AIGA Lecture Series: Brian Collins
On October 6th, I went to a lecture at Mass Art by Brian Collins (put on by the AIGA Boston).
His design philosophy is that he is not a problem solver but a “problem seeker, telling a story.” I thought that was an interesting and great way to look at design and design problems. He also said that he was influenced by the idea “spirit of the future” ever since he saw a spaceship launched when he was a 9 year old boy.
He has done a lot of work with his firm. He turned an old gas station in LA into a futuristic green material gas station. He worked with an architecture firm to bring the vision to life. They created different mechanisms in the station so rain water would be saved and could water the flowers if there was a drought.
He also spoke of the WE campaign that he created for Al Gore. He couldn’t find a typeface that he liked or that he thought would go with the project so he had his professional typographer (also his friend) create a whole new typeface just for the campaign.
He had other projects that he spoke of, but the one that I thought was the most interesting and influential was his student that took a sad story and turned it into a successful design project that is utilized by Target.
His student’s grandmother was taking multiple prescription drugs and she took her husband’s drugs instead of hers because the labeling on the bottle was hard to read. The bad reaction to the mixed drugs resulted in her grandmother’s death. The student took this horrible story and redesigned medicine bottles so the labels would be clear and easily to read so that people would not take the wrong medicine again. This story was caught on the local news channel and then eventually Target loved the idea and implemented into their store’s pharmacy.
Brian was very inspirational because he made me think that great design can really make a difference. If we think outside the box and really do great research and go above and beyond, design can affect people in a positive way.
Sparking my passions!
I finally set up my art studio in our house. Honestly, I hadn’t set it up out of pure laziness. Now that it is set up, I have been working on two different oil paintings. I am very excited that I have finally made time and made it more of a priority to delve back into my fine art passion. I forgot how much I love fine arts and getting my hands dirty.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE DESIGNING but painting is completely different medium. I love mixing colors and having the images that float around in my head come alive through oil paints. I can just paint and express myself letting the creativity of my mind come out! It is really freeing and exciting!
I have also been surfing a lot lately. Catching a beautiful wave is so exhilarating!!! It is probably the hardest feeling to describe when you are connected with a wave and zooming down the face of the wave. Being connected with the ocean, an earthly element that is so powerful (can be deadly) is a spiritual and amazing experience. I know, I know I sound like a crazy person, but once you catch the stoke you will never stop surfing. I think surfing is really addicting. I always want one more wave to top the last one or one more wave just to feel that amazing feeling – the adrenaline of catching the wave.
Passions are so important and I was starting to forget how much they keep me going!
1 year of marital bliss! (August 23)
Jacob and I celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary on Sunday, August 23rd. We had breakfast on our porch, went on a bike ride in Arlington, went to the beach to see the giant surf (that hurricane bill brought) and then went to Wentworth by the Sea for an amazing dinner! All in all an awesome day!!
Our original plan was to go to the Isle of Shoals (via ferry) and have a picnic, but the swell from Hurricane Bill was too massive for the boat to go out. Also, we didn’t think getting sea sick was the best way to spend our day. We will eventually go. I have been there 3 times but Jacob has never been there so I thought it would have been a really nice way to spend the day. Exploring a new place that Jacob had never been with a relaxing picnic on the island.
Anyway, Jacob and I took time to reflect on how things had changed for us and almost everything we reflected upon was how things were even better than the year before. What a great day we had!
By wearing shoes we are weakening our bodies…
When Jacob and I last saw his cousin, Ian, he was wearing these crazy looking shoes and I knew I had to have them. These shoes separated each toe kind of like toe socks. I LOVE TOE SOCKS! I think they are the greatest things ever. Ian gave me the site for the shoes: Vibram Five Fingers and I bought them right away.
On the site, it talks about how we are not suppose to run in big bulky shoes and how these shoes are really good for you to wear etc. To be honest, I bought them because they are weird looking and they are like toe socks but I can actually wear them everywhere and they will protect my feet and are also good for my body.
Another person that loves Vibram Five Fingers also wrote an post about these shoes: John Bigg’s post At first he says he is not a fan of these ugly looking shoes, but then he tries them out and LOVES them and how it has improved his running and fitness.
I have yet to run in them but I have gone hiking, kayaking, walking and just wore them around. They are super comfortable and so fun to wear because so many people comment on them. A lot of people are either like “I want some” or intrigued and a bit freaked out at the same time.
I truly recommend these shoes and think everyone should get a pair!
My latest travels…
In June, Jacob and I traveled to Northern California for a wedding. While we were driving to the wedding destination, we realized that we were in the middle of Napa Valley and stopped at a delicious and beautiful winery: www.vsattui.com
If you are ever in the Napa Valley area, I highly recommend V. Sattui Winery. I would go back there in a heartbeat. Their Pinot Noir is excellent and the picnic area is beautiful. The area where they have weddings is amazing as well.
In July, Jacob, me and his family went to Cancun, Mexico for a week vacation. Jacob and his family have been going there for the past 25 years since they have a timeshare in the Royal Resorts: www.royalresorts.com
Our Cancun vacation was AMAZING! We did so many different things. We went para sailing (my first time), sailing, jet skiing (my first time), kayaking, snorkeling on a boat with a local guide for way cheaper than the tour boats, laid by the pool, relaxed and ate and cooked some really delicious food. We ate mangoes for breakfast every day and avocados for lunch. It was super hot every day and I got a sweet tan but it is already disappearing since I sit inside on a computer all day. Also, the weather in Boston is pretty raining and cloudy (still).
Our next vacation is a surf vacation to Sayulita, Mexico during Christmas time. I am excited that we are going to be trying a whole new surf break! It is also not that well-known so there won’t be too many other surfers to battle with.
I really want to go back to Costa Rica again and see how the area has changed since we haven’t been back since 2006 – wow 3 years! Maybe when Jacob and I hit the jackpot (haha!), we will buy some land in Costa Rica and build a beach villa – that would be amazing but it’s only a dream for now!