January 2025
January 2025: Making, Learning, and Figuring Things Out
January is always full of energy. That fresh-start feeling where everything seems possible, where I convince myself I can tackle a dozen projects at once and somehow make them all work. This year was no different. But now that I’m on the other side of the month, I can see the patterns a little clearer—where the momentum held, where it fell apart, and what actually felt meaningful.
More than anything, January was about figuring out what works and what doesn’t. What’s worth the effort? What’s better left behind? And what should just be put on hold for now?
Fusion 360: Building the Habit
One of the best things I did this month was commit to daily practice in Fusion 360. I started a 30-day course, and while it was great, the real progress came from just using the software every day.
A model of a cabinet-kit, and components, made in Fusion 360
At first, it was about getting familiar—learning where the tools are, figuring out how things interact. But over time, I started to think differently. I wasn’t just modeling shapes; I was seeing how objects fit together. One of the most interesting challenges was building a 3D model of my entire office space.
Originally, it was just a layout test, but it ended up being something more. I started paying attention to how furniture interacts, how space gets used, how dimensions actually feel when brought into a 3D world. It made me realize that Fusion 360 isn’t just about design—it’s about understanding form, function, and the invisible rules that shape our surroundings.
The Office Model, made in Blender then exported to Fusion 360
That’s a lesson that applies far beyond CAD software.
The Desk Buddy: A Good Idea That Needs Work
This month, I also experimented with sheet metal design, something that I’ve been curious about for a while. The project? A clamp-on Desk Buddy—a sleek, minimal organizer meant to attach to the edge of a desk. The name is also a work in progress.
The original (flawed) design
On paper, it was a great idea. But in practice? It just didn’t work well.
It stuck out too far.
It got in the way more than it helped.
It looked cool but wasn’t all that useful.
And that right there is an important design lesson: aesthetics are secondary to function. If something looks great but doesn’t solve a problem, it’s not actually good design.
I’m not giving up on the idea, but I need to rethink it. Maybe the form needs to change. Maybe it needs a different attachment method. Or maybe it needs a complete redesign. Either way, I’m learning that real design isn’t about making something pretty—it’s about making something that just works. It’s about designing for activities, not just aesthetics.
An experiment with a new form, heading in a 3D printing direction - though I’m not sure if it was successful or not
The Blanket Ladder: Learning by Doing
I put off building my blanket ladder for weeks. Part of me knew I’d mess up, and I didn’t want to deal with that. But once I finally did it? Yeah, I made a ton of mistakes. And yeah, I learned a lot.
Woodworking isn’t like digital modeling or metal fabrication. Wood has grain, knots, imperfections—it’s not uniform, and those tiny variables change everything. If you’re even slightly off with a cut or a screw, the whole thing feels off. And I was definitely off.
But here’s the thing: I finished it.
It’s not perfect, but it exists. And that’s what matters. The biggest win wasn’t the finished product; it was getting past the hesitation and actually making something.
Strata: Hitting Pause on a Big Idea
One of my bigger projects this month was Strata, my bag brand concept. I even built a website for it, and honestly? It looked great. The branding felt solid, the style was clear, and for a while, I was really excited about it.
But as I worked on it more, something started to feel off.
The Strata Homepage. It’s a cool concept, but it lacks legs.
The truth is, Strata is a big project. It would take full focus to do right. And right now? Between Fusion, prototyping, and mycelium experiments, I just don’t have that focus. Rather than let it sit half-finished, I’m making the conscious choice to pause it until I can give it the attention it deserves.
It’s tough to let go of an idea, but not every good idea has to happen right now.
First Steps with Mycelium
This was the month I really jumped into growing mycelium. And let me tell you, seeing the first strands spread through the substrate was kind of magical.
A shot of the growing mycelium. The white, cotton-looking material is the mycelium.
But I also made it harder than it needed to be.
I over-engineered everything. Instead of just growing a batch and learning the basics, I tried to optimize everything before I even had a working system. And, as expected, that slowed me down.
The biggest lesson? Master the basics first. Once I know how to make things grow consistently, then I can tweak and refine. But for now, I just need to focus on getting good at the process.
The set-up. It’s working extraordinarily well, but I have to assume, in some sense, that it’s a fluke.
For now, I’m just excited to see where it goes.
The Phone Ad: A Fun Experiment, But Not the Focus
One of the side projects I tackled this month was a video ad for a phone I designed. It was a deep dive into product design and advertising, and honestly, it turned out great. More than anything, it was an incredible learning experience—how to present a product, how to make it feel desirable, and how to communicate its design clearly and effectively.
But, like Strata, I’m realizing that not every good idea needs to happen right now. As much as I loved the process, phone design and advertising aren’t where I want to focus my energy at the moment. What I love most is the freedom to explore and experiment, and that’s what this project was—an exciting creative exploration.
For now, it’s going on the back burner. Besides, I have some even more exciting things coming up.
Lessons from January
Consistency beats intensity. A little progress every day gets you further than bursts of motivation.
Finished is better than perfect. The blanket ladder isn’t flawless, but it exists. That’s what matters.
Good design serves a purpose. If something looks great but doesn’t work, it’s not done yet.
Simple is smarter. Overcomplicating things (whether in design or mycelium growing) slows everything down.
Not everything needs to be a business. Sometimes, an idea just needs space to grow before turning into something bigger.
February is about execution. Less bouncing between projects, more seeing things through. Let’s see what happens next.
Big things on the horizon. I didn’t mention everything new this month here - purposefully. Let’s save some juice for February.
