The Elephant in the Blog

When I started this experiment in March, it was a side project, sort of a hobby almost. Something I did with my spare time on weekends and sneaking in emails and phone calls when I could while at work. I was aided by the fact that I was a in a senior position at the design studio where I worked, so my time was fairly flexible and they were extremely supportive and understanding. I've been accused by people who don't know me of being a rich kid with too much time on his hands, which couldn't have been further from the truth.

As I began to think so critically about where everything I might consume was coming from, I couldn't help but begin to think more critically about how all of my actions impacted to world around me. Where did my trash go? Where did my taxes and votes go? And what was it that I was producing as a designer, and how did that have an effect on my social and cultural environment? I had already shied away from advertising, and I had refused to do branding or design work with a strictly commercial impact, but even the work I was being asked to do, as benign as it may have been, was starting to feel inconsequential. Was it enough to not use my skills for evil? What about turning it around and only doing what I felt was good?

So the short story is that a month ago I left the design studio I once worked full time for and launched my own endeavor, determined to find work which I felt was making a positive social and cultural impact. I also assumed this would free up more of my time, or at least make it even more flexible, to pursue meetings and travel for the Consume®econnection Project.

I can't say it has made life any easier yet -- the economic downturn has severely limited the number of design jobs for non-profit organizations, and this project has proven far more costly than I expected. I've been thrilled by the interest it has garnered, but there's not exactly money in it, and all of the travel has added up. Nonetheless, I'm keeping at it as long as possible, and have made inroads at New Balance in Boston and reached out to Patagonia in recent weeks! The spirits and determination are still up, but I thought that since this is all about how this lifestyle is effecting me, I should disclose such a major turn!

Now back to work, at my local coffee shop of course.