<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Alex Makes]]></title><description><![CDATA[I'm Alex - a graphic designer and systems thinking student in the UK. See my portfolio and blog to learn more, and get in touch to collaborate.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:50:12 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.alexmakes.co/ru/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Learning Systems for Improvement of Inclusive Practice]]></title><description><![CDATA[I designed a learning system as part of my process of learning systems.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/learning-systems-for-improvement-of-inclusive-practice</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4ff9b10427b2b3149302c</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[systems]]></category><category><![CDATA[ethics]]></category><category><![CDATA[project updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[graphic design]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 10 May 2025 17:38:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_b16d6a19d0294bea9f5dc4c32fea7a3a~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Systemic Inquiry towards a Learning System of Interest - TB872 Part 02 Week 13]]></title><description><![CDATA[In Part 2.5.1 (Taking a design turn in your practice) of the TB872 module for Managing Change with Systems Thinking in Practice, we further develop the 'learning contract' that we started working on in Part 1 of the module, amending it to conceptualise our current stage of learning and to demonstrate the 'design turn' we have taken in managing change in a situation of concern.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/systemic-inquiry-towards-a-learning-system-of-interest-tb872-part-02-week-13</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4ff44f2ad0bf9f6fe8b02</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[systems]]></category><category><![CDATA[long read]]></category><category><![CDATA[graphic design]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 01 Feb 2025 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_341546c5c110424fb220bb062c6e42d6~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Framing in Systemic Inquiries with the Juggler - TB872 Part 02 Week 11-12]]></title><description><![CDATA[While reading Systems Practice: How to Act (in situations of uncertainty and complexity in a climate-change world (Ison, 2017) to accompany my study of TB872 Managing Change with Systems Thinking in Practice, I am simultaneously developing my understanding of Systems Thinking concepts as described in the provided literature, and developing my Systems practice capability by learning how to apply Systems Thinking in practice (STiP).]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/framing-in-systemic-inquiries-with-the-juggler-tb872-part-02-week-11-12</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4ff44f2ad0bf9f6fe8b01</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[systems]]></category><category><![CDATA[long read]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 24 Jan 2025 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_75a6530a202940bab46b85a2c4c0db59~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Systems Practice: Being, Engaging, Contextualising, Managing - TB872 Part 2 Week 10]]></title><description><![CDATA[Exploring the BECM heuristic and the Juggler isophor for understanding my past and present practice with Systems Thinking.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/systems-practice-being-engaging-contextualising-managing-tb872-part-2-week-10</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec933362686b5d57e23</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[systems]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jan 2025 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_9210e8a25aa34b0da8834ddc2ab77ff4~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_550,h_839,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thinking about Systems for Inclusivity - TB872 Part 01 Week 03]]></title><description><![CDATA[In week 3 of TB872 Managing Change with Systems Thinking in Practice, we examine our own systemic sensibility, literacy and capability. We are encouraged to appreciate relational as well as linear cause-and-effect thinking, so that we can become stronger at using both systemic and systematic thinking whenever it is appropriate.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/thinking-about-systems-for-inclusivity-tb872-part-01-week-03</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec833362686b5d57e1c</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[systems]]></category><category><![CDATA[ethics]]></category><category><![CDATA[activism]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 22 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_a25c6228e4084ada8f25082d7c0a20d7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_975,h_500,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[TB872 Part 01 Week 02 Review]]></title><description><![CDATA[In week two of module TB872 Managing Change with Systems Thinking in Practice, we continue to look at our own experiences with managing change, practice identifying features of systems and effective systemic change, and look further into how we can utilise reflexive practice to engage with situations of concern.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/tb872-part-01-week-02-review</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec833362686b5d57e1e</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[systems]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 15 Nov 2024 15:03:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_7ba4bfc4953c497ba8b9088cfc08b6b2~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Analysing Thinking in Systems by Donella Meadows — Book Summary and Review]]></title><description><![CDATA[This was the first book I read on the topic of systems thinking, and it served as a great introduction to the basics of systems analysis from the viewpoint of a renowned and respected system dynamics practitioner.