Arturo Minera, Charles Dudley, and I sat at a table and drank some coffee while talking about designing within communities like the Price Hill neighborhoods where Arturo (West Price Hill) and I (East Price Hill) live. One of the bigger takeaways from the chat was that folks that live their lives in the neighborhoods—including kids through older adults—are the neighborhood experts. As such, these are the experts—with their lived experiences—that need to be at the tables when designing within communities. There’s no recipe for making this happen, but it has to happen. When in doubt, invent new methods.

DJ TrischlerSeptember 29, 2022neighborhood-centered design, Nodes, DAAP, Price Hill, Cincinnati, Community

The Design Tax

We’re all subjects—designers and non-designers—to hidden design taxes.

About Branding, Core BeliefsDJ TrischlerSeptember 25, 2022design tax, branding, vibe, restaurants, heskett, neighborhood-centered design

A Reading of Price Hill's Diversity

This research project reads cultural relations in Price Hill by mixing census data with an ethnography of visual design. The reading reveals that people often stay within their cultural boundaries. It concludes with several speculative event proposals that convene people with diverse identities.

How's the White Habitus?

I had never heard the term white habitus before Pastor/sociologist Oneya Okuwobi introduced me to the idea this past Sunday at church. I was telling her about my theory that company brands are modern-day receptionists. Like a receptionist, as Don Draper advises in Mad Men, a brand's job is to “manage people's expectations” (Weiner and Cleveland, 2008)…

The Boondocking Icon Project

A speculative design project that explores the possibilities of a universal icon for boondocking.

Stretching our Attention

June was the first time in a long time that I didn’t publish content on my website. That’s because I wasn’t convinced that what I might say was necessary, particularly in light of what needed to be spoken by my Black brothers and sisters in the design profession and beyond.

Garage Collage

Garage collage is what happens when you make art from found materials in your garage, turn your garage into a gallery, and invite your neighbors over for an art show.

What is your Purpose/Project?

Ever feel like your a flag blowing in the wind without a flag pole? It's not a great feeling. But it happens to everyone. One way to reduce these moments, (can't promise to eliminate flag pole-less days), is to have a sense of purpose, (a why), that acts as your flag pole. With a connection to your purpose, it's a lot easier to have a sense of direction for your actions, projects, missions, etc. The "What is your Purpose/Project?" worksheet is a tool that introduces you to your true self so that you can make something great for the world.

The New Rules of The Trail

Hiking is an excellent way to exercise and fend off the feelings of cabin fever and feelings of isolation. Everybody should do it. And it seems like everyone is, at least, where I hike. Even when I go out early, there are groups of people there. It’s no mystery why. The trails are easily the best in the region. Like many others, I discovered them during the pandemic. What was likely a secret of some is now a grand central station, and most of the visitors are not following the guidelines of social distancing. Just because you are outside, and the risk is lower, it doesn’t make you entirely immune to COVID-19.

How to be a resilient designer

What are you supposed to do when a critique is scheduled, but your students are sprinkled across the Mid-West? On top of that, everybody wants to see each other, but not talk about their work. That's the situation my senior capstone class faced when school resumed after spring break, amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic. The schedule says we have a critique. We should have a critique. Or, not?

Blog