Lateral Action
Yesterday I discovered an incredible blog called Lateral Action. It’s written by Mike McGuiness, Tony Clark, and Brian Clark – “three creative guys who’ve found success at the intersection of creativity and productivity.”
Lateral Action is about combining creativity with productivity to achieve success and so something that matters. Yesterday’s post, titled Lose Touch with Your Inner Whining Artist, was excellent and addressed what Chris and I probably term being a martyr for your art, or sellout syndrome. Here’s a snippet to get you hooked:
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Preview the New Issue of Uppercase!
Issue 3 of Uppercase Magazine
Janine at Uppercase has posted an online preview of the new issue of Uppercase Magazine here. It’s more than a sneak-peak – you can literally page through the entire issue, and it looks incredible! I can’t wait to see it in person. 
Top 5 Free Creative iPhone Apps
The iTunes app store has revolutionized the way many creatives manage their time and stay connected with peers and clients. However, app developers are stepping up their game yet again. I spent an evening searching the app store for the best apps for artists and creatives, and because there are so many available, narrowed my search to the best of those that are free. The following five apps take creative work and sources of inspiration to the next level. READ MORE
Review: The Art of Innovation
Today’s guest post is by my friend Scott Fagaly. Scott is a student pursuing a degree in Mass Communications and Marketing. He also runs the Adeia Media Group and authors The Fearless Blog. You can find Scott on Twitter at twitter.com/scott_fagaly.
Review: The Art of Innovation by Tom Kelley
The Art of Innovation by Tom Kelley
In the world that we all live in today (especially Creative Artists), we are moving into a new era, The Era of Innovation. This has been happening for quite some time, and it has within the last decade, moved into high gear. For years there has been a company at the cutting edge of this movement, whether or not you have heard of them. The folks at IDEO are responsible for many of the products that we use today. They design tons of products from apples Lisa computer and their first mouse, to the upright toothpaste container, the squishy handle on your toothbrush, to the technology used to keep your snowboarding goggles from freezing up , These people know innovation…. Heck they wrote half the instruction manual on it. In 2001 Tom Kelley, IDEO’s General Manager let us into the mind of the machine that is IDEO.
He wrote a book called The Art of Innovation. This book is essentially a survival handbook to the world of innovation. In the book he talks about how IDEO does it every year, what their philosophies are, and how to make their processes work for you. So many times people think that you have to have a ton of resources at your command in order to be successful. Tom Kelley makes a point ot in form you as the reader that this is simply not the case, and that resources are nothing more than obstacles in some cases. Making do with what you have and making it work for you is big part of what IDEO did starting off.
He introduces a system that IDEO refers to as the “Innovation Decathlon.” It’s a five step process that IDEO lives by : Understand, Observe, Visualize, Evaluate and Refine, and Implement. Tom also gives insight to successful products and the effects that they have had on society as a whole. If you are looking for a way to beat those already in the business you are in this book is for you. There is something in this book that will be applicable to every area of business….
To the ones that want to be a thermostat and set the temperature of the industry, instead of being a thermometer and adapting to the industry as it changes… this is a MUST READ. Sure it was written in 2001, but the principals of The Art of Innovation will last for decades to come.
The quote that fires me up every time is one said to those that are unsure about innovation within their company by Gary Hamel, “Out there in some garage is an entrepreneur who’s forging a bullet with your company’s name on it. You’ve got one option now— to shoot first. You’ve got to out-innovate the innovators.”
I can’t help but imagine myself as that entrepreneur every time I read it.
It’s an easy read and shouldn’t take longer than a week or so…. Unless you are a bookworm…. In which case… give it an hour.
The Art of Innovation is available on Amazon.
How to Search for Treasure
Over the holiday weekend I took some time to browse through Leading the Artful Life by Mary Engelbreit. While Mary’s work is typically more my mother-in-law’s style than my own, her experience and insight speak to my heart as an artist.
Leading the Artful Life is a beautiful book. The images are staged and captured so warmly that the pages literally draw you in. Best of all, Mary includes bits of instruction or inspiration along the way that you can apply in your own life as an artist. This one is my favorite:
See Beyond the Obvious
(by Mary Engelbreit, from Leading the Artful Life, page 75)
Okay, so this isn’t exactly a “project.” It’s more of an adventure, an exercise in imagination that you can easily accomplish on a Saturday morning.
How to search for treasure:
- Head to a flea market with a limited amount of money and the goal of finding the “perfect thing.”
- You have no idea what the perfect thing is. Remember, you’re going with an open mind and a curious eye.
- First take a grand tour of the aisles in a quick sweep, the go back to peruse the possibilities. On your first trip through, don’t cut across aisles, or you’ll miss half the booths. Make notes; carry a tape measure; jot down locations; use a Polaroid camera to record items.
- Make your selection(s): You could use that washtub as a planter, but turn it upside down, put a piece of glass on top, and you have yourself a coffee table. And, yes, the Radio Flyer scooter, above, would look just right in a living room display with old toys.
I thought treasure hunting was my idea, but apparently it was Mary’s.
So there you have it. It’s Saturday morning. Grab your Polaroid, Moleskine, and tape measure, and head out the door! I’ll meet you back here with treasures of my own.
Book Review & Giveaway: Serious Drawings by Marc Johns
I have been very excited about Marc Johns’ new book, Serious Drawings. I pre-ordered it at the beginning of May in anticipation of the May 15 release date, but if you follow me on Twitter, you probably already know that I’ve been disappointed by a five-week delay in delivery. Marc’s new book is popular, which is great news for him, bad news for me.
Happily, last Friday night my husband and I made a quick stop at our local Barnes and Noble just before closing time, and they happened to have Serious Drawings in stock. I was thrilled and couldn’t pass it up. Another month of backorder was just too long to wait!
A Bit of Pragmatic Whimsy
I love Marc’s illustrations because they reflect the hard truth (and sometimes the ridiculous truth) that we find in everyday life, but somehow whimsically, softening reality a bit while still helping us to see things more clearly, less cynically, and with a bit of humor.
Serious Drawings has exceeded my expectations. For its small size, the book is packed with many of Marc’s illustrations and is divided into two sections: Serious Drawings on Plain Paper and Serious Drawings on Post-it Notes. The book is not a comprehensive collection, but it does feature many of Marc’s most popular images. If you have a favorite on his Flickr photostream, you’ll likely find it here.
Photo by Dee Wilcox
Photo by Dee Wilcox, Illustrations Copyright Marc Johns 2009
Photo by Dee Wilcox, Illustrations Copyright Marc Johns 2009
Photo by Dee Wilcox, Illustrations Copyright Marc Johns 2009
The Best News
Now time for the best news! Since my Amazon order is still on its way, I emailed Marc for permission to offer it as a giveaway to a Creative Perch reader, and he said yes!
Contest Rules
The contest will run from June 1-8. Check back here for more details on Monday morning!
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