Innovation -The Disruptive Age

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You know that A-ha! moment, when someone says something and all the puzzle pieces in your head come together. The Spark of genius that feeds your creativity so much you can't sleep. I would like to call this now a "Disruptive moment". Although right now these ideas go as far as my sketchbook or a portfolio, but maybe one day it will branch into a design company (per personal hire) and become a money making idea that fulfills personal creative goals.

Luke Williams, from Frog design, gave the keynote speech at the Frontiers of Interaction Conference in Rome. His talk, called “Thinking the Unthinkable: How To Spark Disruptive Innovation,” focused on learning to think about what is usually ignored and to pay attention to what is not obvious in design and business solutions.

His speech started with the innovations from Mac, from the ideas of competition, turning points of design, expected and unexpected design methods and how the weak can be winners; he used fantastic examples to tie in his explanations.

What I took from this speech is, its not always the most experienced individuals that can come up with the best ideas, but maybe the one that can think outside the box or maybe someone new who may have never worked on a project of its kind. What this speech is also telling me is that I should keep my life interesting, and surprise myself as much as I can; mix things up to keep the mind young, fresh, and disruptive.

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up".
Pablo Picasso

Pook-a-Looz

While looking for inspirations to make a custom design I came across Pook-a-Looz. It is a Disney Consumer Products line and its adorable. I always loved when Disney would sell the sketch-style Disney books and characters, but now Disney has taken it to another level. Shown above, from a picture of the website, is Woody from Toy Story if you couldn't tell. Visit disneypookalooz.com to see other characters, such as Snow White, Tinkerbell or the Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland.

The Sketchbook Project: 2011 » Art House Co-op | We build art projects and communities

The Sketchbook Project: 2011

Amanda Roberts' New Website

I designed a new website for myself! I'm still doing a bit of cleaning but please check it out at amandaroberts.info

Note to self: Change is good and it takes a lot of work to get there.

I started doing websites in 1999. I was doing websites by code, then designing with Dreamweaver, Javascript, and Flash, then with Photoshop and now with Fireworks.

What then took me a month or so to do is now taking me 4 days. Remember, embrace new technology and keep informed. Don't get stuck in your old ways, you may find the “new” is a hell of a lot easier and faster than you ever imagined.

Follow w3schools.com to educate yourself on website coding.

Adobe Fireworks Tutorial - Creating interactive rollover buttons using s...

Today I has doing some updating to various accounts and fell upon Dan Della Vella's Twitter account from Buffalo Design Group (in Buffalo, NY). Dan had a great post for some real fun packaging designs. Click here and check out them out for yourself. My favorite is this Men's Perfume Bottle, as seen above, a concept from Polish design studio Ah&Oh. (image via: The Dieline)
See more packaging designs here from another tweet.



Websites


Today I was looking for ideas for a new website creation; I always start my "website inspirational search" with music artists. I find most artists have fantastic sites that truly pull you in. My favorite of the day is Norah Jones; I think it has to do with the sweet aspect that comes from the hand drawn type. Another favorite is Taylor Swift's site that looks more like a magazine layout with gorgeous photos.

See more webpages: 30 Beautiful websites. I have been staring at this page for two days, making sure I look at each link.

Repot

“Repot”, was the term used in Martha Stewart’s book, The Martha Rules, about managing a business; as a reference for a new start, which currently is something I am in the process of doing.

I’m doing a lot of research about building a business. I really would like to understand how to be an employer so I can become a better employee. Before I was one to search for a job and take what I could get, but after my last job I realized I maybe too over qualified and I need to be careful not to step backwards in my career, just to earn a paycheck.

I’ll be honest, my last repotting was pretty displaced, and I left wondering if I still loved my craft. “Should I go into business myself, get my Masters or should I change my career path to find my way,” I wondered.

