I’m a total book worm. I never played a lot of video games as a kid, so reading would transport me to other worlds. I love the feeling of turning physical pages, the smell of fresh ink, and the weight of a book in my lap. I am not a big fan of dog-earing pages, but I often taken pen and highlighter to pages, and quite a few books have sand that fall out of them when held up (reading on the beach is the best). So I’m not a neat freak when it comes to books. And I understand there’s only so much room in a suitcase when you travel, so multiple books or hefty novels get left behind (always regretfully).
But when I saw an ad for a $130 Kindle Paperwhite the other day, I almost spat out my drink. There is no way I could ever spend that much money on another device (technically it’s on sale for $99 right now). I read a statistic about a year ago that said the average American owns a minimum of 3 devices (phone, laptop, and tablet being the most typical). So why would you buy another device – when there are Kindle apps for download – just to read?
I’ll save my frustration, since most people are not purists when it comes to reading hardcopies. I’ve even gotten in the habit of specifically seeking out “coffee table books” for my apartment. Call me old-fashioned, but I refuse to become so ingrained in my technology that I completely ward off physical books for the rest of my life. To me, that would be a sad existence.
Minimalism has become a fairly popular trend that has transformed all areas of life – clothing, beauty, home style, art, and design. I find that I gravitate towards a minimal personal style. Jeans and a tshirt, white Converse; a fairly neutral color palette; simple jewelry; clean graphic design; “effortless” bed-head hairstyles. And if you were to picture me after these brief descriptions, you’d most likely think I was a boring person. I often hear this argument that minimalism = boring. That somehow, less things/content means its lacking in substance and life.
It has taken me a while to figure out the right way to describe my minimalism. Because quite honestly, it varies greatly from person to person. It has somehow become people axing all the “needless” things in their life. I watched a video about a lady who only had 2 tshirts. I’m sorry, but there’s no way that’s feasible for the average person. Minimalism doesn’t mean stripping your life of everything that’s non-essential. I’m not trying to go out and buy anything and everything that is “trendy”, but I’m not insinuating that I live with one fork and knife.
To me, minimalism means curated. I choose to have very specific things in my life. We shouldn’t be mindlessly throwing everything out, just to say we only have a few things left. It defeats the purpose of what the minimalism movement is about.
Minimalism is not subtraction for the sake of subtraction. Minimalism is subtraction for the sake of focus.
Unknown
I subtracted the things that didn’t matter to me. And now, when I get something new, I make a conscious effort to deliberate over whether a) I need that thing, b) if I will actually use that thing more than once, and c) if I will truly enjoy having that thing in my life. I would rather have a few beautiful and curated books on a shelf, than an overwhelming boat-load of novels I’ll never be interested in reading. I would rather have a few well-worn tshirts, than a closet overflowing with nothing I want to wear. I would rather have a few close, interesting, and wonderful friends, than a bunch of sub-par acquaintances that make me feel popular.
I’m not saying I’m perfect. It’s taken me a long time to go through my life. And I haven’t even made a dent in most areas. But it pains me to think people argue minimalism means boring. If done well, minimalism means sifting through the things/experiences/people/content of your life, and specifically choosing what is most important and valuable to you. Engage. Organize. Analyze. Value. Curate.
I love seeing napkin sketches. I’ve witnessed random people in public – at galleries, coffee shops, parks – sketch or doodle on scraps, and I find those to be some of the most interesting sketches I’ve come across. I have fairly decent observational skills, so I can really appreciate someone who can sit in public, watch, and then apply that to paper.
The thing I love about napkin sketches is their lack of flawlessness. I find myself to get worked up over the messiness of my own sketches. Which is why they end up being very clean. And more often than not, the clean sketches become very lack luster. I admire the people that can scribble out these chaotic, friendly, and charismatic illustrations. They are so full of life; and oftentimes, just from a few lines.
I need to learn how to not care about a sketch. To not worry about what could go wrong; an out of place line, a smudge, a corner ripped. There’s something beautiful about the whimsy of being so in-the-moment, you are happy in the imperfection.
I came upon this video earlier this week. It’s been saved in my YouTube Watch Later list because I wanted to remind myself to plug it here.
@wired
I won’t be able to eloquently describe what happens in the video, so I beg you to watch it so I don’t have to embarrass myself. I love science – physics was my most hated, but also one of my most loved classes in high school – but going to art school, I rarely get the chance to dabble in other subjects. Being a Color, Materials, and Finishes student though, I’m able to bring certain projects into the realm of science once in a while. A recent project I did revolved around military grade ballistic materials.
That doesn’t have anything to do with the video above, but delving into informative, dense material outside of art, I end up being involved in some of the most interesting projects ever. So, when I end up seeing other art based projects supported by math or science, I get a little geeked out. If you watch the video project above, you’ll understand how awesome this blending is. Art is something that is always interactive. Whether you’re immersed in a physical gallery, or merely looking at images online, it’s how you see and experience art that makes it so special. The science in this video makes the art even more intriguing and charismatic.
