Things Connected

The Stunner Starter Kit: Curated Information, Connections, and Experiences

   

Mike and I've been working on developing a collection of inspiration//tools to help young folks create their own life//work paths.  One feature we've been discussing is peer-to-peer mentoring that would come with the kit - you pay for the books/articles/stuff and also get 30 minutes to talk to a "Young Stunner" in that field.

Andrew Zolli's created this intelligence briefing, FirstWord -- which is also a curated 'box o' stuff' that's designed to inform, inspire and connect.  Zolli's pushed past the traditional trends and insights subscription services:  Pay $2995/yr & you get books and articles, video interviews with thought leaders, their contact information, a CD with links, articles, and access to a 'thought leader' conference call.

While the web and technology make access to information easy ... I think curated information and services like this will find great success as people become increasingly overwhelmed by infinite resources and seek out expertise//advice//direction.  The task then will be discerning WHO we actually trust to share expertise and advice.

There are a ton of cool, well-designed 'kits' out there - below is Elizabeth Dilk's Writer's Block Kit ... great design, great idea.  I'm excited to jump off this little project!

If you're interested in working on the Stunner Starter Kit - doing interviews or researching interesting careers, please reach out!

image of FirstWord from Andrew Zolli's Z+ Partners website
image of Elizabeth Dilk's Writer's Block Kit via Notcot

Good Design & Art Direction are a Portal

From about 1994 - 1996, when I was a 'tween' - and had no car & fewer adult 'worries' - I loved walking around the used book & cd store.  In Chattanooga, it's called McKay's. 

I would walk around the store for HOURS...inspired to pick up a book or cd only by either:
-  an intriguing title or
-  interesting cover art.

The 'if it looks cool on the outside, it MIGHT be cool on the inside' test introduced me to artists and work that I am STILL feeling, like:

Jamiroquai 'Return of the Space Cowboy' 

                                                                                                            

               Brendan Benson, One  Mississippi (he's now with The Raconteurs)

and, a book of photography of the Big Sur Coast + Robbinson Jeffers poems that the Sierra Club published in 1965 called 'Not Man Apart' that still completely explains my personal philosophy.

It's a little obvious...of course, the purpose of ads and cover art is to draw people in, make them curious, and use style to attract the like-minded.

I guess it's just been a while since I've spent time in a store with no objective, patiently waiting for something interesting to catch my eye...and, I can't remember the last print ad that made me take a second look...

<<enter Parish, stage left>>                                          

Edward Tufte and the evils of PowerPoint

The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint: How Pitching Out Corrupts Within by Edward Tufte.

Tufte is Professor Emeritus at Yale where he taught statistical evidence, information design, and interface design.

This book explores the dangers of PowerPoint in communicating complex ideas or data, or its inability to appropriately explain the truth.  He uses examples from Science, Politics, and Art History to argue that PowerPoint's form is inadequate in conveying detail and complexity, therefore presentation consumers learn very little and are ill-equipped to take meaning action or make proper decisions.

So next time you want to make a PowerPoint and talk at people for an hour, think about having a conversation instead!

Holler at this...It's only $7 and made a believer out of me.

Lawrence Lessig: Idea Champion

Not too many people often characterize lawyers as creative types, but that can be attributed to the  misconception that creativity is based in artistic ability. 

Lawrence Lessig is creatively championing ideas through the law.  I've read about him, but have just recently slowed down to recognize how great this legal scholar's impact is on the creative community and the way we exchange concepts.

Lessig is a constitutional law scholar, currently teaching at Stanford,  heads up the school's Center for Internet and Society and chairs the Creative Commons.

His book "Free Culture: How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity" is next on my reading list.

And now for my Susan Powter "Stop the Insanity!" moment:  In September, Creative Commons hosted a NYC party featuring (gasp!) ... Girl Talk!  And now, they're raising money for Good Magazine which, I promise, was going to be featured in my next post...

Talk about connected...I think I might get a headache from too much excitement.