Diary of a Designer: A Novel for Those Who Notice Too Much
Some people feel every edge.
Diary of a Designer is an intimate, psychological novel written in the first person — a quiet exploration of attention, perception, memory, and emotional overload.
This is not a memoir.
Not a self-help book.
Not a guide.
Not a story about design.
The narrator is called a designer because they perceive structure everywhere — in conversations, relationships, systems, and memories — and cannot stop noticing how things connect, break, repeat, or dissolve. Over time, observation becomes obsession. Insight turns into distance. And meaning, once comforting, begins to suffocate.
Written as fragments, reflections, and inner monologue, the novel sits between psychology and poetry, intimacy and distance, recognition and isolation. It reads like a mind speaking to itself when no one else is listening.
You don’t need to be a designer to read this book.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by how much you notice, this book was written for you.
Who This Book Is For
- Readers drawn to introspective, psychological fiction
- Those who enjoy fragmented, reflective, non-linear narratives
- Anyone who feels overstimulated by meaning, memory, or perception
- People who don’t want answers — only recognition
Reader Impressions
About Lark Aakarshan
His work focuses on the intersection of design judgment, meaning, and long-term clarity, often before anything becomes visible.
In 2013, Lark co-founded The AntiAlias Ventures, an award-winning strategy and design practice that helps leaders and their organizations explore, learn, and grow.
His clients include a variety of Fortune 500 companies (Samsung, AMD, BBC, ITC, Orient, Cremica, DLF, Maersk) and organisations including the United Nations, the Estonian Embassy Council American Embassy School and some of the world's most progressive start-ups.
He is the author of over ten books exploring design, perception, systems, and self-discovery, including Designed to Disappear, Paradox by Design, I Love Chaos, The Art of What You Don’t See, Visual Design Without Visuals, Diary of a Designer and The Signerika. His work focuses on the invisible structures that shape how meaning, behavior, and experience are formed.
Alongside this, Lark has served as a board member and advisor to multiple organizations and startups, contributing at the level of strategy, systems thinking, and decision-making rather than surface execution. His role often involves helping teams clarify intent, establish constraints, and build durable design systems that outlast individual projects.
Lark is a writer and lecturer, and previously served as a visiting faculty member at Pearl Academy of Design, where he taught Product Interface Design and developed his Applied Empathy curriculum. His teaching emphasized perception, responsibility, and restraint as core design skills.
His works has been also featured on National Geographic and BBC Publications.
In parallel with his commercial work, Lark maintains a private practice under Fragmant, where he explores what he describes as design conjuring - a reflective, symbolic approach to meaning-making and creative practice. He also leads workshops focused on integrating these traditions into contemporary life and work.
He continues to work globally with founders, product leaders, and senior teams. His practice spans digital platforms, brand systems, interfaces, and emerging workflows, including experimental approaches such as vibe coding and AI-assisted design.
