THEN:
NOW:
THEN:
NOW:
New year, new goals. Milestones reached, proclamations announced. Changes afoot, changes made. All this points to an update to the hours I’ll be working. In an effort to cut down on my average of 54 hours per week, I’m changing the hours I’m expecting myself to work. JKDC, now working 10–4 PM CST.
This is the time in my day I’m setting aside for work to happen, Monday thru Friday. Not 8–6, or 9–5, but 10–4. The new standard operating procedure. Of course, special circumstances will arise and some projects will call for work outside of this new range. But as a general rule, this is when you can expect me to be around.
And what will happen to that time I’m no longer working? More reading, writing, experimenting, and making statements. Something along those lines, I suspect. But more importantly, setting aside extra time for not working will help protect against burnout and allow me to focus on the projects I’m most excited about. At the end of the day, being extra selective has always led me to doing better work.
We’re not put on this Earth to work. While I love the job I’m able to do, I’m much more interested these days in the life outside of it. After 15 years of being a designer, I’m very excited to cut back on the common trope of “Oh man I am SO busy with work! Just busy busy busy!” You know the one. It’s always been lame, and now I’m just over it.
Big challenges from the year?
Trying to find a balance on multiple fronts. The balance between making a difference and running a small business. The balance between creating something beautiful while in the midst of the disastrous political climate in America. The balance between love and fear, work and life, conviction and uncertainty, comedy and tragedy, going slow and going fast.
Proud accomplishments from the year?
The Dundee Theater really is beautiful. Part of me still can’t believe it’s real. So much magic at 50th and Dodge.
You look back and smile?
Women running for political office. The Democrats working hard for change. People adding their voice. People standing up for public schools. People boldly realizing their vision. People trying to stop pipelines. People standing up for justice. People raising awareness. The power of the poster. The power of local music. The power of film. A state senator named Heath Mello. Film as an art form. All the beauty at The Union. Bringing back The Dundee. And those crazy guys at Round and Round and Round.
You look back and cringe?
The state of America.
What next?
The primary focus of this year was Film Streams. A huge project that included branding, print, web, environment, and social. With it just about complete, looking to 2018, project work for the next few months is sure to be exciting. But there will also be more time made for recharging, exploring, experimenting, and contemplating. What exact form those words take in practice is a little uncertain but I’m sure it will be written about here.
As this year closes, let’s be sure to support our favorite nonprofits who continue to push for a better world. We need them now more than ever. And then let’s be sure we take some time off while we keep trying to find the balance.
Godspeed, America. Wherever it is we’re going.
This was my response to the question: how will you make Omaha a better place? Asked on the spot and then needing to sharpie it on a piece of paper, I thought frantically about the work I’ve done in this city and where this design career might be heading next. Accessible and relatedly. There you have it.
I’ll just let 1997 Hot Water Music have the floor:
To shed skin and begin
An intake that will make a difference in clear thinking
For conquering any fear that is thrown in direction
When at a weak point or time of suffering
The edge won’t quit if there is no giving in to what drags on
To be negative or seem wrong to live
To carry back home
With full intent and better sense
To recognize what is false and part with it
Knowing doubtless by instinct which triggers
Thought on how to grow
In soul without gold or praised lies
Which keep the sheep all right
With anything that seems safe and convenient
There is one core reason I’ve come to love a career in design. From month to month, week to week, day to day, the one constant in looking back on 15 years as a designer is this: change. Doing the same thing day in, day out, in the same way, within the same framework just doesn’t work for me. The uncertainty within an outlook that embraces change can, at times, be high in stress. But overall, that is overshadowed by newness, excitement, and looking into the unknown of what could be next.
What is next? Hard to say. Earlier this week, my wife took me out to dinner for my birthday. Wonderful time spent with great food, drink, and conversation. She’s very good at direct questions and follow-up. We went deep on what I’m looking for in the next few years from a creative business standpoint. The thing that I emphasized was change.
Now, I love being a designer. I feel very fortunate I’m able to do what I do, where I do it, and for whom I do it for. But I’m at a point where I feel something needs to change. There needs to be some sort of big shake up. New risks, new emphasis, new goals. I can feel that in the center of my being. I’m ready to embrace some sort of change, some sort of shift. I didn’t get into this business to accept the same old same old and I certainly have no intention of doing so now.
