Why I’m starting a new blog
April 5, 2009 | By Rebecca Thorman |Note: I’m not giving up Modite / Career and Life Advice. I’m simply establishing this additional blog. Read on for more details.
I studied design in college. God only knows why. I arrived at school ready to study journalism only to find myself bored. And subsequently confused. I decided to visit the career advisors.
“You don’t need a journalism degree to be a journalist,” said the journalism advisor.
“We need you,” said the design advisor.
And so I made a decision.
I studied art and photography in high school and thought it would be a good foundation for entering design. But I didn’t expect the utter heartbreak that comes with being pushed to the edge of your ability.
Specifically, I remember one of the first assignments to design and build a model of a museum. The day before it was due, I spent the night with white cardboard scraps like snow on the floor, crying in despair.
Design was never easy for me.
And while I was generally at the top of my class, I longed to be as talented as the students at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design). I wanted to be a genius. And perhaps because I wasn’t, I didn’t pursue it much out of school.
And while my design degree didn’t provide obvious practical skills, my experience was a complete confirmation and expansion of how I viewed the world. That is, I am someone who sees everyone and everything as part of an often bizarre cosmic whole. And it is these ideas that excite, overwhelm, and won’t let go.
Enter modite / character.
It is a design, style and culture blog that will be more of a visual experience of the themes and values that are fun and amusing and important to me. For my own sanity. To nudge past what I thought was the edge in the great big search for meaning.
On the admin side, I’ve migrated the photos that were part of the original Modite site to this one. It just seems a better fit.
I don’t expect this new blog to be all that useful, but that’s the point. Practicality doesn’t breed innovation. I just want to be more. Welcome to modite / character.
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Pingback by I’m launching a new blog | Modite — April 5, 2009 #
I think it’s a great idea to keep something that with a little bit of organic freedom on the side of your regular blog. It’ll be interesting to see where this takes you and your readers.
Good luck with the new blog
Comment by Rikin — April 5, 2009 #
Good for you Rebecca. Your interest in the visual and how things connect has been clear all the time I’ve been reading, so I think this is brilliant.
You’ve gotta follow the things that have a personal relevance, right?
Comment by Steve Errey - The Confidence Guy — April 5, 2009 #
@ Rikin - Thanks! Organic freedom is the perfect term for it. And I’m interested to see where this goes too ; )
@ Steve - I’m so pleased you think it’s a good idea. I’m a bit nervous about it, since it will be a bit more personal, but certainly fun. Thanks for the comment!
Comment by Rebecca Thorman — April 5, 2009 #
Enjoy the freedom of continuing to define yourself and your voice! Evolution like this is so fun and liberating to witness.
Comment by Tiffany — April 5, 2009 #
I remember that museum project! I ended up with a sore shoulder from all that cutting, which still bothers me periodically to this day.
I like the direction of the new blog. While usefulness + aesthetics usually = good design, sometimes you just need a spark of something gorgeous, out there, and totally impractical to be inspired!
Comment by Liz — April 5, 2009 #
@ Tiffany - Thanks for the support, hun : )
@ Liz - I can’t believe that about your shoulder! I really liked my museum, but I’m not sure it was worth the tears : ). I really appreciate you commenting and am excited that you like the direction!
Comment by Rebecca Thorman — April 5, 2009 #
Nobody’s one-dimensional. I’ve come to realize only recently - I’m a slow learner - that there are two types of thinkers: those who think in a linear way, and those who think in more of a web or net-like way. There may not be as much of a conclusion, as there is a landscape. I’m happy to have been invited into yours. Congratulations on this latest endeavor.
Comment by Betsy Wuebker — April 5, 2009 #
Rebecca, I really like this idea. I can tell that there’s the creative side that wants to let your “inner” design (if you will) shine. I think separating your two blogs just spreads your knowledge wider and lets you comply with multiple passions.
I’m really looking forward to this blog, as well as your insights on Modite.com/career and life advice.
Comment by Grace Boyle — April 5, 2009 #
Rebecca,
I love what you say about seeing everything as a bizarre, cosmic whole, and I definitely empathize with you when you say that design was never easy for you. I had this job as an editor at a weekly paper, but little did I know they wanted me to do graphic design (using Quark and Photoshop) for the entire section.
My first few designs were awful — children’s book covers. I was mortified and wanted my editor to continue doing it for me, but knew I would never learn that way. It took nearly a year for me to finally be proud of my front page design efforts and I’m proud to now have a graduated design eye… but it’s something I still struggle with. So, here’s to visual presentations enhancing overall experience.
Comment by Amy — April 5, 2009 #
I’ve always complimented your great photos. I’ve never spent enough time to post them on my blog and it has always been a bit frustrating.
Plus, I’ve never had the point of view you have with photos — they are just great.
So, coolio on the new blog. I’m going to look right now.
Comment by Scot Herrick — April 5, 2009 #
Fabulous idea. I love getting to peek inside your insightful and enthusiastic-for-life thought process and enjoy your ideas and writings and photos. Your creative flair shines through in all your blogs, and I’m sure this one will be a boffo source of inspiration too. Thanks for doing what you do so well - and here’s to all of us allowing our hearts to come out and cartwheel in cyberspace more often!
Comment by Paula — April 6, 2009 #
I’m happy you are sharing more of your thoughts this way. Your photos are striking, and your personal thoughts inspiring. Keep it up.
Comment by Linda — April 6, 2009 #
@ Betsy - Love that - I’m definitely the type of person that sees the connections between things and I’m often jumping from topic to topic. Thanks for the support!
@ Grace - Fabulous! Funny you can tell I’ve been dying to do something like this as well. Fun stuff.
@ Amy - Great story, thanks for sharing! I do think art and design can be learned and while you may have an impetus, you can grow and learn with practice. That’s a large part of what this blog is about : )
@ Scot - Such a lame excuse ; ) I do think people can learn to have an eye like I talk about with Amy above. But I’m happy to have your readership in the meantime.
@ Paula - “Cartwheels in cyberspace” - fabulous imagery there. Thanks so much for your kind words and support.
@ Linda - Thank you, as always : )
Comment by Rebecca Thorman — April 6, 2009 #
I feel you completely. Made the move out of graphic design into another arena and have not regretted one moment of it.
Good on you for being willing and brave!
Comment by Legally Brunette — April 6, 2009 #
[...] What will you build, in those places? SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “What Defines You”, url: “http://tiffanymonhollon.com/blog/2009/04/07/what-defines-you/” }); [...]
Pingback by What Defines You at Personal PR — April 6, 2009 #
Congratulations on the new blog! I have always loved your photos. So this blog makes total sense to me.
Penelope
Comment by Penelope Trunk — April 6, 2009 #
Hi Rebecca,
Trying to get better at leaving comments and letting the writers of the blogs I read know that I appreciate their thoughts.
Hmmm… I feel the inclusion of photos in the original Modite blog gave it dimension (?) since its tagline was/is “life and career advice.” I guess if we use reading a book as the frame of reference your photos were the page breaks between posts, the moments that allowed for reflection.
However, after reading a Penelope Trunk post on not mashing everything into a single blog, I created an additional blog that included all my posts on education. I use my first blog as my primary and the second blog as an “anthology” of posts specific to education. right now I am wondering if it is a problem to post the same content is posted to multiple locations.
Anyway, just subscribe to this blog. I have an arty/design background as well. I really like your photos. Look forward to seeing more.
Comment by Vincent — April 11, 2009 #