Alexander Westerman

Experience the powerful emotions evoked by visual design and storytelling in the works of Alex Westerman, a creative director turned author. https://alexwesterman.com

[alexwesterman]

I explore the structural engineering of Vivienne Westwood’s Super Elevated Ghillie shoes. These extreme platforms force a new center of gravity. They turn the simple act of walking into a deliberate, staged performance.

The Architecture of the Stride: Vivienne Westwood and the Super Elevated Ghillie

[alexwesterman]

I explore the stubborn world of NYC real estate holdouts. These tiny buildings defied massive developers. We examine the architecture, the money, and the colossal egos that forever scarred the Manhattan skyline.

Concrete Defiance: The Economics, Architecture, and Ego of New York City Holdouts

[alexwesterman]

I take you deep underground to explore the hidden plumbing of Central Park. We uncover the artificial nature of its streams, lakes, and waterfalls. Discover how modern engineers keep this historic oasis alive.

Central Park Dissected: The Hidden Plumbing of an Engineered Oasis

[alexwesterman]

I map the complex boundaries of the Mandelbrot set onto the unpredictable thermodynamic phase transition of baking a cookie. I explore how extreme heat, chaos theory, and escape velocity create the perfectly crispy edge.

Diptych: Thermodynamic Chaos: Escape Velocity and the Edge of the Cookie

[alexwesterman]

I created this wicked dark frozen hot chocolate to honor a classic New York City dessert. It blends rich cocoas with a spicy ancho chili kick. You will absolutely love making this refreshing treat.

Wicked Dark Frozen Hot Chocolate

[alexwesterman]

I sat in Sheep Meadow and realized a profound truth. Central Park is a manufactured artifice. The real untamed wilderness of New York City thrives within its unpredictable, chaotic, and beautiful human sprawl.

Volta: The Central Park Paradox: Un-learning the City's Lungs

[alexwesterman]

My twenty-year marriage to David ended in utter silence. Without children to anchor us, our mutual friends simply vanished. I am left grappling with profound isolation and the cruel erasure of my past.

The Silent Erasure of a Childless Queer Divorce

[alexwesterman]

I created this Bitter Orange and Cardamom Tart to bring unexpected sophistication to my dinner parties. The rich, velvet-smooth curd perfectly balances the aromatic, crisp shell. It is a stunning, delicious masterpiece for any table.

The Bitter Orange and Cardamom Tart: A Dinner Party Masterpiece

[alexwesterman]

I tried canceling a gym membership and stumbled into a maze of corporate traps. This essay explores how modern subscription culture uses dark patterns to steal our freedom, making walking away a profound act.

The Escalation: Canceling a Gym Membership and the Art of Walking Away

[alexwesterman]

I take you on an incredible personal journey exploring twelve iconic clocks in NYC. Discover the hidden history, architectural brilliance, and untold stories behind Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn's most famous public timepieces.

Exploring NYC’s Most Iconic Clocks: A Personal Journey

[alexwesterman]

I explore the fascinating historical chain reaction starting with the Mount Tambora eruption. We trace how global cooling killed horses, inspired the bicycle, and eventually led the Wright brothers to invent modern aviation.

[alexwesterman]

David left me suddenly after twenty years. He now demands I delete my personal articles. I refuse to let him erase our history. I will explore the profound emotional impact of gay divorce honestly.

How Divorce Erases Your Past: A Gay Man's Perspective

[alexwesterman]

I examine the visceral aftermath of a sudden divorce through the stark lens of a museum diorama. I explore how preserving domestic objects traps our identity and why stepping away offers no easy closure.

The Illusion of the Present: Curating the Artifacts of a Dead Relationship

[alexwesterman]

Theater set design creates stunning illusions, relying on lightweight materials and clever techniques to hide backstage realities. The audience's willingness to suspend disbelief is crucial for experiencing the emotional truths conveyed through these temporary, visually captivating environments.

Creating The Illusion: How Set Design Conceals Reality

[alexwesterman]

This article explores my profound emotional trauma and isolation experienced after my sudden divorce, rejecting notions of closure or recovery while emphasizing the enduring nature of my grief and the lack of empathy I felt from society.

The Architecture of Abandonment: Surviving Sudden Divorce

[alexwesterman]

I examine the concept of typographic depersonalization. Do we realize how design erases our humanity? Both Helvetica and chaotic ransom notes achieve this goal. They perfectly mask the author to guarantee complete and absolute anonymity.

The Architecture of Anonymity: Typographic Depersonalization

[alexwesterman]

My divorce as an older gay man erased my world, causing a "secondary bereavement". I lost my spouse, my chosen family, and my social identity, leaving me facing a terrifyingly silent future.

Losing Family After Divorce: The Unspoken Grief and Collateral Damage