We can meticulously plan and scrutinize every aspect of our lives. We can analyze our careers, our work, and our very souls. We can attempt to gain some modicum of control over our lives and the journey that awaits us. And yet, sometimes it just comes down to luck. Some of the greatest moments in [...]
A few shots from a recent trip to Denver. This was for both business and pleasure, although everything about Denver makes it fun. What a great city. Highly recommended.
This past weekend, it was my pleasure and honor to attend a graduation ceremony here in New York. The ceremony was wonderful, the weather was beautiful, and after the festivities were over, all the graduates were invited to pick up their diplomas that very day. Upon picking up their diplomas, I heard mumbling and grumbling [...]
Strike while the irons hot. Seize the moment. Whatever cliche catchphrase works. When creativity calls, answer it. The human brain operates in cycles, with certain chemical reactions taking place at various points to trigger various responses. This is why we experience moments of great optimism, negativity, worry, restlessness, laziness, sadness, and nostalgia. Any of these [...]
There are quiet days and there are busy ones. Certainly (and hopefully) there are far more busy days than quiet days, but a quiet day is unavoidable. For me, this is a challenge. I don't particularly enjoy quiet days or any sort of free time. I prefer to be moving, taking care of projects, and [...]
Phone calls are an absolute distraction. I hate them vehemently. Focus is the most important part of any job, particularly for a designer who needs to always access an aesthetic sense relative to the overall scale of a project. This requires an enormous amount of focus in order to obtain great results. It's not realistic to avoid phone [...]
This evening, I had the distinct pleasure to meet with and listen to Michael Bierut, Jessica Helfand, and Debbie Millman. All three of these wonderful designers are legends (feel free to Google if you need to), and I always derive a great deal of inspiration from hearing people like them speak on the subject of [...]
The most common issue a designer faces is the idea of too much information. The client approaches the designer to rejuvenate his website or to put together a booklet of his company services and so forth, and will immediately stress all the verbiage that his project must include. If the client provides a service, he will want every single detail [...]
The job of a designer - particularly a freelance one - can be extremely challenging in relation to multitasking. With (hopefully) many clients constantly contacting her at any given time, it can be very easy for the designer to lose her focus and be drawn into the minutia of emails, phone calls, and more demanding [...]
I spent much of this weekend restoring a vintage Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman (photos to come.) The process began simple enough, but quickly became complicated as I grew more detail-oriented on the project. The whole enchilada involved leather treatment, grinding and polishing the metal, wood sanding and finishing, and a variety of little annoyances and [...]