003: Living (and Thriving) with Paradoxes
This is an internal monthly newsletter I write for GenAI at Canva. To share publicly, I strip out internal research shared and references to current projects.
Humans are naturally paradoxical creatures. This contradiction runs deep, from our biology and psychology to our society and daily lives. Zeno of Elea is known for introducing paradoxes that challenge our understanding of reality. Take the Dichotomy Paradox, one of his most famous paradoxes: it suggests that motion is impossible because to reach any destination, you must first travel half the distance, then half of the remaining distance, and so on infinitely.
The Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea showing his followers the doors of Truth and Falsehood. From a 16th century CE fresco at the El Escorial, Madrid.
Yet, we know motion is possible. We move, we travel, we reach our destinations. This paradox reveals a profound truth: infinite steps don't always mean infinite time or distance. Some infinities, it turns out, are smaller than others.
Zeno demonstrated how seemingly simple concepts can hide deep complexities. By examining our basic notions of motion, time, and space, he revealed the intricate philosophical issues beneath the surface of everyday life. His paradoxes served as a kind of "stress test" for our assumptions about reality, pushing us to question our beliefs and explore potential solutions.
We face similar challenges in our work. A design that seems straightforward on the surface can often open up unexpected complexities. What looks like an easy fix may turn into a Pandora's box of complications. It's as if we pull one thread, and suddenly the whole fabric starts to unravel.
Here's where we encounter another paradox: We instinctively want to run from complexity and avoid dealing with it. There's a part of us that craves simplicity, something straightforward that doesn't force us to confront the messiness of intricate problems.
Yet, ironically, it's often the most complex challenges that lead to the most rewarding work. Those thorny issues that stretch our abilities and push us out of our comfort zones? They're usually the ones that lead to the greatest rewards. These difficulties compel us to innovate, find creative solutions, and grow in ways we never anticipated.
This doesn't mean we should make things complex just for the sake of it. True complexity, the kind worth engaging with, arises naturally from the depth and richness of a problem. It's not about piling on difficulty; it's about recognising and addressing the intricate details that are already there. When we engage with this kind of complexity, we don't just solve problems – we flourish.
On the flip side, artificial complexity—complexity for its own sake—can stifle creativity and progress. It's like trying to navigate a maze that someone's made deliberately confusing, consuming time and energy without adding real value. It distracts us from what really matters, bogging us down in pointless details instead of allowing us to focus on finding solutions that work.
So we have another paradox: while we shouldn't shy away from genuine complexity, we must also strive to keep things as simple as possible without oversimplifying the problem. The true challenge – and the real reward – lies in striking that balance between necessary complexity and avoiding unnecessary complication.
Paradoxes, then, are more than just mind-bending puzzles or philosophical curiosities. They're woven into the very fabric of our existence, from Zeno's ponderings to the modern intricacies of our work. We find ourselves caught in a contradiction of our own making – instinctively recoiling from complexity while simultaneously thriving on its challenges. When we lean into the discomfort of intricacy and resist the urge to oversimplify, we open doors to unexpected solutions and growth. As David Cooper said, embrace the answer: It depends.
So the next time you encounter a paradox, dig into it. You might find not just answers, but a whole new set of questions that propel you forward. After all, isn't that the beauty of being human? We're walking paradoxes, constantly navigating the complex and the simple, the known and the unknown. And in that navigation, we find our greatest potential for growth and understanding. ✌️
🤖 Across AI
New image gen models upon new image gen models alert 🚨
ByteDance has launched JiMeng, an AI model capable of generating media and text similar to OpenAI's offerings. JiMeng is designed to create content across various formats, from images to written text, potentially rivaling established models like GPT4.
Blackforest Labs has launched Flux, which is already making waves multiple tech companies. Compared to other image generation models, Flux is incredibly fast.
Midjourney has launched Version 6.1, Image Editor and Web experience, greatly improving usability and output quality. As an avid user, the Web interface has significantly shaped how I interact with the tool. However, a noticeable downside in 6.1 is its beauty bias, where generated images tend to prioritise Instagram face above all other aesthetics, reducing diversity compared to Version 6.
An article from the Verge explores the dramatic shift in how AI tools like Google Pixel 9's Magic Editor are reshaping photography. The piece highlights how these tools enable the effortless creation of convincing but fake images, undermining the longstanding belief that photos represent reality.
The new South Korean game inZOI aims to rival The Sims with advanced customization options. The demo video showcases how generative AI tools in the game allow players to create and generate furniture and interiors, offering greater design flexibility beyond what's currently available in similar games.
Meng To's recent demo shows how Claude AI can be used to design and animate SVGs, offering a powerful tool for web and graphic designers. The platform, available at svg.designcode.io, lets users harness AI to create dynamic, customized SVG animations.
Thinking a lot about Laura Preston's essay, "An Age of Hyperabundance," which critiques how technological advancements, especially in AI and automation, have exacerbated societal inequalities, despite the abundance of goods and information.
🌏 Across the world
Bardcore everywhere! Lucy Datyner shared an article about the Future Medieval trend in graphic design, blending medieval aesthetics with contemporary elements. This movement features motifs like Gothic type, heraldic symbols, and illuminated manuscripts, reimagined through modern digital tools.
Utopia is always on my mind and Annabel Blakeshared a wonderful example of play in imagining our future. From AssemblePapers, Anna Ker explores Using play to imagine future cities from queer utopias to communities on Minecraft.
HMD Global and Mattel have launched an official Barbie flip phone, a nostalgic device in a vibrant "power-pink" color. Designed for simplicity, the phone supports only calls and texts, with no social media access, self-care reminders, and a Y2K-style 0.3MP camera.
Have you ever seen an illustration or piece of art and thought, 'Wow, I haven't seen anything like this in a long time'? That's exactly how I felt when I first saw Andrew Tseng's work. (Note, these illustrations may be disturbing to some)
In his rant, Bret Victor calls for ambitious, visionary approaches that fully utilise human capabilities (aka HANDS). He advocates for dynamic, tangible interfaces that engage more of our senses and urges the design community to rethink how we interact with technology, pushing beyond current limitations.
Do you get distracted by...anything on your screen? BYOK (Bring Your Own Keyboard) is a minimalist, distraction-free writing tool designed for those prone to procrastination. It features a compact LCD screen that displays up to six lines of text, requiring users to connect their preferred keyboard via Bluetooth or USB-C.
