Mayari’s Blog

By Follon Worldwide.

Love this. Beautiful eyes.

A proverb says: The eyes are the mirror of the soul. See?

by Lowe Worldwide.

I like the idea.

Hold on… would the other way round not be more realistic? But then it wouldn’t be an AXE ad.

By The Martin Agency NY

Don’t worry, this ad doesn’t speak to me! I’m too optimistic:)

I think it’s funny and clever. I like it.

It’s time to share my favourite spots and ads with the world.

This one I’ve on my computer since years. And I still love it!

What a nice surprise! 悠 游 sent me a movie he made showing his friends and what they are up to at the design school. This movie brings back nice memories. He included pictures from the time when I was studiying with them - two years ago… how time flies! Wonder when we meet next time.

Oh, and I can still read the Chinesecaracters;)

It’s simple and clever I think. Ok, if you don’t know what’s behind this sign, it could be many things like communication, community, products you can share… but I’m optimistic that Al Gore will use this Sign wisely to establish a common picture. Read more about the logo: NYTimes

The campaign’s site www.wecansolveit.org

I’m trying (as so many other people as well, I guess) to find my place in this system - our economy. I’ve got a diploma now (and I am not sure what it is good for) and went to see a part of the world. I travelled alone through Asia. Travelling is an illusion - you can almost forget about the system and you’ll eventually find yourself; it really broadens your mind! I think being on the road, not knowing what happens next (and that’s totally fine) and just experiencing what’s around you (nothing but the present - forget all the conventions) should be mandatory to everyone - although I’m not sure if everybody could bear being in this mindset.
Although being young (and a lot of people would say naive;) I realised what’s important to me - It’s not things, really. And it’s not money, really - but still you need money because you cannot even DO things without it. It’s how our system works - breathing means spending money - but some spend more with one breath than others (and are not necessarily happier). There’s no escape to that. Except you are as extreme as Bruno Manser who went to live in the jungle with the Penans. I am crazy but not as crazy as him. I want to adapt to this system, because I’m curious about our society and I want to try to understand it. At the same time I want to stick to my beliefs and ethics. It’s damn difficult! - Ehm… pardon me. It’s not easy at all!
Especially because I feel I’m born to be a designer. A hundred years ago I would have lived happily in my village crafting beautiful objects that people needed, wished and desired. I would have had my clients and I would have been known in my village becaue of what I do and who I am. But things have changed fundamentally. Well, not really. People still want to know what I do and who I am. But to give a reply got - being a contemporary designer - very complicated.

I realised that the system, our economy itself is on the move and that’s why we, the people as well have to be constantly going on - physically but also mentally - we have to realise there is no truth that’s written into stone. (According to my feeling there’s one common truth written onto everyone’s heart - it’s the ethics, a sense of love: an irrational feeling that we all are born with - but sadly can be damaged by your surrounding). You have to find your own truth and at the same time stay tolerant towards others. It’s not easy - but if you can live as such you can become very happy. (What if more and more people come to this conclusion?!…)
I don’t have difficulties with being tolerant and flexible yet having a personal idea of what’s important to me. I’m happy. But I have the feeling that the economy has more trouble with this concept - even though, I feel, it’s how the world would work best today. An exception in the system is probably the New Media - it’s flexible and tolerant. Maybe, because it is exactly this invention that’s causing a lot of these changes? Changes - if in the ethically right direction - are great, I see great opportunities in technology, even though it makes our world more complex.

Is this why I like the new media? It fits me - my personality. Are people in this business more suitable to the system (however we could measure this) - because they created it? Are there traditional companies out there that are as flexible and tolerant - as “open source”? Do they have to adapt to be successful in the future? I have the feeling: yes they do. I have the feeling we have to redefine service - demand/supply/demand… what’s first? WHY?
You cannot be creative if you are not flexible and tolerant. That’s why so many people say that creativity is the most important skill in the future. I agree. And the good thing is: everybody can be creative! Of course there are people who have by nature less trouble to be creative, but everyone can be flexible and tolerant if they want to. Does it mean that actually everyone can be a designer?

Does this mean I am easy to be replaced. Yes and no. Fact is: there’s no other person with exactly my history and my characteristics in the world. There’s no one with the same set of talents I have.

My “problem” is: I’m good in many things. I would say I’m a professional generalist;) People don’t like this. Because they think you can only be good in ONE thing. Really, do you? Isn’t it a good thing that I learn and adapt quickly? Good is not the same as perfect. If practice makes perfection (and I believe that’s true) then I can’t deliver perfect things yet because of the way I have been working so far - interdisciplinary. Fine. But who has where is the time for perfection today? Maybe we have less and less perfect things today. What’s perfect anyway? So far my works have always been more than good enough.

What’s good enough? If you are producing something for someone, you have to know your costumers to get the answer to that question, I guess. I think that’s why I was “good at school”. Not because I’m exceptionally clever but because I had no problem to understand most of my teachers. I always had an idea of what they wanted to hear - you can call it empathy - and if I was asked I could deliver what they expected. So that’s my key for success I guess: creativity and understanding what people want?
I guess, I had too much time for myself. Asking philosophical questions. I think, it’s a luxury I had lately: To think about myself and what I want in this world. I have an intuition but I have to figure out a way how I can bring this vision in harmony with our system. Luckily because I consider myself - and therefore am - creative and flexible, I believe I can in every situation find the best way of the possible ways. If not - it hopefully won’t kill me. I keep my fingers crossed this belief won’t change. I’m curious what’s next!

I am thinking not only of what I want to work but also of how I would like my surrounding to be when I work. These would be great places because it benefits creativity and also the community e.g. interaction with co-workers.

How fun it would be to create such spaces! Why not focusing on sustainable interior design concepts?