Post-it
School of Visual Arts - New York
Oh Shit kits
Design: Eric Hollings
Guest Post: Madonna Arsan
Guest Post: Madonna Arsan // @madonnaarsan
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One of the things that inspires me is the art of analog. It's not because I'm a hater of digital, because I'm not. Besides messaging I probably use my iPhone camera more than any other app and no surprise Instagram follows close behind. Photography inspires me and I believe that the best camera is the one you always carry with you and so be it the iPhone. The availability of always having my phone with me and being able to capture the everyday moments is great!
But sometimes, I want that extra, something more than a photoshop filter or Instagram filter to my photos and what I love about analog is that special something you simply can't get with digital. You know a person put time and effort into analog. Analog isn't immediate. When shooting with a film camera - and because it's film you put a little extra thought before hitting the shutter - and you have to wait to finish the roll, developing, printing. Many pieces has to come together and it takes time but you get rewarded with the result. THAT feeling when viewing your photos, at last.
Digital photography allows for no mistakes, you can shoot as much as you want and delete. With film you never really know what's going to happen or how it comes out and maybe it's that uncertainty that gives the great 'analog fix' - it isn't perfect and it isn't immediate and that in it's own way makes it more organic.
Same goes for writing a real handwritten letter. Try writing one and give it to someone and I guarantee they will appreciate it. It takes time and effort is put into it, means more than an email, a chat on IM or a Facebook wall post. It's a special something.
Keep the art of analog alive!
Untitled
We lose ourselves in the things we love. We find ourselves there too.
Kristin Martz
When I Die
In "When I Die", Philip Gould shares his thoughts and insights as he confronts his impending death from oesophageal cancer. Filmed during the last 2 weeks of Philip's life, this intimate portrait reveals his quest to find purpose and meaning in what he called "The Death Zone". He had been diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in 2008 and was given three months to live in the summer of 2011.
Almighty Board
Design: Jaewan Jeong
The Almighty Board will simultaneously serve as your cutting board, display your recipes, provide step-by-step directions and weigh your ingredients out for you. After you wash it, it will even tell you if it has been cleaned enough to avoid cross-contamination or food poisoning.
Just In Case
Design: MENOSUNOCEROUNO - Mexico
"If the world ends this year, we better be happily ready."
01 Chocolate Abuelita: Dark chocolate laced with cinnamon and covered in sugar. With more than 70 years in the market, this classic delight will make you feel well under any circumstances.
02 Doméstica Yellow Notebook: A design classic from Monterrey. Tell the story, write like John, draw like el Bosco, or use it to start a fire.
03 Simple Knife: Clean affordable design, a minimal hunting tool for animals or zombies.
04 40 Emergency Black Matches : Start a fire, get warm, light your way with style. Black is beautiful.
05 Xtabentun D'aristi: Original Mayan liqueur from Casa D'aristi in Yucatan, one of our favorite brands of 2011. Celebrate like the old times!
06 Basic Water: Drink wisely, survive up to ten days with one liter.
Guest Post: Seth Werkheiser
Guest Post: Seth Werkheiser // @sethw
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What inspires me.
Seeing friends who picked up a camera years ago, just as a hobby, but are now professional photographers. Or pro photographers who were out of work, but instead of whining, they filled their lives with other things, took up manual labor, menial jobs, and did what they had to do to feed their family. That's inspiring.
I find much inspiration from photographers, namely James Allen Walker and Bradley Spitzer. Not just from the images they create that make for easy reblogging on Tumblr, but the conversations. I've had solid conversations with these people, and I'm always left inspired.
Friends who've hit rock bottom but refuse to quit. I find inspiration in their resolve, in refusing to be a victim, and getting on with it. Doing work that has to be done. The sewage and waste at the bottom, it's easy to wallow there in self-pity, lord knows I've wanted to on occasion, but seeing friends go through the fire. That inspires me.
I find the following lyrics inspiring:
"I will rise again" from Love as Arson, by Converge.
"You're not getting under my skin," from The Anthem of Angry Brides, by Norma Jean.
Ev Bouge was a big inspiration to me, in getting rid of all my stuff and working remotely. Seth Godin inspires me, in that he posts something everyday that knocks my socks off. John Gruber of Daring Fireball inspires me, and Jason Kottke, two blog pioneers who do what they do online, without tricks and gimmicks. They just write darn well.
The video 'Dark side of the lens' inspires me. The line, "if there's no future in it, at least it's a present worth remembering" kills me every time.
