From Digital to Physical Creations

I have spent a lot of my life making things (both online and off). I worked in construction, built skateboard ramps, and even helped create elaborate retail spaces for musicians. Later, I shifted to building websites and other digital products. Each area of making (physical or digital) has its own unique rewards, but there is something exceptionally fulfilling about shaping your environment with your own two hands.

The Benefits of Being a DIY-er

1. Creative Control
   • When you build something yourself (be it a handcrafted shelf or a custom-coded website) you have complete authority over every detail. You can let your imagination run wild, refine your process, and shape the outcome to fit your vision perfectly.
2. Unique, Customized Solutions
   • DIY projects let you tailor everything to your specific needs and preferences. With digital creations, I can code a website that precisely meets a client’s goals. In the physical world, I can build a bathroom shelf that perfectly fits an awkward nook, or customize an office chair mat to my exact dimensions.
3. Skill-Building and Self-Reliance
   • Every project (physical or digital) pushes you to learn something new. Building your own furniture might teach you advanced woodworking, just as coding a web app might lead you to explore new programming languages or frameworks. Over time, these skills accumulate and give you the confidence to tackle bigger challenges.
4. Cost Savings and Value
   • While DIY projects often require an initial investment in tools or materials, they can save money in the long run. Plus, the value of understanding how something works (and knowing how to fix or modify it yourself) cannot be overstated.
5. A Deeper Sense of Accomplishment
   • There is nothing quite like stepping back from a finished project (be it a custom-built desk or a freshly launched website) and knowing you made it. That sense of pride and ownership is worth every minute of sweat, research, and trial-and-error.

From Websites to Woodwork

My Digital Roots

For years, I focused on building and refining digital products (websites, web apps, and other online solutions). While I love the immediacy of digital creation (where you can iterate quickly and roll out version after version), I sometimes miss the permanence that comes with physical builds.

Rediscovering the Physical

There is an unmatchable satisfaction in making something you can hold in your hands or walk through. Some of the projects I have been most proud of lately include:

• Bathroom Cubby
  • An oddly shaped space in my bathroom did not match any standard shelving sizes. A simple DIY project turned that wasted corner into a functional and personalized nook.
• Custom Chair Mat
  • Rather than a typical plastic mat, I made one from 5/8-inch plywood and linoleum flooring. By angling the edges, I reduced toe-stubs and added a personal touch to my office.
• Shop Reconstruction
  • Renovating my workspace in stages has taken time, but each phase is far more rewarding than if I had outsourced the job entirely.
• Car Camping Storage and Sleep Platform
  • I think I am on version 5 of this beast, I built it changed my mind and rebuilt it so many times. I definitely did not save money.

The Lasting Legacy of Physical Work

One of the greatest joys of hands-on projects is their durability and visibility. Websites may come and go, but it is incredibly satisfying to drive past a building I helped construct years ago and see it still standing, still in use, and contributing to the community. Even if I played a small part, I take pride in having helped build something tangible and enduring. I have tremendous respect for the skilled men I worked alongside (those who shaped the very bones of those buildings). Their expertise taught me that physical craftsmanship can leave a legacy that lasts a very long time.

Inspiration from the DIY Community

The internet is a treasure trove of makers who share their tips, techniques, and inspiration:

• Stitching Your Own Leather
  • A fantastic introduction to leatherwork, showing that DIY does not have to be complicated to be uniquely fulfilling.
• The Make Everything Channel
  • This channel demystifies the making process, proving that with the right tools and a willingness to learn, you can bring almost any idea to life.
• Van Neistat
  • Van’s inventive approach to problem-solving makes his DIY videos both inspiring and practical, reminding us to think outside the box.
• The Essential Craftsman
  • A personal favorite. They share decades of hard-earned experience and offer wisdom that even seasoned DIY-ers can learn from.

Balancing Digital and Physical Projects

After spending so much time in the digital realm, it is refreshing (and grounding) to turn back to physical projects. While I still enjoy bringing ideas to life online, the permanence and tangibility of a solid build cannot be matched by a software release. There is a special sense of satisfaction in cutting, sanding, painting, and then seeing the finished result right in front of you. Combine that with the legacy factor (knowing something you built might stand for decades) and you have a deeply rewarding experience.

If you want to DIY, my the only advice that matters is, just start. You will make ugly things at first, and the things you make will become less ugly eventually. Kinda like this blog ;)

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Every project needs a soundtrack, that's rule one: