This is Part 2 of a series of posts exploring the connection between design and life from a Christian perspective. The bold headline references in this post refer to the symbolic journey of Israel described in the Scriptures and summarized in Part 1. Rather than explain each segment of the journey in design, I thought it might be more helpful to hear what a designer would be saying to him or her self depending on where they were in the journey. You can substitute design for your profession.

SLAVES IN EGYPT
I just don’t know what to do with my life. I’m really a creative, but am stuck in this IT job and am miserable. I feel like a slave to my company. I’m doing their bidding and building their empire.

CROSSING THE RED SEA
I’ve found my calling. I want to be a graphic designer. I want to connect my passion with my work with me. Design is what really excites and interests me. I’ve quit my job and am going back to school.

IN THE WILDERNESS UNDER THE LAW
School was a bit of a drag, but now that I’m out in the real world, design is certainly going to better. I’ve landed a nice spot at an advertising agency as a junior designer. They’ve got an A list of clients. Can’t wait to show them my stuff.

Forty years of wandering in the design desert later&...... Keep reading

I hope you’ll let me tell you a story today–one whose meaning has largely been hidden from us but is now coming into focus. It’s an important story that contains profound insight into the heart and soul of design.

LIVING IN EGYPT
Let’s start with the Jewish people who are living in and enslaved by the Egyptians. You may remember that the nation of Israel found themselves in Egypt after Abraham’s grandson, Jacob (also called Israel) migrated to Egypt during a time of famine. Jacob’s long lost son, Joseph, ruled over Egypt through some amazing circumstances at the time of the famine. Joseph’s family and brothers settled in Egypt and numbered in the hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) by the time Moses came along to deliver them. There’s a lot of important detail during the Jews’ time in Israel, but it’s important to know that they were basically slaves by the end of their time in Egypt. The Pharaoh was concerned with their growing population and influence, so he made it very difficult for them. I think that despite being slaves, the communal life of the Jewish people at this time must have been rich. You’re probably familiar with the plagues, their deliverance from Egypt, crossing the Red Sea in supernatural fashion and heading for the Promised Land.

WANDERING THE WILDERNESS
But before they could get to the promised land, they had to travel throug...... Keep reading

Warning: Vague concepts approaching. Those whose hearts favor more concrete design observations may be at risk of losing their sanity reading this post. Proceed with caution.

Defining the Design Matrix is a bit like peeling an onion. You start by removing the visible outer layers, progressing deeper and deeper into the core of the onion until at last, there is no onion left to peel. At this point you might conclude there was actually no onion at all, but your watery eyes and discarded layers speak otherwise. So it is with understanding the Design Matrix we currently create within. After we’re done peeling, I hope you’re not left empty handed (or empty headed for that matter). Let’s begin.

You don’t need to be Steven Heller to spot the outer layer of the Design Matrix. The outer layer is visible everywhere. It consists of these well worn concepts: design versus art, business, corporate, mediocrity, do-it-yourselfers, low-ballers, the uneducated, the system, etc. It is design versus whatever is out there separate from design. This outermost Design Matrix layer is embodied in SpeakUp, Brand New, HOW, Print and a host of other avatars. The key to identifying this outermost layer is that design is a...... Keep reading

I’ve been wondering why design tends to be lifeless and dry for me. I’ve often thought it was my lack of training or passion or maturity in the field. More and more I’m realizing that it’s because design often lacks mystery. In an attempt to always clearly communicate a brand, a story, an idea, designers are by default left with little to no room to be mysterious. There is an old proverb that says, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and the glory of man to search it out.” One of the joys of life is discovering something hidden. Design needs to contain a mystery at some level for the viewer to seek out. Let me give you a few examples of what I mean.

Most designers are familiar with the FedEx logo by now. Did know that there is a hidden arrow formed by the white space between the “E” and the “x”? Or take Dave Werner’s online portfolio. Can you find the hidden video of him singing a cover of Usher’s hip-hop song “Yeah” or his cover of “Straight Up”? Or what about Paul Rustand’s visual song titled, “Have I Missed You“? There is heart touching mystery to be uncovered there. Or any of Stefan Sagmeister’s interactive optical piec...... Keep reading

Creator: I imagine that right now you’re feeling a bit like Alice. Tumbling down the rabbit hole?

Designer: You could say that.

Creator: I can see it in your eyes. You have the look of a man who accepts what he sees because he’s expecting to wake up. Ironically, this is not far from the truth. Do you believe in fate, Designer?
Designer: No.

Creator: Why not?

Designer: ‘Cause I don’t like the idea that I’m not in control of my design.

Creator: I know exactly what you mean. Let me tell you why you’re here. You’re here because you know something. What you know, you can’t explain. But you feel it. You felt it your entire life. That there’s something wrong with the world. You don’t know what it is, but it’s there. Like a splinter in your mind — driving you mad. It is this feeling that has brought you to me. Do you know what I’m talking about?

Designer: The Design Matrix?

Creator: Do you want to know what it is?

(Designer nods his head.)

Keep reading

This is the text of the Commencement address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered on June 12, 2005. Steve really has some good insights on creativity and life as it relates to the heart and soul of design. I hope you enjoy.

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: “We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?” They said: “Of course.” My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and ...... Keep reading