Designer Coffee: April 2020
Person Holding A Mug by Cottonbro.
Typically, we meet for lunch in person. That’s what we did last month, and the months before. This month, we’re in the thick of COVID-19, and there’s uncertainty over when we will ever meet in person again. Instead, we connected remotely for coffee. (Did anyone drink coffee? I drank tea). It would have been better to meet in person, but it was still lovely to see everyone nonetheless. (I’ll take a good joke from James any way I can get it). And, for what it’s worth, 3:00 wasn’t so bad. We ended at 4:00, which is an excellent time to call it a day (on my pandemic routine).
Most of our conversations revolved around our responses to our new normal. All of us, everyone in the world, for that matter, is impacted by COVID-19 in some way or another. It is fascinating to see how different creatives, makers, and designers respond. Generally, we make, regardless if there’s a client or not (preferably not). Nick shared that he hopes to see a renaissance of creativity through side projects as a result of our forced retreat. He went on to say that most creatives have something on the back burner that they are putting off because there’s not enough time. Guess what? There’s time. Nick, himself, has already put nearly 200 hours into a print that’s already gained gallery interest. Go, Nick!
I share Nick’s hope and encourage everyone in our group, and beyond, to pay attention to those projects that have been whispering at you for years. You know what I’m talking about. It doesn’t have to have some ultimate good, or immediate response to COVID-19 (it may be too soon, anyways, to respond). It’s like the old Paul Rand quote, “Don’t try to be original; just try to be good.” Instead, I might amend the quote and say, “Don’t try to be a hero; just try to make good work.”
Anyways, I digress, here are a few important topics from our coffee/tea time:
Innovation sessions are a great way to work creative muscles and get faster at design. If only you didn’t have to work so hard and not sleep. Seriously, though. My hope is that through COVID-19, we all find better working habits. Do we really want to go back to the way things used to be?
People actually listen when you bug them on twitter (and there’s a person somewhere who’s job is to monitor these kinds of tweets - poor soul).
It’s probably safe to say that all events this summer will be canceled. Now what? That’s a lot of revenue for folks who make gig posters. See above about side projects.
GOJO was founded by Goldie and Jerry in Northern Ohio during WWII. That doesn’t say a ton about the product itself, but we all agreed that an origin story has power. What’s more fascinating is that a UN Chief Says COVID-19 is the worst crisis since World War II. What will a group of designers meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, 100 years from now, think about the origin stories that are the result of our current crisis? Again, see above about side projects.
Graduation is the new term for being laid off. Apparently, that’s what agencies say because they compare doing time with them to getting a master’s degree. Full disclosure, I am getting a master’s. So, I may be biased when I say that I shudder at this statement. It feels like one of the degrading sides of capitalism. Agencies want young and fresh talent who are willing to do whatever it takes. At a certain point, you stop wanting to do that (or, there’s not enough money because you’re being paid too much). Perhaps we should use the European/Australian term for being laid off? They say that you’ve been made redundant (no longer needed).
Quip is a beautifully designed (kind of expensive) toothbrush.
Peach is a toilet paper designed for millennial folks. Why? (Jess thought it was an SNL sketch).
Short Stories from Long Lives is my little COVID-19 side project (and hopefully beyond).
Design to Combat COVID-19 is a Slack channel for designers to collaborate and support communities affected by the virus.
We’re all healthy and doing our best to adapt.