Social change agency DrawHistory launches “Annotations”, a behind the scenes memoir for anyone trying to build something that matters

After a decade of building one of Australia’s early purpose-led strategy and design studios, DrawHistory’s co-founders Jeffrey Effendi and Angel Chen are releasing “Annotations”, a three-part podcast exploring the questions many founders, creators, and changemakers quietly carry: What does it take to build something with purpose — and what does it take to let it go?

Part memoir, part manual, Annotations is an honest conversation between DrawHistory’s co-founders and former Head of Community Practice, Kosta Lucas. They reflect on the ambitions, missteps, and turning points that shaped the studio’s role in building the purpose-led brand space in their region — from advocating with refugee communities to reimagining technology’s role in healthy democracy — alongside organisations like UNICEF, Change.org, and the Australian Government.

DrawHistory recently announced its integration into Today, Australia’s most awarded impact agency, where Effendi and Chen have joined as Advisors. As the studio closes its chapter as an independent agency, Annotations offers a time capsule of lessons for anyone at a crossroads, or quietly asking what’s next as they try to build something meaningful.

“We created Annotations for anyone asking what’s next — whether you’re starting something of your own or standing at a crossroads, ” says Angel Chen. “It’s the kind of series we wish we had when we were just beginning — not the highlight reel, but the behind-the-scenes doubts and decisions.”

Throughout the three episodes — titled The Leap, The Stretch, and The Reckoning — the series explores what it takes to do meaningful work over time: leading with values, navigating turbulence, and choosing evolution over stasis.

“There’s a myth that purpose-led work is always noble and clear,” adds Jeffrey Effendi. “But we’ve learned it’s often complicated and messy. This is our way of showing the working out — not because we have all the answers, but because we know others are figuring it out too.”

Annotations is produced by DrawHistory’s editorial team under the umbrella of Undesign, its social impact podcast platform.