Oddly enough, I watched the Super Bowl this year. And while I’m far more likely to watch Frontline’s League of Denial than a football game of any kind, I did enjoy it. Mostly for one simple reason: Twitter. Twitter makes everything a lot of people tune in to way more fun. Be it a Presidential debate, elections of any kind, or the World-Series. While watching the game, the things I was most compelled to Tweet about were those human-sized Katy Perry sharks. They were awesome and I want one. I think a lot of people do. So if you want to do something nice for someone else, I’d suggest anonymously sending them one human-sized shark suit. Just plop one in a cardboard box and ship away. Imagine the joy the person on the receiving end will have when they open up that bland box and find pure awesomeness inside waiting for them.
In Person
In the day-to-day, the foundational method of communication is email. From there, Slack for easy workflow messaging back and forth, Hangouts (or Skype) for video calls, and a host of design tools for iterating and feedback. And there’s the almighty phone to talk it all through. These are all so key. But when appropriately timed, the in-person meeting does reign supreme. (When poorly timed, the only thing being in person is good for is a high five.) Being present, in human form, free from screens, echoes, or freeze ups, is where everyone realizes we’re all just people trying to create something together. We feel the energy, understand the stakes, and can get into each other’s rhythm. When this happens, the emails, hangouts, and phone calls hum along at a steadier clip. It can be easy to keep it all digital because it seems more efficient. But we must never forget, when the need arises, when harmony is the goal, the in-person approach is the best way to go.
Working Not Working
Was recently invited to a lovely site called Working Not Working. (Thank you Chris!) An invite-only community of the best talent in the creative industry, my profile is up and ready for whatever happens next. My hope is that it becomes useful in some way and doesn’t just fade off into the ether, which has happened before with other creative communities. Time will tell I suppose. At first pass, it feels appropriate and needed, and the setup process was fairly enjoyable. Sites like this help me feel a little more connected and part of a network of other folks dealing with similar ups and downs in the workings of design independence. For that, thank you WNW.
In the Neb
The winter solstice kicked off a period of little work and lots of downtime. That downtime has been filled with reconnecting with friends in from out of town, family gatherings, and time with my wife where we could just slow down a little. Here in Nebraska, with dark nights of frigid cold, the feelings of home and belonging make for a reflective time that looks forward to a new year. The upcoming schedule for 2015 is already packed with plenty to get done—design, activism, and collaboration all made in the Neb. Nebraska, this place in the middle of everything, with all of its Midwestern qualities, where small is beautiful and roots grow deep, will ring in the new year with much fanfare and high spirits. And come January 5th, we’ll be ready to roll up our sleeves and get back to work.
Good People
In the mad dash to wrap up 2014, all the to-dos can make a fella just a little grumpy. As projects conclude and the beginning of 2015 comes more into focus, the downtime around the corner will definitely be enjoyed. Going offline for a good stretch, one thing about this year I want to emphasize is the people. Wonderful, amazing, and inspirational people. Trusted client partners and collaborators who can really bring it are the network who help make JKDC possible. I am extremely impressed by the people I get to work with every day. So creative, so smart, so thoughtful. They make me want to do my absolute best on whatever thing I happen to be working on with them. They have made this year particularly great. With that, my advice for the new year to anyone reading: surround yourself with great people and be thankful.
The Middle, Part 2
Start off with poor direction or frantically crunch a ton of work into the final stages of a crazy deadline, as long as the middle creates something magically, all is well. We know the finest, most well-intentioned talk at the beginning of a project is just that, talk. And all the polishing that happens at the end can only do so much if what you have to work with isn’t that good. If the middle gets shirked, the finished product always falls short. The middle must be the point of emphasis. Put more of the blood, sweat and tears into that stage of discomfort and heartache, and when the end is reached, you’ll be able to confidently proclaim you’ve arrived at something worth telling others about.
The Middle, Part 1
Of all the projects happening at any given time, it’s important to have some in the beginning stages, some in the end stages, and not too many in the middle. And when I say “the middle,” I mean where all the shit goes down. Where the most brainpower is needed. Where momentum meets exhaustion. Where ideas collide with blank screens and where the magic is missed, merely alluded to or firmly grabbed ahold of. It’s the zone between what is and what could be. Between simply talking about something amazing and actually delivering something amazing. If you’re going to be really good at any one of stages of a project, it’s gotta be the middle one.
