Back in 2006, when the XXIIVV logo was created, web 2.0 aesthetics were in full swing, outer glows and shiny vertical gradients were everywhere. As a reaction to that trend, I tried to design it as stark as possible, without decoration and without texture. The goal was for it to be representable using only a handful of Bézier control points which aligned with my style at the time.
In 2026, the era of gradients and extrusion blendings has long passed, minimalism reigns supreme, logos are reduced to simple black shapes with not a single line that couldn't be justified to a board-meeting. So, I felt the urge to move away from all that, and get something closer to the works I do today, and at the same time, find a way to express my love for cursive and analog practices.
In other words, the change was to go from a logo that can be written in a single stroke by a computer, to one that can be written in a single stroke by a person.
- Started a new version of Donsol.
- Created a live playground for Neur.
- Added volume controls to m291.
- Enjoyed doing little sewing projects.
I've had the growing impression, in recent years, that it has become thoroughly uncool to try your best. Exceeding expectations is embarrassing, meeting them worthy of ridicule. I see it all the time. You're caught rehearsing, or journaling in public? how performative. It kept you up at night, did it? you poured sweat into it? such a try-hard.
So shall I join the choir invisible
Whose music is the gladness of the world.
But I don't think this is new. It's that ol' familiar cynicism, one we've cycled through before. It usually precedes a moment when people grow tired of poorly made things, and what is done carefully and thoughtfully can once again be appreciated without shame. I'm hopeful that we're about to emerge into a renaissance, and convinced that those who are giving their honest best are just avant-garde.
If despite it all, you put your heart into it.
I'm here for it and thank you!
It's Christmas morning. I can't believe it. All my friends say it's been a bad year for them. It's not helping my mood one bit.
On the plus side, this site just got another lease on life (more or less, see below), and it snowed in Bucharest overnight. For once the weather forecast was spot-on.
Going out later to see a friend. No better time to do it. Might update this in the afternoon.
Otherwise, no news. I still can't write one line of fiction. All my web development work happens on other sites now, too. This one is now legacy. You wouldn't believe how little of it is even worth moving elsewhere. Next summer when I renew the domain it will be for the last time. That's that.
Yeah, idk. Back later with more thoughts, maybe.
Edit: well, that was a big nothingburger. At least the trams are running today, even better than usual.