CAPTURING WHAT YOU FEEL IN AN IMAGE
I believe capturing the essence of what we see and feel as designers is vital. IDEO was conducting a project with the CPL (Chicago Public Library) and asked me to share my perspectives on the subject to a group of wonderful librarians gathered for a workshop. During a pretty short chat (30 minutes), we discussed their struggles, needs, and some fears of being behind the camera. Photography is understandably daunting to many people.
With this in mind, I broke down how to approach a situation by having them simply answer two questions: Purpose: WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN DOCUMENTING THIS SITUATION? & Method: HOW BEST CAN YOU CAPTURE THE MOMENT?
The librarians left with a manageable number of hints and thoughts that could help them capture their intriguing environments and the unique people they interact with on a daily basis.
"RULES" TO LIVE BY AS A DESIGNER
With the upcoming start of IDEO Fortnight, our inaugural designer-in-residence program, I thought it would be great to deliver a gift to each of the Fortnighters prior to their arrival in the studio. I wrote the Articles of Fortnightification - a series of “rules” to live by as a designer. Produced as a series of cards housed in a paper box with custom buttons, the articles covered a wide array of subjects. What were some of my favorites? I loved all of them but here are three closest to my heart…
BE NICE: Share your stuff and respect other’s stuff. Clean up your mess. Remember your pleases and thank-yous. Help others without being asked. You know, all those things you were little. It’s as true as ever in our studio.
TAKE CHANCES: We’re designers. Were not here to do what’s expected. Try something you haven’t tried before. It’s easier said than done, of course, but we know taking creative leaps is what makes interesting ideas - and interesting designers.
BUILD STUFF: You know how many great ideas that aren’t built/drawn/made actually excite people? Zero. this is really important to remember. We picked you because we believe you have the ability to build and visualize your ideas. This is how we inspire our clients and each other. This is how you’ll inspire us. ABB. Always. Be. Building.
Since their release, they’ve been adopted by IDEO as a core item delivered to new hires company wide.
My Role: Author, Designer, Creative Director
Team: Zach Hobbs, Elaine Fong, Annette Ferrara
FROM PAGE TO NEEDLE TO SMILE
I draw with my nieces and nephews every chance I get. We often sketch funny characters together. They love it and so do I. After a pen and marker session, one of my nieces blurted out - “I wish I could hug them!”. That got me thinking. I had never really turned one of my playful character sketches into a physical thing. So I set out to change that.
I had always been interested in felt sewing (I use the term “sewing” lightly) so I bought copious amounts of colorful felt, thread, needles, etc. and sat down to get making. A week later, I had three sketches turned into physical characters. Christmas was right around the corner so they made perfect gifts for Lucia, Natalia, and Mariella. Their smiles when they opened their presents made all the work well worth it.
THE POWER OF THE PEN.
A close friend and ex-IDEO colleague of mine, David Schoenthal, is an outstanding Professor at the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University). David asked me to speak to his class regarding the subject of “Sketching as a Business Tool.”
Too often, students, young entrepreneurs, and business professionals categorize the practice of “sketching” as a skill only designated for the “designers” they know. Through David and my experiences working together, we found that the skill of sketching was extremely underutilized in the business world. This talk was meant to plant the seed that, with a little practice and slightly different mindset, they could harness the power of sketching for their future business success.
My Role: Guest Lecturer, Designer
Team: David Schoenthal
AS MUCH A MINDSET AS AN ACTION.
I was invited to give a presentation at the IDSA Midwest Conference. I have a disdain for running through project case studies unless I am forced to SO I decided to talk about all the stuff we were doing in the studio that WASN’T for our clients. We laughed about things such as homages to McNuggets, throw pillows with negative attitudes, what would happen if they had a dinner guest who only ate french fries, and seeing your studio as a great big art canvas. I think the talk was a breath of fresh air for the group - burned out by dry, somewhat boring powerpoint decks. I know it was for me.
BTW - I reminded the crowd that although it looked like I was chatting about activities that, on the surface, looked like they had nothing to do with what we do on a daily basis at IDEO, the truth was that the mindsets established during these projects are vital to keeping us fresh and curious as designers.
ABM Always. Be. Making.
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Team: IDEO Chicago, IDEO Boston
MY RESPITE. MY CALMING PLACE. WHERE I GO TO THINK.
My sketch books are my escape. They are where I get my best thinking done. I could be on a phone call, sitting in a coffee shop, huddled in a dark corner, wherever really - I’m always sketching and doodling. Most of the time it has something to do with a current project but sometimes it’s just obscure stuff. My favorite “tools of the trade”? Prismacolor colored pencils, Pentel Sign Pens, and COPIC markers. Each is a great tool but magic happens when they’re used together.
THINGS I WISH I WOULD HAVE LEARNED LONG AGO
In 2014, I headed out for a recruiting trip to UMEÅ Institute of Design and CIID (Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design). I was asked to give a presentation upon my arrival. Remembering how boring it was to sit thru agency pitch decks, I decided to create something a little different - A TIME MACHINE MANIFESTO - all the things I wish someone would have pounded into my goofy head 18 years ago.
LEADING ISN'T ABOUT YOU
Two talented colleagues of mine, Aaron Ferber and Steve Schwall, conducted an IDEO Leadership Studio - a two day workshop intended to grow the future leaders of the office. A collection of us were asked to deliver 15 minute presentations related to the topic of leadership and I chose to focus on the topic of EMPOWERING OTHERS.
Nothing makes a team, regardless if it’s a project team, office, or company, work more fluidly and create better work than when they feel empowered. Often toughest part for a young leader is learning that IT'S MORE ABOUT THEM THAN YOU.
Team: Aaron Ferber, Steve Schwall
LISTENING WITH YOUR EYES AND HEART
One of a series of 10 minute chats delivered to my colleagues, I spoke about an under appreciated element of design - CREATIVE LISTENING. I explained to become a better listener as a designer we need to expand our ability beyond what we hear with our ears to what we SEE with our eyes and what we FEEL in our hearts. Based on the fact that only 7% of what we understand while someone is talking comes from the actual words they say, the chat emphasized self awareness and picking up on inaudible clues.
