Decoding Design

Inspiration

St. John Design group — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:33:51 +0000

I live in Upstate Ny. I’m an exhibit designer but also a quiet inventor and product designer. In doing a bit of research on Kickstarter, I came across this product and COMPLETELY believe in it. It’s a great combination of innovation, research, and dedication to doing the right thing. Please take a look, it’ll make you want to do something good.

Joulies

Open Source Hardware

St. John Design group — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:19:45 +0000

An amazing idea that just might make an amazing difference on the world. it’s worth it to take a look.

Summer Vacation

St. John Design group — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:49:33 +0000

So, it’s been a while since my last update. It’s not that I haven’t been thinking about writing. Actually, I’ve been thinking about writing quite a bit. It’s that I was on vacation. I stopped doing any work for 1 full week (which in blog time means at least several weeks right?). I also learned some important lessons:
1) Vacations are not the same as family vacations.

2) Just cause a shoal doesn’t have a buoy, doesn’t mean it can’t wreck your engine.

3) Smores cooked over charcoal are still smores.

4) A $5 dollar lure will catch a fish just like a $10 dollar lure.

5) Board games are everyone’s favorite.

6) I love my family.

go out, laugh, and have some fun for the rest of the summer (the below video makes me laugh).

Technically Untechnical V2

St. John Design group — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:50:18 +0000

So, everyone has their issue that are important to them. Be it Peta, Living Wage, or Social Justice, there’s an issue for everyone. Mine doesn’t have a name, at least, not that I’ve found yet. However, there are a few people out there that are starting to talk about it. I began talking about it through an earlier blog post (Technically Untechnical), and because it’s so important to me, my MFA thesis was centered around the concept. It is this: knowledge and acceptance of technical, “hands on” skills in the United States are on the decline resulting in fewer people that know how to build things. Carpenters, welders, plumbers, and other infrastructure workers are losing numbers yet the demand for these skills is just as high, if not higher, than ever. I approached this issue by examining and proposing a solution through technical education as I said earlier, but other people are starting to talk about it. Take Mike Rowe for example, as the host of the Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs” he sees these jobs everyday and has gained a new appreciation for them. Here’s a link of him talking at a TED event and if it strikes a nerve, leave a comment to tell me what you think, I’d be extremely interested to hear your thoughts.

Inspirational Mondays

St. John Design group — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:57:42 +0000

So, it’s no secret that I hate Mondays. They signal the all important shift in brain power from what is fun to what is needed and admittedly, I have a very difficult time with that. However, there is a site that helps to bridge that gap. It’s TED.com. Ted.com is the place where you go to get back on track. Here’s a small clip from one of the recent speeches I’ve seen. It’s a Monday yes, but take a moment and browse TED for something that might interest you, it’ll get your week going. Heck, it may even change your life (insert motivational music here).

Burst Blogging

St. John Design group — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:20:41 +0000

So, hello everyone. I must admit, I am guilty. I tend to approach my blog updates in bursts. While I explain this trend away by thinking, “it’s ok, while I’m not blogging I’m thinking up all sorts of fantastic topics to blog about” – almost a “refilling” of the creative pool if you will (thank you Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way). It doesn’t help anyone that’s following Decoding Design. I feel as if I should strive for a smidge of consistency with my posts. This is my entrance to the path of posting potential (how’s THAT for alliteration).

Speaking of followers, it turns out through a recent discussion that I have at least two people following this blog. It was surprising and exciting to hear that someone has liked what I’ve been writing about enough to bring it up in conversation and recommend my site to their friends. Instantly, my “message in a bottle” attitude towards the blog changed as I was faced with an actual reader. My electronic world instantly got a lot more personal- and addicting.

Our conversation centered around the business of running a small design firm. This is a topic of which I can speak at length. For the past 3.5 years, it has been really the only professional thought in my head. As we discussed the initial pitfalls of starting, marketing strategies, and design inspiration, it dawned on me that I was approaching another blog topic. I have found three books that have proved to be invaluable resources to the young design entrepreneur.

