Please Allow Me — Cedric Kraynak

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About

TITLE:
please allow me a moment to think critically:
fifteen questions every designer should ponder
YEAR:
2025
DESIGNED BY:
Cedric Kraynak

CONTRIBUTORS:Alec Van Staveren
Alex Egner
Caleb X.M. Hartsfield
Corbin LaMont
David Janssen Jr.
Ducky
Jade Blue
June T. Sanders
Lain Bundalian
Samantha-Lynn Martinez
Serena Hocharoen
Maker + Made
Naomi Likayi
Outlet PDX
SOFTWARE:
InDesign,
Illustrator

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designisdialogue

please allow me a moment to think critically:
fifteen questions every designer should ponder

is a creative research project rooted in my personal evolution as a designer. Through fifteen carefully crafted questions, this project explores design thinking not as a search for fixed answers, but as an ongoing conversation—one driven by inquiry, dialogue, and reflection. Each question is paired with a response from a diverse array of creatives, illustrating the value of self-reflection and the importance of listening to others’ perspectives. The project also considers how design can serve not only commercial goals, but also personal, cultural, and communal needs. These ideas culminate in a pocket-sized booklet intended to encourage critical thought and reflection—whether the reader is a designer or not.

Space for Thought
The layout of the book was designed to encourage readers to contribute their own ideas or even generate new questions entirely. Each page is divided into thirds, creating three vertical columns—or six per spread. The questions span the width of the two leftmost columns, while the responses take up the two rightmost columns. The middle columns, one on each page, remain empty, providing negative space between question and response. This pause allows the reader a moment to reflect, fostering independent thought.

Typography

Editorial New is used exclusively for the book’s questions. It’s design draws the reader’s eye to the question first, emphasizing its importance. The typeface’s intricate, organic forms evoke the enduring beauty of the natural world, lending a sense of timelessness and permanence to each question.

Neue Montreal serves as the primary text excluding questions. It’s clean, simple look remains unobtrusive–less of a focal point on the page but provides distinction between question and response. It does not highlight the response but presents it as just one possible perspective among countless others.

Color

The colors are inspired by the Trillium— my favorite flower, native to the Pacific Northwest where I’m from. To me, the Trillium symbolizes thoughtful growth; it takes five to ten years for each plant to mature and bloom. This natural rhythm reflects the philosophy behind the book: that design, like the Trillium, deserves patience and intentionality to create beautiful, impactful solutions.

Fifteen Questions:

Each question was intentionally crafted to invite open-ended discussion and personal reflection. Each is paired with one response prevent the book from feeling overcrowded and gives the readers space to explore different perspectives at their own pace. The final question, however, remains unanswered—deliberately left open to encourage the reader to think for themselves or seek out answers on their own. It also serves as a culmination of the previous fourteen and allows the reader to think about their role in design.

Tear & Share

Each book includes a bookmark insert with detachable cards, allowing those who have the book to share its ideas and practices with others. The card resembles the book’s cover and includes a brief explanation of its concept, along with information on how to download a printable PDF zine and access an online space to share thoughts and ideas.

Design is Dialogue

designisdialogue is an online companion to please allow me a moment to think critically. It offers a space where anyone can anonymously share ideas, ask and answer questions, and connect with others through design. It’s a space for ongoing iteration, fueled by curiosity.