Can you really seek answers from the crowd when you’re looking for expertise? When you’re looking for beauty, do crowds ever do the job? I’m sure they can get lucky from time to time, but is it something to be counted on? Different than crowdfunding or crowdsourcing straightforward tasks, can you crowdsource design? I know you can’t “design by committee” almost so much as to consider it a fact. I have a natural tendency to avoid crowds in general life situations because they drown out the good stuff with unnecessary movement and noise. I have limited interaction with crowds in my professional work, but the times I have experienced crowdsourced design I have always been disappointed. Both because the work produced isn’t very good and I’m left feeling icky. As if the process itself is naturally incapable of ever being something that can firmly be endorsed in any professional capacity.
The Bump In
This is the fifth official week in the new coworking space. From a work standpoint, the transition from working at home has been marked by the inspiration of the physical space, a clearer line of separation between home life and work life, and making projects better by simply talking through things with another designer. There are also the extra benefits of the bump in. Our space is in a neighborhood. It’s part of a vibrant, historic community where running into people out and about is common. I’ve missed that since I left my old agency job in downtown Lincoln. A previous space I worked at a couple years ago on the edge of downtown Omaha felt a little too isolated. But now, the bump in is back. At any of the local lunch spots or people swinging by to see the space, long live the bump in.
Duality
At the end of last year I was talking with a good friend about the intention of this blog and my year of words. The core idea I landed on was that I wanted to paint an honest picture of my experiences with independent design. Both the great and the not-so-great, the really exhilarating and the pains in the asses. All about the duality of this creative thing people get paid to do for a living. Amidst the failed ideas, budget battles, incoming 1099s, and workflow frustrations are the unexpected solutions, clients who brighten your day, apps that make life easier, and the rush of sitting down to make something beautiful. Not too rosy, not too bleak, right in the middle. In no way do I want people to think all is gold and in no way do I want to come off as complaining about stuff. I just want to tell you what I know from first hand experience. Straight up. All in the hopes of learning from successes and failures.
Fins Up
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.
