B001
PLEASE ALLOW ME...
Publication 
2025



please allow me a moment to think critically:

fifteen questions every designer should ponder



Please allow me a moment to think critically is an undergraduate thesis, stemming from my personal growth as a designer. Through fifteen carefully crafted questions, this project explores design thinking not  as a search for fixed answers, but as an ongoing conversation—one driven by inquiry, dialogue, and reflection. Each question is paired with a response from a diverse array of creatives, illustrating the value of self-reflection and the importance of listening to others’ perspectives. The project also considers how design can serve not only commercial goals, but also personal, cultural, and communal needs. These ideas culminate in a pocket-sized booklet intended to encourage critical thought and reflection—whether the reader is a designer or not.









Space for Thought
The layout of the book was designed to encourage readers to contribute their own ideas or even generate new questions entirely. Each page is divided into thirds, creating three vertical columns—or six per spread. The questions span the width of the two leftmost columns, while the responses take up the two rightmost columns. The middle columns, one on each page, remain empty, providing negative space between question and response. This pause allows the reader a moment to reflect, fostering independent thought.



Editorial New is used exclusively for the book’s questions. It’s design draws the reader’s eye to the question first, emphasizing its importance. The typeface’s intricate, organic forms evoke the enduring beauty of the natural world, lending a sense of timelessness and permanence to each question.
Neue Montreal serves as the primary text excluding questions. It’s clean, simple look remains unobtrusive–less of a focal point on the page but provides distinction between question and response. It does not highlight the response but presents it as just one possible perspective among countless others.


Color
The colors are inspired by the Trillium— my favorite flower, native to the Pacific Northwest where I’m from. To me, the Trillium symbolizes thoughtful growth; it takes five to ten years for each plant to mature and bloom. This natural rhythm reflects the philosophy behind the book: that design, like the Trillium, deserves patience and intentionality to create beautiful, impactful solutions.














CONTRIBUTORS:



Alec Van Staveren
Alex Egner
Caleb X.M. Hartsfield
Corbin LaMont
David Janssen Jr.
Ducky
Jade Blue
June T. Sanders
Lain Bundalian
Samantha-Lynn Martinez
Serena Hocharoen
Maker + Made
Naomi Likayi
Outlet PDX




Read the Book


B001
PLEASE ALLOW ME...
Publication 
2025