏻‍♂️ Wisdom accumulated through years of practice

🌏 A plethora of knowledge from diverse experiences

🖼 The ability to see patterns and connections that only come with time

Think of it like a Cal-bung, which is a traditional type of house built to withstand the test of time. Its sturdy structure is shaped by generations of knowledge and adaptation. Similarly, our design expertise is built on a foundation of:

↪ Practice honed over years

↪ Craft refined through countless projects

↪ Wisdom earned through both successes and failures


Exceptional design doesn't come from talent and youth alone. It emerges from:

↪ Experience that allows us to anticipate challenges

↪ Knowledge that informs every decision

↪ Good judgement that comes from seeing long-term consequences

As the ancient Roman philosopher Cicero wisely said:


❝ For as greater age takes away our power of performance in great exploits, it increases our power of giving good counsel.

So the next time you feel "too old" for this industry, remember: Your age isn't a liability - it's your secret weapon. You bring a depth of insight and a breadth of experience that only time can provide.

Embrace your journey. Your best designs may still be ahead of you.

I care about:

Digital Innovation

In particular digital tools for local government and open source CMS.

Accessibility

Our digital presences should be available to all people and easy to use.

Collaboration

Working together to foster partnerships for shared success.