The recent trend in resumés is to present your CV as information graphics. As an illustrator/designer/ux person, I really enjoy working with infographics and so I thought, “why not take the time to update mine?”. Wah-la! After a couple of days really thinking about it the result is a pretty good representation of my life as a designer and student of the last 10 years.
You can download it here.
In another life, I was a professional musician.
Not one of those weekend warriors playing your local bar or Holiday Inn mind you, but a real, bonafide, touring, recording-industry artist with a Nashville, second-option, recording contract and an international distribution deal. And what began as a life of an independent musician writing and playing locally, became a product run by the music industry–touring and playing in front of 10,000 people.
As such, I have a few things to say about today’s independent artists and the future of the music industry:
In 2010, Chris Milk released the online, interactive film experiment “The Wilderness Downtown”, utilizing fascinating new technologies such as HTML5 Canvas and Geo-location techniques. The music was provided by Canadian group, Arcade Fire.
What came next was a rise in awareness of this mega-group by the online hipster-elite, advertising the music and the film via their network of apps and friends. I know this because I was one such nerd who did just that. So, when this year’s 2011 Grammy Awards aired on national television, Arcade Fire won Album of the Year for it’s independent release, “The Suburbs”.
And then the music world fell-apart.
Twitter was abuzz and aghast. Immediately the reaction filled the interwebs with feelings of delight, rage and confusion. A Twitter feed appeared named “Who is Arcade Fire?” almost at the moment that the Grammy was awarded. Arcade Fire instantly became the #1 trending topic on Twitter while independent music artists John Legend and Kanye West hailed the win as historic and a major affirmation of the independent music industry.
“Congratulations to @arcadefire for Album of the Year! You had my vote!” said John Legend.
…Kanye West just hailed the win with a hashtag. Now, a hashtag alone may seem non-committal,
but the all caps and exclamation mark signal approval.
Reply Retweet “#PROUDOFJUSTIN”
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Indeed as Chuck Salter states:
“the internet has become not only a channel for distributing music but one for insinuating bands into the lives of their most enraptured fans.”
Billboard magazine agrees. In a February 15th article Billboard tells us,
“…the rest of music industry is trying to figure out if the unsung acts from smaller labels are winning major awards because of the viral nature of the Internet – or in spite of it…The presence of the indies during the annual awards show has grown in recent years as more bands appeal to fans directly through Facebook and YouTube instead of traditional sales channels.”
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And the indies still hold just 11% of the total music sales 2. But it’s a total that’s rising fast, and the music industry stands perplexed at how to monetize the old model against the online tide of independent artists. According to The Independent magazine in the UK, “music, published by Billboard magazine, digital albums now account for 27.4% of music purchases, up from 21.5% at the same point last year.” The research indicates that by 2014 digital purchases are projected to rise to $17 billion, doubling from $8.1 billion in 2009. Physical sales will dip $10.9 billion by 2014, a decline of 66% from 2005. 3
As an educated bystander, I’m excited to see the rise of more interesting and dynamic art and music. I think the technology, were it available during my time in the industry, would have changed how I worked and delivered my music dramatically. At the time I was owned by the record company, and my music was largely picked-through in an effort to satisfy the radio market. It’s different now. These are the days of musical freedom and expression and I stand wonder-eyed, like a child seeing magic and thinking, “Is anything possible?”
1. Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Twitter+reacts+Arcade+Fire+Grammy/4279683/story.html#ixzz1JN9ZWP1K
2. http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/grammys-confirm-rise-of-indies-despite-11-1005035752.story
3. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/digital-sales-gains-over-physical-in-2011-2021704.html
What is trust? In preparation for a discussion to be held soon, and because history and etymology interests me, I decided to go sleuthing regarding the history of this word.
The word ‘Trust‘ probably originated from about the 13th century and was germanic and nordic in it’s beginnings, coming from traust, trost and troost. Interestingly, it’s general meaning has not really changed much since it’s beginnings as the meaning then and now remains ‘help, confidence, firmness’.
Before this time, the idea of trust was conveyed in a variety of other ways and terminology that were more specific. These ancient usages and understandings seem to originate from Ancient Hebrew and Aramaic writings and traditions. The following are some examples:
חסה (chasah strong’s #2620)
This word has the meaning of “to lean on someone or something”. If you are hiking with a group of your friends and you sprain your ankle, you are going to lean on one of your companions to help you out of the wilderness. We can also lean on our friends and family for support as well.בטח (betach strong’s #982)
This word has the more concrete meaning of “to cling”. A related word, avatiyach (#20) is a melon which clings to the vine.יחלל (yachal strong’s #3176)
This word is usually translated as hope but it does not mean to wonder if something will happen and “hope” it does but, to “know” that something will happen in the future.אמן (aman strong’s #539)
The word aman means to “be firm”. When setting up a tent you always choose “firm” soil to drive in your tent pegs so that when the wind blows, the tent pegs will not be pulled out of the ground collapsing your tent.
And perhaps, most fascinatingly, because the source of these writings and language preceded ancient Greece by about 1,000 years we see their significance arise in the writings of Aristotle in the form of the word ‘Pisteis’ which he represented as “truth’ or ‘trust’ depending upon the context of his writings. This word ‘Pisteis’ is the same word we find in every original greek biblical manuscript when we see the word ‘faith.’
The debate rages on about Nasa’s use of Power Point in it’s presentations and if the ubiquitous Microsoft® corporate tool really killed 7 Space Shuttle Columbia Astronauts. Edward Tufte, in his publication named The Cognitive Style of Powerpoint: pitching Out Corrupts Within, he asserts just that in a very fascinating and sober evaluation of the weaknesses and shortcomings of Power Point.
Recently Usability Expert Brian Sullivan attended one of Edward Tufte’s seminars here in the DFW Metroplex. His review of Tufte’s class and assumptions are quite interesting and is critical of some of Tufte’s assertions. Check it out and decide for yourself.