Now, more than ever, it matters tremendously what we designers choose to do with:
We have the ability to do a lot of good in this world. To move the needle, to keep progress going, to make sure we don’t go backwards. But ultimately, what we do with our time, talent, resources, and ideas are choices that are up to us.
To design now is to design to make people care. We’ve had plenty of design to make people buy. If we’re always selling, we can’t be surprised when we get sold. Our design problem is apathy, cynicism, and division. We do have fewer resources, and the deadline has been moved up, but our course of action is clear.
Once a year Nebraska’s chapter of AIGA puts on an exhibition and celebration of the most outstanding design work in the state. The event is called SHOW. It’s always a good time. In the wonderful new space at KANEKO with mighty fine burritos from Maria Bonita and beer from Brickway. Running into fellow designers doing great stuff out here on the Great Plains is always a highlight of the evening. And this year, ole JKDC won big:
These are all projects I’m really proud of. They were done for some wonderful clients and I’m glad to see the work recognized in front of our design community.
In a year with much learning, adjusting, and charging full speed ahead, at some point it will be good to look at what worked this year and what didn’t. And what to do differently in 2017. Before getting too deep, because at the moment, there are just too many deadlines to hit, here’s a running tally of things I’ve been thinking about lately as it relates to work:
These items, I think, as of now, are good things to set in motion or give a lot more thought to. All in the name of making the work better without having to feel pushed to the edges.
And in light of recent election events, only taking on projects that are change making or community building. Now, more than ever, we can’t afford to waste any time. We have to make sure we protect the progress we’ve made for so many people in the last 8 years and we can’t allow America to fall backwards toward division, racism, hate, and closed-mindedness. The environment will also be in dire need of extra attention. We’re all Pipeline Fighters now.
Elections are wonderful things. Bringing the people together to make decisions on how we all move forward together? What’s not to love. In America though, we do find ways to shit all over our democratic spirit. The chorus around Election 2016 being so terrible because of bad candidates and campaign fear mongering is constant. I suppose I could be okay with all the complaining if, after November 8th, I had confidence the people would get back to work participating in the day-to-day governance of our cities, states, and nation. But I’m not, and that’s the problem.
American democracy is divided into 2 big buckets — campaigning and governing. Both buckets require different skills and types of commitment. Generally hate the campaigning part? Don’t want to deal with it at all aside from voting? Fine. Then we better be involved on the governing side. Contacting members of Congress, writing letters to the editor, going to rallies and marches, donating to causes, signing petitions, and so on. We can’t not do both.
To be a citizen means we need to participate in something. To do our job as Americans, we need to know what’s happening at the local and national levels. We have to possess at least as much knowledge as we have of sports or the golden age of television. If not, well, then we don’t get to complain about either the campaigning or the governing. Period.
Obamacare premiums are on the rise. But I don’t think HSAs and buying across state lines will address the fact that everyone has to be involved in Health Care otherwise it’s more expensive than it needs to be. The Senate refuses to hold hearings on the President’s nomination to the Supreme Court. And they say they will block all of Hillary’s which I think is horribly wrong. Donald Trump is quite possibly the worst candidate to run for President ever. He’s a bigot, racist, misogynist, hateful, whiny cry baby. And a liar.
None of these things — health care, the Supreme Court, or Election 2016 — are easy. They are big challenges that require work. Blood, sweat, and tears. But if we want to claim to be a great democracy, we have to participate. If not in the election, then in the governing.
It’s 2016. With all our smarts, our talents, our passion, and our resolve, we need to act like we care about this country we all claim to love. We need to get out there and vote. And then we need to work like hell to make sure Hillary* makes good on her promises and our government generally does its job of working for the American people.
*Updated 11/9/16: Donald. Fuck.
Speaking to a group of students, I was recently asked about the need to have a physical portfolio. A book, case, box, etc. I stressed the importance of a portfolio website and said I couldn’t remember the last time I used a physical portfolio. Thinking about it more, the last time was probably 2008. There I was, suburbs of Chicago, for a late lunch, interviewing for a design job with Bruce Mau.
I walked him through my work. Most notably the Power to the Poster project. It was certainly a lively interview. I’ve met Bruce a few times over the years. Always illuminating, always thought-provoking. In the end, there wasn’t a job open in their Chicago or Toronto office. It had been a long, drawn-out process getting to the interview, so I ultimately accepted defeat and moved on.
What came next was me getting my shit together for my “what next.” A job at a design firm doing world-changing work wasn’t happening, so how about I just go make my own world-changing work? The crash of the economy was happening at the time, so things were tense and a little uncertain. I decided to stay at my current agency job longer than I probably should have and ride out the turbulence.
Then, in 2010, after a brief detour into grad school for an unsuccessful go at a master’s degree (more schooling was just not for me), I was on my own. Independent, cause-focused, ready to make it happen. In the first year I was working with Participant Media in LA, making digital graphics for MoveOn.org and 350.org, designing Eli Pariser’s TED slides, and just beginning what would be a 6-year design project against the Keystone XL Pipeline led by Bold Nebraska. My kind of work, for my kind of causes.
Whether right or wrong, I usually decide to err on the side of “well, I’ll just do it myself then.” It’s up to me to figure it out, to chart the path, to change course, and to take it head-on. With successes and failures from a 6+ year independent design practice, I’ll keep taking that approach for now. Not getting the job, the project, or the opportunity never means it’s over. It simply means your “what next” is still out there. It will just take more time to find.
We went. We talked. We goofed. We pondered. We opined. We drank LaCroix. We paused. We joked. We discussed. We shook hands. We left. A journey w/ Jake Welchert, Adam Casey, and Donovan Beery.
