Clubbing, part I

I seized an opportunity to poke around a Clubman last week in SLC. Fantastic. It changed a lot of my perceptions of the MINI's future evolution. I'm still not sold on the redesigned interior, but the overall feel of it seemed even more livable than my '06 S. The question now is how it handles on the road.



We'll see.

Non-Commitment nonsense

I read a number of design-related blogs as a matter of routine; these often point to other articles and blogs of note. I've read a few of Andy Rutledge's articles and, for the most part, he seems like a pretty decent guy. There is one recent article that I'm scratching my head over, though.

Andy uses over a thousand words to describe a phenomenon within the design community to have side jobs and sometime side agencies. His position is that while side jobs are okay, the practice of side agencies is undermining the design profession by demonstrating designers' lack of loyalty. And loyalty equals professionalism.

I disagree. I've found that with almost any creative type, if they have the means (financial or time), they have multiple lives. It's not so much about losing focus as being able to fulfill ideas and goals simultaneously. It's not even a designer thing. Steve Jobs, arguably an executive and salesman primarily, splits time between Apple and Pixar. This is not because he's unprofessional or disloyal. It's because the two companies do not fill the same needs.

In another example, I know a graphic designer who spends half his time as a photographer. Turns out he's really, really good at both. Calling him unprofessional or even slightly unskilled is an embarrassment only to the accuser. Show me a creative type (designer, entrepreneur, whatever) who has all their ideas satisfied by a current employer and I'll show you someone that isn't at the top of their industry.

Andy's argument is wrong because it is a rule based on employees instead of the entities he is trying to criticize. He confuses employees and entrepreneurs. In all environments, unprofessional people and sloppy work broadcast disloyalty. However, multiple companies are a creative person's way of allocating resources and talent that are best suited to accomplish something new.

The truth Andy misses is that side projects are about what a client allows its employees to have; side businesses are about what a designer creates independently.

It's almost always snowing in winter

There's not much of a surprise in claiming winter brings snow. The baffling part is just how much the year has been reclassified as winter in SLC. Here's the rental Jeep in Utah in the middle of April with fresh snow all around.



This shouldn't be interpreted as a rant against Utah, its inhabitants, or its educational and health systems, just the 9 months of the year that are unbelievably cold.

Undermining the cool

I dig the Range Rover. It's like a limo for the suave. Although the total time I've spent behind the wheel of the RRs is likely less than a couple hours, the capabilities on dry pavement and in snow have me thoroughly impressed. Save for the abhorrent gas mileage, cost of entry, plummeting depreciation, dismal service record, constant change in ownership, and dismal ride quality compared to its German cousin, it is the perfect SUV.

I've spent the last couple of years thinking about the sociology of driving brands. The message and feel from the world brands ranges from 'I'm important' to 'go away' to 'me, too.' I always loved driving my bimmers until I'd see someone behind a roundel pull an offensively arrogant move. Sad thing was, these moves were not only on the freeway, they often included a snotty look as someone in a 650Ci pulled into that parking space first and jeered at the Camry's less-important priority when parking. That's baggage the MINI doesn't seem to have. Boy, we just wave at everybody. (I've even paid a stranger's toll, just like the Book of Motoring instructs.)

So I had to laugh when I followed this guy on my way to work today. I'm still scratching my head to figure the benefit of having a vanity plate that documents the owner's lack of creativity. Range Rover? No kidding.



If you've got to use a vanity plate, use it to say something about life, your personality, or the adventure you're going to have. (E.g. Roving, Unibody, Mounting, and so on.) Don't bother saying, "This is a Range Rover." I can tell that already. The problem with stating the uninteresting is that it inspires a game of grapevine where the resulting message is, "I'm an a**."

New office in Spring

We've got blossoms outside the new hq. It's 72-degrees outside. No longer in a historic downtown, we do have central air, which will come in handy here in the South. We're on the far side of the third floor.



Apologies to anyone living where it /cough/ is still snowing.