Life Unplugged

Job Description?

2010-04-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

I had a bit of a realisation whilst driving home from work today. It was about my new job.

I imagined a conversation in which somebody asked me what I did for a living, it went something like this...

So Nathan, what do you do for a living?...

I'm a product designer...

Cool, So what do you design?...

I basically abuse the planet, designing 'stuff' that gets made on the other side of the world, the 'stuff' then gets used and then buried underground to cover up my crime.

Oh...

Another one for the wall of fame!

2009-10-20T14:48:00.000-07:00

Dear Nathan,

Thank you for your interest in Astro Studios. We have reviewed your submission, and while we did find it interesting, unfortunately your skill set does not match our current needs.

Thanks again for your interest in Astro, and we wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

ASTRO

Rejection.....Numero 2

2009-10-16T09:37:00.002-07:00

Dear Nathan,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your application for this position within Dyson.

After careful consideration of your application, unfortunately we will not be taking your application any further on this occasion, but please do continue to look for new positions within Dyson at www.careers.dyson.com

Thank you once again for your interest in Dyson and very best wishes for your future career.

Yours sincerely
Steven Morris
Human Resources

Rejection.....

2009-10-16T09:37:00.001-07:00

Hi Nathan,

I am sorry about the delay in getting back to you, it has been a very busy few weeks for us with 100s of applications, our managing director away on business for 2 weeks coinciding with our creative director becoming a father for the 2^nd time last week, really put a strain on the whole process and I apologise or not getting back to you sooner

We didn’t expect the volume or quality of applications,

Unfortunately I regret to inform you that we will not be considering you further as a potential applicant for this job, competition was simply too strong for the junior position and a lot of senior designers are willing to take this role

Thanks for your interest with design partners

Learning from your mistakes....

2009-10-11T13:10:00.000-07:00

There has to come a point for all designers when you make the switch the being sustainable. You have to, otherwise as a species we aren't gonna make it.

Me and a friend pooled what change we had over the weekend to get a couple of happy meals, complete with plastic toy. Looking back, it was a really irresponsible thing to do. Firstly theres the unneccasy packaging, whos working life last all of the 20 metres to the rubbish bin.

The toy? i should have thrown it back at them and told them to stop making these worthless pieces of shit, how many millions of these things have been made over the years and are now lying at the bottom of a land fill site?

Theres also the corporation itself, i dont know if the carbon footprint of macdonalds has been calculated, but it has to be immense and sadly my £1.95 has just contributed a few more grams of CO2 to it.

McStupid

Open source design........the future?

2009-10-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

About 2 weeks ago i was invited to take part in an open sourced design experiement with around 80 designers around the world. Although slow to start it was amazing to see people who have never met working together and achieving a good result at the end. I was able to work from home, for as long as i wanted with just the use of a laptop and internet connection and get paid for my contribution.

At a point in time when there's so much talk about pollution and climate change, taking my car off the road for a few days and eliminating the need for an office for me to work in seems to make a lot of sense. How this would translate into other vocations outside of design though i'm not sure, but its surely worth a shot.

A new project is due to begin soon, watch this space!

P.S. Thank you Napkin Labs for the opportunity!!

At what cost?

2009-10-11T12:32:00.000-07:00

I took this picture whilst in a record shop over the weekend. See the small caption underneath the screen.......'This is Living'. I found it really sad that this could be true for some people. There's a lot more to life than video games, get outside, go for a walk, have a decent conversation with somebody. Don't become a slave to a little black box.

Life as a freelancer

2009-10-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Picture this..... its the night before your rent is due and your client has been late in putting the invoice through.... you don't sleep. Life as a freelancer is intense. You are your own boss, the big cheese and you have the world at your feet, but your living in fear.

Last month was different though, you managed to get enough paid work to cover all your expenses and allow you to live a little, but those contracts are finished now and for the past two weeks you've frantically been trying to get new clients. Sending emails, calling people, handing out business cards........ begging for the smallest scrap of work.

So far I have 3 clients that I work for, but the work is infrequent and its all little jobs, nothing to keep me busy for the next few months. Tomorrow is another day though and this could all change, who knows?! Your full of confidence and belief because you have to be, if not then your going to fail.

After working as an in house designer and getting a distinction in my masters degree I had to give it a go. I'm doing it for the experience and I'd recommend it to anybody. The learning curve is incredibly steep and you quickly learn how to (not) approach people and businesses. Time management is a key component of working for yourself and a crucial skill to have.

I promised myself i'd give it a go until the end of the year and i'm determined to see it through, until then wish me luck!

All tangled up

2009-06-18T05:58:00.000-07:00

What about sustainability? Ive seen videos of phone recycling plants but surely this is only less bad right? Although a lot of the precious metals can be recovered that plastics and toxic materials used will doubtfully be used in their original state again and their processing is going to make harmful substances bio-available. Why cant i have a phone with a life-time guarantee? One that I don't want to throw away.....

