Yep, it all is. Everything. There’s too much. And what we choose to focus our attention on, that’s what we catch, even in the smallest amounts. That’s what it is, it’s who we are, and who we become.
New Book: Machinery
A collection of graphic design on the state of the world and our place in it. Designed around a simple idea: the demo. First copy has arrived. Printing looks good.
Where we’re at
If this year has taught us anything, it’s that all of this is temporary and what we choose to do with our power is the real question of our time here.
Options are good, options are not needed
I like options. Who doesn’t. They can be super helpful when working through the design process. But there also comes a time in that same design process when options are a complete waste of time. Designers do like to consider different approaches, but designers also like to execute. Work the craft, complete the task, do the job. At that point in the process, options get in the way, slow momentum, and prolong the inevitable. Do this design job long enough, and you know when options are good, and when options aren’t.
Not Impressive
Right, there’s the shtick. The elevated confidence. The big sell. The impressive vision. The talking of the game. And then, there’s nothing. All the stuff of myth just sits there on a shelf collecting dust because the person saying all the words can’t actually do anything. It’s a bummer how unimpressive it all went down, yet completely predictable. The talkers talk. The doers do. Ideas come and go and then come around again. And when the ideas show themselves once more, unfortunately, so will the peddlers.
You don’t know
You just have to get in there and find out. There is simply no other way to do it.
When what you do just isn’t better than what already exists
It happens. It’s a bummer, but it’s fine. Sometimes that’s just how the knife edge falls. You’re asked to design a new something for something that’s already pretty good and what you do just isn’t as good. Don’t force it, don’t lie to yourself, and just allow what already exists to keep existing.
