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Maybe I've been reading too many stories

Hi, it's so nice to have you! If you're curious about why I started this newsletter, have a look back
Design With
Maybe I've been reading too many stories
By Tyler Gindraux • Issue #2 • View online
Hi, it’s so nice to have you! If you’re curious about why I started this newsletter, have a look back at last week’s issue.

Text: This Week
Text: This Week
This week, I’ve been thinking about language (defined as a body of words, which I obviously can’t get out of my mind). It’s likely because I finished reading Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, followed by Batuman’s The Idiot. I’m still searching for the “body of words” to describe how Batuman’s writing humors me while Hurston’s reflections move me.
I do think that language is much more important to design and research than we’re led to believe. I agree, visual storytelling is paramount. But, dialogues between people are at the center of pretty much everything we do. We craft cohesive narratives from scattered anecdotal stories in order to create things that mean something. It feels like writing, sometimes. Or at least, writing seems to be an important aspect of it. I think Lauren would agree.
With that, here are a few gems I’ve been digesting this week…
“Language is how we tell other people what we want, what we expect of them, and what we hope to accomplish together.”
This online book moves through the process of making sense of information and people. Abby encourages the reader to choose how to read the book: sequentially or based on certain words, such as connection. It’s relevant to design and research (think: synthesis, diagramming, insights) but also, well, everything.
www.howtomakesenseofanymess.com  •  Share
Built by Tatiana, this open-source, ever-evolving dictionary provides inclusive definitions. I love how this project focuses on the impact of words and, where appropriate, suggests alternatives. Self-Defined is a reminder that while words construct the world around us, we give them their meaning.
www.selfdefined.app  •  Share
“Governments have a tendency to use confusing language and overuse words such as ‘undertake’.”
Common Ground is a web app encouraging government communication with the general public about mining activities in New South Wales. It’s a long post… you may consider skipping ahead to the bit about community-driven content design — where Mel describes how writing collaboratively and testing content can lead to useful and educational language absent of jargon.
medium.com  •  Share
Lizania facilitates storytelling, crafting collective narratives and reclaiming space through her art. This project involves a newsstand traveling around NYC; collecting and distributing the stories of Black Americans and im/migrants. Lizania’s story circles are spaces for gathering, engaging in dialogue and creating shared meaning.
lizania.com  •  Share
“He says he’s from the health services. And I smile. He’s a young robber, he doesn’t know how to lie.” Mia Couto
While most of us struggle to reflect on (let alone put into words) this moment in time, these 29 literary wonders have written short stories as part of The Decameron Project. If you’re looking to laugh, read Mia Couto’s — for a cry, Edwidge Danticat’s.
www.nytimes.com  •  Share
Text: "You can create [language], use it to divide people and build walls, or you can turn it into something where we can see each other more clearly, as a bridge." Ocean Vuong
Text: "You can create [language], use it to divide people and build walls, or you can turn it into something where we can see each other more clearly, as a bridge." Ocean Vuong
Thanks ✿
I do realize that we didn’t go super deep into the “designer-y” “stuff” here. Sometimes we will, but sometimes it might be more like this? What do you think? If you reply, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Did you enjoy this issue?
Tyler Gindraux

This weekly newsletter is curated by Tyler Gindraux, a researcher and service designer based in London, UK.

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