# Notes by Gabriel Valdivia

Canonical page: https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes

- [Everyone is starting over](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/everybody-is-starting-over/index.md): 2026-10-20
- [Influence without authority](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/influence-without-authority/index.md): 2026-10-07
- [Craft versus quality](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/craft-versus-quality/index.md): 2026-10-02
- [Moving goalposts](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/moving-goalposts/index.md): 2026-09-22
- [The rhythm of fractional work](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/the-rhythm-of-fractional-work/index.md): 2026-09-21
- [Building an independent design practice](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/building-an-independent-design-practice/index.md): 2026-09-18
- [Measure the outcome](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/measure-the-outcome/index.md): 2026-09-17
- [The new cost of creation](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/the-new-cost-of-creation/index.md): 2026-08-11 — An exploration of how AI is changing creative work and blurring the line between creation and curation.
- [I built a second brain out of markdown files](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/i-built-a-second-brain-out-of-markdown-files/index.md): 2026-03-11 — An account of building a flexible, adaptable knowledge-management system from markdown files.
- [A quilt for generations](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/a-quilt-for-generations/index.md): 2026-02-26 — A reflection on preserving family stories and traditions through tangible objects like quilts.
- [Software is an instrument](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/software-is-an-instrument/index.md): 2026-02-22 — A discussion of software as an instrument for creative expression, problem-solving, and human agency.
- [Moves](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/moves/index.md): 2025-11-14 — A reflection on a lifetime of moving and what constant change reveals about impermanence, work, and adapting to an AI-disrupted world.
- [The Gospel of Design Founderhood](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/the-gospel-of-design-founderhood/index.md): 2025-10-26 — A satirical look at design founder culture, critiquing its emphasis on entrepreneurship and the commodification of design expertise.
- [Miles Traveled](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/miles-traveled/index.md): 2025-10-02 — An exploration of AI, design, and creativity through the lens of technology and human experience.
- [The Startup Design Paradox](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/the-startup-design-paradox/index.md): 2025-02-28 — An examination of the creative and pragmatic tensions involved in building products from scratch.
- [Progress Over Polish](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/progress-over-polish/index.md): 2025-01-27 — A case for prioritizing progress over perfection and embracing the rough edges of early-stage design.
- [A Feeling You Carry](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/a-feeling-you-carry/index.md): 2025-01-20 — An exploration of the emotional resonance of design and its connection to creativity and human experience.
- [Tomorrow’s Mirage](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/tomorrow-s-mirage/index.md): 2025-01-13 — A critique of the hype around AI-generated design and a call for greater nuance and critical thinking.
- [Sleights of Hand](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/sleights-of-hand/index.md): 2024-06-28 — An examination of the tricks used to sell AI-generated design and the limitations hidden beneath the spectacle.
- [Aimless Flow](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/aimless-flow/index.md): 2024-06-05 — An exploration of the tension between creative freedom and productivity when AI tools can both inspire and constrain expression.
- [The Rise of the Product Planner](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/the-rise-of-the-product-planner/index.md): 2024-01-03 — An examination of the emerging product planner role, where strategy and design converge in modern product development.
- [Digital Conquistadors](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/digital-conquistadors/index.md): 2023-08-10 — A reflection on the people shaping the digital landscape through products and experiences that transform industries.
- [Excuse Me, Mister](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/excuse-me-mister/index.md): 2023-07-12 — An account of navigating cultural and professional differences at work and the role communication plays in bridging them.
- [Make It Fun: Chaos in Product Design](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/make-it-fun-chaos-in-product-design/index.md): 2023-06-15 — Stories of product designers turning chaos into opportunity by embracing uncertainty, play, and creativity.
- [Leaders are liars](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/leaders-are-liars/index.md): 2023-03-21 — An examination of leadership, honesty, and the trust required to create positive change inside organizations.
- [Slowness and repetition](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/slowness-and-repetition/index.md): 2023-01-07 — An exploration of the value of slowing down and embracing repetition in a culture that prizes speed and efficiency.
- [Figure: The best app of all time](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/figure-the-best-app-of-all-time/index.md): 2022-12-30 — A reflection on Figure and the qualities that can make an app feel truly exceptional.
- [Dude, where’s my capitalism?](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/dude-where-s-my-capitalism/index.md): 2022-12-28 — A commentary on the changing nature of capitalism and technology’s effect on traditional economic systems.
