
Looking with new eyes
What a win really looks like
Header Image Courtesy of Lightning Pathways Co
Having a conversation with that impossible taskmaster that lives on the other side of the glass mirror, my soul searching finds a foothold. He shares my face and my voice. Every morning asking, “Are we winning?”
“Do we have one of those French lion statues they award to the luminaries? Not yet? Tsk, tsk.”
“You have one pencil award, but where are your others? Winning it 2 years ago. The statute of limitations is up. You can no longer claim it’s power up.”
“Have you even broken 1000 Instagram followers yet? How many likes per post? What’s the engagement numbers?”
“That email list still looks pretty slim. Are people even listening? Do they even care?”
“You seem pretty comfortable in that job. Isn’t it time you moved up or moved on? 3 years is like 15 design years.”
“So. What do you have to say for yourself? I’m not impressed. Where are your wins?”
Without blinking or wasting a breath I respond.
It’s simple. What I accomplish only I revel in. What I bring to those I serve, feeds them, those they serve, as well as myself.
So my win today is having my clients art installation up and running in the Government Center in Uptown Charlotte. Which lead to a follow-up exhibition at a gallery crawl in October. The City of Charlotte is also deeply interested in the project and is holding a dialogue around diversity and immigration with the exhibit as the centerpiece.
The success of her project, the trajectory it’s on and the impact it’s making are much more valuable than likes, followers or awards. The clients’ wins are my wins and are the only measure of success I hold myself too.
Inspiration
- While simply experimenting, Romain Loubersanes impresses with an illustration of a cyclist that looks like how Kraftwerk sounds.
- Asiko captures the razor-sharp brim of the surprise villainesses hat.
- Gold, diamonds, and serifs lay the backdrop for this sharp identity for Markee Diamants by Tré Seals.
- And so much more, go CHECK THEM OUT
Education
- Diógenes Brito shares his experience of how designers can change their teams into super teams by empowering them to make better decisions faster.
- Rob Generette III on Design Education, Getting Inspired by Sports, and What’s Next After Retiring from Teaching.
- And Much More
Invocation
- The recent Pitchfork Festival in Chicago had an awesome line up of young hip-hop artists who enhance the legacy of the culture, including St Louis’ own Smino.
- Low key DMV native Kev Brown brings a tambourine heavy laidback joint called “Look at the Way the Words Move.”
- Sam Henshaw keeps it soulful and funky in this dollar bill challenged story of unrequited love.
Congregation
- If you’re not part of the Black Designers United or the African American Graphic Designers groups on Facebook, you need to stop playing and come through.
- You can also find more creatives of color on 28 Days of the Web and Revision Path
- Plus over here at Creatives of Color and Adjust Your Margins
- Get your hands on some melanated photos over at Tonl and Nappy and Women of Color in Tech and Jopwell and Blend Images and Create Her Stock.
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