Meet in the midway, trip over the mess. When the efficiency machine in us takes over, the hum at which creation happens can be quite mechanical. Like a thresher, but made in the tech age. It processes out the nonsense, hones in on the acceptable, pushes some limits, and ultimately resolves itself into deliverables in monetary terms. When the efficiency machine takes over, what’s left can sometimes be almost zero. What happens when the efficiency machine is doused with kerosene and set on fire in the front yard? After the burn, there’d be debris. No harvest, but debris.
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.
Build a better design process
The latest article on Flywheel’s design publication The Layout on honing how what I do gets done.
Ever been in a situation where someone higher up decides that everyone is going to follow some new process because that’s what so and so is doing and it’s supposed to be awesome? No one asks what’s working in the current process or why certain parts may be underperforming. This type of change is usually followed by scrambling, confusion, and overthinking to the point of paralysis. Instead, I started asking myself as well as other designers I work with: “How do you like to work?” That’s the start to building a process that works.
The Top 10 Albums of 2014
Here they are. The most beautiful, most interesting albums that have truly touched my soul and gotten me through a year of great joy, great sadness and much learning. In no particular order:
The War on Drugs, Lost In The Dream
Future Islands, Singles
Jungle, Jungle
TV on the Radio, Seeds
The Rural Alberta Advantage, Mended with Gold
Death From Above 1979, The Physical World
Conor Oberst, Upside Down Mountain
Lykke Li, I Never Learn
Tycho, Awake
Strand of Oaks, Heal
Notable mentions for the best songs not on this list include “Kingdom” by Common, “Black Out Days” by Phantogram and “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)” by Run The Jewels.
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.
Don’t Get Fooled
The last month of Q4 is always a good time to assess the year. To take note of successes and failures. And if applicable, celebrate important milestones and reflect on formative regrets. One milestone this year would be Willie Nelson rocking Neligh, Nebraska in the T-shirt I designed. Stoked on that for sure. One regret would be the realization that I’d been had. Being fooled is no fun, but this particular time it turned out to be an incredibly motivating experience. It led to refocused energy and new priorities where, in the end, I was loads happier and way more fulfilled with the work I was doing. There’s certainly still regret looking back, as I never like wasted efforts. But now I do have more healthy skepticism when it comes to what people/things say they do. Which helps keep ideas grounded in reality and usually means more successes for everyone involved.
#GivingTuesday
On this global day dedicated to giving back, several of the wonderful organizations I work with are asking for support. The Union for Contemporary Art unites artists and the community to inspire positive social change. Bold Nebraska has a store stocked full of great stuff with all sales going to stop the Transcanada Pipeline. Nebraska Appleseed continues to advance the fight for justice and opportunity for all. And today Omaha Gives! was announced by the Omaha Community Foundation so mark your calendars for May 20th. These four groups do amazing things. If you’re celebrating generosity on this #GivingTuesday, please consider supporting them.
