Good Friday: Ladies and Gentleman
Today was a good day.
With one week left before the extended deadline closes, today we sent out an email blast reminder to our network of designer, friends and colleagues from whom we have not yet received work, encouraging them to contribute. I also sent out personal emails to about 25 women designers I know personally, urging them to send in work. For some reason we’re pretty light on representing women here, and I decided it was important to take a proactive step to address that. I spent much of the day fielding replies from the likes of Cinthia Wen, Melanie Doherty, Margo Chase, Ann Willoughby, Sharon Werner and others. I heard back from most of them and I’m much more encouraged now. I expect some really amazing work to roll in next week. I may even give you all a sneak peek when it does.
Now on the the gentleman. Brian Collins called today during a rare break in his hectic schedule (he’s off to Iceland in a few days for an amazing-sounding retreat that I’m not sure I can talk about. Suffice it to say that he’ll probably be redefining the sustainability movement in the process, with a little help from his friends). The long and short of it is that Brian will be writing an essay for the book, introducing the Seeking section. It’s great symmetry, since it was he who coined the term “Problem Seeking” when I interviewed him for an article I wrote for HOW last summer. In many ways that article was the precursor to this book. Brian, in turn, was the precursor to that article.
I couldn’t be more delighted to have someone like Brian on board for this. He is passionate, articulate and visionary on this subject — to the point that he founded his agency on the principle of doing principled work. He was the creative force behind the WE campaign, Dove Real Beauty, The NYC 2012 Olympic bid and countless other incisive, moving and deeply relevant projects. Not to mention, he’s a character. Welcome Brian, and thanks.