tom ford on the creative process

http://vimeo.com/33599333

my friend and fellow designer extraordinaire sent me a link to this tom ford video on the creative process and creative professions. it's worth a gander to see the story behind this fascinating designer, his life of design, and his sources of inspiration.

and while you are at it...you might check out suzanne's blog, too, for design inspiration...

blurry boundaries for design

here's a quick squib from the NEW YORK TIMES about one designer's ability to stay fluid in pursuing work. food for thought for all of us in the design industry: DESIGN ACROSS BOUNDARIES.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/16/arts/16iht-design16.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

neighborhood perambulations

i am fortunate every day to be able to walk to work and enjoy my neighbors' flora in the form of flowers + blooming trees. using only ivan, the iphone, i stop to record this beauty...and as many know....post these images on facebook. in the spring, this usually results in friends from the north remarking how far advanced spring is already. i enjoy doing this because it puts a bit of beauty in the world -- something that i see that i can share with others.

weatherspoon exhibition : 70 years of collecting

i'm working today on the final design elements in the WEATHERSPOON ART MUSEUM's 70 years of collecting show, which opens on 06 february 2011, along with the unveiling of their catalog celebrating this great greensboro and uncg institution. i encourage you to check out their museum's terrific new website and the amazing cultural resources in the collection.

a salute to DAVID NILAND...

students in my history/theory classes for many years have heard about the WU-WU as a vertical form of architectural expression (size does matter, y'all!) and no greater example resides in the single columns erected by emperors of rome, among them marcus ulpius nerva traianus (or simply, trajan). in this VERY CLEVER composition created by kayla mcdonough we see trajan bearing his WU-WU much to the delight of the female site seers looking on...

many know that the WU-WU is a riff from my undergraduate senior thesis advisor, david niland, a professor of great delight, who insisted that students would only pass sixth year studio with design schemes containing an appropriately scaled and detailed vertical element...

mr. niland died last week (shortly after i invoked his name in class and explained WU-WU to the next generation of design students). his memorial service was today and this news has caused much flurry of activity across the web as many reflect on the greatness of this terrific teacher. i am particularly struck by the lessons i carry with myself from architecture school that i use everyday, and many of them came from the actions and words of a gifted teacher.

according to jonathan pool, "most teachers teach facts, good teachers teach ideas, great teachers teach how to think." thanks for helping me learn how to think...and for shaping who i am as a teacher, mr. niland!