The energy of tension

I deviated from my normal walks this week and bought a used bike. November is usually really nice and good friend of mine moved back to town and is really into cycling so hope to get some use out of it.

I used to bike a lot and forgot how enjoyable it is. I rode downtown a couple mornings in a row to go to the YMCA. Even though it's a used bike that's probably 5-6 years old, it's by far the nicest bike I've ever had. Light and zippy.

One of my first observations, especially riding through downtown Nashville, is how remarkably dangerous urban cycling is. It feels very life and death. There is absolutely no room for error. While the vast majority of car-on-car accidents involve no injuries, I don't think you'd say the same for car-on-bike.

You hold your life in your hands as you ride. You feel alive in a way that you otherwise wouldn't. The adrenaline kicks in, your senses sharpen, and you are viscerally aware of your surroundings. Unlike an insulated, smooth, comfortable, vibe-less modern car, you feel every bump in the road, you smell gas, you feel every bump and pothole, and you look both ways at every single intersection.

BUT, paradoxically, this is what makes it fun! It's exactly the same reason riding a motorcycle is fun, because you are cheating death at all times. There is a palpable tension that exists in a good urban bike ride, between speed & danger.

Similar things happen in good design.

The most interesting and exciting things usually contain some tension. Different elements, periods, and styles combine to create something that works visually but also feels new. Deliberate imbalance. Unexpected red. The right combination of safety and novelty is always the most energizing.

The most compelling spaces don't just offer comfort - they create a dynamic tension between the familiar and the unexpected. This tension keeps us engaged and injects life into the space. Good design, like a good bike ride, often means finding beauty in that precise moment where comfort meets adventure.

Hope this is a helpful way to think about your projects! Interesting is better than perfect.

Adolf Loos's Villa Mueller is a great example of this kind of tension. Photo via Museum of Prague​

Two things I've come across that I want to share this week:

Omer Gilony

Styling and photography are two things a lot of us don't think about until it gets to photoshoot time. But, they so often bring a project to life. If you have a space that is really well done, styling & photography are often the right move before presenting to the world.

I recently came across the haunting and nostalgic work of Omer Gilony. She's a Lisbon based stylist who does art direction, floristry, set & table design. If I had some projects in Lisbon, I'd know who to call.

TikTok Creator Insights

Greg Isenberg is one of my favorite follows for online business building. He shared this thread on X recently about how you can use TikTok to find content ideas.

If you were thinking about creating short form video but not sure where to start, this is a really good way to find ideas.