play. break. fix.

Playing-together

"Children are the greatest creative thinkers and innovators in the earth, HANDS DOWN. With no "formal" schooling, no training and with no "marching orders" they simply ROCK THE HOUSE ... Seriously." ~ Vincent Hunt, Designer

I have a strong belief that we are all born insanely creative. However; I also believe that over a period of time (roughly between the age of 5 and 18) our creativity is "dumbed down" and we are given a "creativity rule book" that pretty much destroy's true innovation. We are told what works and what does not work, we are given endless list of rules, and ultimately we are made too smart to be truly creative. We know everything (or at least we think we do) so therefore we stop asking questions, we stop asking "why", THIS is the death of creativity. Slow and methodical, this is how we are re-wired to become cogs in a machine that rewards execution ONLY, while dreaming, and innovating is stumped by tight project scopes and deadlines. 

How do we stop this? We start with the kids, the children. We let them play hard, break a LOT OF STUFF, and fix just as much as they break... It's in the breaking and fixing that real problem solving comes into play. It's in the playing that creativity is nurtured and refined. 

Never stop playing, never stop breaking stuff, and always strive to fix what's broken. 

narrowing it down...

"It's not life that's complicated... It's humans that "muddle" things up." 

are we really anywhere close?

Are we really anywhere CLOSE to what we are capable of as humans? This video blows me away every time I see it...

Enjoi.

what happens when...

"What happens when you are inside the box, that's inside the box?" ~ Josh Boutwell, Designer

let's get naked

I am on my yearly 21 day fast. Each year, under the direction of my life coach and mentor Dr. Victor L. Powell (http://twitter.com/victorlpowell),  I engage in a 21 day fast that challenges me to really look inward and take a personal inventory of where I am and where I am going. I am encouraged to visit my ethos and dig deeper. I usually come out of the fast with a clear mind, many new ideas, and a fresh perspective on things... BUT this is NOT what this blog entry is about. It's about.. 

Getting Naked. 

On the fast I am challenged to digress from sweets, breads, meats and all of the other stuff that I consume during the regular course of the day, month, year. Well, this morning I decided that I was going to make Naked juice part of my "fast arsenal" (http://nakedjuice.com). AND like any "tech geek" I wandered over to the Naked website and was blown away. The design was not only refreshing, but it really made me want to get Naked. LOL!! 

Check out the site for yourself... It's an inspiring treat executed in the form of a brand website!! 

Naked_website

Brand: Naked Juice 

compelling images from the ashes and snow exhibit

(download)

Exhibit: Ashes and Snow

mind map of a station "tagline" meeting

Photo

In an effort to design the ideal tagline for the station at WFXL FOX31 in Albany, GA., we (Designer Josh Boutwell and I) asked nembers of the different departments at FOX31 about their feelings toward the station. We asked the questions, they gave the answers, and we are in the process of designing what we feel will be a tagline that truly reflects the ethos of the station.

Stay tuned...

 

creativity and innovation never sleep

"Creatvity and innovation never sleeps. Even while you rest, change and progress pushes on..." Josh Boutwell, Designer

personal branding: hajj flemings

"It's not what you SAY you do, it's what you are actually doing... This is the essence of your personal brand..." Hajj Flemings, Personal Branding Expert