We have these posable figures here in our office, and randomly, I like to reposition them in ways to confound and/or befuddle our fellow office-dwellers. It occurred to me today that our blog readers may enjoy a bit of random creation as well.
So, here you go. See what you can make of this. Project what you will, and share the story that you see here:
If failure is not an option, then neither is creativity. If failure is not an option, don’t waste time with trust. If failure is not an option, you’d better stay in beta forever. If failure is not an option, you can only keep doing what has worked in the past. If failure is not an option, you can act only on things you can measure. If failure is not an option, neither is experimentation. If failure is not an option, life lacks dimension.
If failure is not an option, success is not an option.
Craig Ferguson on how Madison Ave. ad execs destroyed our culture. Hard to argue with!
Friggin’ ad people.
Angela and I just returned from a few days spent visiting our friends at Sewanee: The University of the South. This was our second trip to Sewanee, the first being for our initial discovery sessions for a previous project for the Sewanee Environmental Institute, which is soon to launch. We’re now beginning concurrent new website projects for their University Relations and Associated Alumni departments.
The University of the South has perhaps the most beautiful campus of any U.S. university. Sitting atop and on the edge of the Cumberland Plateau, it is entirely embraced by a wooded wonderland that, along with the university’s amazing architecture, creates a stunning visual experience. We always joke that walking around campus gives you the feeling that you’re at Hogwarts. ;-)
We had a wonderful time there working with the department heads, not to mention soaking up the great hospitality the Sewanee folks extended to us. I was even invited along on an early morning bike ride down, around, and up the mountain. All in all, this was an amazing experience and we can’t wait to go back. I want to make special mention of the staff of the Office of Marketing and Communications, who went far out of their way to make ours an especially pleasant visit. Mark, John, Buck, Laurie, Susan, and Jan–you guys rock.
Cool use of postits and stop-motion. To see how it was done, watch the making-of video here.
It is an amazing time to be alive.
Do you realize that we are approaching a time in which information of every kind will be freely and instantly available to anyone who desires it? Lack of affluence will no longer be an excuse for ignorance nor will education be measured by grades or diplomas. We know too much collectively and are too busy sharing it for such outdated models to remain relevant. A person’s level of knowledge will be on equal footing with their ability to find and learn.
Do you realize that we are on the cusp of a societal revolution the likes of which the world has only seen a handful of times? There were the advents of agriculture, written language, and the printing press and then the Industrial Revolution. Next will come the Information Revolution which will irrevocably change the way humanity views itself and the way individuals view each other.
In certain communities on the web, we have established the closest organization to pure meritocracy that the world has ever seen. People are judged based on their contributions and ideas without their race, sex, nationality, creed, or in some cases even identity being questioned.
Do you realize that as a web designer or developer you’re working on a piece of history every day? We’re trying to make this massive conglomeration of hacks and workarounds we call the Internet into something more powerful, something better. We’re adding information and making it easier to find and easier to consume. We’re making it more permanent and simpler to change. In short, we are enabling the revolution to take place.
Do you realize this? If not, why are you here?
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to watch Gary Cooper in “The Fountainhead” ? (1949). This clip sums up the main protagonist’s struggle, and I think it is indicative of every designer’s effort to keep integrity in their work.
The book by Ayn Rand, adapted for film here (Ayn actually wrote the screenplay herself, so there can be no confusion as to the message of the film), is often criticized for being idealistic; creating characters and results that could not possibly exist in the “real world”. As designers, though, we have dedicated our lives to idealism. We know we can never achieve perfection, but aspire to it every day in our work, and therefore we should take the example of Mr. Roark here as inspiration for how we can hope to be, though we may not always be able to achieve his level of absolutism.
The movie (and book, for you literate types) is a thorough exploration of such absolutes, almost specifically dealing with creativity and ideas. Check it out when you get a chance.
BTW – The director, King Vidor, also gets a special nod in the “Director with the Most Intimidating Name” category.
Andy Says: I guess that, in part, I have to get all anthropological on you. Humans are meant to congregate together. People are happier, healthier, more productive, and more stable when they have a routine of being around and interacting with other people. By contrast, those who work and/or live alone for extended periods of time lose quality of life in all sorts of ways and suffer emotionally, physically (+ health-wise), and sociologically. Science aside, having an office for work provides a good way to properly compartmentalize your life, to facilitate creative and technical interaction, to give you something tangible to be responsible for, and to communicate to clients and potential clients that you’re “real.” Finally, the curmudgeon in me would caution you about technology?just because we can do all sorts of things using new technology instead of “the old way” is no reason to simply opt for tech. Let technology serve you; do not become a blind slave to technology. This is people we’re talking about, not robots with computers.
Angela Says: For me personally, being able to leave work at work and home at home is invaluable to my own quality of life. Plus, it’s a lot more practical, not to mention more fun, to have instant collaboration with other designers. Just being in an environment with other creatives is motivating and inspirational and positively affects my work. So, while I could work at home (and actually do sometimes), I think having an office to work in makes me a happier person and a better designer.
Nathan Says: Here is a likely scenario: I am trying to work from home. Batman jumps on my keyboard and tries to bite the cursor on the screen [he’s a cat]. The dog then decides the cat doesn’t deserve so much attention, and a furry melee ensues. Meanwhile, in the next room, my wife turns on what sounds to be very tasty offering from the Food Network, sending my mind in search of possible lunch items. Focusing again, I check my email two more times, and decide to check the physical mailbox as well. I get back to my desk and my computer is frozen. I think you get the idea. I can never seem to get any work done at home, and when I do, it takes great efforts and generally feels contrived. Plus, I like working around my fellow creative folk… it spawns so many interesting conversations.
