Although most of my product research is now found via the internet, there are still a few favorite ‘stand-by’ resources that are kept on compact disc. While shuffling through CD’s the other day, I reminisced on the racks I had built to store them. Similar to the previous DIY Design posts, here is another example of using inexpensive materials and a few basic tools to change a usually utilitarian thing into something fun and unique.

Half of the fun is over-designing (if there is such a thing!) and being playful…to bring a smile to your face.

I realize that compact discs may soon be gone but wouldn’t these make nice iPad or Kindle storage systems? Or maybe drying racks for reusing tiny plastic baggies? 🙂   Click on the pictures to enlarge.

As you can tell from our site, one of my more recent obsessions is Photography.  Not unlike architecture, there is an artistry to doing it well.  You can define an experience, create a mood and evoke thoughtful discussion.  Instead of ‘tweeting’ some images and links for Photography Friday, I thought I would formalize a post and share with you some images taken by Jeff Bucklew.  Jeff is an advanced hobbyist photographer I recently met through the Western Wisconsin Photography Club.  Please click on the audio and then on the images to hear Jeff talk about the photographs.  You can see more of Jeff’s work at this link.

wildlife photography interview

Here is a fun idea that we have incorporated on several projects.

The steel grates pictured here are from McMaster. The part number is 6849T423. The exterior grate is galvanized while the interior one is not.

Please check out the video!

I love designing things, any ‘things’. Now that we are approaching the Holiday Season, I was reminded of gifts that would find there way to family when I was first starting out in my career. With a tool arsenal comprised of a cordless drill and jig saw, and a wallet filled with, well, not much, homemade gifts became the yearly tradition.

With the ability to drill holes, tighten bolts, do minor metal cutting and push a button on a spray can, visions of knick-knacks danced in my head. Using off-the-shelf items from the local home improvement center, I created a series of pen holders.  Hey, who doesn’t have a pen and need a place to put it?

I didn’t have a specific idea when digging in.  It was more of a ‘what if I do this or that’.  It reminded me of when we used to do ‘rip and tear’ models in architecture school -just let your thoughts become fluid and not get caught up in perfection.  You are looking for the idea, the direction, that leads to a solution.  The process was cathartic and relaxing.  I am a big believer that everyday objects should have beauty and meaning.  Why not?  As you can tell by these examples, it does not take a lot of skill or know-how to come up with something unique and fun.

The gifts were a hit -at least that is what my brother in California told me.  I probably could have bought a descent gift card for the price of shipping a heavy metal object across the country but it’s the thought that counts…right?

Like most businesses during this tough economic time, our office gets resumes from recent graduates to those with years of experience. It amazes me that most of them arrive via email in what appears to be a blast to everybody under the sun.

When I graduated college in the late 80’s, it was a similar rough time to find a job. We did things the ‘old fashioned’ way of mailing resumes or actually hand delivering them. I put my line in the water like everyone else. After getting nowhere in my quest for a job, I realized I had to somehow set myself apart –be a shiny lure to at least get a nibble.

I took out my trusty X-Acto knife and went about making a pop-up introduction card. The images on the left are early prototypes I actually found in an old file folder –amazing what you keep! The final design was a bit more detailed with the prospective employer’s name cleverly typed on the building and a figure of me standing in front along with cut and paste text expounding my credentials. Needless to say, it was time consuming to make but it showed creativity and a seriousness that ended up sparking interest.

I made about a dozen of these and was called to 4 interviews. Not too bad! Most of them told me, when I walked in the door, that they weren’t hiring but wanted to meet the person who made such a great card. One of those interviews however happened to pay off. I was hired by RRTL Architects and began a 40 mile one-way commute to my new job! A friend of mine and I talk about those days often saying ‘You did whatever it took.’ So true. I painted toilet rooms, changed light bulbs, ran errands and blueprints that first year and rarely touched pencil to paper but I didn’t care. I knew I was lucky, I was happy and more importantly, I was learning.

That little pop-up card got me in the door and made me stand out compared to all of those others fishing for work. I got some nibbles and then a bite. They saw that I would ‘do whatever it takes’ to be the best light bulb changer, errand runner and eventually an architect. I will be forever grateful. This is a lesson I try to teach my children and that you need to be proactive in everything you want to achieve.

Here is an example of a student being creative trying to find an apartment in New York – Wanted: NYC Studio
If you are more handy then I am with an X-Acto knife, here is another way to set yourself apart with a pop-up business card. Amazing.

When you build any home, there are always those projects you hope to get to ‘when the dust settles’. Well, it took 7 years for it to settle in our family room. This is quick video I put together of a wood ceiling treatment used to hide some of the open structural trusses. I didn’t mind leaving it unfinished but I am only one-fourth of the voices in our home.

I just came back from a fun (and foggy) trip to San Francisco.  It happened to be a weekend that local artists open their studio space to the public.  The old warehouse area along the Bay is home to many talented painters, sculptors –artists working in glass, metal and every other media you can imagine.  The goal of SF Open Studios is twofold:

1.  To allow local emerging and established artists the opportunity to open their studio doors and show their artwork in a democratic forum.

2. To provide the art-loving public with the opportunity to enjoy art at its origin and to start a dialogue with artists that may lead to the start of an art collection.

Lowertown in St. Paul has an ‘Art Crawl’ every year that is like the San Francisco event.  I would encourage everyone to check in their own community for similar opportunities.  The energy and inventiveness is exciting.  You sense the passion and commitment which is infectious.

One of the artists we met in SF Open Studios was Maria Burtis.  She is a painter working in acrylic and mixed media.  Not only was her work fabulous, she is also from Minnesota-our neck of the woods. We had a nice conversation and was intrigued with her workflow.  Each day, she starts out with doing a quick 5×7 painting to get her juices flowing.  Sometimes it relates to working out details for a major piece or to experiment, but often it is just for fun.  She then posts these on her blog and calls them ‘Dailies’.  She was up to 1863 last I checked.  Amazing.

It got me thinking.  Besides coffee, what do I do –or should I do to get my creative juices flowing everyday?  A quick sketch or jog around the block?  We all have the ability to be inspired but it usually is by happenstance.  Tomorrow, I will begin the day by pondering what gets my creativity moving…after my cup of coffee.