I’m not a great photographer, but my younger sister is studying it at college right now, and her projects are always interesting. I’ll share this with her as soon as I’m done typing. Interdisciplinary studies are often very underrated. If you have a passion outside of your work, I highly recommend you try putting them together somehow, and see what happens. Unexpected things occur, and oftentimes they are beautiful.
One of the biggest technology upgrades we’ve seen recently is 3D printing. For those of you who may (or may not) live under a rock, 3D printing has been all the rage in the world of product design and engineering especially. I highly recommend looking up a short video on processes. Click here if you want to see a quick time-lapse.
Now, since 3D printing became more accessible and somewhat affordable as of late, we’ve seen people (amateurs or companies) get a little more creative with the possibilities. One of my favorite applications is the adidas 4D shoe concept that utilizes a flexible plastic material, 3D printed with air gaps. So, instead of having a solid sole, the shoe has a membrane-like bottom. I can imagine it would be extremely comfortable, but I don’t know how practical it would be to clean.
Still, the idea is brand new and completely original. I look forward to seeing 3D printing become even more crazy. What if the shoe laces became a flexible membrane over the outside of a normal shoe frame? Would shoes ever become fully printed? Not sure how many materials are used in 3D printing right now, but I’m it’d be interesting to see a mono-material application for something that is usually broken up in its segments by different materials. In the meantime, things like this are more than just eye-candy; they push the boundaries and make more people think.
I recently took the plunge and subscribed to Spotify Premium. I would consider myself someone who really enjoys music, but I’m not a complete song junkie. Which is why I was fine with listening to an advertisement once in a while.
@klemchuk
I just opened Pandora on my phone to look up a playlist I had made on there. I started listening, and within 3 songs, I had a 30 second ad. And within 5 more songs, I had another ad. I was getting annoyed, but kept listening. A few more songs…another ad. The ads were already repeating by this point, so I shut down the app, opened Spotify, and started listening. I was about 30 minutes into a playlist before I realized I was back to no ads.
It’s a strange sensation. Going uninterrupted for a long time without ads is easily unnoticed. Until you’re watching a 2 minute Facebook video, and then 10 seconds in, you get a 30 second ad. And being me, I get frustrated and just exit the video. To me, it’s not worth waiting for the original video I intended to watch. And I think that’s sad. I can remember when Facebook didn’t have ads. Or when Snapchat was just you and your friends. Or how Instagram was just scrolling through who you followed.
Our world has become interrupted by constant persuasion, blinding color, blinking lights, flashy text, and unwarranted information. We avidly seek areas of the internet where algorithms don’t predict our next purchase. I enjoy areas of my city that aren’t full of billboards. I’m a millennial, but I feel like my old soul is being torn every which direction. Just for an ounce of my attention. It’s hard to train yourself to resist the FLASH SALE 30% OFF NOW ONLY banners that plaster the sidelines of your webpage. Especially because now Google knows you like that one store the best. It sucks you in. Inevitable.
I wish times were simpler again, and we could go back to excitedly anticipating the ads on Super Bowl Sunday, and then turn them off promptly after the game ended. We can’t turn them off anymore though. I’m pessimistic about what will happen in the future as technology continues to soar. I don’t want to be interrupted any more.
Design is something that shines its light on every corner of the world. Art has given life to millions of products, people, and places. As someone in the art field, I see redundancy more than I care to. I wouldn’t call myself a genius, a prodigy, or a gift. Beautiful art is hard to capture. And often, it is not created for everyone equally. It is easy for millionaires to buy classic paintings and timeless sculpture. But the average person finds something special in the every day. The average artist, often overlooked, creates something special out of something mundane. Take Tim Zarki’s project Hue.
The medical field rarely sees the touch of an artist. Unfortunately, we forget that products like stretchers, medical instruments, or inhalers, can receive the same undivided attention and treatment that purses, cars, or shoes get. Zarki has designed inhalers for kids that makes the every day, bright. Not only from the vibrant colors, but the material applications, to the ergonomics, and the delightful details.
I don’t want to speak for his project, but I do want to say how refreshing it is to see something like this brought to life. Kudos to you, Zarki. I hope the art and design world sees more from you in the future.
I recently read a post on LinkedIn, of all places, that interested me. I rarely tend to actually read articles, let alone personal posts, on there. I find it all to be very redundant. Unfortunately, I didn’t save the post. And quite frankly, I don’t remember who posted it. It had a couple of likes and comments, but the message was brilliant. I’m going to paraphrase the man’s words below:
More often than not, people do not post content because they are afraid it is not good enough. Content creators should create, especially online, as often as possible, if not every day. The content might not be great every day, or really any good in the beginning. But it is not always the work quality people are looking for. People who post consistently share their creativity despite the quality. They post for the fun of it, the joy it may bring someone. Do not be afraid to post something that is mediocre. Post because you want to post. Share because you want to share. Just start doing it, and eventually something good will come of your persistence.
