Our Founder wrote a book in 2013 and got it published in 2015. Here’s what he had to say about the book:
“The idea to write a book came out of nowhere, probably getting stucked in a traffic jam. It was sometime in 2013, I just had finished another theatre musical project. While planning for the next gig, I thought to myself, why not take a break and do something for myself, a side project maybe? I was into my third/fourth year of working professionally, and a lot has happened in those years and I have a lot of time thinking to myself, criticizing the world.
Hence, I decided to put everything into words. Words become sentences and sentences become chapters. Long before, I found myself with a decent amount of writing worth turning into a book.
In 2015, I came across a new up and coming independent publishing house. Sent them an email with my drafts and before long, signed a contract and they got it published.”
Liku-Liku Kehidupan Seorang Graphic Designer
The daily struggles of a graphic designer.
The book is an anecdote of my life as a designer. I begin the book with stories of how I came about being a designer. As you’ve previously read in my About section, a similar story was written in the book in detail. I also wrote about my early struggles explaining to my family members what is it that I studied in school and what would work once I finished. I’m not sure how things are nowadays (probably a lot better) but during my time, although it’s already in the year of 2000s, people still can’t fathom that one can study design in school.
Other chapters in the book talk about my philosophy towards design and creativity in general, how inspiration came about to me, and how creativity is not dictated by the tools that you use but rather by your brain. Truth is, I wrote the book more for myself because ten years later, once in a while when I open and re-read what I’ve written, honestly it puts a smile on my face. Because with all the shits that I’ve gone through with work, some parts of who I am as a creative is still there. Re-reading the book reminds me of what matters.
But, during the early days of the book being published, I’ve gotten a lot of comments saying they smile and can relate as a creative themselves. This proof a fact that, being a designer (any kind) here in Malaysia is not much different in terms of the experience.
I’ve already had plans to write a second book since Cerita Budak Design have been published ⎯ in 2015. I’ve actually started written a few drafts and outline for the second book but so far, nine years later, nothing have been solid. The plan to make the project a success, but looking back at what I’ve written so far for the second book, it’s still not good enough to my standard. I wrote Cerita Budak Design when I was in my early 20s, it was fueled by “young rage”, so for the sequel, it needs to be more “matured”. Can’t say for sure when will the book be out, but I’m planning it to be alot better than the latter. We’ll see how it goes.
The author decided to put the e-version free for download.