Tomorrow, it's 3.

It's been a long time since I blogged.

And for the first time, I'm not going to apologize.
Let me tell you a secret. It's likely to be a long time again.

I am ridiculously busy at the moment. Working at a startup will keep anyone busy, but doing that and having your hands in many, many, many other things... well.

Because I'm not finding enough hours in the day, I've moved the alarm to 5am. Now I'm not saying I honor it completely every morning, but at least I was up well before 6. And that's after a double header last night (yes... a double, a triple and and a home run... it was a fun night!). But, anyway.

Today has been incredibly busy. I started by tearing down a wall in the house. Yes. The newly remodeled house. We are moving things around a bit... it's going to be pretty cool... or prettier cooler? I have scheduled service on two cars, arranged a dog sitter, booked a mini getaway for our anniversary (not an easy task when EVERY resort seems to be booked for the week), started planning a company party for the weekend... and of course done my job. Which at the moment, happens to be designing a web presence for a new NASCAR sponsorship and that is kind of... well let's face it. It's fun that I happen to get paid for.

So what is all this rambling? I'm thankful. I've never thought about it before, but my anniversary is in the Thanksgiving season. And I think that's completely appropriate. I couldn't be more blessed. And SOOO much of that is my wife. She has affected my perspectives, my priorities, my actions... She loves me for me -- and she just makes my life better.

Kids, if you have to wait until 34 to find the one... wait.

I'm so busy this week, that our anniversary has to get a little lost in that busyness. But I look forward to getting away -- if only for a night. And celebrating what God has given me.

I am truly blessed.

A Good Day.

Some of you know that I have begun a new career outside of 73ideas.

73ideas still is, mind you, and looking for some more awards... but I have become a designer for a spectacular startup that is going to be Facebook, but for innovators.

Today has been officially my best day yet with Bulbstorm -- funny, considering that my CEO asked me today, if everything was OK!

It was. It was a good day.

I love it when I find inspiration to execute on -- and surprise even myself with the outcome.

Today was one of those days.

If the work isn't approved and I have to start again, so be it.

But I think it's a perfect visual description of the brand.

And better than it could have been!

It's been a good day.

30 Days of Not Designing...

So a couple months ago, I set out on a self imposed challenge of "30 Days of Design". The plan being to force myself to create outside the confines of my work. It was a LOT of work. On the days that I chose to do renderings, it could easily consume the entire day. I got to day 19.

I hate not achieving goals, but this one was not to be -- bigger things happened.

On May 26th, I accepted an offer with the innovation startup Bulbstorm. It is chock full of exciting possibilities, including the design of an iphone app, a Facebook app, as well as all of the other web work and cool stuff that is part of the day to day.

Actually, just this week, we launched a contest that we have designed: There is $1,500 up for grabs -- so check it out! It will introduce you to bulbstorm.com beta as well, so you can see where that is headed. We are working every day to brainstorm its impovements.

Check it out! http://www.bulbstorm.com/contests/

Oh, and back to that 30 Days of Design. Was it not for that -- I would not have the entry that I submitted to Corel's International Design Competition -- so look forward to seeing what happens with that!

Here are the final layouts I submitted, as well as a link to see it as it should be seen: as a PDF.

See it larger


See it larger

Day 19: The Really, Really, Really Green Desk Lamp...

Yeah.  I just might build this one!  Especially since both of my companies (mine and the new career) both have lightbulb logos...

Day 18: The Steel Mailbox Post

Day 17: Porsche Design Inspired Cell Phone, Refined.

Well, I don't have to compromise if I just make it a smartphone... so now it's a smartphone.

Day 16: The Porsche Design Influenced Cell Phone

When I started sketching this one, I had no criteria other than "cell phone", but as I scribbled, I realized that there are few cell phones that could be classified as "high design".

As I continued to subtract unneccesary knobs and dials and buttons -- and minimized the ones that were absolutely required, I found that I had ended up designing something straight out of the Porsche Design school of minimalism.  Which basically means that I want this phone... if only I thought I could live without a smartphone...

Day 15: Another iPod Dock I'd Like to Have...

Day 14: iPod Dock Refined

Day 13: The Dressertop Valet.

As one who very much enjoys both watches and cufflinks, I had this random concept pop into my head while doing some other sketching this morning.

The palm of the hand would hold cufflinks, with a finger or two separated enough to hold a couple of rings. Individual watch holders lift out of the upper channel and can be inserted into the front facing watch winder in the base.

Day 12: More iPod Dock Exploration...

More sketch brainstorming.

Most of these have have a remote sub, but a couple include the sub in the cabinet.

Day 11: A Better iPod Dock

I have been constantly disappointed with iPod docks.  I have purchased some of the best out there and they just aren't great.  They all have their various weaknesses, but as a rule NONE of them sound good.  Not Polk, not Bose, not anyone...  Now, I'm pretty picky about audio quality, but for some reason, $150 for a good 2.1 set of computer speaker buys a lot better sound than $300 on the best ipod docks out there.

For a while now, I have been on the verge of building a dock myself (from the guts of a Klipsch Promedia 2.1 speaker set), so this these (days 11 and 12) sketches may pave the way for my finally doing that.

As I just might build one, I'll likely follow in the next couple days with a set of build drawings...

Day 10: The "dumb" continued... Accessories.

Wow.  I am glad this one (over the last three days) is done!  At the same time that I breathe a sigh of relief, I am just loving the results and still finding myself giggling about it.

There are so many components that have not made it from sketch brainstorming to final designs, but I have laughed out loud many times over the last three days.  It has taken on a life of it's own -- and I've had a hard time quitting and letting go!