- [One Infinite Loop: From Johnny Castaway to Steve Jobs](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/one-infinite-loop-from-johnny-castaway-to-steve-jobs/index.md): 2022-12-22 — A connection between Johnny Castaway, Steve Jobs, and the evolution of personal technology.
- [A paella of experiences](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/a-paella-of-experiences/index.md): 2022-12-18 — A reflection on the value of human experience and the importance of preserving and sharing stories amid technological change.
- [Offsites are off limits](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/offsites-are-off-limits/index.md): 2022-12-13 — A critique of traditional offsite meetings and the constraints they can place on creative thinking and collaboration.
- [I shouldn’t do this](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/i-shouldn-t-do-this/index.md): 2022-12-10 — An exploration of the tension between creation and curation and the role AI may play in shaping creative work.
- [Sensible Design: making ethically personalized digital products](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/sensible-design-making-ethically-personalized-digital-products/index.md): 2020-03-30 — A case for ethical personalization that considers the consequences of digital products for both users and society.
- [Embracing Public Design Discourse](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/embracing-public-design-discourse/index.md): 2019-05-06 — A case for open design discourse as a way to strengthen ideas, practices, and the wider design community.
- [Blurred Lines](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/blurred-lines/index.md): 2019-01-29 — A reflection on the increasingly blurred boundary between creation and curation and what it means for designers and artists.
- [8 Little Tricks To Grow Your Career](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/8-little-tricks-to-grow-your-career/index.md): 2019-01-07 — Eight practical strategies for growing a design career, from building relationships to sharing work publicly.
- [Immersive design: the next 10 years of interfaces](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/immersive-design-the-next-10-years-of-interfaces/index.md): 2018-03-12 — An exploration of immersive design and the technologies poised to reshape how people interact with interfaces.
- [Shipping Isn’t Everything](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/shipping-isnt-everything/index.md): 2017-11-15 — An argument for valuing meaningful experiences over completion as the sole measure of successful design.
- [Diversity is Punk Rock](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/diversity-is-punk-rock/index.md): 2017-07-24 — A celebration of diversity and inclusion as forces for creative disruption in design.
- [The UX of Virtual Identity Systems](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/the-ux-of-virtual-identity-systems/index.md): 2017-07-01 — An exploration of virtual identity systems and the empathy required to design for digital personas.
- [Designing Facebook for Mobile VR](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/designing-facebook-for-mobile-vr/index.md): 2017-03-16 — A look at the challenges of designing Facebook for mobile VR, where virtual reality reshapes user expectations and behavior.
- [Four Lessons Learned from Upgrading the Panoramic Photo](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/four-design-lessons-learned-from-upgrading-the-panoramic-photo/index.md): 2016-12-15 — Four lessons from redesigning panoramic photos, centered on simplicity, clarity, and user needs.
- [Identity Transfer And The Rise Of Virtual Surrealism](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/identity-transfer-and-the-rise-of-virtual-surrealism/index.md): 2016-11-28 — An examination of identity transfer and virtual surrealism as digital personas blur reality and fantasy.
- [Why Silicon Valley Loves Cuban Sandwiches](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/why-silicon-valley-loves-cuban-sandwiches/index.md): 2016-11-02 — The story of Cuban sandwiches in Silicon Valley and the cultural and personal connections behind an unlikely tech-industry staple.
- [An IC’s Guide to Being a Good Design Manager](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/an-ics-guide-to-being-a-good-design-manager/index.md): 2016-05-10 — Practical guidance for individual contributors on collaboration, communication, and empathy in design management.
- [Interview your Product Manager](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/interview-your-product-manager/index.md): 2016-05-04 — A case for interviewing product managers to better understand the decisions and constraints shaping product development.
- [Of Music and Design](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/of-music-and-design/index.md): 2013-09-17 — An examination of the relationship between music and design and how one creative practice can inform another.
- [A Man Seeks Career Advice](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/a-man-seeks-career-advice/index.md): 2013-09-09 — The journey of a designer seeking career guidance while navigating the challenges and possibilities of a creative profession.
- [The Journey of a Fragile Idea](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/the-journey-of-a-fragile-idea/index.md): 2013-09-07 — The story of an impulsive design idea surviving the vulnerable journey from private sketch to shared product.
- [Device-Aware Design](https://www.gabrielvaldivia.com/notes/device-aware-design/index.md): 2013-08-30 — A case for products that respect each device’s native patterns instead of forcing one platform’s conventions onto another.

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