What Comes Next_
Thoughts on AI, predictive text, technological metaphors, and the string of thought.
🪓Axe Cop!
A unique collaboration between a child’s imagination and an adult's artistry brings to life the adventures of Axe Cop.
🤝Take only staples, leave only electronics
Examining the complex aftermath of the Chile earthquake and the human responses in crisis situations.
⛪How to move a church
This quirky and surreal promo video offers a unique look into the challenges of relocating an old church.
🌮Do you know where your taco comes from?
Exploring the complex journey of taco ingredients from farm to truck, revealing a world of food sourcing and travel.
🎭Portfolio | StageGrade Logo
I had the pleasure of designing the logo for the relaunch of StageGrade, an innovative publishing startup focused on theater reviews. The graphic element creatively incorporates StageGrade's unique bar graph representations of critical reviews, while the scalloped corners subtly nod to vintage theater tickets.
🎶A graphical analysis of national anthem lyrics
My quest to learn "La Marseillaise" led me to explore the curious and often violent lyrics of national anthems from around the world.
🌌Perfect boredom
Exploring the intriguing nature of boredom and its potential beauty in a world of peace and familiarity.
🎨Everything is Everything, by Koki Tanaka
An exploration of inventive actions through everyday plastic items in Koki Tanaka's whimsical short film.
🤡The crying-on-the-inside kind of news
I can't help thinking about the fascinating blend of humor and seriousness in Mexican media, particularly with Brozo the clown delivering news and critiques.
🥦You Are What You Eat, photos by Mark Menjivar
You can learn a lot about people by examining what's in their refrigerators, as shown in Mark Menjivar's insightful series.
🌿Marginalia
Reflecting on Wendell Berry's thoughts about the importance of margins and wildness in our lives.
📚LifeSize by Roland Tiangco
Here's a fascinating project by Roland Tiangco, inspired by Borges, that combines art and literature into a single printed reproduction of our world's bookshelf.
🧵Reap what you sew
Michael Swaine brings art to life by offering free clothing repairs in San Francisco's Tenderloin district.
🕰️The traveler’s game
Reflecting on the challenges of experiencing other cultures through time, Lévi-Strauss contemplates the fleeting nature of understanding and perception.
💾Lander, by Nick Gentry
Check out this striking piece by UK artist Nick Gentry, showcasing mixed media using floppy disks.
🌌Some awe
A study finds that awe inspires the most-shared articles, highlighting our need to connect over extraordinary experiences.
🏷️Significant objects
An exploration of how invented narratives can transform thrift store finds into valuable treasures.
🌍Lego Globe
I wonder if they used red and orange legos for the globe's core?
🎭Medieval helpdesk
A humorous reflection on the challenges of cultural products in the modern tech landscape, reminiscent of bygone debates on books and technology.
⛪An archipelago of churches, one pebble at a time
An incredible account of a unique tradition in Montenegro's Bay of Kotor, where devotion and geology intertwine through the art of throwing stones into the sea.
🎶The book of love is long and boring…
A reflection on Peter Gabriel's upcoming album and its interpretation of beloved songs, highlighting the emotions they evoke.
🔪You need a good chopping scene
This excerpt explores the cinematic artistry of cooking, particularly the act of chopping, as a means of character representation in film.
🍂Plundering tradition for helpful tips
A reflection on how the pursuit of happiness may overshadow the deeper wisdom of ancient traditions.
🎵Early warning system
There's a whimsical quality to these acoustic listening devices, evoking a sense of curiosity about the world around us.
🎨Jason Holly
A captivating piece that blurs the lines between custom design and found object inspiration. "Love this. It made me slightly less happy once I saw that it was a custom designed-for-designers design rather than a found object. But only slightly."
🤖Robots and the grace of presence
Exploring the surprising reactions people have to humanoid robots, the uncanny feeling seems to fade in person, revealing a more approachable side of robotics.
📚What food books say
A reflection on our complex relationship with food and cookbooks, revealing both knowledge and ignorance throughout history.
🧩Portfolio | natebarksdale.com
A reflection on the design process of my previous website version, inspired by my word search business card and utilizing the Moveable Type platform.
🍂Agate snuff bottle, China, 19th century
Reflecting on the intriguing history and artistry of antique Chinese snuff bottles.
🤝Giving itself is a gift
A reflection on the dynamics of giving and receiving, exploring the deeper connections formed in times of disaster.
📚A new (fun) moral duty
Reflecting on the ethics of book-buying and the value of supporting living authors.
🌭Hot dogs of Latin America
Here's a fascinating look at how American hot dogs have taken on unique local twists throughout Latin America. The variations in Guatemala and Colombia showcase just how inventive cuisine can be.
🏫Indian schoolroom posters
Reflecting on the curious and vibrant world of Indian educational posters, a blend of culture and taxonomy awaits discovery.
🎭Twenty years of unintended consequences
Quoting the Simpsons.
🐚Bad News for Wood Boats
The shipworm, a clam with destructive potential, is now encroaching on the Baltic Sea, impacting cultural artifacts.
🤝While the crisis lasted, people loved each other
Quoting Dorothy Day.
🧠Mental illness and missing stories
An insightful exploration of how Western ideas of mental illness are shaped by culture and may lack the complexity of their scientific underpinnings.
🌱Behold, the Planimal!
I'm not sure why, but this news has been the source of untold instant-messaging-expressed joy among certain of my friends this week.
💪Valuing what’s easiest to measure
A reflection on the importance of perseverance and discipline over innate talent in achieving success.
🕌Sana’a sunset - a panoramic view of Yemen’s capital city
An amazing interactive view of Yemen's capital, rich in architectural history and variance.
🌈The upside of disaster
Solnit explores the surprising joy that emerges from the rubble of disasters, revealing deep desires for community and connection.
🌱Another one bites the dust
Dirt-eating is a peculiar practice that connects nutrition, soil health, and cultural history.
🥕Are carrots protestant?
Exploring the colorful history of our adored carrots reveals a blend of agriculture and politics.
🎬Our year in culture - Books, movies, and music of 2009, part 1
This piece explores personal favorites in film, literature, and music from 2009, weaving together experiences and reflections on art and culture.
🎶Always in the Season, by Pomplamoose
A delightful take on seasonal music by Pomplamoose, featuring a dual promotion for a charitable cause.
❄️To Winter, by William Blake
A reflection on William Blake's evocative poem "To Winter," which captures the essence of the season and the power of nature.
🎨Counter-Terrorism … for Kids!
A lighthearted embrace of Comic Sans in the context of children's content.
🏷️“What’s your name?”
Reflecting on the struggle of identity and the pressure to conform in the job market.
🧶A better stocking striper
Exploring the whimsical world of vintage patents led me to a fascinating invention that seamlessly blends artistry and technology.
🌈Ecstatically between the pillows and the books
In this excerpt from David Foster Wallace's _The Pale King_, the author explores the intertwining of childhood ecstasy and maternal love through evocative imagery and a sense of magic in the everyday.