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Happy Halloween All. Sorry for the long delay in posting. Things at the office and construction around the house has kept me away but... we're back on track and I look forward to being back among you. Meanwhile, enjoy some scary movies tonight and keep the candles burning.
I just received my Taschen Contemporary Graphic Design book. It's fabulous, as most all Taschen books are.
"This compendium showcases the extraordinary cutting-edge work of 100 of the world's most progressive graphic designers, from the hard-hitting political messages of Jonathan Barnbrook to the lyrical digital compositions of Peter Saville to the iconoclastic imagery of Stefan Sagmeister. Alongside the array of visually stunning and thought-provoking advertisements, CD covers, posters, packaging, websites, and corporate identities are texts by each designer expressing his or her individual approach to graphic design practice as well as personal insights into the motivations that lie behind the work. An accompanying introductory essay highlights the current issues surrounding graphic design practice, from the ascendancy of digital tools to the amorality of consumerism. By presenting a provocative survey of the latest, most experimental and forward-looking graphic design from around the globe, this exciting book provides a unique and totally unforgettable snapshot of where the discipline stands today and hopefully offers directions for its future."
They say that it is springtime when all things bloom and life is renewed. I never really felt that way. It seems to me that Autumn is the time when a look behind encourages a look ahead. Despite the leaves falling from the trees, the pumpkins at our doorsteps and the crispness of air about us, I am always somehow reborn in October.
Mulling over the last year-
It was a good year for Dragonfly. And yet due to a great deal of overworking I found myself at the start of this month feeling quite ill. A cold? A flu? Exhaustion? Who knows, but it got me to thinking about lifestyle and workaholism and some things must change.
Get a life-
Yeah... it can't all be about work. As much as design is a part of my life, it can't be my whole life. I'm constantly stressing about finding the time to weed the garden, fix the car, paint the bathroom. There is never any time to do these things because all time is spend working. Who's to blame for that? Nope, not my clients. It's me.
I read recently (wish I could remember the URL for you) a formula for figuring out one's hours and salary for the self employed. The author wrote "Most consultants and designers who work for themselves have agreed that a 15 hour week working on billable projects works for them..." EXCUSE ME. 15 hours? Are you kidding me? If this is in fact true... then something is totally askew with my 70-80 hour week. The author went on to explain how a self employed person should figure out what they need to make in the course of a week (less taxes etc) and adjust the hourly rate accordingly. For instance: An hourly rate of $75/hr X 15 hours a week = $1125 gross/week. The other 25 hours/week is spent on paperwork, admin, learning something new. Huh, 40 hours a week you say?! Time for a evening out at the movies? Pumpkin picking? A nap? Yeah well, we'll see about that, but even a 50 hour work week would be a improvement.
Shut off the TV-
Do you feel that there is constant noise in your life? Honestly, I began to feel that my life was a constant hum. Turning off the TV provides me time to unwind without distraction. Sure there are times when I just want some brain candy but living in a certain amount of silence gives me the time to settle down, think, sort things out. Life with less TV is much less stressful.
Get a hobby-
I received my copy of Taschen's Contemporary Graphic Design last Friday. Browsing through the book I found quite a few works that were created for Client: Self. Yes... I remember doing that but I haven't created a design for myself in years... and years. Eric Karjaluoto at ideasonideas wrote recently "We’re a lot more flexible with client work, now that we have pet projects of our own to obsess over. Start building typefaces, pick up a camera, start a blog, create your own product; whatever it is, find something you can “own”. That way you won’t find yourself putting every drop of your soul into someone else’s project." I'm really looking forward to drawing and designing for myself once again. I think this will be immensely satisfying and will also add my own personal colors to my portfolio and to my life.
For over a week now, I've been sick with some cold/flu/thing. It's in my chest, then my head, then my chest and head. It keeps moving around. This was suppose to be my vacation (at home) to catch up on some chores around the house, paperwork, and take a breath. Well taking a breath would be cool...IF I COULD BREATH!
Despite emptying a box of kleenex and a box of Tylenol Cold and Sinus... I've been a trooper. My thinking was "I've taken a vacation to accomplish things and by god, I'm going do it." Yeah.. ok. I have several rooms in my house that require painting. Due to a recent construction project there are boxes everywhere containing the elements of my life and organization is well...NOT.
It's friday. Any serious painting is just not going to happen because every morning I wake up with a body that is heavy and dragging as I push it through the day. Fine...I succumb. I'm taking the weekend to stay in bed (this might just kill me), read, watch movies and generally except that... I'm going down.
If I were to whisper, would you be more inclined to listen to me?
We are a society of incredibly impatient, hurried individuals and I believe that in our rush, the art of listening has become lost. When was the last time you really stopped multitasking and completely listened to what someone had to tell you? Have we simply chosen to tune out the talk, talk, talk so that we can "get on with it" and proceed to our next task? And if that is the case, how sad is that?
I'm also wondering if listening in some way translates to how we read our email. Are we listening to what others are trying to express to us through written language? I don't think so. I believe we have become a generation of skim readers and text messaging jargonists and it really takes something special to grab our attention and make us listen.
In the movie "The Devil Wears Prada" the icy demeanor of Meryl Streep's character, Miranda Priestly was a lesson in communication. Self assured and quiet spoken Miranda was a force. She said what she needed to say; short, succinct, final. People listened and reacted.
As designers and visual artists, our jobs revolve around communication. Are we listening anymore?
