On Facebook

I’m on Facebook currently because it’s brought me a lot of joy over the years. As a way to keep up with friends and as a resource for sharing the important things going on in my life. But recently, I’ve been trying to cut back. I think it’s clear there are serious mental health issues that come with all social media and in light of concerns over privacy and fake news, not being on Facebook as much is a good decision on my part. Still, I feel I can’t delete my account. Why?

My connections made on Facebook are valuable. I wish I could take them with me and go somewhere else, but I can’t. Hence, I’m still there. Not like I used to be mind you. Instead I use it to talk shit and get my political thinking out there. And I share some work stuff. As an independent designer, if you aren’t sharing the work you’re doing then most likely nobody else is. 

So my focus is narrow. It’s not a place for a detailed timeline of my life. I use it to organize my events. I won’t use it for dating. True, I’m married but Mark Zuckerberg talking about their new “Tinderesque” dating feature is infuriating. When I heard that I thought to myself, “man, fuck that guy, who does he think he is?” It might be the thing that ultimately pushes me off Facebook is instead a person and his name is Mark Zuckerberg. Given his Congressional testimony, I certainly don’t have much confidence in him or the future of Facebook.

Their latest ad about getting back to the good old days of Facebook is stupid, too. Any forward-looking tech company should know that. They fucked up, they know it, and we’re not going to forget it.

It’s easy these days to hate Facebook. And that’s totally acceptable in this present moment. I guess we’ll have to wait for the future of the platform to shake out to see if I’m still on it in a year or two. Only timelines will tell.

On Weirdos

– My latest on Medium –

Working with kindred spirits and other creative folks who are a little weird has been great practice for dealing with client relationships, especially ones that can be more challenging. You get comfortable with communicating ideas, fusing different perspectives, and seeking out honest feedback to make the final, realized idea the best it can be.

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Ripe for the Try-Works

We all have those teachers who, when we look back on our schooling, we can say helped us find ourselves along the way to becoming an adult. Hopefully. I’ve had a few in those crucial years in high school and at university. And we all have those books we can look back to as formative. Hopefully. Watership Down, Lord of the Flies, Crime and Punishment, Slaughterhouse Five. You know, the hits.

In an English Lit class in college, professor George Wolf had my number during our reading of Moby Dick. We kept a journal why we were reading that massive piece of literary greatness. In one of my journal entries, midway through the book, Professor Wolf scribbled in the margins, “you’re a ripe one for the try-works.” It was a response to some sort of emotional reaction I was having to the text. And I had no idea what he was talking about.

Then, one afternoon while I was plowing through a reading assignment on the front porch, just trying to get this beast of a book done. Because let’s be honest, Moby Dick can be a bit much at times. Anyway, I’m reading at a good pace and finish this chapter that really resonates with me. Speaks to my soul. I look back at the chapter title: “The Try-Works.”

The artificial fire versus the burning of the natural sun. Catching a glimpse into the madness and ghastliness of others. Consumed in smoke... Look not too long in the face of the fire, O man! The sun hides not the ocean, all is indeed vanity. “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain” (i.e. even while living) “in the congregation of the dead.” Don’t give up to the fire, or it will deaden thee. 

Take that for what it’s worth. I mean, it’s Melville, after all. I was into it, especially since a good chunk of that book is pretty dry. I heard he got paid by the word. Which makes sense to me.

On Communication

I heard this last week. During a presentation by Martinrex Kedziora, superintendent of Moreno Valley Unified School District, at the BARR Center annual conference. I can’t stop thinking about it:

The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.

I mean, I went through a journalism college. At a university. I took advertising classes about frequency and all that. But still. It really shook me. I can see it changing how I go through my day-to-day. Better lose my illusion. For real.

Moxie Poster #1

Centrally focused and explosive (literally). Feels urgent. It’s gritty and textured and very direct. I like the emphasis on a single act that can change so much. It asks us all to Hear, Share, Listen, Believe. WE ARE VOLCANOES! Designed pro bono for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland.

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View all Posters for a Cause

A conference full of educators

I’ve been to my fair share of conferences. Design, tech, sustainability, activism. Last week I made it to my first conference focused on education. Hosted by the BARR Center, over 300 teachers, administrators, and advocates came together in Moreno Valley, California to learn from each other and immerse themselves in the challenges facing public education in America.

When it comes to the education of our kids, I feel that nothing should stand in the way. But as we all know, so much stands in the way. Funding, resources, bureaucracy, poverty, racism, apathy, and on and on. The question of how can we provide high-quality education for all is often replaced with how can we just get through the day. Which is absolutely heartbreaking. 

However, at this conference, the educators in attendance brought their passion for teaching and optimism for change in education that is very much possible.

The story of BARR is one of success, from 1998 to now. Started by Angela Jerabek in one school just outside of Minneapolis, the program is currently in 88 schools in 13 states. In all cases, no matter the school size or makeup, there are proven results. Better attendance rates, decreases in suspension days, and higher GPAs.Whatever metric is looked at, the results are there. 

How is this possible? I think it’s because it’s a program by teachers, for teachers, with the goal of doing their very best by every single one of their students. The other thing I kept hearing at the conference from everyone who was using the program is that it’s both firm and flexible, which means it can be applied anywhere.

I also heard plenty of success stories. From principal Karen Johnson at Valley View High and from the superintendent of Moreno Valley Unified School District Martinrex Kedziora. From veteran teachers 20+ years in the profession to those just starting out.

Speakers who are leaders in the movement for education reform included Dr. Pedro Noguera who spoke about leading with equity, Nadya Chinoy Dabby who spoke about how we can model the best of our cultural values through education, and LaShawn Routé Chatmon spoke about turning toward one another with constructivist listening.

All in all, I left feeling inspired and energized. With the division the country is dealing with currently, working to make education available for all our kids no matter what is the type of work where we can all come together to make lasting change happen. And if we do that, we’ll all be better off for it.

On Criticism

Few things that matter in this world move forward without criticism and feedback. Especially when it comes to making an idea happen that’s seen as being somewhat new/original.