Release the Technorati spiders!

In my effort to get the ol' self promotion machine rolling full steam, I decided to become a member of Technorati which means that I need to post this little link which will in turn um...release the spiders... Technorati Profile

We return you to your regularly scheduled web log.

The Holiday Swear Word

image courtesy of stencilwithstyle

Perhaps it's just me, but I miss the days when I can walk up to a person and gleefully wish them a Merry Christmas...or Hanukkah. Folks understood the message behind the greeting. It was one filled with goodwill and at least for the time being, the expectation of sharing a cup of joyful cheer with your friends, loved ones or heck, even yourself. These days the very notion of uttering a heart felt "Merry Christmas!" seems to bring immediate feelings of dread of being perceived as self absorbed and insensitive to another's beliefs.

Where did we take that wrong turn at Alberquerque? When did "Merry Christmas" become a holiday profanity? Has this society become so obsessed with being politically correct that we've forgotten why we uttered these words in the first place? In so far as can be told, they were never meant to be used as a means to peddle one's belief's on another person or to rub it in. Yet somehow that became the perception. If someone were to wish me a Happy Hanukkah I wouldn't recoil simply because I wasn't Jewish. I wouldn't turn my nose in disgust should a passerby jubilantly wish me a Happy Kwanzaa or even a Happy Lunar New Year. If anything, I'd be rather flattered that they were kind enough to wish me well, regardless if I followed the tradition or not. Because quite simply, it feels good to be considered rather than not be thought of at all.

This push for generic holiday well wishing has also evolved with how we send gifts to one another, especially clients. There was a time it was more than acceptable to send out christmas cards, or if you were a dutiful designer and did your research, send hanukkah cards with a nice personalized gift to the principals. Now the trend is to err on the side of caution and simply send generic season's greetings cards with a sizable enough gift package for the entire office.

I sort of long for the bygone days where I can send a Merry Christmas greeting. For me it epitomized all of those good intentions that I held dear. It was as though I could magically project this positivity simply by uttering them. It had to be so, the smiles and pleasant nods or replies indicated as much. Back then regardless of faith or lack thereof, folks understood the kind gesture behind those words, normally evoking a similar response in kind. Somehow in the pursuit of being "more sensitive," it's quite ironically become more impersonal. Generic greetings, like generic gifts, lack warmth because the associations with those words are lost. Branding 101.

So what's the alternative? The answer is not a simple one anymore. You can't go back to the way it was now that the associations have become convoluted. And it would appear that there is a growing number of folks who are getting tired of trading a heartfelt greeting for a staid, yet socially sensitive one. Perhaps it just means we have to work harder to evoke the warmth that was somehow snuffed out.

For example, I now find myself researching for gifts more than I used to. I ask questions, sometimes personal ones regarding color preferences and other tastes to evoke that once magical feeling I was able to do by mentioning two simple words. I may as well develop an informative brief just for the occassion. If I can't wish the office a Merry Christmas, I'll instead project my warm intentions through my gifts. I'll send along a little gift package of assorted goodies (must be assorted to satisfy everyone's palettes) and as a special touch, send the principals a thoughtfully prepared gift tailored just for them. My Merry Christmas greetings are now projected in my carefully prepared packages. And to combat the stigma of this holiday swear word, I have now begun to punctuate my card with, "Merry Christmas and Season's Greetings." Baby steps.

It's not as it used to be and perhaps it never quite will. But perhaps we can work towards a day when a heartfelt Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanzaa will once again be met with magical smiles of understanding and good cheer.

Is it May Yet?

It's only "The" place for Design Industry Creatives and all Production Folks therein to be in 2007.

It's not quite the Cannes...although it's receiving much fanfare.

It's not exactly a convention...despite that there will be plenty of good ones scheduled throughout the year.

Not a velvet rope event...although with the list of Creatives attending, you'll feel like a V.I.P.

No newletters or notices were sent...however a special site was created for anyone who's interested in keeping updated or better yet, attending.

No need for tags and cards...well, except perhaps BYOTDA (that's Bring Your Own Theme Designed Accessory)

Not really an event...more like the swingingest graphic industry party you'll ever attend!

It was conceived by some members of the HOW forum, About Graphic Design forum and Creative Latitude. It was a bit too long to call it the HOW, About Graphic Design and Creative Latitude Creative Communications Industry Meet and Greet, so it was decided to name it simply, HOW-About-CL '07. Rolls off the tongue quite nicely and pretty catchy to boot.

Now gather around my design children, to hear the amazing tale of this fantastic event's origins.

It all began long long ago in an exotic land far far away. Our story's design damsel Catherine Morley from Katz-i Design had planned a somewhat spur of the moment trip in 2006 to Seattle to visit relatives. Now, Thailand isn't exactly a hop, skip and a jump away—it wasn't often she could make such a journey.

Who's Catherine Morley, you ask? For those of you who don't know, kindly stick out your hands while I pull out my trusted wooden ruler.

She was a founding member and active participant of such recognized industry organizations as Creative Latitude, NO!SPEC and Designers Who Blog; as well as a celebrated entrepreneur with Katz-i Design. Her portfolio of credentials and influence extends far longer than this, but I think you get the idea. Cat's our Creative Joan of Arc...sans martyrdom...and a right good designer.

Now where was I...? Ah yes.

After the flight plans were arranged she decided to post about her imminent arrival, with the expectation to meet some of the area's forum locals with whom she had grown to know and work with over the years. No one expected the overwhelming response Stateside from people as far as Florida who jumped at the opportunity to meet her in person. In retrospect it surprised everyone and in the blink of an eye...or a day...what started as a call for "maybe lunch" with some local designers turned into a last minute clarion call for a multi-day shindig.

In short, the humble encounter of a dozen or so visual communicators, dubbed "The Seattle Meet Up" was a raging success. So much so that many were left either wanting for more time or remorseful that they didn't attend.

To make a pretty long story short, Cat was unexpectedly presented with another opportunity to return to Seattle in 2007. The immediate flood of responses from hopeful attendees was even more astounding than the first. Before anyone could refresh their pages, names were pouring in as either "definites" or "penciled in." And unlike the last encounter, there was plenty of advance notice to budget for the trip.

Somewhere in the midst of making arrangments, the topic of "theme wear" came up. After all, many were known mainly by their screen names, how would we know who was whom? Rather than do the old "event t-shirt" using one prevailing image we thought outside the proverbial box. I mean, this is a rather casual reunion of Creatives, right? So let them contribute their own unique designs—let them print it on a cap, a mug, a badge, a shoe or what-have-you and attend donning their own signature piece instead. Brilliance.

So, for those of you who are starting to salivate at the second in a lifetime opportunity to hobnob with some of our industry's finest in the relaxed, friendly and picturesque backdrop that is Seattle, here are the details.

Event: HOW-About-CL '07
Location: Seattle
Dates: May 25-28, 2007
Accommodations: Contact via the site for arrangements

Details will be updated through their web site periodically. Banners designed by attendees will also be prominently rotated as well. Travel bar is optional. The promise of a rip-snorting good time is undeniably in the air.

Hey...Is it May Yet?