It happens every-so-often, in between periods of firing on all cylinders. The times when projects move along at good clips, ideas come together with standard execution, the work is extra good, and the people are extra happy aren’t constant. They can’t be. It would be awesome if that was the case. But in a profession of the subjective, where uncertainty, change, and newness are normal, the good times are balanced by the less good times. It can be labeled as being well worn. Or maybe worn out. When ideas don’t come together and require extra elbow grease. When communication is way off. When the ideas aren’t really there and the people aren’t all that stoked. Sometimes that happens. And because we are professional makers, we keep going. We push through. We do the job and we deliver. Because that’s what people who design for a living do.
Write out your principles on paper
Before I set out on my own almost five years ago, I sat down and wrote out a list of 11 points. They framed how I was going to pursue my independent design. I shared them last week on a panel discussion. Today I’m adding another, as a shoutout to the strange folks I get to work with often in my day-to-day. They bring me much joy and make it all worth it, especially during tax time.
I want to do work that:
- is part of things,
- experiments,
- delights,
- is optimistic,
- gives a damn,
- is community-minded,
- moves people to action,
- points us in a direction,
- picks a side / annoys certain people,
- makes things better,
- has heart,
- is free to be weird,
The Simplicity Trap
I love keeping it simple. Beautiful, delightful, memorable simplicity is one of my favorite things when it comes to design. As the client list grows and project variety changes, how I talk about the design work continues to be very important. The simplicity frame is always part of the conversation but it can become a crutch. The thing easy to fall back on as to why a certain direction is the way to go. I’m increasingly placing simple lower and lower on the list of attributes for an execution. One reason is I see simplicity as often misunderstood. The essence of simplicity I do think is right on but the word itself has been significantly weakened when it comes to design and too often a justification for the boring and uninspired.
Please note: This critique is from a working designer who thinks simplicity needs to be brought back down to be an equal player with inspiring, beautiful, and unique. And in this case, no, simplicity doesn’t inherently mean inspiring, beautiful, or unique.
Subversive Minds
A rousing discussion at Indigo Bridge Books in Lincoln on Art and Social Movements. For my part, I’m presenting for 20 minutes on using design principles to foster activism and social change. We’ll look at design work for a campaign to stop a pipeline, a brand for a nonprofit arts organization, a new take on an old classic, and a host of random projects done for things I care about. Joining the discussion will be folks from The Nebraska AIDS Project and SP CE, a Lincoln-based grassroots literature and arts collective.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 7:00pm
Indigo Bridge Books in Lincoln
Problem Solution
Working independently can be isolating and repetitive, leading to stale, uninspired ideas. Working from home can come with a lack of motivation and moments of distraction. Potential projects may not happen because they are outside of the typical skill set or not enough time can be committed due to a current workload. A dedicated space where a group of committed makers can come together and work alongside each other. This comes with a mutual participation in the everyday activity of creative work. Being in an inspired space is key for creative expression. There’s the potential to share ideas, gain outside insight, and partner on projects together.
Five Year Questions
I hit up the Omaha YP Summit keynote conversation last week. First off, both Shabnam Mogharabi and Baratunde Thurston were fantastic. Hilarious, joyful, tearful, reflective, etc. All sorts of emotions bundled together for quite an inspiring morning. One thing that stood out were a set of questions asked by Baratunde about how Shabnam feels about her work now that she’s over five years into her job at Soul Pancake. What has stayed the same? What has been dropped or failed? What has surprised you most? July will be five years for me of being independent. That will be a good time to put my own answers to those. In the meantime, go here, get inspired.
One Person Stands Up For Justice
A powerful tool for advocating change, quite possibly the purest form of communication, the poster, will be up on display this April at the Bancroft building in South Omaha. Specifically, 44 posters by Nebraska designers for Nebraska Appleseed, a non-profit, nonpartisan public interest law firm that works for equal justice and full opportunity for all Nebraskans. Over the last four years at their annual community awards event called the Good Apple Awards, these prints, hand-pulled by Screen Ink in Lincoln, have been used to help tell the story of Appleseed and the people the organization helps. As well as to inspire others to stand up for justice in their own communities.
These posters, at 18x24 inches, are small when compared to the daunting challenges of reducing poverty, creating welcoming communities for everyone, or expanding access to health care. But they are a reminder that it only takes one person. One person is all that's needed to write a letter, to call a Senator, to march for opportunity, to rally for equality. One person is all that's needed to say no to discrimination, oppression, and indifference. To stand up for justice, it only takes one person.
One seemingly small act, when taken together, can lead to profound, positive change in the places we all call home. These posters as a collection are positive, uplifting and hopeful. They're an example of the roll-up-our-sleeves work ethic of the people in our state who donate time and talent to help an organization make change by doing the one thing that designers know best how to do — move people to action.
A big thank you to AIGA Nebraska for making this show possible. Entry is free with all proceeds from poster sales going directly to Nebraska Appleseed.
