The Next Chapter: Introducing Unknown Arts
Retiring ‘Better by Design’ and revealing the mission driving this evolution.
Welcome to Unknown Arts, where we explore the creative power of art and technology. Ready to forge ahead into the unknown? Join the journey!
Hi friend,
For the past 2.5 years, Better by Design has been about helping you blend tech with thoughtful design. But today, I’m excited to share a new evolution of the brand – a transformation that better reflects my mission and the creative community that’s emerged from my writing and events.
So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Unknown Arts!
Why the change?
As my work has evolved, I’ve realized that my mission is to help creatives achieve success, balance, and fulfillment – not just in their work, but in their lives as a whole. This new chapter reflects that expanded focus under the name Unknown Arts. It’s about going deeper, exploring new ways to thrive as a modern, creative professional, and finding meaning in the pursuit of the unknown. If Better by Design was a tech-first brand, Unknown Arts is a human-first brand supported by technology.
What’s with the name?
Unknown Arts has a twofold meaning to me.
The name comes from a passage from the ancient text The Metamorphoses by Ovid.
The line in Latin is “...et ignotas animum dimittit in artes, naturamque nouat” which roughly translates to “And he sets his mind to unknown arts, and alters nature.”
This refers to the story of the great inventor Daedalus who was trapped in the labyrinth with his son Icarus and had to invent their way to freedom. They were stuck, but through his creativity Daedalus was able to discover a way out. To me this symbolizes the power of the creative mind when applied to problem-solving.
The second meaning comes from James Joyce’s novel, A Portrait of the Artist, which uses the passage to introduce the book. Joyce uses the quote to describe the personal journey of evolution felt by the artist across the many phases of their life. A fulfilling creative life is one of perpetual reinvention. While that process is often challenging, it doesn’t have to be a struggle and you don’t have to go it alone.
So, to me, Unknown Arts symbolizes the unique journey of the creative person, the power of their skills, and the magic that happens when you bring them together in community.
What’s new?
A new domain
While I’m staying on Substack, starting next week, these posts will live on the domain unknownarts.co. Existing backlinks will be redirected to there.
A new look
I’m refining the visual identity to reflect the more creative and philosophical core of Unknown Arts. You’ll notice new colors, typography, and a logo that signal this evolution.
I’ve included a few screenshots of current drafts in this post, but can share more behind-the-scenes details later if there’s interest.
A broader focus
While Better by Design focused on blending tech with design, Unknown Arts focuses on helping you thrive as a whole, creative person.
What’s staying the same?
Thoughtful design thinking at the core
You can still expect actionable insights, creative prompts, and thoughtful design critiques, but now with a more holistic lens. We’ll be talking more about how to balance work and life, how to find fulfillment in your career, and how to use your creativity to transform your ideas into reality, intentionally.
Our community
The community we’ve built through Better by Design will remain, and I’ll be introducing new ways for us to connect and grow together.
In-person events like the Serendipity Salon will now sit under the Unknown Arts brand as I look to facilitate more connections across the many creative disciplines represented here in Los Angeles.
The community and events portion of the brand will be called the Unknown Arts Collective.
What’s next?
More in-depth content
We’ll deepen my explorations of topics that go beyond software design to surface insights that help you create stronger work, advance your professional success, and grow personally. Whether it’s finding balance in your daily life, pushing the boundaries of your creative process, or seeking fulfillment in your work, Unknown Arts will be there to guide you through it.
Interviews with creatives pursuing Unknown Arts
So far, I’ve held off on interviews because the brand didn’t feel aligned with the kinds of people I was most interested in talking to. Unknown Arts resolves that tension.
I’ll be reaching out to talented creatives across disciplines who embody the principles at the core of the brand: thoughtful creativity, professional excellence, and championing community.
I’m excited to talk with and learn from these people and I’m confident they’ll have great wisdom to share with you.
I have my own starter list in mind but if you have recommendations for people you’d like to hear from, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
The Patrons of Unknown Arts paid Substack
Don’t worry, the free weekly newsletter isn’t going anywhere. But to achieve my mission I need to start to unlock some doors that only open if this project makes money.
For the foreseeable future, I’ll be reinvesting every dollar earned back into the business with the intention of reaching and supporting more people.
I have ideas, but I want to start by talking to community members who are interested in helping me kickstart this effort. So, for the first 20 people who pledge to support my work with an annual subscription I’ll be offering a free, 30-minute, 1:1 session to dive into any area that would be useful for you. I want to get to know you so I can focus my energy on the things that will help you the most.
So, if you want to take the next step in supporting me on my mission to help creatives find their path to success, balance, and fulfillment, consider becoming a patron.
You can pledge to support Unknown Arts here 👇.
Join me on the journey
Unknown Arts isn’t just a new name – it’s a new, yet ancient, way of thinking about what it means to thrive as a creative person. I’m thrilled to continue this journey with you and explore how we can all find more success, balance, and fulfillment in our lives.
Thank you for being a part of this community.
Together, we’ll make it the best home for creatives on the internet.
With gratitude,
Patrick
PS. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this transition – what excites you most about Unknown Arts? What would you like to see more of in the future? Hit reply and let me know!
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Hey Patrick, new reader here, I found you because you followed me on Twitter, as a former graphic designer who still utilizes those skills in new areas, jobs, etc I'm interested to follow along and see how UA unfolds. I also want more meaning out of life/career and want to live a more "integrated" life as a creative person. I wish you the best with the new chapter!