Someone once told me that when he got a full-time design job, he figured he’d go home each night and do nothing but still design. However, that isn’t what happened. It isn’t what has happened with me, either. Well, at least for the first thirty days or so.
I get to work around 8:15 AM and leave somewhere between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM. I usually stay up until midnight, and then I wake up and do it again. Wait, I forgot a section there. Between the time I get home from work and the time I go to bed, I do something. Don’t I? I thought I did. Actually, now that I think about it, I haven’t been doing much at all. Well, I play video games and watch Netflix, but other than that, not much.
It’s definitely been due to needing to just relax upon arriving home. All that relaxing doesn’t leave much time for exploration. What do I mean by exploration? I’m glad you asked, because if not, none of this would make sense.
By exploration, I mean continue to explore with design outside of my day job. Push the limits that I can not push while at work and be more abstract with my design. Without a doubt, the limitations put on my work during the day will help my mind blossom at night. However, it must be said that the limitations I face during the day are fun and challenging. By no means do they inhibit me, they simply force me to find new approaches.
Two of the little continuous projects I’m going to be working on are ‘One Hour Logo’ and ‘Fake Criterions’. With the first, I will give myself one hour to redo what I deem to be a hideous logo. It’s the honor system, as only I know if it’s an hour, but I can promise I will not cheat. The goal will to come up with at least two different approaches. ‘Fake Criterions’ will be just what it sounds like. Designing the cover and packaging for movies that are not yet in the Criterion Collection, but that I feel either will be or ones that will never be. Silly ones just for fun, you know.
That is all for now. Lastly, at the end of each post I’m going to try and make a note of what music I’m listening to at the time of posting. Artist and album. So, first time this happens is now.
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Artist Ratatat
Album Classics
I’d say working a non-specifically-related-to-your-interests jobs makes you more likely to work, but even crap retail jobs are soul sucking enough to drive you to veg v. produce. Though it’s definitely easier than when I was in law school (Scinemax and tabloids) but a bit harder than when I was working for the paper and writing constantly for a living.
Amusingly enough, I had this same train of thought while driving to work today. Haha.