Two years ago, while at Nokia, I worked on a project called Vision 2010. Although we were looking into a not-too-distant future, it was still the future. And yet today, 2010 is a thing of the past. It’s time to reflect and also look ahead to what this new year may bring.

Last year I left Nokia to join Adaptive Path, where I continued to envision the future through work on two design and strategy projects. I started SF service design drinks, and continued to contribute to the Service Design Network through the planning of the Cambridge conference. I contributed a case study to This Is Service Design Thinking. And I also had a chance share my thoughts and experience at the IxDA Interaction 10 conference, UX Week, SIGUX Seoul, and SDN Berlin. My work took me from LA to Savannah to Dallas to Seoul to New York to Columbus to Amsterdam to Berlin, and finally to Detroit. Overall, it was a very busy and rewarding work year.

Outside of work, I started to drawing regularly. I bought a bunch of drawing books, mostly focused on comics, and plowed through them.

I also invested a lot of time (and money) into aquascaping, which is the design of planted aquariums. Unfortunately, my learning experience comes at a price to my fish (RIP Kujo, Kimchi, Noname, Pepper, Shark, Red Chili #1, and Cory #4).

So what’s in store for 2011? More interesting projects at Adaptive Path, I am sure. I’m helping organize the SDN conference in Savannah. I have a couple speaking engagements planned. And I’ve made a resolution to write poetry more regularly and start sharing work from the past and present.

I’m always amazed at how much my life and the world can change in a year. Despite what we imagine or desire, there are always events and experiences that we have no control over that surprise us and shape our lives. That’s what makes this ride exciting, and what I look forward to in each new year.