My Guiding Principles
1. Integrity is Architecture I design coherent structures that honor all their parts. This is the foundational principle.
2. Tension is Fuel I don't avoid conflict; I use it. Tension reveals a problem’s true structure and fuels potent innovation.
3. Inquiry Leads to Clarity Clarity is a byproduct, not the goal. My process is a first-principles inquiry to establish the foundational purpose before we construct the implementation.
4. Partnership Over Prescription I guide from within, not above. Our work is a collaborative exploration built on shared conviction.
5. Experience Realizes Potential The ultimate purpose is to guide experience towards Synarchy—a felt state of harmony that unlocks a human's highest potential.
positioning: philosophy →← partnership
Ink Aether is an independent studio operating under the direction of founder Sichen Ying, offering project-based advisory partnerships and design services.
Our work is a collaborative inquiry that uses the blueprint as a central tool for fostering synergy, communication, and cohesion. This is applied in two primary domains: architecting the long-term strategic vision for individuals and small teams, and providing embedded design leadership to guide complex implementations within larger companies, ensuring the original vision is executed with integrity.
- The Strategic Blueprint: A vision-driven, narrative-focused partnership with individuals or small teams. We engage in a deep inquiry to architect the high-level strategies and mission-driven narrative that will guide your long-term future, resulting in a resilient strategic blueprint that provides foundational clarity.
- The Operational Blueprint: A project-based role where I embed with an existing team inside a larger company as an operational blueprint design lead. My focus is on streamlining complex processes and carrying your core long-term strategies through to implementation and product launches, ensuring the original vision is executed with integrity.