Squirkle.
The Shape that defies the Box.
In a world obsessed with clarity and structure, the squirkle stands out as a delightful contradiction,a shape that blurs boundaries and challenges the binary. Part square, part circle, it’s more than a geometric oddity; the squirkle is a philosophy, a metaphor for the paradoxes that make life so beautifully complex, almost like a modern-day Buddhist koan.
The Shape of Complexity
Visually, the squirkle is the lovechild of a square’s stability and a circle’s fluidity. It balances the sharp edges of logic with the soft embrace of emotion, embodying the essence of duality. It’s no wonder the squirkle has become a favourite in design and branding, where harmony between rigidity and flow appeals to the human eye. But this shape isn’t just about aesthetics—it carries a deeper message.
One Thing, Two Identities
The squirkle reminds us that one thing can embody two truths. It’s a square and a circle, simultaneously. This duality reflects life’s richness:- A single person can be both strong and vulnerable.
- A decision can be both logical and emotional.
- A moment can feel fleeting yet eternal.
It’s an invitation to move beyond rigid definitions and embrace the fullness of duality. The squirkle celebrates "and" over "or", teaching us that complexity isn’t a flaw—it’s a feature.
The Fat Pigeon and the Pigeonhole Problem
There’s a line we once toyed with at Rosie Lee: ‘a fat pigeon that doesn’t fit into a box’. It’s a funny but oddly perfect image for the squirkle.Humans love categories. We sort people into roles and personalities: logical or creative, introvert or extrovert, rebel or conformist. It’s clean. It’s tidy. But life isn’t.
The trouble with pigeonholing—boxing people in—is that it limits not just how we see others, but how we see ourselves. We become trapped in definitions, confined by what we or others decide we are. And the tragedy? We’re so much more.
Squirkle: A Shape That Won’t Be Boxed In
This is where the squirkle shines. It’s not just a shape; it’s a mindset. The squirkle refuses to be pinned down, existing in the playful middle ground between hard edges and soft curves, between structure and fluidity.To me, the squirkle feels like permission: to be logical and creative, loud and reflective, playful and serious—all at once. It’s a visual reminder to embrace complexity and reject single-dimensional definitions of ourselves.
What’s even stranger is how much we pigeonhole ourselves. We declare, “This is who I am” or “This is who I’m not”, as if these labels provide security. But in doing so, we lose the freedom to evolve, to stretch our edges, to be a squirkle.
The Power of Duality in the Digital Age
Now, with advances in AI and an array of sophisticated software systems, the squirkle isn’t just a metaphor—it’s a reality. These tools have made it easier than ever to embody dualities we once thought impossible.You can be creative and academic, a dreamer and a planner, disorganised yet structured. AI can fill in the gaps, complementing your skills and strengthening areas where you struggle. A disorganised mind can rely on structured tools, while a logical thinker can use creative systems to spark imagination. These technologies allow us to lean into complexity, proving that we don’t have to be just one thing, we can be many, all at once.
Playing with Identity
The squirkle isn’t just about design; it’s about identity. It’s the fat pigeon laughing at the box, knowing full well it couldn’t and shouldn’t fit. It’s the part of me that refuses to be defined, even by myself.Because why should I be? Why should anyone?
The squirkle invites us to embrace contradictions, to take pride in our dualities and the ever-shifting spectrum of who we are.
So here’s to the fat pigeons and the squirkles of the world.
Here’s to being unboxed, undefined, and unapologetically more than one thing at a time.