Unknown
Now, I can tell you this hit me very personally. I tend to be a perfectionist. I want everything to be good – as perfect as possible – before I show it to someone. When I draw, I rarely draw around other people because I feel judged. I have a very dirty process, and I don’t want people to see that unless they have to. But I’ve come to find, through a lot of stress, struggle, and internal anxiety, people really do want to see the process. They are intrigued by the shitty, scribbled napkin sketch. It’s humbling for people to see your dirty elbows and sweaty brow. You want them to think you’re effortlessly talented. Like you sipped lemonade, thought up a brilliant new idea, and then just waved it into existence out of thin air.
I am doing a photography project cataloging a bunch of architecture and color studies throughout Detroit. I had looked up collage inspiration, and came across a few images with beautifully saturated windows from around the world. Deja vu hit me like a truck. I remember following this random blog years and years ago, titled Windows of New York. It was a graphic designer who would post a digital illustration of a single window they saw each day. As a follower in the early days of this website, I can tell you, he/she didn’t post every day. And the quality wasn’t always the greatest. But I absolutely adored them. It made me so happy, scrolling through these little scenes I felt transported to.
It took me a few minutes to remember the name of the site, but as soon as I found it a few minutes ago, I spent a while just scrolling. I’ve inserted a few of my favorites throughout here. I’m here to tell you, this site has over 14 million people following on various social media sites. 14 million. How incredible is that??! It goes to show you, that yes, persistence is key. People can feel this creator’s energy. They are connected somehow. It gives me hope for my projects, my posts, my shares, my views, my praises and my critiques too. Show people the process. Everyone starts somewhere.
Facebook recently unveiled a new device that takes FaceTiming to a whole new level. It’s called the Portal. And if you’ve never heard of it, the product’s premise is to have its camera follow you around as you talk on video chat. Now as an avid FaceTimer (yes I just made a verb out of that) I tend to find myself in sticky situations — sometimes literally — while on camera. I’ll be cooking, someone will ping me for a video chat, and I find myself trying not to burn my dinner on the stove and still be in the frame so I can talk properly. So I understand the need for something like this.
However, as much as it might sound great to have a hands free device while you clean, cook, exercise?, and muck about while videoing with your friends and family, I can’t help but feel totally violated by the thought of a camera following me around the room.
Yes, I understand the average person is probably recorded, spied on, or watched digitally more than we can imagine. I’m not a conspiracy lover, but when you come to terms with the amount of data (especially location services) that is on your phone — tracking your likes, dislikes, photos, and more — you can’t be naive. Think about your info; it’s not just for you anymore. But it seems as if Facebook has brought out something we see in futuristic movies that inevitably causes our downfall.
I wouldn’t mind trying out a device at least once. They run the cheapest model at $200, and the largest at $350. So I’m not running to the store as we speak. It’s an interesting, nevertheless creepy, concept that intrigues me. Maybe I’ll wait and see what private footage gets leaked on the internet in a few months before I pull out my cash.
I have witnessed a great trend in the rebirth of nostalgia. Being a person who loves cars, I often find myself in discussions about old, iconic vehicles with people who share my interest in automobiles. This nostalgia — not necessarily just a newfound emotional connection with the “old” — seems to stem from the desire for experiencing what was. It transpires all mediums, products, and events.
Being in Oregon by myself, I was forced to think of ways to occupy my time alone. Social get-togethers through work were scarce, so I brainstormed ways to do those normal “social” activities by myself. Now, as someone who enjoys being alone (especially in silence) this wasn’t very hard for me to do. I would hike, read, find new music, go to galleries, etc. and be perfectly content doing it by myself. Before Oregon however, I never imagined I would be one of *those* who loved going to the movies unaccompanied.
@4usky
Going to the movies has always seemed like a tandem date excursion, or a family affair. Quite often you would plan to go on this day, at this time. But what became very fun for me, and continues to be, is happening upon a few hours of unplanned time and thinking “let’s see what movies are playing right now!”
Why is this nostalgic? It’s not going alone, but rather the theater you choose. I’ve never been a fan of giant movie theaters where you recline in a plush couch-of-a-chair and end up falling asleep halfway through. On the west coast, there is a plethora of small, intimate, and yes, old, theaters that absolutely get my heart racing. The architecture, the slightly crooked black and white lettered signs, the non-digital cash registers, the worn-in red velvet seats, slightly crackled speakers, the colorful curtains, high painted ceilings, etc. I could go on and on.
Going to the movies has always been an experience. But now more than ever, it’s been taken over by modern appliances and expensive tickets, cheapening the whole feel of it all. I’d rather see a movie in an old-fashioned theater any day of the week; I actively seek out non MJR or AMC monopolies now. I implore you to do the same. Go alone. Look up. And revel in the experience.
observations + rambles from a design student 