Meeting people along the way

Design is a business of relationships. Not big business, but not super small. The projects are big enough to really get to know a person you’re collaborating with, but not so small where you barely get a sense of what makes him or her tick. In design, the people across from me, I feel like I get to know them, on a fundamental level. And I really like that.

Hustle, Scratch That

Rather, be thoughtful. Be open-minded. Be intentional. Hustle obscures the question of quality and overall effectiveness. It can answer questions like Is this any good? with Does it matter? Because I’m too busy hustlin’! 

Which is very unfortunate.

Design for the craft. For the problem/solution. For the opportunity. Not for the hustle. Not for the piling on of more and more design that’s rushed and hurried along. Not for the sheer movement of it all. Instead, design to be firmly planted in the process of making, which is where the beauty happens.

Why on Earth, in this short time that we have here, would you want to rush that?

I’ve just discovered Podcasts

In a regular listener type of way. I have my group of Podcasts I’ve now come to rely on for news, thinking, and joy. Late to the game, but whatever. Here’s my current list of favorites:

Haven’t got into Lovett or Leave It yet. Maybe sometime soon. And full disclosure. I did listen to and was way into Serial Series 1. 

What were you wrong about?

I didn’t think Barack Obama would be elected president because I thought America, at that time, was too racist. I didn’t think Donald Trump would be elected president because I thought America, at that time, wasn’t down with a bigot, misogynist, and liar for the highest office in the land. I also didn’t think I’d ever stop buying Compact Discs. 

I’m getting way into Chuck Klosterman. Currently reading But What If We’re Wrong? And subsequently thinking about all the stuff I’ve been wrong about in my life. From political predictions to musical delivery mechanisms. Maybe I’ll post more about such things. Or not. Hard to say, as I’m not really into make predictions at this time.

Potential Topics

  1. Oversell, Undersell (Trying to find a balance.)
  2. On the News (If I didn’t design, I’d study media.)
  3. Hustle, Scratch That (I’m so tired of hearing about “the hustle.” It’s total crap.)
  4. The First Black Bachelorette (Yeah, I watch The Bachelorette with my wife, what of it?)
  5. This too shall pass. But will it? (On our current state of affairs.)
  6. The First Dotty Old Racist President (I mean, he’s the fucking worst.)
  7. On Preferences (We think we know best, but do we?)
  8. On Criticism (If you think you can get anywhere without it, you’re sorely mistaken.)
  9. I Miss You, Barack (America sucks right now. I know, I know, didn’t it always?)
  10. What do you want to spend most of your time thinking about?
  11. On Bullshit (I think we all need to turn up our self-assessing bullshit meters. I mean, have you listened to us lately?)
  12. The 12 Apostles (Kidding!)
  13. Superstitions (Why are these still things?)
  14. Optimal Length Podcast (Why go longer than 45 minutes? Why?)
  15. DAMN. (Album of the decade.)
  16. Where’s the strangest place you’ve ever slept?
  17. Trying to have it all gets in the way (Definitely.)

These and other topics are things I’m thinking I should write about. But I’m just not very much in a writing mood. So instead, they exist as pithy little 1-liners. At least for now.

Look Away

We are living fully immersed in “Look Away” politics. Outrageous lies, deception, and alternative false views of reality. All done to distract us. To keep us confused. To make sure we do not see what is really happening. Power to the People? Na, to them it’s power for the wealthy only. We the people must fight back, must not be distracted, must not look away.

On Scarcity

Fear of sharing power leads to a halting of progress. If I allow someone else to gain, then I don’t lose. Not at all. There is enough to go around, trust me. Working to improve your community comes with sharing your power where it can actually be utilized. It starts with you, and then it connects with others. Systemic problems have all been designed, and they can be redesigned to be more equitable. And we can design what the redesign is, together.