When the deadlines are coming at what seems like lightning speed, when the back and forth has way surpassed a measurable amount, and when the end of the year brings about a certain amount of mental fatigue because you’re overworked and approaching burnout, there’s not much that can be done aside from cranking the volume to 11 and hoping your clients and collaborators will understand your current predicament. Onward into the dark night my dear friends!
Never take for granted
When you get to work with people who care deeply, are super thoughtful, bring great ideas, and are open-minded as hell. That is rare, but not as much as you might think. Just pay attention.
If you want to keep catching lightning ...
... you have to keep walking around in the rain. Yes, it happened. I finally saw Ira Glass in person. And it was everything I hoped it would be.
The voice, the delivery, the subtlety, and the humanity of it all. He shared what he’s learned. How to tell a story. How to interview kids. How musicals molded him. How to speak Spanish on a road trip. And while I absolutely appreciated his final act where he boldly defended the fact-based media and laid out the current situation where America finds itself fighting for truth against a media ecosystem out to destroy reality whenever possible, my favorite part was about creativity.
Specifically, how it’s normal to be bad before you’re good. I can relate. When I started out in design I was fucking terrible. Sure, I could draw a page layout with a pencil, pica pole, and some grid paper in about 10 seconds, but design? Creating something new that’s moving and beautiful? Nope. No idea how to do that. Drop shadows, bevel & emboss, outer glow. Just fucking terrible.
Now I’m better. I’ve done some pretty solid stuff and I would consider my design work good. But still, it’s a process. And on my journey to getting good and looking out to what’s next, I took comfort in a thing Ira said about creative work as you get older. That if you’re lucky, it stays hard. I like that a lot. If the work just gets easier and easier that means it gets less and less interesting. And boredom, well that’s killed about every single endeavor I ultimately stopped doing.
Ah Ira, you’re a gem. America is a much, much better place for your presence in it. Carry on ...
The Dundee
As of December 1st, 2017, the Dundee Theater is once again, fully operational. And then some. Right at 50th & Dodge in midtown Omaha, the beautifully restored theater is ready to show more fantastic programming from Film Streams, serve food from Kitchen Table, and anchor a neighborhood already home to some notable tenants. Cupcake anyone?
The project for me began in the summer of 2016 and it’s now coming to a close. Oh what a ride it’s been. Led by Film Streams and The Sherwood Foundation, working with Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, Project Advocates, Lund-Ross, ASI Signage, and Wags Sign Co., the graphic design work included all signage, both inside and out. From the new marquee on Dodge all the way down to the tiny labels in the bookstore. Neon sign? Yep. Magnetic letters for programming? Of course. Tenant signage for the entire site? You know it. Throw in a silhouette of a ladder and a red balloon and there you go.
All in all, I’m extremely proud of this one. The theater itself is 92 years old. This latest manifestation created by the visionary architects of Alley Poyner Macchietto sets the stage for at least another 92.
Here’s to another century of art films, independents, classics, documentaries, and definitely cartoons. Huge congrats to Rachel, Casey, Patrick, and the rest of the Film Streams staff. Because of them, the city has another gem in its cultural landscape.
Add Your Voice
Everyone has a story to tell. Every community is a place of experiences worth sharing. Part of The Landscape data + people project from the Omaha Community Foundation, the VOICES microsite is a place for people to share some of their experiences online. There are five questions from members of the community currently being asked. All you have to do is visit the site and share your story.
What Facebook Has Taught Me
Too much. Not enough. That I prefer Instagram. Anyway, I wrote a long piece over on Medium that I’ve just “published.” It’s really long but I think it offers a valuable perspective on America from flyover country. It channels my inner Klosterman and Sedaris. It’s about the Midwest, small towns, political correctness, white privilege, and the culture wars. Not about design but not everything has to be.
Starter Kit: Making This Design Thing Matter
AIGA | UNO is proud to present Starter: Kit Design Talks; a speaker series focused on helping upcoming graphic designers and students learn the processes of graphic design from professionals in our community and outside of it. Our second speaker is independent designer and cofounder of Round And Round, Justin Kemerling.
This Friday: How principles can lead to doing the work you love. A story of pursuit, independence, activism, and keeping it weird from the middle of America. I’ll be talking about design activism, politics, making your community better, self-initiated projects, and what it’s like to run your own independent practice.
