The Fierce Imagination of Haruki Murakami
You could even say that translation is the organizing principle of Murakami’s work: that his stories are not only translated but about translation. The signature pleasure of a Murakami plot is watching a very ordinary situation (riding an elevator, boiling spaghetti, ironing a shirt) turn suddenly extraordinary (a mysterious phone call, a trip down a magical well, ...
On Creativity
Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things. And the reason they ...
Designers Are The New Drivers Of American Entrepreneurialism
As with The Designer Fund, this article by Bruce Nussbaum captures the emerging emphasis on designers as entrepreneurs. One key to entrepreneurs’ success is that they frame things differently, they connect existing dots in unique ways. via Designers Are The New Drivers Of American Entrepreneurialism | Co. Design.
On Creativity
Even more so than inspiration, creativity requires dedication.
Coppola On Risk, Money, Craft & Collaboration
Over the course of 45 years in the film business, Francis Ford Coppola has refined a singular code of ethics that govern his filmmaking. There are three rules: 1) Write and direct original screenplays, 2) make them with the most modern technology available, and 3) self-finance them. If you don’t take a risk then how ...
The Transformative Power of Personal Projects
I love the personal work of Ji Lee and enjoyed his talk at the 99% conference: Bored with his ad agency gig and the uninspiring work he was producing, Ji Lee – now Creative Director of Google Creative Lab – decided to take matters into his own hands in 2002. The result was the ad-spoofing ...
Quentin Tarantino Works When He Wants
Writer-director Quentin Tarantino works when he wants to on what he wants. Interview at KCRW | 89.9FM.
The Cloud
This combines so many elements that I’m drawn to into one functional environment – beyond object. It’s meditative, ethereal, and draws from camping technology (rip-stop nylon, portable). Camping in my tent has always been highly meditative and creative for me. At one point many years ago, we even had our tent set up in our ...
Lego Creations
I’m definitely part of the Lego generation – played with them as a kid, went to Lego world in Holland, and was a fan of Lego Mindstorms. This Lego Volvo is crazy: More amazing Lego creations at TechEBlog’s Top 10 Strangest Lego Creations.
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“Geeking is not about high tech. It’s about taking stuff apart and putting it together and making something new. It’s about curiosity and tinkering, whether it be with gardens, vacuum tubes or PHP.” – Caterina Fake
New Point of View
Switched from East Coast small-town greenery to West Coast city views. I’m loving it.
Interview with Zeldman
In this society, we are bombarded by other people’s creativity from the moment we wake up. Radio, billboards, the way this year’s cars are designed, the way the street grid works in your city: it’s all grist for the mill. How can your brain not be continually churning and coming up with ideas? How can ...
Lessons from Sundance
Robert Redford’s Sundance enterprise includes a cable channel, a DVD/video line, a retail catalog, a resort, and its focal point—a nonprofit institute that is part artists’ colony, part R&D lab and producer of the annual Sundance Film Festival. Redford’s dedication to innovation in filmmaking has not only spawned and nurtured an expanding independent film industry, ...
Because someone has to support innovation…
The Switala Foundation supports creativity and innovation in the arts and media. Started in 2002 by my dear friend, Rebecca Bernstein, for her husband, Tim Switala, “a creative innovator, who dedicated his life to helping others think outside the box.” The Goo Goo Dolls are performing at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on August 26, ...