Creative Side Quests

Fun fact: I took Japanese lessons for two years, passed the JLPT N5, and then… just never kept going. 😅 So in 2024, I decided it was time to pick it up again—this time, digitally. But when I couldn’t find a Goodnotes template I actually liked, I did what any designer would do: made my own.

If you want to dip your toes into learning Japanese but don’t know where to start, my Kana Workbook has got you! It’s packed with hiragana and katakana practice, a progress diary, a how-to guide, and easy linked navigation. Oh, and an adorable frog cheering you on. 🐸 Because learning is better with cute stationery, right?

Like many gamers, I’ve always dreamed of creating my own stories. While I may not be developing full games (yet 👀), participating in the My Famicase Exhibition (わたしのファミカセ展) let me bring that dream a tiny bit closer to reality.

Famicase is a yearly exhibition hosted by METEOR, a design shop in Japan, where artists from around the world create original artwork and stories for fictional NES cartridges—essentially, designing the cover of a game that doesn’t exist (but should). The result? A collection of incredible, imaginary games that make you wish you could pop them into a console and play.

From 2018 to 2021, I had the honor of contributing my own designs, crafting stories for games that live only in our imaginations. While I have not been able to visit the exhibitions, it was still a surreal experience to see my creations amongst so many inspiring entries.

Check out my cartridges here: