If you're not already familiar with creative commons then I recommend you check them out. I first learned about them last year in a web design class when my teacher referred them as the best source for using photography in your projects without infringing on anyone's personal copyright. I use Creative Commons all the time on my flickr account. It's wonderful too because it opens the door to the whole creative community to take what another person has done, whether it be a photograph or a movie, and build upon it and transform it into something else. And it is this focus on community that really draws me in to help support them.
Communities that develop around content and the sharing enable these communities to come together.
Creative Commons is in the midst of its 2008 fundraising campaign. If you would like to find out how you can support them please visit their support site. To celebrate the campaign, Creative Commons has released “A Shared Culture,” a short video by renowned filmmaker Jesse Dylan.
Is there a certain point we reach in this technological era where we become so over-saturated with information that we become "blinded" to what's really important? And by "really important" I mean living our lives. Sure, I love coding for hours on end or posting tweets till my fingers go numb, but at the end of the day, or our lives for that matter, will we be pleased with what we've accomplished? Maybe I'm thinking too far ahead here. Maybe the work we're doing now in the age of the internet will reap great rewards in the future. I don't know. But one thing that scares me is the amount of information we're expected to keep up with. Sure things like RSS readers and Twitter are helpful. But when is it all too much? At what point do we overload? I know lately I've felt burdened by this thought. Feeling like I have to keep up with this rat race of information only makes me feel less and less apart of reality.
When I go home at night and spend time with my wife and two dogs, this is what reality looks like.
But I understand why some people build their whole lives online. Look at me for example. If it weren't for the internet I would not have met my wife. And I would not be celebrating three wonderful years of marriage this year. But I also currently socialize online at more than ten different locations and spend all day on twitter talking to friends both far and near. Not to mention the amount of time I spend working on this website. Then factor in all the incalculable hours I spend thinking about new ideas for my blog, or new designs for work. Sharing our lives online has become the new standard. If you don't have a myspace or facebook or your own blog then you're considered out of touch with reality. Am I missing something?
I saw a movie a couple of weeks ago where people all of a sudden went blind, not in the Ray Charles sort of way, but they could only see bright white (a mixture of all colors in the light spectrum). The movie is based off the novel "Ensaio Sobre a Cegueira" (literally "Essay About Blindness") by Portuguese author José Saramago. It had really beautiful cinematography, but that's not the point. Throughout the movie I asked myself, "what would I do if I suddenly went blind?" I mean with so much of my life dependent on a computer, it was semi-frightening to think about. How would I go on? (And please don't say screen readers.) But thinking like that is silly right? I mean it's pretty unrealistic to think I'll wake up one day and be blind. However, examining our lives and the value of what we do and whether or not it's relevant to reality I think IS a valid question to ask ourselves.
Please don't mistake me here though, I love what I do. Being able to create an image or a brand for someone that represents who they are in colors and shapes is what gets my heart pumping. My desire though is to see the design community, as a whole, think for themselves and not just follow "blindly" those who are already well established. We each have a voice/design of our own and that's what the world needs. Not just more cookie-cutter/assembly-line design. So how do we do this? I'm not exactly sure. But I think stepping outside our comfort zones and unplugging from the overload of information once in a while is a great place to start.
We need to be a part of reality in order to put something real back in our designs.
I'd love to hear what you think about the information overload in today's world or how you think we as designers can break away from the cookie-cutter way of life.
In light of my recent contest to win a set of FIELD NOTES notebooks, see here, I've been inspired to pick up my journal once again and keep daily notes. Everything from simple to-do lists about work that needs to get done, to doodling, all the way to my next great idea that will change the world forever. So when I got word this morning from friend and fellow twitterer, Aaron Irizarry, about the "Design and designers you love" writing contest going on over at Designer-Daily I thought I'd show you my list of the top three sexiest journals you need to own.
"The Legendary Notebook"
First off we have the classic Moleskin journal. This finely crafted beauty is one of the top selling journals worldwide. It's sleek, simple design is what first lured me in, as it has it's own gravitational force. But you can't judge this journal by it's cover alone, no you must own one to unveil the real beauty inside. The moleskin will always hold a special place on my bookshelf. And the best part about them is they are offered in a wide variety of styles, to suit anyone's wants or needs.
I have personally owned a few Moleskin journals over the years and they never let me down. Their durability and sleek design make it easy for me to carry them along with me wherever I go. The solid hardcover puts me at ease when it's squashed by tons of books or when my dogs try to get a hold of it. And the pages are of such fine quality that it makes me nervous to jot something down. I know that must sound weird, and maybe it's my OCD showing, but I'd rather preserve the beauty of it's blank pages than scribble something of no use. But that's what a journal is for, to get those thoughts, sometimes useless, out of our heads and on to the paper so we can get onto more productive thoughts. And the Moleskin let's you do this with ease and beauty.
"I'm not writing it down to remember it later, I'm writing it down to remember it now."
As the official quote for Field Notes journals you can rest assured that they aren't skimping on their quality. These little guys remind me of what an archeologist or detective from the mid 20th century might have used. They sport a very simple design and a rugged three-staple saddle-stitch binding. Not to mention that they are all made here in the U.S.A.. When you order off their website they are prompt to get your order out as soon as possible. (I received mine in less than a week.) And when it arrives in the mail in it's beautiful cardboard envelope you can find the following goods awaiting you:
Three 48-page memo books.
Each 3-1/2″ wide by 5-1/2″ tall.
Perfect 1-pica-graphed paper.
Pencil, Bic Clic Pen & other goodies.
Update: Since writing this post a month ago I have grown to love and adore my simple little Field Notes. They travel with me wherever I go, riding in my back pocket, just waiting until I get a new idea that I need to write down. And when I'm at work they sit patiently in front of me, waiting for the right time when I'll take a break from my computer, and commit to using pen and paper for a few moments. They hold up extremely well and the graph paper makes it great to keep lists and other to-do items. So far I'm still on the first of three notebooks, but I'm already excited about ordering more.
"The French Orange (& Black) Notebooks with a Cult Following"
I must be honest, I've never actually owned a Rhodia journal, at least not yet. But just look at them. The iconic cover with it's boldface font and two fir trees screams "BUY ME!" to any self-respecting designer. Each notebook is filled with 80 sheets of 80 g acid-free white vellum paper. And the unique scored cover allows you to neatly fold your pages over the back. If you have ever used one of these before I'd love to hear your personal feedback on them.
Well there you have it. That's my list and I'm sticking to it. But please, if you know of any other great journals out there that you like I'd love to hear about them. Surely this isn't the end-all-be-all list of sexy journals. Or is it?
In light of my upcoming one-year anniversary for my blog, October 13, I am offering up the chance to win the wonderful FIELD NOTES THREE-PACK for free to one lucky person. No shipping and handling, no call now and get two for the price of one gimmicks. Just a simple, straight-talkin' free gift to give back to this community that I've been a part of for the past year.
Why, you may ask, am I offering just three plain notebooks? That's a valid question. And to answer your question, upon verification from a google search about "one-year anniversaries" I found that the traditional gift has something to do with paper. Whether that be in the form of a notebook, a love letter, stationary, you get the idea. So I thought, perfect, since I'm a designer and most people who visit my site would be more apt to be a designer, or at least interested in design. This would be the perfect gift to keep your ideas close at hand in a stylish way.
The contest will run until next Friday, October 17. All you need to do to be eligible to win is leave a comment below with the best reason you can muster on why you'd like these notebooks. Note: spam and ad links do not count. Also, don’t forget to provide a valid email address in the input field, otherwise I won’t be able to notify you.
The following contains a story of hope and brutal honesty that is not popular to talk about amongst most Christians.
For as long as I can remember the grip of lust has followed me around like a lost puppy that I just couldn't say no to. Growing up in the "free world" has it's many advantages, free water, free speech, free education to name just a few, but to every coin there are two sides. The flip side of the "free world" is the glamorous, dirty exploitation of a woman's body to help sell a product. You don't have to be a Christian either to see this truth, just flip through the pages of any popular magazine or better yet, take a trip to your local mall. These images plastered on buildings, magazines, websites with seductive women staring back at us exploit the weakness in men's hearts everywhere and weaken our defenses to keep our minds pure.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8
Oh boy, this is not going to be easy. But it always gets worse before it gets better.
A few days before my breakthrough I had sent out a text to two of my closest brothers asking for their prayers. This war inside of me had been building a time bomb and I knew if I didn't call for help then all hell was going to break loose inside of me. Well not literally, but my heart was feeling crushed under an incredible weight and my soul was running on fumes. You see, even though I knew I was forgiven for all sin past, present and future my mind still wanted to mess with me and tell me that there's no way I could be forgiven for how many times I've sinned. But that's why God is God, and His love in unconditional and beyond human understanding.
THEN FREEDOM CAME!
The power I've found in bringing the darkness of my heart to light is out of this world, down right heavenly! The Catholics do have one thing right, confessional. Maybe not in a booth, and maybe not to a person that sits on the other side of a partition, but the simple truth behind confessing our sins can not be argued with.
"Therefore, make it your habit to confess your sins to one another and to pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
James 5:16
My hope is that Christians everywhere would turn their hearts to The Lord and find forgiveness through the power of the Blood of Jesus Christ. That IS the stuff dreams are made of. If you've ever struggled with unforgiveness, the Blood covers that, if you've ever struggled with tormenting temptations, yep the Blood's got it under control, if you've ever struggled with thoughts of suicide, no problem for the Blood of Jesus Christ.
I was born separated from God, grew up living a life filled with doubt, about my salvation, shame, from my addiction to porn, self-righteousness, from never having smoked, drank, or killed anyone (under the assumption that God had a rating scale for sin), and confusion, about how to be a man. But Hallelujah that now I can live a life free from doubt, shame or confusion and be the man that I was always meant to be.
Shannon Rankin is an artist based out of Rangeley, Maine. Her work is composed of collages, drawings, paintings, installations, and even a few experimental videos. I first came across the work of Shannon back in May of this year. Her pieces with vintage maps and anatomical silhouette's all being connected with thread really appealed to me. The simple manner in which she constructs her work is what sets her apart from so many other artist. I am really excited to be able to bring the work of Shannon Rankin to your attention and I hope you all enjoy.
1. First off, I love the simplicity of your work. Can you tell me how you first become interested in art?
Thanks Kyle. I was a creative kid growing up with an artistic mother who always encouraged the creativity in me, but it never really occurred to me that I could be an artist until much later in life. In High School, I took one art class that lasted for a quarter of a semester, which was a lot of fun, but not at all serious. Once I got out into the “real” world, I would repeatedly meet artists and designers who became my friends and would inspire and encourage me. One day, it suddenly dawned on me that I could also do this, be this! So, I’ve had a lot of catching up to do…
I went to art school, and it was an amazing experience for me. Everything seemed to really make sense for me there, and I suddenly realized I was in the right place, at the right time.
2. What is your background in art and design, professional or non-professional, and what made you become an artist/designer?
I attended the Maine College of Art in Portland, Maine. I received my bachelor of fine arts there, but my main focus for my final two years was in graphic design, and new media. After graduating, I spent some time creating interactive art, but that didn’t always pay the bills, so I attempted a life as a graphic designer, I moved out west, and began working for clients, etc. I was okay at it, but it didn’t fulfill me at all, and I felt limited being a graphic designer. So one day, I made the decision to dive wholeheartedly into being an artist.
3. Who or what would you say has the biggest influence on the work you're doing?
I would say probably the two greatest influences on my work are nature, and the books I’ve been reading on and off over the past 10 years, books by Alan Watts, Carl Jung, Henry Miller, Joseph Campbell, Carl Sagan, and now Eckhart Tolle.
4. What tools do you normally use for a project from start to finish?
Well, of course that depends on what I am working on at the time. However, it often begins with a mechanical pencil, vellum, paper, maps, an X-acto knife, a lot of blades, a needle, thread, scissors, an awl, a bone folder, gouache, paintbrushes, and sometimes ends with archival glue.
5. What has been your favorite project you've worked on, and what has been the hardest?
It doesn’t tend to happen too often, but if I am working on a series where I feel that someone may have an expectation of me, or the work, I tend to freeze up a bit. So that can be difficult.
However, when I feel that I have complete freedom and the work surprises me, those are the best times, and my favorite projects to work on!
6. How would you say being an artist influences your life? Do you feel you have a different perspective on things around you?
For me, being an artist is a lifelong commitment. It’s a commitment to what I believe is my purpose in life. It isn’t always easy because there are times when it is a struggle to believe, and trust in yourself and the work. That’s when I just have to keep plugging along. I believe part of the struggle is part of the process, and you just have to move through whatever it is that might block you, or allow yourself time to rest. My grandmother always said, “This too shall pass”.
Art making is a meditative process for me. While I am creating, I allow myself to be totally present in the work. It’s that “white moment” that allows me to feel connected to something greater than myself, and allows me to make work that has an energy or essence about it that I hope people resonate with.
7. How do you spend your spare time?
These days my spare time is taking walks with my squeeze | Justin Richel
I’m a tad obsessed with Flickr (and the lovely community there), so I have to say I love to keep up with what these (how about) 6 artists are doing these days. I feel that all of them are creating some really fresh work that is always hugely inspiring to me!
9. In your artist statement you speak of finding connection, do you think you'll ever find what you're looking for or will there always be more to explore?
I hope there will be many more connections to discover! It’s the seeking that keeps me engaged, and always curious about what might be around the bend!
10. Thanks for taking the time to participate. Do you have any last words of inspiration or a favorite quote?
Thanks Kyle for inviting me! I’d say my all time favorite quote is by Joseph Campbell – “Follow your bliss”. It’s a very simple quote and if you can truly follow, I believe all good things will come.
For more of Shannon's work you can visit her blog or on flickr. And if you're interested in making a purchase please visit her etsy shop.
If you're not already familiar with creative commons then I recommend you check them out. I first learned about them last year in a web design class when my teacher referred them as the best source for using photography in your projects without infringing on anyone's personal copyright. I use Creative Commons all the time on my flickr account. It's wonderful too because it opens the door to the whole creative community to take what another person has done, whether it be a photograph or a movie, and build upon it and transform it into something else. And it is this focus on community that really draws me in to help support them.
Is there a certain point we reach in this technological era where we become so over-saturated with information that we become "blinded" to what's really important? And by "really important" I mean living our lives. Sure, I love coding for hours on end or posting tweets till my fingers go numb, but at the end of the day, or our lives for that matter, will we be pleased with what we've accomplished? Maybe I'm thinking too far ahead here. Maybe the work we're doing now in the age of the internet will reap great rewards in the future. I don't know. But one thing that scares me is the amount of information we're expected to keep up with. Sure things like RSS readers and Twitter are helpful. But when is it all too much? At what point do we overload? I know lately I've felt burdened by this thought. Feeling like I have to keep up with this rat race of information only makes me feel less and less apart of reality.
In light of my recent contest to win a set of FIELD NOTES notebooks, 
In light of my upcoming one-year anniversary for my blog, October 13, I am offering up the chance to win the wonderful 
The following contains a story of hope and brutal honesty that is not popular to talk about amongst most Christians.
