Sit back and read comfortably from your screen. This chair sits comfortably in the top right corner of our web browser and makes our life so much better. We love the thought of a deep-red, leather, reading chair as the symbol for the plugin. Smart. Thank you, guys at Arc90 for giving birth to this idea in your lab.
Looking to jazz up your phone or tablet with something more than the usual? Check out Poolga, a super cool place where artists show off their awesome designs as wallpapers for your gadgets. You won’t find boring here – it’s all about turning your screen into a mini art gallery!
Poolga stands out because it’s all about top-notch artwork. Forget about those blurry backgrounds – these wallpapers are like little pieces of art made just for your screen. There’s a bunch to choose from, so whether you like cool and simple or colorful and wild, there’s something here to make your device uniquely yours.
But what really makes Poolga a winner is how much it loves creativity. Artists get to share their awesome work, and we get to enjoy it every time we pick up our devices. It’s not just wallpapers; it’s a way to bring more fun and color to our digital lives. Give your screen a makeover with a splash of art – Poolga’s got you covered 🙂
Failures are often not the result of limitations but the result of our own will. ‘Making do’ is making great design happen, whatever the circumstance.
What an end to a very interesting article on how to look at the creative business. This last line makes us wonder whether we can apply the same message to life as well.
Read the whole article here.
Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.
—Mark Victor Hansen
It’s eerie when you stumble upon a quote which provides an answer to the very question that you are facing at that moment. The funny part is we knew the answer to this, but for some reason chose not to remember it.
You know what’s cool? Taking things a bit differently. Viktor Hertz‘s “Honest Logo” series does just that. He plays around with famous logos to show us that being a little unconventional can lead to awesome things.
Think about it – when Viktor takes famous logos and makes them funny, he’s actually showing us that there’s more beneath the surface. Just like that, we can learn to see things from a fresh angle. Being a little rebellious doesn’t mean just being funny; it means thinking in a way that shakes things up.
Side projects are like secret playgrounds for our creativity. Just like Viktor’s logo series, they let us try new things without any rules. These projects remind us that trying something different can make our main work even better. So, whether it’s logos or our own ideas, a bit of boldness can go a long way in making things exciting and different.
Go through the entire series. The Facebook, Apple and Microsoft versions are our favs.
The objections have been so intense and the effort so concerted that it does not feel out of place to ask if there is a deeper intent, a deliberate effort behind all the critiques, objections, characterisations and dirty tricks that the movement is attracting. Nothing is easier in argument than to either characterise the other side with adjectives of your choosing and to inflate a germ of doubt that you can plausibly detect into a full blown epidemic of distrust or try and denigrate the credentials of those one is opposed to and to focus on who they are rather than on the idea that they represent.
Part of an excellent blog post on criticism by Santosh Desai.
This part in particular struck a chord with us, as it dives into the world of intense objections and hidden motives. This reflection prompts us to ponder the role of criticism and the strategies often used in such discussions.
It highlights a common tactic in arguments – the use of strong labels to paint the opposing side in a certain light. It’s a reminder that it’s easy to throw around labels that fit our narrative, which can lead to an atmosphere of doubt. The notion of blowing a small doubt out of proportion is something we’ve all seen, and it underscores the importance of approaching criticism with a discerning eye, focusing on the underlying intent rather than the emotional language.
The idea of discrediting the credentials of those we disagree with is another aspect Desai points out. This approach shifts attention away from the actual idea and onto the people presenting it. It’s a tactic that can sidetrack discussions and cloud the real issue. Desai’s perspective encourages us to stay on track and focus on the essence of the argument, regardless of who’s voicing it.
In the context of creative work, these insights are incredibly relevant. They remind us to approach criticism constructively, evaluating ideas based on their worth rather than getting caught up in the tactics used to present them. Recognizing the strategies that can muddle discussions empowers us to engage in meaningful conversations that lead to growth and innovation.
If you’re a creative person, especially if you’re just starting out, you’ve got to check out Mike Monteiro’s talk called “Fuck You, Pay Me.” This talk is like a guidebook for creative professionals, showing us that creativity and knowing how business works are like two sides of the same coin.
Monteiro’s talk is all about making things simple. He wants us to understand that being creative isn’t the whole story. We’ve also got to know how to handle the business side of things. In short, ensure how to get paid for the work you do.
He tells real stories where not talking about money and contracts properly can cause problems. His stories teach us that clear communication from the beginning is super important.
The talk hits home the idea that being creative is also about being smart in business. Monteiro’s examples help us see that we need to think of ourselves as both artists and business people. By learning about contracts, talking with clients, and understanding money, we make sure we’re treated fairly for our work.
In today’s world, with the rise of content creators and the gig economy, Monteiro’s talk is even more relevant. It’s like a roadmap for creative success, reminding us that understanding how business works is just as vital as having talent. So, whether you’re just starting out or looking to up your game, “Fuck You, Pay Me” is a talk you shouldn’t miss. It’s like a friend giving you advice on how to make your creative journey awesome.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; build anyway.
—Mother Teresa / Keith Kent
“20 Things I Learned about Browsers and the Web” was an illustrated book from 2010-11 on things you always wanted to know about the web but were afraid to ask. Illustrated by Christoph Niemann, written by the Google Chrome team, and built in HTML5, this charming guidebook is a handy read about how the evolution of browsers and the web changed the way we work and play online. It’s a great example of how to make “technical” stuff interesting.
Kamchatk, an Argentinian digital agency, decided to make their website on Twitter. From a time when Twitter used to be really cool. Watch this demo video they made. At times, it’s a good thing the Internet never forgets.