I have a new condo and can’t stop looking at furniture online. I am torn between my love for ornate, traditional details (like moldings on bookcases) and retro modern stuff from the mid 50s. I seem to want a formica kitchen set! I already have (lets say) eclectic taste. So I look through great sites but cant make any decisions.
June 14, 2009
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
September 14, 2008
I just don’t know what to do with myself
I’ve been watching a new series on AMC called Mad Men, about advertising folks in 1960, and I’m really struck by the titles. I think they are definitely an homage to Saul Bass, who created some of the most memorable work ever. See a gallery of examples, particularly “the Man with the Golden Arm”, “North by Northwest” and “The Seven Year Itch.”
I am actually a little bit obsessed with film titles. Some of my favorites:
June 14, 2008
They don’t know where they want to go
It wasn’t all work work work last week in NY; I also had a chance to get inspired by art.
I went to an amazing exhibit at the Whitney called “Picasso and American Art” that shows how Picasso influenced many American artists — sometimes using a side-by-side view of the original piece and the pieces that were done in response. I am blown away. Some of the work was done almost a hundred years ago and yet it looks fresh and new.
I also have a new respect for Jackson Pollock. Truely. The layers of meaning and texture certainly spoke to me.
June 20, 2007
RANT: I am so old
In NY I stayed at the Paramount Hotel. The website talks about “lobby socializing,” and I say, yeah — you have to socialize in the lobby because your room is so small you can’t actually fit another person in it.
My room was just barely bigger than the queen-size bed.
There were no extra outlets, except in the bathroom, so if I had had a place to put my laptop (there was a small cafe table, but the artful lamp was so low to the table that I couldn’t open the screen) there was no place to plug it in. I ended up unplugging the clock.
The bed was on the floor. This is NY guys! I’m not sleeping on the floor – who knows whats down there?
There was a small closet with 6 hangers. Inside the closet was a small “dresser.” In quotes because it wasn’t as nice as something you might buy at IKEA. Three drawers — about 10 in x 6 in with a 3 in depth. So I could almost fit my underwear and socks in it — but no place for my actual clothes.
There was a full-length mirror on the bathroom door — but to actually stand in front of it meant I’d be standing on the bed.
The space for the toilet was maybe 24 inches. not very much room to manuver if you get my drift.
The elevators were each lighted with colored lamps — but they weren’t very bright. I’m not getting into a blue elevator with some stranger I can barely see in NYC at 3 am. Just not gonna.
And can we discuss the hallway lighting? Pretty. Dim. Not good for NYC at 3 am. Not very conforting.
I was fracking longing for a holiday inn! I’d trade trendy for functional any day. Substance over style.
March 5, 2007
There’s a whole generation with a new explanation
Just spent a few glorious days in NYC at the AIGA Gain conference.
A few takeaways:
- Why do designers wear uniforms? (I know we really don’t officially, but how many of us wore rectangle glasses, mostly black, interesting messenger bags and artful hairstyles?)
- Tom Kelley is smart, engaging, and quite the storyteller. I admire his enthusiasm and style. I’m a Tom Kelley groupie.
- Many of the presenters spoke about their user-centered methodology, using ethnography and empathy to see the solutions that are just staring at us in the face, and my teams have been doing this stuff for longer than I can remember. Wow — I’m on the leading edge! Who’d have thunk it?
- I am re-inspired to design thoughtfully — I can use design to do good
- Everyone has trouble articulating design rationale’s to non-designers. I am not alone.
- My friends Jody, Wendy and Marcy are the best and I miss them.
February 14, 2007
I could use a little muscle to get what I need
Today I need to speak about my love for Bill Shatner.
I know, he’s old, bloated, a caricature. But damn he’s funny. Have you read his blog? And when he was James T. Kirk he was a hottie who hammed it up better than anyone else. And have any of you seen Rocketman? Its a fracking classic.
Today Fametracker also exposes their love.
January 14, 2007
Stuck inside these four walls
Over at the Washington Post there’s an article about the length of your fingers, and what they might say about you. I’m a high 2D:4D, which is seemingly a more masculine trait. Perhaps a good thing? I could stand to be a bit less sensitive…
And from the Fug archives, this photo reminds me of the outfit I wore to my 8th grade end of year dance. Exact same outfit — except mine was red.
Finally, gossip about Project Runway’s winner, Jeffrey Sebelia. I actually thought his collection was awesome, even though I liked Uli’s better. But here’s the thing. If he’d made my mother cry he wouldn’t be living now, because I would have beat the crap out of him. And I know I could take him. Those tats are all about looking mean, not being mean.
December 14, 2006
Lately things just don’t seem the same
This morning I had a phone conversation with a “design luminary,” someone who used to lead the UX dept of a former company. It was just a catch up — and we both talked about our respective teams, challenges and processes.
There was much gossip about mutual friends too.
But what got me really excited was when we talked about our design philosophies — essentially she believes that the traditional model of a creative director’s vision executed by a team of designers doesn’t make for innovative experience design, and I’m in total agreement. I’ve ranted previously about the value of design reviews — one of the most basic positives of a more natural collaborative design process is that the team dynamic can really inspire iterative ways of thinking. I strive to be the kind of leader who trusts the team to do what they do best — and when they surprise me I get inspired. Its not about me being the alpha designer — its about making the best product we can.
November 14, 2006
I think I thought I saw you try
Sometimes being a manager sucks.
<sigh>
Maybe because I come across all friendly and funny people think I won’t be a hardass. Or maybe some people are just high-maintenance — not caring how their decisions impact others. I probably erred in cutting them too much slack too early. No matter why, what sucks is when I have to actually play policeman rather than coach.
Years ago I had a manager that watched me all the time; if I took a break she’d call out asking if I had enough work to do. I couldn’t plan my life because at the last minute she’d throw me another project. I vowed not to be that manager, to remember how much I wanted to be trusted to do my job, and I think I’ve been successful. I’ve had team members follow me from project to project and from org to org. When someone is motivated and does good work I let them be, and do my best to recognize their accomplishments.
Perhaps because I can be hands-off with these superstars, other folks think they immediately can get away with “lax” behavior, not realizing that the others have earned their points already.
I guess thats the real point — you need to earn points with me before I stay out of your business.
October 15, 2006
I have to admit its getting better
I’m in the middle of writing an article about design reviews, thinking that my whole team finds them as valuable as I do, when a developer comes by my desk and gives me a whole new perspective. (She wants to know how she finds out whats going on now that we don’t have team meetings — I say we have weekly reviews — she gives me a look.)
I typically think our review sessions are great because:
- Designers know they don’t have to think of every teeny thing; at the review someone will come up with another solution
- Other designers learn about areas they might not be subject matter expects in; the team is exposed to the body of work rather than their individual silos
- Visual designers get a chance to discuss interaction design, and design researchers get to discuss visual design etc; expanding everyone’s expertise
- The product is better because of all the iterations and input
But — this developer made me think twice. She asked me if I wanted to review code with her — when I said no, she said then why would she want to discuss design. I said, perhaps its a chance to see where we intersect, if there’s something we can make work through better code. I said understanding the foundations helps all of us — but she wasn’t biting.
So this has me reevaluating. I typically have a team of interaction designers, visual designers, design researchers and web devs meet each week. Sometimes the cast expands if we have a content person, a writer etc.. joining us. Should I be inviting engineers? Am I wasting people’s time?
