Peter is a writer, calligrapher, and retired design educator. His research spans Ancient Egyptian art, 17th Century Dutch Calligraphy, Edwardian postcards, and the history of Christmas cards.
A butterfly flaps its wings without knowing if it will spark a storm or nothing at all—its power lies in joyful persistence, embracing uncertainty, and trusting that each small act is full of life.
Is it possible that our prized tool for dissecting truth—critical thinking—might actually be sharpening divides rather than bridging them? Peter Gilderdale confronts a paradox at the heart of a cherished intellectual tradition: are we merely critiquing, or are we truly considering?
Peter Gilderdale is a freelance writer and calligrapher and recently retired lecturer in Design History at Auckland University of Technology. We talk about the difference between education that gets people creative and excited vs turning out people who just want to tick boxes.
