I really didn’t want to write a blog about a Corvette. As a designer, I respect the Corvette’s beginnings, back at the 1950s and 1960s when we were flying into Outer Space and flying down the roads in Space Age cars. But, I came of age in the 1990s, and by then, the Corvette didn’t […]
Blog
For Social Networks to Survive, They Must Solve the Problems that They Created
It’s easy to argue that the future of social media will be a linear progression–that we will get more engrossed in social media. This is a probable outcome, but only if you ignore the problems that social media has already caused, and you assume that these problems will not get worse.
Let me highlight three problems that we can can clearly see around us today:
1) The Validation of Vanity
2) Undeniable Addiction
3) Artificial Division
Hope for Entrepreneurs, Dispelling the First-Mover Advantage
I have some words of encouragement for ambition souls who are eager to graduate college and start a business. Or for young professionals who want to skip out of their full-time job and create something of your own.
Ready? Here it is: YOU HAVE TIME.
You probably want to discredit me, because this goes against every success story that you’ve ever heard. It even contradicts the urgency in your heart: “I have to do this now! Now is my chance!” (Queue up Eminem: Lose Yourself.)
Office Drama? Understanding the Difference between Disagreement and Disobedience
Disagreements amongst your staff can be essential to your company’s success. However, disobedience can undermine your team, and ultimately lead to failure. Know the difference between people who disagree, and those who disobey. What I am writing about today is obvious to most of us on a personal level, but somehow within the complexity of […]
Understanding Productive Tensions
There’s a beautiful, productive tension between fundamentals vs trends. This tension informs everything that we do here at smithHOUSE, everyday.
Lessons in Adulthood: You Don’t have to Put Up with Jargon
I have always hated jargon. Why do we use made-up words and silly phrases? What are we trying to prove? What’s wrong with speaking clearly? Everyone should hate these made-up words as much as me. Before I teach you how to get gangster with jargon, first lets identify 4 different kinds of jargon: Jargon that […]