Cool, unlying life will rush in,
and passion will make our bodies taut with power,
we shall stamp our feet with new power
and old things will fall down,
we shall laugh, and institutions will curl up like
burnt paper.

— D. H. Lawrence

FUKINSEI (imbalanced)
Asymmetry, odd numbers, irregularity, unevenness, imbalance is used as a denial of perfection as perfection and symmetry does not occur in nature.

KANSO (simple)
Elimination of ornate and things of simplicity by nature expresses their truthfulness. Neat, frank and uncomplicated.

KOKOU (austere)
Basic, weathered bare essentials that are aged and unsensuous. Evokes sternness, forbiddance, maturity and weight.

SHIZEN (natural)
Raw, natural and unforced creativity without pretence. True naturalness is to negate the naive and accidental.

YUGEN (subtle profound)
Suggest and not reveal layers of meaning hidden within. Invisible to the casual eye and avoiding the obvious.

DATSUZOKU (unworldly)
Transcendence of conventional and traditional. Free from the bondage of laws and restrictions. True creativity.

SEIJAKU (calm)
Silence and tranquility, blissful solitude. Absence of disturbance and noise from one’s mind, body and surroundings.

to be honest, i was a bit disappointed with it. if asked, i would admit that. it’s not very playful. it’s not stretching the company visually or conceptually. but alas, it’s not really my place to blast this well established / successful brand.

so i moved on and kept working through the rest of the day.

but it didn’t stop there. just the next day the bonfire of one liners and full on blasts have now grown into a forest fire. everybody has an opinon. and there all ripping this work to shreds. just like they did to the itunes 10 logo / interface a few weeks back.

ripping it apart as if they have their own pedestal of a proven portfolio of work from which to stand on.

some of these critics do good work, but the majority of them have never invested the time, sweat, and blood to make a internationally successful brand.

so, as i alluded to earlier in the week in a tweet:

Don’t criticize someone else’s identity / website unless your own is stellar.

and even then, only do it if it is helpful.

It’s so much easier to tear down every one else around us, than to invest the time and energy into building something great. I’ll be the first to admit this.

I may not be as vocal as some, but i catch myself all the time mentally throwing stones at the latest agency.com redesign, or identity rework. it’s easy to play down someone else’s hard work, guts, and or brilliance.

I heard it a few days before the whole gap hoopla, with a recent agency’s .com redesign. i overheard two guys talking about it, and how meh it was, when they’re very own agency’s site is 4 years old, aging, and in really bad need of a rework.

the monologue usually goes something like this:

“it’s not bad… but…

they’re working with _______ brand, so they can do that…

or

it’s been done before..

or

if only i worked with clients that had that type of budget..

or

it’s kind of predictable…

and the list goes on and on.

It’s time to stop. Stop the crap. Stop the excuses.

Lay down the stones. Turn off twitter. Close out the latest hysterical rant about the hideous redesign of ___________ .

Let’s pick up the chisel. let’s get to work. and let’s make something beautiful.

PS. i realize the irony in writing a post, critiquing the critics. but i had to get this off my chest. please forgive me for having a log in my own eye.

to be worthy, not respectable,
and wealthy, not, rich;

to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with an open heart;
to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently,
await occasion, hurry never;

in a word,
to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common –

this is my symphony.

william henry channing

This has been on my mind (and my desktop) for the last few weeks, especially in the midst of the many changes happening in my life (moving cross country, having a gorgeous baby girl, starting a new gig, and buying a first home).

I don’t want stuff / hurry / crap. And I have to remind my self of this awesome. I want time with my bride. I want to hold and coo with my baby girl. I want to invest, love, and enjoy the relationships God has given me.

Therefore other things must be weeded / kept out. That is the tension.