I recently bought the most beautiful magazine called Blumenhaus, an independent publication dedicated to art, flowers and the botanical world. It’s one of those magazines where every page is more beautiful than the last. The photography, the colours, the compositions. It’s an absolute feast for the eyes.

I discovered it at a very cute little pop-up shop at Else hotel in KL. Sadly, they’re no longer there, but I do hope they’ll return. They had the most incredible collection of independent magazines, and the saleswoman was probably one of the best I’ve ever met. She recognised me the moment I walked in, showed me this magazine, and naturally, I had to buy it. Now that’s what I call knowing your customer.

There’s something about holding a beautiful magazine that no screen can replace. The weight of the paper, the pleasure of turning a page, the freedom to stop at an image for as long as you like. You can put it down, pick it up three weeks later and discover something entirely different.

Personally, I save endless posts on Instagram that I never look at again. The same goes for all those inspirational quotes and ideas I copy into my phone. I have lists upon lists of things that are supposed to inspire me, but I rarely revisit any of them.

A beautiful book or magazine is different. It sits on your table, catches your eye, and somehow keeps working on your imagination even when you’re not consciously looking for inspiration. You might see a flower today, remember its colour next month, and suddenly find yourself designing something completely unrelated. That’s the wonderful thing about creativity. One image leads to another thought, which leads to another idea.

I think we underestimate the importance of surrounding ourselves with beautiful things that don’t disappear when we swipe our fingers.

After all, who wants a one-second stand when you can have something that stays with you?