I can still remember the day I decided I was going to launch my own newsletter. Asking for permission, or the absence of, was all that was on my mind. I wanted a channel, a platform, a space where I can set free some of the conversations that are happening inside my mind. Of course, the ones I think people would mostly care about, and benefit from anyway.
It’s been almost 24 months and a few days since then. I hope you all have learned a lot from my writings as much as I have.
The act of writing publicly is a game of both luck and courage. Every post is an opportunity to showcase a little bit of originality, creative and critical thinking. Nothing makes me feel as vulnerable than when I open up my brain for public dissection, figuratively. Writing has that effect on me, and I am willing to bet, so do for a lot of other writers.
Some questions that guided me throughout this writing journey:
What are the qualities of an ideal conversationalist?
How can I shape myself, through writing, to become the person I have always wanted to meet and pick brains with?
Somewhere out there, there is a person, an organization, or a group of people who are thinking about the same things, are obsessing about the same problems and are actively chasing the same future as I am. How can I increase my chances of meeting them through this?
Association is of utmost importance to me. I am the sum of the top 5 people I regularly interact with. This newsletter is a bridge that’ll bring me closer to the people I desire to meet and connect with through the essays, stories and anecdotes I regularly put out.
As 2021 comes to a close, I’m paying a tribute to the best, most memorable pieces of content I’ve released this year. If you know of someone who might be interested in these topics, this is a great issue to share.
For the ones who love writing case studies.
→ Bonus: Crafting the UX Case Study You’ll Be Proud Of
“The cherry on top of that is the product pivot, which may be the result of an event, or a redirection, or even a complete overhaul of that initial idea. The ability to start over and to challenge your assumptions is a great skill to continuously hone. Show the flaws in your thinking. Embrace the mess. Don’t be afraid of vulnerability. Celebrate your product “mistakes”. These are the things that are the true test of a good story.
And what is a case study, if not a celebration of a story.”
Ideal for: Designers with some experience who are looking to improve their case study writing skills, Hiring managers, Educators, Undergrad and graduate students
For the ones who obsess about Design Literacy.
→ # 24: Introducing Design Literacy
“If there is anything that the last decade has taught us is that whatever happens to design, happens to the world. It will eventually find its way out, and for better or worse, transform society and how we will all live.”
Ideal for: Intermediate/Senior Designers (IC, Managers), Thought Leaders, Product Managers, Engineers who care about Design, Educators who are looking into Design Thinking
For the ones who are working towards the careers they deserve to have.
→ # 27: Landing a Job (or career!) Doing What You Love– As An Immigrant
“As a Filipino who moved to the United States half a decade ago, my life went on a complete overhaul the minute I left my home country. I talked about it briefly on my talk at Chicago Camps last February. It’s been a wild ride but not without setbacks, wakeup calls and all the surprising things no-one warned me about.
For fellow immigrants, I know what it feels like. It is hard enough that you are uprooting everything. It’s even worse if you have to start from scratch with the one thing you’ve always taken pride off: your career.”
Ideal for: Immigrants in the United States, Job seekers, Students, anyone, really
For the ones who are thinking about business, in general.
→ #28: Embracing Business Thinking
“We should hold ourselves more accountable to producing things that are more than just money-making ventures. Our personal decisions everyday should follow suit as well. Beyond the minimum objective of profits, we should, instead, start factoring the following as well:
Personal pride. Are we proud of this?
Societal contribution. Does this product/service/business contribute to the greater society? or otherwise.”
Ideal for: Creators, Product Owners, Makers, Designers who want to increase their business literacy
For the ones who are brave enough to bet on themselves, everyday, against all odds.
→ #30: How to Design a Bio, Part 1 and #36: How to Design a Bio, Part 2
“Curiosities power intellectual rigor. The collection of which makes one unique, powerful and interesting, especially where and when it matters. I’m always a fan of the unicorn: people who are able to weave different branches of disciplines, no matter how random they are. Historically, the most outstanding innovators have always been unicorns in their own way: Leonardo da Vinci was an engineer, painter, artist, writer, architect & sculptor, Steve Jobs was masterfully brilliant in product design, marketing, storytelling, business thinking and countless other skills, Stanley Kubrick was a film director, photographer, screenwriter, producer…. I could go on and on.”
Ideal for: I don’t say this lightly— just about anyone with talent and grit and great desire to make something of themselves.
I will leave you with this post, a brilliant piece of writing I read a few times a year. As an inspiration, of some sort. It has yet to fail to boost me up every time I experience uncertainties, hardships and just overall confusion over everything. Working Title is a product of those factors. I am eternally grateful for the internet. It does find ways to give you the gift you didn’t think you needed nor deserved but impacted your life immensely: the resilience and the timelessness of wisdom.
“One of the most powerful lessons to learn is that you can figure out what to do in situations that seem to have no solution. The more times you do this, the more you will believe it. Grit comes from learning you can get back up after you get knocked down.” - Sam Altman on How To Be Successful
For 2022, I plan on expanding more on the subjects of Technology, Psychology, Design, User Experience, Philosophy, Business and more. I’d welcome any and all sorts of suggestions for topics I may have missed: nikkiespartinez@gmail.com
Thank you so much for reading Working Title. I owe you all the motivation and energy I have in sustaining this. Have a happy holidays, everyone.
Nikki
To doing the work that matters. (A Seth Godin reference)