Designing and Making — The Joy of Building Things Yourself

Watches, bikes, websites, apps — the common thread is making things with your own hands and mind.

Across Willem's blog, one theme surfaces again and again: the act of making. Not consuming, not reviewing, not comparing — but sitting down and building something that didn't exist before. These posts span physical objects, software, and the creative process itself.

There's a particular kind of satisfaction in making something yourself. It's different from buying the best version — it's the knowledge that you understand every piece, every decision, every trade-off. Willem's blog is full of these moments.

Physical Things

The most ambitious physical project is designing his own watch — not modifying an existing one, but starting from a blank dial and creating something entirely new. The cargo bike build is another: assembled by hand, documented piece by piece. And the 1978 Batavus restoration proves the same principle applies to bringing old things back to life.

Digital Things

The making extends to software. From building websites that win the Champions League of web design to developing native iOS apps, from writing a podcast downloader to creating a complete tablet operating system — the same mindset applies: understand the problem, build the solution, document the journey.

The Process

Some of Willem's most compelling posts are about the creative process itself. The handwriting post — on the value of writing first drafts by hand in an age of keyboards — reveals something about how he works. And the essay on focused thinking argues that making good things requires protecting your attention.

Also explore

watches and time · cycling · writing code · repair culture

All Making Posts

Every post about designing, creating, building, and the craft of making things.