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/analysing-thinking-in-systems-by-donella-meadows-book-summary-amp-review</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec933362686b5d57e20</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[systems]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><category><![CDATA[long read]]></category><category><![CDATA[review]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_52eae37f3fbf49d38358a974492816c7~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_600,h_600,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Managing Change with Systems Thinking in Practice - TB872 Part 01 Week 01]]></title><description><![CDATA[My first week of study with the TB872 Managing Change with STiP module involved quite a lot of self-reflection as we considered our roles in systems practice.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/managing-change-with-systems-thinking-in-practice-tb872-part-01-week-01</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec833362686b5d57e1d</guid><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[systems]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 10 Nov 2024 18:36:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_b7639be5a1444d449233eef20b2e5c01~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Introduction to Systems Thinking in Practice]]></title><description><![CDATA[I will aim to keep a record of what I learn from tutorials, books I read, online research, interesting concepts, practical experiences related to Systems Thinking, and changes in how I think and exist in the world.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/introduction-to-systems-thinking-in-practice</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4fec833362686b5d57e1a</guid><category><![CDATA[alex updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[cool stuff]]></category><category><![CDATA[systems]]></category><category><![CDATA[systems thinking]]></category><category><![CDATA[learning]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 07 Oct 2024 14:50:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_687991ac20ae4e4eba102ad70422592f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_500,h_500,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Future Plans and a Christmas Clearout ❄ Why this sustainable stationery shop is closing down]]></title><description><![CDATA[Find out why Novel Notes is planning to close down the website and how you can continue to follow and shop with Novel.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/future-plans-christmas-clearout-sustainable-stationery-shop-closing-down</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6571c9a772117f3f5334b2bc</guid><category><![CDATA[website]]></category><category><![CDATA[shop]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 07 Dec 2023 14:18:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_b26bdc733dac4d218821f8095b5050c5~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kingswood Arts Signage Design]]></title><description><![CDATA[Navigational and informational signage design project by Alex Makes for Kingswood Arts CIC, showcasing the non-profit’s brand and offerings whilst clearly directing visitors to the historical Kingswood House where the organisation is based.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/kingswood-arts-signage-design</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4ff9b10427b2b31493027</guid><category><![CDATA[graphic design]]></category><category><![CDATA[project updates]]></category><category><![CDATA[print design]]></category><category><![CDATA[brand]]></category><category><![CDATA[community]]></category><category><![CDATA[creative]]></category><category><![CDATA[branding]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 23 Oct 2023 12:53:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_04a670e14bd74e2fbe344417c7d4926d~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_863,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Your Search For Fountain Pen Friendly 100% Recycled Paper Is Over! ]]></title><description><![CDATA[See how Novel Notes 100% recycled paper refills fared in tests with a selection of fountain pens (spoiler: it's amazing!)]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/fountain-pen-friendly-recycled-paper</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6357c6ffd0783ef000108f6a</guid><category><![CDATA[refills]]></category><category><![CDATA[stationery]]></category><category><![CDATA[sustainability]]></category><category><![CDATA[community]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 25 Oct 2022 17:47:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_70b3eb6a48fa46629861a2a5a55a5718~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_756,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Is a Brand Package best for your business?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Are you a business owner just starting up and needing to make a big impact with your product or service? Or perhaps you're a marketing manager looking to refresh your organisation's image? Even if you're a self-employed service provider, influencer or creative professionals, you can benefit greatly from branding yourself and your business. A well-strategised, attractive, and engaging brand will help you to reach your desired audience, potentially help...]