k8 + Liz = Organization Nation. The combination of an increased work load, my incurable condition of being severely right brained, and the fact that cloning myself is not currently an option, has made the fact that I need some support pretty obvious. This week, I am fortunate to be welcoming Elizabeth Callahan (better known as Liz, or @Bflo_girl) as a force to handle some organization for k8creative projects.
After her official rite of passage, savoring Starbucks holiday drinks with me this weekend, I’m really looking forward to integrating Liz in the mix to keep projects up to speed so that I can be focused on what I do best — the creative work. This also will help free up time for me to work on more collaborations (which I’m really big on) with other like-minded communications professionals in the area, like @Buffalogal and @KatieKraw.
Liz is a well-known face in the Buffalo community, as a passionate volunteer and coordinator for several local organizations. She has masterfully orchestrated large-scale projects, like City of Light, so I’m thrilled about the opportunity to have her mad organizational skills on my side! Additionally, Liz holds a Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Purchase in Media, Society, and the Arts (a degree name which is super awesome if you ask me. “We’re arts majors.”).
Liz is busy already, gearing up to start organizing three new projects right away! A huge welcome, and thank you, to Liz!
The big Apple WHY?
While driving in to work this morning, tuned in to NPR as per the usual, Steve Jobs helped me explain an abstract concept—my passion for his products.
I haven’t really ever been able to explain WHY I use Apple products—I know why inherently in an abstract sense (you know, the whole “once you go Mac, you never go back” deal that’s invariably true), but I never really know how to say why when someone asks—until now, that is. I heard an old Jobs interview on NPR that re-ran on Fresh Air. Terry Gross asked what Jobs felt Apple’s biggest contribution to society has been and, let me tell you, he answered (I’m likely paraphrasing here, as I pulled over in a parking lot in attempt to coherently jot down this amazing statement… and by jot down I mean type it in my iPhone notes):
“It’s not what you might expect me to say. It’s not any product or any one thing in particular. I think our greatest contribution has been to bring a liberal arts perspective and a liberal arts audience to science and technology. To bring beautiful fonts, and a beautiful interface, for instance, to something that was traditionally boring and hard to use—and bring it to people who appreciate those things.”
He went on to say that his original employees were musicians, philosophers, artists, etc., who also happened to be brilliant computer scientists. It’s an amazing thing if you think about it…
That said, the best explanation I’ve come up with is “Apples aren’t clunky.” However, Mr. Jobs has said it ever so more elegantly. What he said is exactly what I mean, and I relate to it in more ways than I can even begin to explain—as a Philosophy-English-melded liberal arts major, British Romantic-reading, art-loving, “font-ist” who happens to work in (and love) the technology industry, you can probably understand why. Needless to say, if you ask me, “Why Apple?” from now on, you know what my answer is going to be.
So, here’s a toast to you, Mr. Jobs, for (among many other reasons to toast) clarifying this today, and for making future conversations I have about my Apple collection much easier.
Buffalo comic, Anthony Rizzo, rocked the You and Who im4buffalo shirt this weekend for New Faces of Buffalo Comedy Showcase. Awesomesauce!
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TVE White Paper in #SFGate (and I designed it)!
M@, this is why we are friends. This statement could have been extracted directly from my brain:
Calling postmodern. Pay phone in the mobile phone era. Paris, France.
Best text message ever… an image sent to me touting the first person I’ve seen wearing my design for the You and Who im4buffalo shirt. Thanks to the wonderful @AshleiJ for sharing… and wearing.
I also recently found out that my shirt will be available at some Elmwood shops, including one of my favorites, Spoiled Rotten. If you’re shopping in the city, take a look for it since every shirt purchased affords someone in need a new shirt at no cost. I can’t even express how proud I am to be a part of You and Who’s amazing cause!
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