During my travels, I always make a point to get next to large bodies of water. When I stood next to Lake Pontchartrain, in New Orleans, LA, it humbled me. All that space, all that water, nothing on the horizon, the breeze... it froze me in my tracks. The enormity of that scene, what it took to get there, in quitting my dream job at AOL Music, leaving the city I loved, giving up owning a bed. Those bodies of water inspire me.
Massive amounts of water, which reminds me of how small I am in this world. On this planet. In this country. On the internet. And not to be discouraged by it, but to work within those limitations. I am inspired anytime I get asked to do an interview, or write a guest post. I am blown away that any of my travel adventures have inspired anyone to take risks and start their own adventures. I can be going through some heavy stuff, but then an email shows up, from someone I don't know, but they tell me they've read my stuff for years, and they decided to up and move across the country. Or quit their job. Or take a chance. That. That inspires me. That keeps me going.
Everyday presents another chance to be inspired, and even when I'm not inspired, I get to put on some music, play air-drums, give myself chills, take a walk, grin like an idiot and get on with life.
That is what inspires me.
Hunter and bear's 2012 birthday party
These guys did a YouTube video in the vein of this a while back that got a lot of awards, but this new execution is brilliant.
Spend some time with this.
Guest Post: Craig Elimeliah
Guest Post: Craig Elimeliah // @craigelimeliah
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I am not a fitness enthusiast nor am I even remotely aware of what I should be doing physically to not die at 65 but what I do love about the Nike Fuel Band is the awareness of hitting my goal and wanting to remain somewhat more active than I would normally be.
On an average day, without thinking about it I rack up approximately 2000 Fuel points (steps, calories, distance) however I have raised my goal to 3000 and make sure I hit that and when I do it makes me feel better and since I started doing so I can definitely feel a difference. What is great is that you can just get up and walk around the block, use the stairs or whatever to get you to that goal. It is a small step but a significant step in getting normal folks like me to pay a bit more attention to physical activity and reaching daily goals that will probably pay off in the long run.
Wearable computing passively collecting valuable data to positively motivate, that inspires me.
First Aid 2.0
Designer: Pow Ying Hern
First Aid 2.0 features a LED Red Cross panel that displays step-by-step instructions on how to administer first aid, relevant to the injury. It even has a GPS tracking system and can inform you about the nearest hospital or clinic. In the stressful situation of an emergency, this kit helps refines the process, which is the crucial first step in saving lives.
Powered by a lithium-ion battery and AC power, the kit consumes little energy when it is on standby mode. It is capable of operating for a full 24-hours (without recharging), or 6 months when on standby. Frequent injuries and their course of treatment are bookmarked on the screen’s home page for easy access.
First Aid 2.0 is a 2011 red dot design concept winner.
Guest Post: Jamey Erickson
Guest Post: Jamey Erickson // @jameyerickson
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One of the things that inspires me the most is that tiny moment of fear before stepping into the unknown. Its easy to get comfortable in life, especially as you get older. We buy cars, houses, travel in cushy hotels and watch our favorite Thursday night comedies on our TiVo when its most convenient for us (aka: Monday evening when there's literally nothing else worth watching). So its easy to lose touch with the little spark of fear. That fear that grounds you and opens an entirely new world of possibility at the same time.
So what's my point? Good question! The end of March brings my birthday. I used to love my birthday, but this year I felt a bit morose. I felt like I'd become stale. I didn't care that I'd lost another year of my youth, I felt like I'd lost a year's worth of spark. I knew I needed some sort of inspiration, some sort of unknown to step into, but where is that unknown for someone who's 31, married, owns a home, two cars, a small dog, has been all over the world and even sent things into a low-orbit space. Well, I decided to make a rash decision (and by rash, I mean somewhat well thought out, as the term "rash decision" changes quite a bit once you're married and into your 30's). Sunday, April 1st, I made a phone call and set it all up. I was selling my car and buying a bike. I was giving up the most convenient thing in my life and forcing myself to take the more difficult path. Biking isn't difficult, but we all know how much easier it is to get in a car and drive, even if its just 6 blocks to the Kwik-E-Mart. Its freeing, in a sense.
So at the end of my first full week of biking only, I've learned something. I, as a human, need drastic change. It fuels me. It makes me rethink the things I think I know. It keeps me on my toes. It inspires me. I've had the most productive week yet this year and its been amazing.
Guest Post: John Kochmanski
Guest Post: John Kochmanski // @johnkochmanski
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No I don't like winter, but I do find fresh snow a source of inspiration.
It conveys a sense of freshness, a new start.