DIY Bag

Every year for around the last ten years, I have participated in the Alzheimer’s Walk for Memories. Each year I get a new canvas bag filled with goodies for my fundraising efforts. While the bags are nice, they are a little bit boring and I wouldn’t mind if they were a little bigger. Design*Sponge offers the perfect solution; add a pocket to the outside. After adding a cute flowered pocket over the logo, my bag is personalized and has more space. Perfect!

The Sketchbook Project

While looking at Design Sponge I came upon the Sketchbook Project. The Sketchbook Project allows artists to display one of their most prized belongings, their sketchbook. To get the artists started they select a topic, they are then sent a moleskin sketchbook in the mail. The only rules are that they must stick with the topic they choose, must fill their book, and most importantly must avoid messy supplies like glitter.

Sketchbooks are collected by the Brooklyn Art Library then toured across the United States. All sketchbooks that are submitted by the deadline will be included in the tour and artists are able to have their sketchbooks scanned for $20.00. After the sketchbooks are finished the tour they will become part of the permanent collection at the Library and the scanned sketchbooks will become part of an online gallery.

I can’t wait to check out the site when it is launched, I love looking through artist’s sketchbooks more than looking at their work. I am always amazed by the way artists can casually sketch something and it be better than anything I could ever do. I guess I best get back to the drawing boards. Pun intended.

Many Thanks

Last year around this time I was just starting to plan how I could positively change society with design, this year I'm re-designing that project and making it a live website. Formerly called 1000 ThankYous, Many Thanks is a website that promotes positivity and the lost tradition of saying thank you.

With a positive outlook on life everything is just a little bit easier, your body is a little bit healthier and you appreciate your loved ones that much more. The website gives visitors a place to submit their thank you notes and read the stories of others who have submitted on the site. MANY THANKS also includes a variety of printable thank you cards to promote the giving of physical cards. Even if you don't have a story to submit, check out the site and see what others had to say, I guarantee it will brighten your day.

The Internet Case Study Book

To help improve the designism (Design for positive social change) project I am working on (1000 Thank Yous) I have been doing some research. Dave, a classmate suggested that I read The Internet Case Study Book to find out what successful websites have done in the past. In the social media section I read that there are three things that most good websites have; publishing, participation and personalization. Users like being able to add to the content of the site, participate in games and blogs, and personalize their own area of the site. Users need to be engaged, have a reason to stay on the site and a reason to return.

One of my favourite websites was last.fm. last.fm is a website that collects information on your favourite bands then suggests other songs and bands that you may like, your own personal music guru! On top of suggesting cool new music, the site has free MP3 downloads.

Some other websites that I found interesting were the Eternal Moonwalk in memory of Michael Jackson and Green Peace Brazil’s online web campaign. Green Peace Brazil created videos speaking out against the government and the things that are affecting the environment the most. Their creative and diverse approach helps to touch a wider audience and keeps repeat viewers interested.

While I don’t anticipate my website becoming an instant hit, if I could brighten at least one person’s day, I’d be satisfied.

OCAD U Rebrand

While I used to consider emails from DesignEdge spam, I recently started reading them and found out otherwise. They have some interesting short stories with links to full articles, job postings and contests related to design.

Today there was an article about the rebranding of OCAD. I wondered for a long time why OCAD hadn’t changed their name to suit their new classification and my question has finally been solved; in June of this year their name was officially changed to OCAD University. The University published a public request for proposals in July and announced at their Welcome Back Corn Roast that Bruce Mao was selected to develop a new identity for the University.

I can’t imagine being in the shoes of Bruce Mao, trying to represent an entire university would be quite the task. This would be especially hard since you are trying to meet the wants and needs of wild, artsy and particular students, not to mention the staff and alumni. Each critic would likely think they know what the school needs and just how to execute it. With such strong design opinions coming down on him, I’m interested to see what Mau comes up with, and especially how it is received by the public.

The Outer Limits

To my surprise the Outer Limits credo reads, “It is said that if you move a single pebble on the beach, you set up a different pattern, and everything in the world is changed. It can also be said that love can change the future, if it is deep enough, true enough, and selfless enough. It can prevent a war, prohibit a plague, keep the whole world... whole."

I never thought that a sci-fi show would interest me, but with a credo like that I’m intrigued. It is a refreshing perspective in a world with so many ideas and muddled ways of thinking. Each decision we make, whether consciously or subconsciously, affects everyone around us and what the future holds. While dwelling on each decision isn’t a good idea, it’s important to think before you speak. While I can’t seem to follow through, my Dad’s biggest piece of advice is not to sweat the small stuff. Everything changes and will continue to change just do you best, it’s all you can do.