Submissions Now Closed (to Strike Away – a matchbook art show)

I’m thrilled to share with you that Courtney Cerruti and I are curating a show of matchbook art at Paxton Gate Curiosities in San Francisco. It’s a follow-up to Courtney’s hit show last year, 3636 Project, 36 spoons by 36 artists. The matchbook show Strike Away opens May 22, 2015. If you’d like to submit artwork click HERE for… Continue reading Submissions Now Closed (to Strike Away – a matchbook art show)

Flocking v Differentiation aka why I’m uncomfortable in IKEA

(image from Flickr Creative Commons) I have a lot of anxiety around IKEA. For starters, it’s always packed full of grubby kids and Noah’s ark styled couples, you know, the kinds that dress alike. Second, they trap you on certain floors and sections, by making you go up an escalator with no way down, urging… Continue reading Flocking v Differentiation aka why I’m uncomfortable in IKEA

When the hipsters co-opt your lifestyle

“Where did you get this?” Seana’s man-friend says to me, nervously pawing the Klein tools bag that I’m using as a purse. “You didn’t buy it at Urban Outfitters or something did you?” “No. I stole it from S who bought it at the hardware store.” He lets out a billowing sigh, “Well, that’s a… Continue reading When the hipsters co-opt your lifestyle

Thinking on Microinteractions

I just read Dan Saffer’s Microinteractions: Designing with details a great, straight-forward approach to thinking about design details in any given user experience design. It got me thinking about my own UX preferences as well as past pleasant and painful interactions. But first, “What the heck is a microinteraction?” you might be asking yourself. It… Continue reading Thinking on Microinteractions

Why This Anthropologist Loves (and is frustrated by) Design(-ers)*

*Warning. This is a guise to promote the app, Design School Cheats, which I helped create with the lovely and talented Cara Oba and Kyle Oba of the design shop, Pas de Chocolat. At this time, it would be appropriate to visit iTunes and download it. The first section “LOOK” (like a designer) is free.… Continue reading Why This Anthropologist Loves (and is frustrated by) Design(-ers)*

Corporate v. Studio Work Environments

This list is going to look pretty stereotypical. Which, you know, it is. But it is also based on my transition from corporate work environments to design studios and consultancies. These differences are so stark, it’s almost laughable. Obviously I prefer the studio style work environment. You can read more about corporate purgatory in a… Continue reading Corporate v. Studio Work Environments

The “insights” process is not mystical, but it is creative

The most common output of my work are “Insights.” Yes, capitalized, because that is usually the title of the report or slide deck or presentation or whatever it is that I am producing for a client. I usually do ethnography (“ethnography lite” to real anthropologists or just “ethnographies” to most regular folks in the know).… Continue reading The “insights” process is not mystical, but it is creative

12 to 13 inclinations

We had a great time musing and rambling this year about art, design, and social awkwardness. Thanks for reading. I hate the word “trend” so we’ve compiled “inclinations” for you instead. These are some of our favorite things from 2012 that we hope will continue into 2013. We love: 1. All that is hand-crafted, locally-produced,… Continue reading 12 to 13 inclinations

oh man, way to party foul, Instagram

Just as I was finishing up a nice little blog post about all the fun social connections and playful experiments that can happen on Instagram, they go and change their Terms of Service and piss everyone off. I saw people dropping like flies yesterday, announcing their departure from instagram before the new year. We’re talkin… Continue reading oh man, way to party foul, Instagram