THE BEATNIK DESIGNER

Hey, Reader! I’ve spent most of the summer in a gentle audit mode: long walks, intentional yoga, cinnamon buns, and honest reviews of what’s working (and what’s just noise). I’m consolidating platforms, trimming subscriptions, and reshaping my offers so everything I send is simpler, clearer, and more useful for you. Two updates: This is the final email sent from my current platform. I’m moving to Flodesk to keep things elegant and simple. If you want my personal shares on yoga +...

Day 2/30 of my tiny experiment Hey, Reader! Sometimes the hardest part of running a tiny experiment is... remembering how to count. And that’s the beauty of these experiments: they’re flexible, forgiving, and deeply personal.After my daughter was born, I experienced severe postnatal depression. One of the most powerful tools I leaned on to help me through it wasn’t therapy or medication (though both are valuable)—it was a creative ritual.✨ I took one photo of Miss Tilly every single day...

Chubby Hearts across London Hey, Reader! August has its own rhythm. Clients are away, kids are gearing up for school, sales are down, attention is scattered. It’s easy to take the slowdown personally—but it’s usually just the dip. Dame Anya Hindmarch’s Chubby Hearts story nails it: she imagined giant heart balloons over London’s bridges, hit a wall of logistics, and instead of scrapping the vision she worked into it—adapting the plan, scattering hearts across the city, and creating a moment...

Hey, Reader! I’ve gone a little quiet this month... on purpose. More sun on my face, long walks, yoga, a bit of alone time… and cinnamon buns. I missed a couple of newsletters and have barely posted on socials. And, I’ve loved the spaciousness. August feels like an invitation to go low-key and reflect while half the world is on holiday, so I’m taking a mini holiday from my digital life too. Behind the scenes, I’ve been gently pruning and tending: letting a few projects go, doubling down on...

A few weeks ago, I said yes to a new client, a forward-thinking brand bringing me in to lead user research and design for an upcoming campaign. Translation: a to-do list a mile long. 😅 I used to power through my to-dos and call it productivity. This time, I'm running a different approach: schedule life first, fit business into the cracks. I'm planning more space in my mornings for wellbeing, before I read any email. I'm taking more micro-breaks between tasks. I'm staying hydrated. I've...

Hey, Reader! A few weeks ago, I shared a tiny experiment that I was conducting. I quietly declared on socials, “I’m going to try a little something—walk Benny for twenty, yoga for twenty, sit and breathe for ten. Fourteen days, just data.” Well, fourteen days grew wings. They carried me right past the marker and into a whole lunar cycle. I'm now 31 days in. The ritual stopped being an experiment and started feeling like gratitude-in-motion. I'm getting stronger. The grey mist has lifted....

Hey, Reader! A few weeks ago, I found myself sitting at my desk on Monday morning, already feeling behind. My heart was racing, my morning coffee was going cold, I had 58 tabs open on my laptop, & a to-do list that was a mile long. I was beginning to feel overwhelmed. Sound familiar? I decided to go back through some notes because I remembered a podcast or email or Heart-Centered Planner from Danielle LaPorte on working with the days of the week. After about 20 minutes of flicking through my...

Hey, Reader! Last night’s Capricorn Full Moon was intense—and if you’re still feeling all the feels today, you’re not alone. I am too. Full moons bring oppositions. It’s why emotions can run high, boundaries get tested, and energy spikes—or crashes. This week? My emotions were up and down, my inbox was overflowing, boundaries were being nudged, and my perimenopausal body was asking for deep rest. Right now, I’m on Day 11 of a 14-day self-care experiment: 🌿 20-minute morning dog walk 🧘♀️ 20...

Anne-Laure signing my copy of Tiny Experiments Hey, Reader! On Saturday, I boarded the 7:17 train to London Bridge with my oat latte and an address that simply read: Qube, Elephant & Castle. The tube doors hissed open, and I stepped into a rare London heatwave with nothing but an address, an open heart, and the quiet thrill of not knowing what to expect. I haven’t been to Elephant & Castle in years and was shocked by the well-kept park, bougie restaurants, and hipster hangouts surrounding it....

Hey, Reader! You know those ideas that start as a whisper—soft enough to ignore while you juggle deadlines, dishes, and downward dogs? Well... my affirmation card deck was that idea. If you remember, this project has been brewing for a while—until the US tariffs hit. My print-on-demand partner sent an email saying costs would rise by 68% overnight (then dropped it to 28% a few days later). That uncertainty made me shelve the idea... for a little while. But whispers have a way of turning into...