Light and Darkness

As the new year encroaches, I continue to be mesmerized by the sheer magnitude of what has happened in 2011. I've managed to jump around the country several times - traveling, working, and visiting old friends (as well as making new ones) - experiencing nearly every time zone in Northern America.

I've witnessed a protesting world unlike anything I've ever seen in my lifetime. I've become more knowledgable in tools for design, partnerships amongst friends, the web ecosystem, blogging, airplanes, HCI, hair products, marketing, and mortgages. I furnished an entire apartment by myself from floor to ceiling. I rumbled. I stirred. I tried to separate hard work from love... still with very little luck.

I continue my struggle with the ridiculously slow pace of consumer-facing smart home technology and home theater systems. I maddens me when we have the technology there, just with no one there to connect the dots.

I've become inspired. Not by just the individuals I work with, my colleagues, and industry, but by the plain and simple belief that: "Most people try to do good. But more often than not, they naturally choose the option of convenience." Master the method of delivery and you master the art of crafting user experience. My intention is to complete the circle in 2012.

Michael Peck's Stillness on the Move

Still some of the most incredible oil paintings I've had the pleasure of stumbling upon.

Modul8-d Lambo

Wish more projects like these would land on my lap. I don't think I'd be able to sleep.

Holiday Smear

Merry fuckin' Christmas. I'll be Cali next week.

EUI Space Ideation

Being on the office space design team has its perks. You're pretty much able to transform the environment where everyone works into something much more. Other times, you're just constantly pissing off people by moving them around to accommodate new 'next big idea.'

Here's just some of the stuff we've been thinking about, ranging from breakout 'booths' for private conference calls to a completely new lounge area upstairs. Also in the works is an LED lighting installation spelling out the company logo as you walk up a flight of stairs. It's exciting times for all of us here at EffectiveUI, and with an OCD, modernist-enthusiast like myself on board, you can bet there will be some drastic (but awesome) changes in the coming months.

Expand the Kingdom

It's not often I post lyrics here, but this is probably one of my favorite songs of all time. I think it deserves a permanent spot here on the blog.

We travel like the wind across the rotten fruited plain
We travel like the blood that surrounds your brain
Atmosphere has landed demanding that we raise the curve
Expand the kingdom, all heads of the earth

Ay, yo, once in a great while
One has the heart to approach us
But usually comes up close
He didn't know who it was
The name travels further than the face
He did not recognize the profile
Only saw an emcee for him to waste
But no child
That ain't the case
Go find yourself a cause
I'll take advantage of your flaws
And climb into your drawers
Now did it damage your jaws
When it dropped
And hit the pavement in shock
That's why they keep me locked
Underneath the basement a lot
Lettin me out just to eat and shit
And every so often just to keep me fit
They give me a new emcee to rip
To pieces
Grip the neck
Release is out of the question
Maybe they'll let me out if i make a good impression
So please don't take it personal
When i flush me through your veins
Consider yourself a big part
Of that great emcee food chain
And take your spot in the circle with pride
Reps with dignity if you let em
And when they do, i respect em
Welcome the cure for your suffering
And tell them it's pure
No subtle hints or weak substances cuttin it
I chuckle when an ego and pride collide with judgement
Add that to your buzz
And the result is malfunction
No longer shall i listen to your babble
Too many comin off the deep end
With a steady stream of shallow
I have no remorse for those that drop
Someday i'll drop
Until then i'ma stay on top
Of heads like a bald spot

Ay, yo, we travel like the wind across the rotten fruited plain
We travel like the blood that surrounds your brain
Atmosphere has landed demanding that we raise the curve
Expand the kingdom, all heads of the earth
Ay, yo, we travel like the wind across the rotten fruited plain
We travel like the blood that surrounds your brain
Atmosphere has landed demanding that we raise the curve
So unravel your thoughts, and come across in a verse

Yo, sold my car
To the junk yard
Couldn't fuck with the insurance
Gave me forty bucks
Brought a bus card and
Lunch at Perkins
For fun i drain the essence
From the life forms of messes
Deal with daily stresses
And keep the mic warm with message
I've learned how to hide my keys
In a matter of arrogance and confidence
Contributing to my ego trips and accomplishments
"He's on some shit.."
No, not yet. i just follow my path
I don't eat my words as often as i swallow my laugh
Apollo is back
Landed on the foche
And everythings okay
According to the commercials for the Low-Fat Yoplait
And i no that there's no way
To say what you need to hear
So i take the long way through your brain
To put some flavor in your ear
Like using a cleaver on canteloupe
Leave your plans and hope on the shoulder with the
roadkill carcasses of no skill smartasses
Atmosphere coming through to the midst of entertainment
Plastic bag in hand to scoop up all the brain shit

We travel like the wind across the rotten fruited plain
We travel like the blood that surrounds your brain
Atmosphere has landed demanding that we raise the curve
Expand the kingdom, all heads of the earth

All Said and Done

More dreamy goodness. A bit too industrial strength as-is, but with a little molding and laced with art and rugs and we're good to go.

Tastes Like Animal Collective

Or Girl skate videos. Or Klondike bars. Or even L.A.

The APOLLO Vista House

One step closer. Dream house ideas I'm definitely stealing: kitchen work bench, spiral staircase, floor to ceiling windows, and wooden skylight treatment. Via.

All Stars are Not Created Equal

Old man once said: "How 'young' you live your life is up to you. Take it from one who knows. I learned this the hard way." So never settle. Enjoy friends and family. Follow your dreams like you never would.

Everything is Fantastic

The Internet was good this weekend.

Going Green Since 1949, Bitches

Ice Cube celebrates sustainable architecture and design. An Eames study. Gangsta-style.

5 Common Pitfalls of Bad Design

One must wonder, 'How do you become a hit with the masses?' or hell, maybe even, 'If Steve Jobs was still around, what would make him want to check out my product?' It's a good question, and a legitimate one. But quite frankly, I don't see what's so hard to understand.

For one, good design intended for mass consumption at an epic scale should to avoid these 5 common pitfalls:

1. Trying to Boil the Ocean: Many companies feel that over-saturating an experience with a wealth of features for sharing, information, and branding will sell the product. It won't.
2. Failing to Understand Context: People understand the world through a lens of 'what they know.' If you think everyone thinks the same way as you do, you couldn't be further from the truth.
3. Oversimplifying: Many may argue that lazy design is always good design. This is untrue. There are times when making archaic things 'pretty and simple' may actually strip the value of it altogether.
4. Marketing is Not UX: Mistaking branding and user experience as the same exact thing. The idea of marketing focuses on 'telling.' User experience, however, focuses on 'understanding.' 
5. Process Over Innovation: The best design ideas are often innovations pushed to the limit within a constrained environment. Companies often glorify the process of implementing these constraints and fail to understand what truly makes ideas shine; the simple feeling of accomplishment.

Woman Man Shirt

I must say, this is quite clever indeed.

Cocaine & Caviar

Today was amazin'. And it just keeps getting better.