Challenge The Senses
Design should always challenge our senses. Because senses stimulate thought.
This morning as I slowly start my work day. I spent a little time consuming my social feed of what has become a world of constant retweets, repost and buzzfeed. Yes, as they are sometimes entertaining, more often my time is what's consumed.
I'm glad I wasted the time this morning because a delightful thought came to mind while watching a video of a friend singing. Actually it was a feeling before a thought was realized. I felt CHILLS. Chills from nothing more than someones voice. Isn't it amazing without any tools the human body is capable of this. I would trade my design skills for a golden voice.
Whats interesting to me about the concept of singing is that a singer is very in tuned with their vocal chords. They have amazing control of their voice, breathing and technique, this combination makes for an amazing sound. Singers provoke thought through sound. Years of practice, fine tuning and knowing the nuances separates a good singer to a great one. Contrast that to design. We use a combination of hand, eye coordination to provoke thought through sight.
Build a strong foundation and always challenge the senses.
Watercolor Killer
Design that heals
“Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity.”
A good design is one that tells a story, and a great story is one that heals our soul.
AĒR CHAIR
AĒR a : air : atmosphere <aerate> <aerobiology> <aerosol
"Keep every promise you make and only make promises you can keep. "
AĒR is about promises we make and holding ourselves to it. Commitments and follow throughs - speaks millions. AĒR is manually inflated through our breath and engineered to deflate in 30 days, when a new promise is due. Sit on your words. #creativesession #industrialdesign #furniture #cs #designlife
#LOVE from THEHUNDREDS
The age-old debate of whether we’re a product of our environment will forever be contested from both sides of the spectrum, but in the case of brotherly industrial design duo Creative Session, no other version of their adolescence could have shaped their respective careers like the one they experienced growing up in Portland, Oregon..... (READ MORE HERE)
Fave 5
The definition of a "friend" has become an ever changing thing since the intro of social media. A friend used to be a companion, a role model, a brother, a sister, etc. Someone who you can physically interact with. With the introduction of the internet, blogging and other social outlets, surrounding yourself with influential people thousands of miles away is no longer an issue.
"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."
If this holds true, why are we not surrounding ourselves with legends? Here are our fave 5, feel free to share yours:
1. Seth Godin 2. Steve Jobs 3. TED Talks 4. Chase Jarvis Interviews 5. Reads - Medium, Mark Manson
NSW - BLK/BLK
CNCPTS X ADIDAS ORIGINALS
Good Listening: ZHU "Cocaine Model"
Circle Back. Pay It Forward
We were raised by financially poor Vietnamese farming parents, but very rich with love, knowledge, attention and care. There's a saying in Vietnamese: "Ăn quả nhớ kẻ trồng cây" - in short, it means to remember and pay homage to the farmer every time you take a bite of a fruit. It's a reminder that life is bigger than us and everything we have was built on someone else's blood, sweat and tears.
Roughly ten years ago, in Portland, this man Jason Mayden (@jaymay_chicity), who at the time I believe was Brand Jordan director, stumbled upon Hoang's Architecture work at our High School. After a little chat, he signed a Nike process book and literally wrote "If you don't design shoes after school, I'm going to come and get you." This was our official intro to Industrial Design.
Fast forward ten years later, in a whole different city, I run into him at a random bowling alley in the burbs! It's CRAZY how I just read his @Hypebeast article earlier this week and have been meaning to reach out! The world is such a small place! If it wasn't for this man, we would definitely NOT be here. #thankful #RightplaceRighttime #blessed
Your art. Have it work for you.
GOOD LISTENING: "Vermilion" by Dirty Art Club
Always Try Something Once.
We'd have to say. A wedding video isn't something we'd immediately sign up for. But wanted to shoot one at least once in our design career. Grateful for the opportunity. #firstwedding #lastonetoo #willsticktoindustrialdesign For us this was more than capturing this couples special day. It was a way to challenge our minds. To feel uncomfortable. To try something we're totally unfamiliar with. Beyond that it's about getting to know people, to learn their quarks. Then to implement in a way that captures their aura.
Enjoy. Let us know. What do you guys think?
CS x FACTORCLAVE
Two more weeks until we head out to Queretaro, Mexico for Factor Clave. We're so excited about this event but more excited about the culture and history. Anh and I will be 1 of 8 designers presenting at the conference and will be holding a 4 hour workshop one of the days. If you can make it to this years event please come say hello. for more information go here.
Full circle.
Bentley for Eames
We didn't realized how our pup Bentley can be so patient. I left Bentley on the Herman Miller eiffel for a moment and when I came back he was still there hanging out. Totally perfect photo op. Wish I took the photo on a higher res camera though. I think we're going to do a collection of Bentley on designer chairs. enjoy.
Good Listening : Rice Rain by Cashmere Cat
This song is so happy. Enjoy. Magnus August Høiberg aka Cashmere Cat, is a Norwegian musician, producer and DJ/turntablist.
The remix by Twinztrack is also super fly.