First, I couldn't just stop at a humorous car design... it actually ended up imperative to me that though rediculous, it still had to be good design...

And then I just couldn't stop illustrating it's "usefullness".

While I do have some other thoughts on the topic, they will likely have to live as sketches for the sake of time -- But this one has been a hoot!

Day 9: "dumb" is the new "smart".

Here it is... "dumb"... !  Oh, and this is just the beginning!

Tomorrow it gets even better... options and accessories!

Day 8: Sketches: The "dumb", a smaller, greener, take on the "smart"...

I already find it funny, but tomorrow it goes from sketches to a polished presentation.

Should be fun.  Pre-order yours now, complete with "roof mounted cupholder"...  or "backpack carry straps"...

Day 7: A Classic Take on the Same...

I do like this one.  Now if it could both dispense air circulation AND candy!

Oooh, let me say -- tomorrow's is going to be a LOT of fun!

Day 6: The Vertical Modern Desk Fan

Here is another clean solution for a modern desk fan.

See tomorrow's design for a stunning classic take on the same principle.

Day 5: An Analog Case for a Digital World

Ungh!  I am 5 days in and already getting behind!

Well, this one's rough, but lots of fun!  I have no doubt that I will put together a rendering for this later.

Day 4: Tightened Fan Drawings

I'm liking this one.  There aren't many desk fans outside of the retro market that aren't an eyesore.  The only downside of this design is lack of an oscillation feature.

It could be done, but would make the design significantly more complicated.  Still, it would be interesting exploring the idea of an oscillating action that can't be seen from the front -- similar to the vertical adjustment already in the design...

Day 4: Executive Desk Fan

Day 4's design is a clean, modern solution to the desk fan, including a sketch of a foldable, travel version.  The idea is, that rather than the cumbersome and unsightly pivot mechanism of the typical fan, the fan motor pivots from behind and tightens with a knob on a sliding vertical groove.

Buttons would be flush and electronic, not mechanical.  One touch for high, a second for medium, and so on. Likely a soft blue LED ring light around a single button, rather than the multiple buttons of the larger drawing.

I may follow this with a rendering tomorrow.

Day 3: Cheating.

OK.  This is kind of cheating.  I didn't do this for the "30 days" project, but as an illustration for my lovely wife's blog -- but it is 3D, so I'm going to claim it as "product design" and not "graphic design", and let it qualify for this month.  ...I know, technicalities.

I'll be back tomorrow with new sketches on a completely different theme.  Wheels, perhaps? ... or an electric fan?

Day 2: Watch the Second.

Day 2 gets to be a watch as well.  Hi, Suprise... it's me, Dwight. Anyway -- Since I had already done the sketch yesterday, I thought I'd go ahead and execute this one, as well.

Day 1: Final Concept Art

Here we are then.  A clean faced time/date mechanical, a clean time/date chronograph, and an oversized numbered chronograph.

Oh, and for the record, it is not my plan to finish each days design/designs to this degree.

30 Days of Design Discipline -- Day 1.

Well, here it is: Day 1 Watch Design.  Really, what else would Day 1 be?  Funny, I happened to design a new DK logo along the way and think I'm going to keep it.

If I make the time some days, I may be doing a computer rendering as well, so watch for those...

30 Days of Design Discipline...

I am beginning a little project which I'm calling "30 Days of Design Discipline".

The idea is to "fire up", test, and excercise my creativity and design skills, as well as respond to the discipline of creating at least one strong design per day.

This month will be entirely product design... Watches -- of course,  automotive related, environmental/spatial, a guitar, some furniture, lighting, maybe a wine opener... We'll just see where it goes (and I'm open to suggestions).

I may renew my subscription for another 30 days, and do 30 logos in 30 days, or posters... or? But that is to be determined.

Here we go!

Unbeliever...

I admit it.  I don't believe in blogging.  I am a Blognostic.

That's not true.  I do believe.

I have simply made the choice not to do it for a while.

But I am back.

I have forward-slidden.

Goodbye 2008. Good Morning 2009.

2008 has been both a quick and painfully slow year.

This house has bore witness to all kinds of complications this past year... As well as trust, faith, growth and ultimately relief.

The challenges in a nutshell: My grandmother had a stroke in March, but we couldn't go bw with her with Tracy's back as it was. Then after months of pain, trying multiple non-surgical options and procedures, she ultimately ended up unable to walk, stand, or even pick up her head. Surgery ended up the ONLY option. Within days of her back sugery at Mayo, I came down with an acute case of Cocci (Valley Fever, here) and was sick, then weak, for months. We lost Mindy, my dog of 13 years (and our dog, now). On that same day, we found out that my grandma was having emergency surgery and that they found cancer.

There has been plenty of good as well. Tracy graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary in July, with her MAT-BST, having taken on both Greek and Hebrew, and so, so much more.

I played softball in both church league and city league, and found that I can still hit the ball -- though the following attempts at base running are not what they were 17 years ago. I am younger in my head than I am on the field.

In September, It was announced that two 73ideas logos were selected for Logo Lounge 5 "2,000 International Identities by Leading Designers" -- the premier collection for Corporate Identity. There were over 33,000 pieces up for consideration in the internationally juried competition. It's my first international contest win since 2001.

Tracy has taken on teaching the senior high girls bible study and found it both challenging and rewarding. I have pitched in to help where I can, which most of the time means moving a chair or two, or hooking up a laptop to the home theater.

I was baptized in November. I grew up without that being either stressed or readily available. It is amazing the hunger to read and know more that has followed that experience.

Ultimately it has been a very good year. A tough year to be sure, but a good year. Without the challenges there is not the opportunity for growth.

Hello and welcome, 2009.
I look forward to your opportunities and challenges.