2016.03.05 Papa Parse

I've been doing quite a bit more data work outside of SSMS. This is particularly interesting to me, and seems to have a handy set of features in a small package. I love that it was also written from scratch. #

2016.03.05 OpenEmu

I know this came out a while ago, but I was just reminded of it (in my massive browser tab clean-up and conversion). I love old video games. I only wish there was a way to legally purchase the ROMs of the games I like the most. Still, this is super cool. #

2016.03.05 FEZ OST

Years ago while playing Fez (which, I enjoyed more than any game I had played in a while), my mind was basically melted at the awesome combination of the gameplay, and the music (this is roughly the version of it that I heard while playing). Unsurprisingly, the music is enjoyable all by itself, and after having this tab open in my browser for years, I finally ponied up the paltry sum to own it for myself (and say thanks to Disasterpeace). #

2016.03.05 Apaxy

A simple and good-looking way to show the contents of a directory on Apache. I've been using this for a while now, but finally want to close the tab on my browser. #

2016.03.04 Wintergatan - Marble Machine

2000 marbles. 3000 moving pieces, all to create a song and music video (and so much more, really). Projects like this blow my mind. I think they're truly incredible. What a labor of love to create such a machine. I'd love to see this thing in person. #

2015.09.23 Notes On Blindness

John Hull, a writer and theologian, became completely blind in 1983. He kept a diary on an audiocassette. This film is a dramatization of some of of his words and thoughts. I loved it, and feel like it's a shame I didn't see it closer to its original release. I'm going to eagerly devour the story and additional material behind it. #

2015.09.02 The Fringe Benefits of Quitting

What a simple, and powerful message Liz Danzico has, from which I can/will benefit. It's okay (and frequently beneficial) to quit something. While doing that, stop thinking of your time as being lost/wasted, but as a beneficial investment into your own improvement for whatever it is. It's also okay not to know exactly how to get somewhere, which may cause for some course corrections. There's a good quote from E.L. Doctorow:

It's like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.

Maybe I'm overly introspective, and purpose-seeking right now, but her message rang true with me right now (Also, fittingly, I've tried to watch this video several times since its release, but just now finally knocked it out.) #

2015.09.02 One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made in my career

My own article about "one of the biggest mistakes I've made in my career" would be different, but I love Andrei's advice. I think it applies to more than just designers debating whether or not they should learn to code. I feel like everybody should learn a specialty, whether or not it becomes the thing you do every day. Additionally, I'm a big proponent of being able to take your ideas to the next level or step. If you can design, figure out how to make your product come alive (through code or prototyping). If you can build wood-only furniture, learn how upholster. If you can cook, learn how to plate. If you can plate, learn how to serve. Maybe it's better summarized as learning how to do the job of the person you hand your "finished" product to. There's a glorious energy, and collaboration point to be found when you're really familiar with the next person in line. Learning to code as a designer is one of those steps. #

2015.08.31 Beth Dean - Emotional Intelligence in Design

I thoroughly enjoyed Beth Dean's thoughts, insights, and suggestions in this fantastic article. If you have anything to do with design, or interacting with other people via a computer, I highly recommend you read it. Here's just a tease of one of my favorite parts (though it was filled with so many awesome elements, I've saved a copy for myself).

People completing seemingly straightforward tasks do so in a variety of contexts and life circumstances. Humanity can be sad, complicated and messy. We don’t stop being human when we go online. Sometimes even when you’re trying to make something with the best intentions, something can go terribly wrong. Sometimes the very tools you create to protect people cause harm. What can we do?

Really. It's so good. #

2015.08.19 DKNG Icons

I'm kicking myself that I didn't notice these earlier. I really like DKNG's work, and already own some of their work. Despite missing out on some of their prints, I still just snagged a copy of the one I would have bought, if coach would have put me in fourth quarter. There are so many fantastic designs, you have to look through them yourself. I'm a hoarder, so I've included some of my favorites here for your viewing. Really, fantastic work, yet again, by DKNG. #