The first, already highlighted above, is The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. For me, this book strikes at my creative heart. It’s intended to unblock blocked artists, and while being a bit “new agey” in its telling, it was the first book that didn’t approach creativity as some kind of willful, powerful, fickle force boiling in some people but not others, that can’t be understood or reasoned with. Instead, Cameron treated it as a skill to be developed and harnessed. I highly recommend it to people that rely on creativity in any way.

The second, is The Millionaire Mind, by Thomas Stanley. This is the business book that has made the most sense to me. I can’t recommend this book highly enough as in each chapter there immediately identical problems, solutions, and concerns that I’ve encountered in my business. Plus, being about Millionaires, it makes you feel like it’s all possible. I re-read it often.

The last book is The Art of Innovation by Tom Kelley with Jonathan Littman. This book pulled the lessons of the first two works together and showed how they could be incorporated into a design studio. It chronicles the conception of IDEO – a prominent industrial design consultancy – and attempts to explain their corporate culture. This is the book that made me want to go back to school and start my own firm.

So, thus begins another blogging burst. While other posts I’ve made have included valuable insights, stories, jokes, and inspiration, I feel that this post is by far the most powerful. These are books that changed my life. They helped in a large way to put me on the path I’m on and so far, it’s working out. We’ll see what the future brings, but if you have any inclination to go into the design business, I can’t recommend, and thank, these authors and works enough.

Time re-thought

St. John Design group — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:06:52 +0000

I’ve found an amazing thing.

www.Wimp.com

It’s a drug. It’s fantastic. It’s educational? For example, take a look at this video about time (careful, it’s 10 minutes long). It’ll make you think twice about a whole lot of things. Also, look at the website and notice the design, or lack thereof – interesting huh? No bells, no whistles, just pure information in a list.

Employment Opportunity

St. John Design group — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 22:45:54 +0000

Every once in a while a job opportunity pops up that catches my attention. This is one of those and a perfect way to start out the summer. Should you be qualified, you’re welcome.

Title: Director of Festival Operations, Washington Beer Commission

Description: The Washington Beer Commission is acepting applications/proposals for the “Director of Festival Operations” to lead the production and execution of up to 12 Washington Beer Commission festivals each calendfar year.

Estimated Value: up to $48,000 annually

Customer Reference Number:

Close Date: Monday, June 21, 2010

Posting Organization: Agriculture, Department of

Questions regarding this opportunity should be directed to the contact person listed in WEBS for this opportunity. To view the full details of this opportunity login now at:

https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/webs/

Once logged in click on “Search Opportunities” link on the left hand side. Follow the screen prompts to view a list of bidding opportunities, and then select the title to see bid details.

There may be more than one additional document posted for this opportunity; please download all documents and amendments on the bid details page.

Design Driven

St. John Design group — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:07:41 +0000

So. Here are designs that everyone should take a look at. Even if you’re not really into design. Even if you think design is for sissies. You should look at these images. I’ve known about these guys for a while. When they introduced the Hellcat I was hooked, but I’m a designer. Then they introduced the Wraith (which btw. tops our at around 185 mph and costs about 95k) and I was intrigued. Then they introduced the Fighter and I fell in love. You just want to stare at these bikes. They express a quality that simply is. Some bikes copy other designs, some let their brand identity drive the look of their bikes, some put out so many versions, they get lost in the mix. However, Confederate Cycles exists to create something different. They are creating objects that exist in their own category. They don’t look like anyone else, they don’t follow trends, they don’t saturate the market with their product. They create functional, machined, high speed art that stares you in the eye, answers your questions, compliments your mother, and then rolls away leaving deep respect and awe in it’s wake. These bikes tell a story and back it up with muscles of tempered steel. I could go on, but it wouldn’t help. Take a look at the pictures.

Graphic Greatness

St. John Design group — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:22:07 +0000

So, in keeping with my most recent packaging obsession, I found the below shots. I think they’re a great way to inspire brand identity, encourage curiosity, and establish their message -quickly and simply. Most are linked to their source, so if you like them, feel free to dive into the world of packaging and branding. Don’t blame me if you lose an hour to surfing…