Notes from the field
I am an enthusiastic amateur when it comes to photography and video, but I like a challenge. In 2012 I tried to shoot video wherever I went. However, I don’t like carrying around loads of expensive kit, so I constrained myself to only using my iPhone 4S, some carefully chosen apps, and a couple of peripherals. The results were… interesting.
Having summarised my year as both 2010 and 2011 drew to a close, I’m learning to enjoy writing these reviews now. Early worries about being a “show off” or the irrelevance of my experiences to others have worn off, and I see this as a cathartic task that teaches me as much about the coming year as it does reflect on the one just passed. So, here’s my look back at an incredibly busy 2012.
I considered 2012 to be an epic year for music, and I absorbed so much over the last twelve months due in part to Rdio finally launching in the UK, and our new project Rushmore. So, having set my stall out with my 2010 and 2011 roundups, I felt compelled to trawl the year and document the orchestrated noises I couldn’t leave alone in 2012.
Last month I was thrilled to speak at the Creative Mornings Benefit in Brooklyn, alongside Jason Santa Maria. By way of record, I’ve pulled together videos of both talks plus my slides and a few thoughts in this quick post.
After my trip to Minnesota I travelled straight to Brooklyn. I never need a reason to visit my favourite borough, but I was especially excited to attend my third Brooklyn Beta as this time it would be as an insider, supporting my Fictive Kin.
Earlier this month I spent four days in remote Nisswa, Minnesota where I delivered a keynote to around 350 designers, alongside Pentagram’s Paula Scher, book designer and Batman author Chip Kidd, and heroes of illustration The Heads of State. It was a breath of fresh air, and it made me think again about what I present and to whom I present it.
Last month, I joined my Fictive Kin for our latest retreat. This time around, our hosts were kinsmen Sean Coates and Joël Perras, both natives of Montreal in Quebec.
Just a quick, hastily-written post urging any UK designers to brave the Olympichaos and catch Bauhaus: Art as Life at The Barbican in London before it ends in mid-August. I’m somewhat obsessed, so I popped along yesterday, and was not disappointed.
It’s been a busy few months and I’ve barely had any time to write. As a result, a number of things worth journalling have slipped through the net. To satisfy future me when he returns to this archive, here’s a quick overview regarding Fictive Kin, my presentations, New Adventures, and an award!
For a couple of years folks have been reporting broken links from my RSS feed, packed with all that Feedburner UTM shit. I’ve been unable to replicate the issue, but thanks to some kind readers I’ve finally realised they’re using a feed I retired in early 2010 and can no longer access. So, if you’re using the /colly/frJd/ feed, please ditch it, and replace with the /colly/WraZ/ version I’ve provided here for over two years. You’ll find that all links suddenly work like a charm. I’ll also make sure full posts are available in the feed when I get a chance. Thank you, and apologies for the disruption.
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