I was feeling uncertain, but then something happened. My sister called and she needed my help. She was graduating in two weeks and was over loaded with work, her projects’ spark was hard to see and she was zombie-styling the last days of the semester. She asked for my advice.

I took a look at her graphic works for her seminar presentation and Graduate Show, “Not so glittery”. So, I got in my car and drove 400 miles to the big city. I thought I’d go to help my sister tighten the seams, but in the end the experience tighten mine.

I got their on a Friday night, she wanted to party with friends and relax, but I starting working. I told her we can have a cold beer when we can really relax; and I’m not talking about when we get it done, it’s when we get it complete.
I pulled a box from my trunk that was filled with satin flowers, silk fabrics, and a white backdrop. I took her projects set them up on a table, setup the proper lighting and put her camera on the tripod. “There, this is what you needed, a little backup and teamwork”.

She clicked the camera; I directed the shots, the Photoshop-ing, and the layouts. I wasn’t going to do her work, but I was going to make her shine.
After a week and a half of non-stop sweat equity it was a success. Not only did my sister succeed, but I did as well. I put my heart, soul, backbone, and limbs into graphic design again, and it felt good. Being surrounded by others that worked just as hard and produced works with so much creativity really gave me that second breath of fresh air I really needed.

There, I truly understood the importance of support and positive thinking, leadership, guidance, as well as teamwork. I good business has these attributes and maintains them because they are more important them just making a comfortable work environment they also keep great employees on staff, help cushion change, help keep minds healthy and creative, and help your company grow.

I maybe another graphic designer in the pool of unemployment but I’m far from drowning. I’m actually thriving from it. And I can only hope that all this cultivation will help me find a new garden to repot, grow, and really blossom.

Book Review- The Martha Rules

I'm currently reading Martha Stewart's book about managing and starting a business. Although it is a generalized how-to it is quite enjoyable of a read. I was collecting books about how to start my freelance business and picked this one up quickly before leaving the library. (I love that about libraries you can grab books without thinking twice about them.) Martha's book sat on my coffee table for awhile with other books on subjects from business etiquette to Donald Trump, while I tried to read Michelle Goodman's first book, the Anti-9 to 5. I had started reading Michelle's book when I thought I had lost my way, but after my trip to NYC I feel like I could move forward again. Martha Stewart, no matter how much my mother dislikes her, she is a mentor too me, and I thank her for showing the average individual about the important of putting attention to detail.

Spring Jumpology

In the toast of the sweetness of warm spring air, Let's Jump! and take an inspiring look at NY Time Art and Design review of photographer Philippe Halsman's photographer Philippe Halsman's jumpology.

Juicy Finds for May 2010

If you have about two hours, this is an interesting video. Its a discussion from Cooper-Hewitt on "user-centered design" or understanding how ergonomics effects the productivity and enjoyment of a designed work. Jesse Ashlock, former Editor-in-Chief of I.D. Magazine moderated this panel of three: Dan Formosa, founder of Smart Design who has designed work, ranging from kitchen items to medical products mostly recently known for his leafy SmartGauge with EcoGuide on the new Ford Focus, Sigi Moeslinger, co-founder of Antenna Design that combines technological complexity with a sense of humanity; her work on the NYC subways (which with my current trip to NYC I have recently enjoyed) is discussed. My favorite part of this video is listening to the third panelist Neils Differient, most well known for his Freedom and Liberty chair designs manufactured by Humanscale, he is a slow and enlightening speaker that I feel would be a great person to have sitting on my front porch and drinking ice tea with.



Other inspiring finds, this one from Design Milk is PIE Studio’s business card which folds into the shape of a pie slice and the brochure also folded into a slice unfolds out to an entire pie.




Foosball has entered my life recently, after introducing my husband to a great old fashioned style bar in the heart of Buffalo, with delicious brews and a huge game room, Foosball is becoming an enjoyment. My friend Kevin even got a table for his basement. And although I'm not that good at it, others are and it shows in this creative football coat hook.