Have to plug my friends, brothers, colleagues, inspiration. They are the cover of the new issue of American Craft Magazine. I have worked with Steven & William for it seems my whole life. I get a little mention in the piece and am delighted!!! Check it out and love them.

Tags: design, craft, recycle

The old adage "know thy self" has been more important than ever as I move through projects and see how our bias holds sway on the way we begin a project.

A quote out of context I have come to love from the book Nickel and Dimed is "like certain laws of physics starting place matters." And so it does.

Where do we begin? What are my assumptions about the project topic I am about to start working on?

If I were starting a project about health care I might write down my assumptions about doctors, nurses, insurance, etc. This will help me not only identify and discuss my own bias with my teammate but also help us all to better navigate our bias.

Tags: design

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So every once in a great while I catch up to a little bit of this digital world. Oh lord it can be painful.

I found Gab Cast which lets you record audio posts. Mmm. I have been using Twitter and Jott with some regularity. So lets line it up. A site that posts text + a site that converts speech to text + a site that blogs speech. Awesome.

Blog from anywhere using my voice and put into writing so people don't have to listen and I don't have to type. Or they could listen. Either way I don't have to type.

This brings drunk blogging to a whole new level.

Tags: design, podcast, twitter, jott

So everyday I Google, you Google, your mom and maybe your grandma Google's. It kind of makes me giddy to think about it. Anyway, the point is all the worlds a Google'n. Well, I am SearchMashing, but the point is we spend a lot of time doing it and get a lot of value out of it. So what does it mean to be good at it?

We have all had colleagues who can't Google. Its uncomfortable for all involved. Its like finding your buddy drunk and crying or catching an adult picking their nose. Not cool, back away, never speak of it again. That's just like being bad Googler. Some people are criers, some pickers, some not Googlers.

At any rate, thinking along the lines of the front line folk asked to do the dirty work on the interweb I wonder if Googling could ever be prerequisite as a job skill. Just like typing speed, abstracting concepts to tags becoming a critical function of your job. Yes, yes, semantic web, blah, blah, its a long way off but Google productivity needs are here. We need to optimize our workers not just our web.

So in an effort to find out about Googling I Googled.

And found GoogleGuide.com. This link will take you to the special character query list. I quickly learned I am the search equivalent of a blubbering drunk. Sigh. It would be fun for someone to develop a little game of "How good are you at Google?"

Google Labeler could be like basic warm up for the mind.

Tags: google, design

People's needs create value.
Design produces concepts to meet peoples needs.
Businesses are are in existence to deliver value.

Tags: design, Design planning, overlap, value

Visionaries, looming figures of thought and dedication drive us to new places by turning themselves and us on. They often fail but when their thoughts turn to reality it can cause epic vibrations. Their ability to get up one more time than they fall makes them a success and worth watching. The few times I have found myself in the presence of truly beautiful minds I come away more addicted to possibility.

This summer I am working for the Mayo Clinic which has brought amazing opportunities with somewhat protected, but enormous possibilities in the balance. As I practice the craft of Design Planning I recognize the need to push the boundaries of my mental edges to places that I fear. How can I flip a paradigm on its head? The client "doesn't do things that way". Are the relationships and observations I am crafting my argument around truly verified or will my client blast me as the presentation barely leaves my lips?
Where does the strength to move forward despite the looming weight come from?

For me it insatiable curiosity and the building belief in failure as success. Turning a weakness into a strength.

What is it for you?

Tags: leadership, design