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/is-a-brand-package-best-for-your-business</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4ff44f2ad0bf9f6fe8b04</guid><category><![CDATA[graphic design]]></category><category><![CDATA[branding]]></category><category><![CDATA[products]]></category><category><![CDATA[brand]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 02 Aug 2022 13:54:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_27f5d0f7453a4c8c9872d97f2fccfc70~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Design Process]]></title><description><![CDATA[As a designer who loves to help people achieve their goals, it is important to me to learn about the businesses and individuals that come to me for my creative services. Usually, there is a problem that needs to be solved creatively, perhaps a business goal that isn't being met at the moment or a target audience that they are struggling to reach effectively. The start of the design process is about getting to the root of the problem, before figuring o...]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/the-design-process</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d4ff9b10427b2b3149302b</guid><category><![CDATA[graphic design]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:12:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_c77aaab19117481c8dd12306b4d65d95~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Environmental Activism You Can Do Today]]></title><description><![CDATA[Get tips on activist action you can take today to protect the environment, and how to participate in World Environment Day.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/environmental-activism-you-can-do-today</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6295fd82c8e725618704e366</guid><category><![CDATA[inspiration]]></category><category><![CDATA[community]]></category><category><![CDATA[sustainability]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jun 2022 07:04:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_305f51a0ae8b4c888d04ffad8d59e900~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_675,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[10 Ways to Celebrate Stationery Week]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you're a #stationeryaddict stuck for ideas of how to celebrate National Stationery Week, here are ten ways you can participate.]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/10-ways-to-celebrate-stationery-week</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6273b84cea3e174029bf81e2</guid><category><![CDATA[inspiration]]></category><category><![CDATA[community]]></category><category><![CDATA[stationery]]></category><category><![CDATA[creative]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 13 May 2022 08:00:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_ff0eb62c2d9b4a13b27fa3be1d8ac448~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Novel Take on Sustainable Stationery]]></title><description><![CDATA[Let’s delve into the current Novel Notes product range, how the items are made and what they are made of. ]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/the-novel-take-on-sustainable-stationery</link><guid isPermaLink="false">623726542aa409590a99abbe</guid><category><![CDATA[notebooks]]></category><category><![CDATA[planners]]></category><category><![CDATA[shop]]></category><category><![CDATA[discs]]></category><category><![CDATA[refills]]></category><category><![CDATA[stationery]]></category><category><![CDATA[covers]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 20 Mar 2022 14:00:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_77db18215d194dadbd39307854cbbd6a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Looking Forward: The Novel Vision]]></title><description><![CDATA[What is the purpose of Novel Notes? Why does it exist? What is the goal?
Novel Notes is a small business with big ambitions! ]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/looking-forward-the-novel-vision</link><guid isPermaLink="false">622ca3f665ea3a54960214d6</guid><category><![CDATA[brand]]></category><category><![CDATA[community]]></category><category><![CDATA[veganism]]></category><category><![CDATA[sustainability]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 12 Mar 2022 14:04:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_e6f8b697b3844d70af7a468ebb5631c7~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Make Your Own Discbound Notebook]]></title><description><![CDATA[Looking for tips on how to bind board notebook covers with aluminium binding discs? Keep reading!]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/how-to-make-your-own-discbound-notebook</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6220ca44cb2c044c53ddc2a6</guid><category><![CDATA[notebooks]]></category><category><![CDATA[planners]]></category><category><![CDATA[discs]]></category><category><![CDATA[refills]]></category><category><![CDATA[covers]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2022 14:10:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_5e45e6450b1b429db601a7b46419a609~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Alex Makes / Novel Notes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Countless events have led me to where I am today – to believe the things I do, to have the motivations and desires that I do at this moment. The over-riding theme in my life has been the search for freedom – to be able to be myself, whatever that may be, but also to be free of whatever I consider to be my ‘self’… It’s an ongoing project! I believe in the fundamental rights of everyone to freely exist, explore and identify what it means to them to be human. We should all have an opportunity to...]]></description><link>https://www.alexmakes.co/post/alex-makes-novel-notes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">621a158e0d6f128be7a064cd</guid><category><![CDATA[brand]]></category><category><![CDATA[community]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 01 Mar 2022 05:10:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7f87a7_a9e593167eab4de4b7851cf77681d76a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Alex</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>