10 Items or Less (Design edition)

I'm often asked where I get my inspiration and what I appreciate as great design, so I figured I'd share some things that keep me going, smiling, designing and admiring. Here it goes!

1. The Designers Mixtape
Nothing gets me going like a good dose of (really) good music...especially when it comes from like-minded people like the collective put together on the mixtape. Not only is the music absolutely amazing, it's interesting to see how their musical tastes reflect in their design philosophy. It's crazy to think about - how much the influence of others has on the work of others which then influences the next. I love the fact that it's such a brilliant collective of creation - musically, electronically and on paper.
Check it out here.

2. Fatlace | Hellaflush
It's like immersing yourself in everything that is cool - transportation, art/architecture/design, music, photography, clothes and good people. As with the mixtape, you can totally appreciate the intertwine. Even their store is a staple of art that always manages to stay fresh. And not fresh for sake of it like some retail store in a mall, but there is a sense of genuine art behind it all.

Aside from being a creative inspiration, I think it's been a huge motivation to blog more too. I seem to go through blogging streaks more than I'd like, but I think there is a real creative liberation from putting your life experiences out there...or just sharing your perspective with other people. It's just cool like that. (Note: Digable Planets inference). And there are a LOT of bloggers on the Fatlace blogroll - many of whom are huge creative inspirations themselves. Reading their blogs gets me out of my little Chicago shell even just for a moment and makes me remember there is always a lot more out there that I should see. It's awesome.

3. The Glue Society
"The Glue Society is a creative collective based in Sydney and New York comprising writers, designers, art directors and film directors...The Glue Society's work encompasses everything from broadcast entertainment, commercials, print advertising, graphic design and books, to art exhibitions, live events, installations and sculpture." - The Glue Society

Yeah, this is really amazing. I have come to really appreciate the way that they can put together some seriously seamless, "thinking outside of the box" (I hate this phrase, by the way) kind of work. Becoming more of a renaissance company like Glue Society is one of my long-term goals. It's hard to pick a favorite from their portfolio, but I did find this one rather quirky.

4. Segura, Inc.
The founder, Carlos Segura, admits that his involvement in the design field was purely accidental. Which is incredible considering they are one of the most highly regarded firms in the world. (In 2004, they were named one of the Top 100 Designers of the 21st Century) Not only that, but they have managed to create several off-shoot companies dealing with his own passions and design itself (e.g. typography, CD-R/DVD-R/cases, etc.).

5. Braun (in the 1960s)
I would say that Apple products are incredibly eye-catching and polished, but a long time ago I found out that a lot of their design was based upon those of Dieter Rams (for Braun) in the 1960s. Many of his pieces are apparently on display at the NY MoMA -- I need to go to New York! Check out the similarities here. From the article linked here, Dieter has "10 principles for good design":

• Good design is innovative.
• Good design makes a product useful.
• Good design is aesthetic.
• Good design helps us to understand a product.
• Good design is unobtrusive.
• Good design is honest.
• Good design is durable.
• Good design is consequent to the last detail.
• Good design is concerned with the environment.
• Good design is as little design as possible.

Judging by the resurfacing of Dieter's design methodology, I'd also say good design is also timeless.

6. I Am Second
I Am Second is, first and foremost, a realization of your place, your purpose and His influence through all of it in this world. It's an collective (this seems to be a running theme here) inspiration because it's real people telling their real stories about real struggles and how they were overcome. Not only are the messages themselves so incredibly powerful and encouraging, they give a real purpose behind everything I do. And that makes design great.

7. San Francisco, CA
Even though it's a small city, it has a LOT to offer. Actually, I love the fact that the city is so walkable because there is so much to see and so much to get inspiration from. Even the "bad" areas are beautiful. It doesn't hurt that the weather borders on perfect year-round either.

I went there for a business trip last year and I had a blast just strapping on my I-Pod and walking for miles in any direction to see what I would find. Chicago is cool and all, don't get me wrong. But it is one of the WORST places to be when winter hits. I think Chicago is one of my favorite cities 40% of the year, but SF is a pretty consistent top contender.

8. TV shows (listed below)
I hardly ever watch TV, but I'll sit down for a bit to catch these:

The City - MTV I know. I know. This kind of makes the rest of my list that much more illegitimate. But seriously, I realized that most everyone on the show is a twenty-something...which is great because so am I. Despite the fact that they are all seemingly well-off and filled with drama, the inspiring part of the show is a girl who really strives for something she loves is making it work. Does that make it sound better?

Flipping Out - Bravo Jeff Lewis. The dude is crazy. Seriously. But his fanaticism for great design and his vision for what a project could be is incredible. It's proven that during showings, most people have a very hard time seeing past even other people's possessions/configurations, but this guy can see past everything and make all its wrongs right. He is more than an artist and a visionary, but also an incredible problem solver and troubleshooter.

Project Runway - Bravo Some of the stuff those guys come out with are seriously cool. I'd be lying if I said I didn't find inspiration in the way they not only use fabrics, but textures, construction techniques and sketches to do what they do. Plus it's always entertaining to see designers work under pressure - I think we've all been there (but it's a lot nicer to be on the other side of the looking glass).