In the creative moment, the groove. When you are trying like hell to make it happen. Bombardment, debris flying everywhere. Trying to get it all done... Rhythm, rhythm, move, shake. Nuthin’ but a G thang. Random cultural sounds, visuals, twists get thrown in and spun about. Pick it up, throw it down. How do you see it? How does it make you feel? How can it be new again? Where is the why? Why, always why? And then, when does it come together?
Friendships
Lost in the turbulent sea that is this crazy life, I'm counting myself insanely lucky to be surrounded by the bonds of such strong friendships. Cosmic level friendships. Some decades old, others just beginning. From just down the street to the edges of beautiful America. Bonds formed by the roots of place and the desire to make something new and exciting. By comedy, tragedy, and a forever swirling contemplation to try to make sense of all of this everything. How do we live, who do we love, what do we make, and why do we do any of it. Whatever it is, I think we've settled into a rhythm of quiet little voices followed by loud thunderous shouts from rooftops. Trial and error, trial and create. Then we get together for the raising of a glass. To our lives, to our hopes, to the what next, to who we live for. Cheers!
How I spent my summer vacation
Wearing flip-flops on a regular basis. Getting way into tri-blend T-shirts. Being so bummed on True Detective but pretty stoked on Ballers. Listening to a lot of Modest Mouse, Atmosphere, and Purity Ring. Loving a wide selection of IPAs and sipping on some fine Tequila. Biking in most days to do some awesome coworking. Following Presidential ambitions from a safe distance. Prepping for a social justice poster exhibition. Prepping for an unconference presentation. Organizing a social justice poster show. Saying goodbye to Jon Stewart. Celebrating all sorts of stuff with my wife. Working on lots of brands. Lots of websites. Lots of campaigns. Kicking it with lots of fine folks over drinks. A little bit of swimming in a lake in Minnesota. Quite a few dog walks around the neighborhood. And just enjoying these long, humid days of summa-summa-summa- time.
From the Gut Matters
It drives me nuts when I do things against my better judgement. When I follow a direction I’m not really feeling down the rabbit hole. It can be a tough call on when to push back and when to roll with an unsure direction. I’ll be the first to say I do NOT have all the answers, can be wrong on the best way to something unexpected, and love when something I wasn’t sure of becomes magical. Love that. But the fine line between following the unsure path and just nipping it in the bud, well it’s very fine. And when it comes back to bite me, I give a friendly slap in my own face because I know I should’ve known better. When in doubt, trust yourself. Now on to the next.
Who gets in our way the most?
A simple question. One that when properly answered opens up the flood gates of possibility. I’ve noticed with myself and other folks who work in creative fields, there’s a barrier that can exist when it comes to executing ideas. This barrier has been defined, in my experience, as the budget, the client, the timeline, or the brand standards. Even the general feeling of drabness that may come with a particular project. It may just not be all that fun, and therefore the resulting work created is, for lack of a better phrase, not all that fun.
This thinking, that some outside person, or some outside force, is getting in the way at some level is complete and utter bullshit. What’s really getting in the way is us. We get in our way the most. We make the excuses, we drop the ball, we determine the resulting lack of creativity in a project. Every single thing that is approached with an open mind, a stubborn attitude to not let something be inadequate, and a fierce understanding that whatever we are working on can be really, really great can indeed be really, really great.
Remember to get out of our own way and let’s make something beautiful together, always.
What sort of designer do you want to be?
A question I ponder from time to time. I was a graphic designer initially, hired to do print and branding at an agency. Then I expanded my skill set to include web design. Outside of my day job, I saw myself as an artistic or collaborative designer and eventually a community activist designer. I wanted to take those professional skills and use them to move people to action to make the world better. Now an independent designer still using all that expertise but perhaps more concerned with tone. Lately my goal is this: I want to design like Tom Waits sings wild. Or like The Clash plays rebellious. Public service announcements. With guitar. A lifelong goal to be sure, but one that feels worthy of striving for.
I’m going to write my bio in the third person now
Everyone should probably have one. A third-person bio that’s comprehensive, concise, and up-to-date. And because it’s in the third person you can really lay it on thick. You are this, you have done this, you are doing this, boom badda bing, yadda yadda zing. It really sings praises. Nothing too short, nothing that doesn’t lay it on thick, and nothing that doesn’t wow some folks. I’m pleased to report that I do, in fact, have a third-person bio now. It’s pretty great. But I’m curious how it stacks up. Let’s compare. Send me yours, I’ll send you mine, and we’ll go from there. It’ll be good times, all around.