Harmony

2009-06-18T05:50:00.000-07:00

My mobile is one of a few possessions that I take everywhere with me and I use it to talk to people hundreds of miles away and this ability blows my mind. Its opened up new opportunities and friendships and improved my relationship with people I already know. Sadly though my relationship with it is not so good. For instance i want to know is how much energy it has and if it needs some juice to wake it up, but I have to have a small conversation with it to find out, (Opening it up, waiting for it to wake up, and looking for the battery symbol) surely there must be a more fluid and natural way of finding this information out?

Actions speak louder than words

2009-06-18T05:45:00.000-07:00

As part of the research i listened to how people interpreted the actions of others around them and how this could possibly link in with their mobile phone. Here are just a few of the statements i heard

'It has the power to make or break my day in a matter of seconds'

'Sometimes I want to tell my girlfriend i mis her without sending a text or calling her'

'My phone is like my best friend...it knows all my secrets'

Why?

2009-04-26T12:16:00.001-07:00

After putting it back on I'm a little disappointed. I actually had a better time without it! Times did get a little strenuous at times but it was all in good fun. I haven't been limited to certain activities because of it and Ive got a higher appreciation for actually talking to people in person and looking at the world around me instead of being a slave to a little black box and the access to unnecessary information that it gives me. I don't really need to know whether its 15 or 16 degrees outside, i can go out and find out for myself, and while I'm at it go for a walk listen to some good music, but i think ill still have my phone with me.............just in case!

Well you never know!

skype 2 mobile 0

2009-04-26T10:23:00.000-07:00

After using skype to contact my parents earlier in the week i was taken back after using my mobile to quickly phone them. I didn't like it and proposed that we 'skyped' each other instead later in the evening. All the joy of seeing them smile and laugh was lost with a phone call and it seemed really impersonal. I was trying to visualise their appearance in my head but it was no substitute for seeing them on screen with the only downside being that I'm restricted to my laptop.

From South Africa with love......kind of

2009-04-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

A text i missed........

Nathan, wat happened if i was in serious trouble and my life was on the line and i needed to call u? do u know wat would happen id probably die, thats right c**k s*****r! x

Its alive!

2009-04-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

2 weeks later and my talk box is back online. I celebrated by calling my friend with the broken wrist. The sensation of having the phone next to my head seemed a little weird to begin with but was good to say hello non-the-less and have a catch up. The convenience of being able to quickly plan a meet up next week was great. But now my phone is now lying in front of me and I'm finding myself looking at it, waiting for it to do something again!

Put it away

2009-04-25T07:46:00.000-07:00

I think i have a new found hatred for the person in a public place, on the phone, talking way too loud about their private life in front of other people. I don't want to know about how many girls you slept with at the same time or how much money you earn, stick that phone up your bottom and do us all a favour. Apologies if this is you. In fact I'm not even sorry. :-)

Self Defence

2009-04-25T07:37:00.000-07:00

i noticed yesterday that when a conversation between two people runs dry a person will often look at their phone for comfort, either checking for a text message or missed call, or even contacting someone else. It seemed to be a way of distancing themselves from the fact that they had nothing to say or contribute and feel less 'embarrassed' by the situation. Since seeing it for the first time Ive noticed it again and again, but not everybody does it and Ive found that people who appear to be more confident do it less.

You could have just asked!

2009-04-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

Not using a phone has certainly made me take more notice of not just what people say, but how they say it! Why does asking somebody to do something in a silly or different accent make it more likely that you will get your way and make you feel better for putting someone out?

Say what you see

2009-04-23T14:55:00.000-07:00

Please view the video and jot down what emotion you see for each short clip in the comment section below.

Cheers

Find a feeling, pass it on

2009-04-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to think of my mobile as a kind of emotional stimulant. One by which in a matter of seconds can change the mood I'm in for either better or worse. Not having it may have meant I've missed some great news or opportunities, but on the same note, over the past week or so i haven't had any bad news, aside from an email from a friend informing me he had broken his wrist. Ouch. But as i couldn't ring him or text him i felt a little guilty, and as for unintentionally making him respond by typing out an email........that's just plain cruel!

Sorry Steff :-) Get well soon!

skype 1 - mobile 0

2009-04-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

Without any problems at all i just managed my first video call with my parents using skype and it was great! Normally when I'm away ill keep in touch with a text or a quick call in the evenings but I'm now realising that it is so impersonal and unnatural. To see their faces and watch them laugh and smile was really cool and seemed more like how a conversation should be. Although my mobile phone does have the ability to make a video call i have never used it and thinking about it i don't know who in my list of contacts would be able to receive one anyway! For any students living away from home at university right now, try calling your parents with skype, its free and you might just make their day!

Walking post it note

2009-04-21T09:19:00.001-07:00

Ive never had the best memory, so over the past few days I've been leaving myself little notes around the house and on my hands to remind me of certain tasks i need to do. Ive learnt that i have to plan ahead and rely on others as i don't have the luxury of phone alarms or reminders to organize my life. To be honest i feel really relaxed at the moment, i haven't taken too much on in my work/social life or made arrangements i cannot keep or stressed about irrational conversations. Everything is going pretty well but sometimes i do think about others and would like to say hi and let them know I'm thinking about them. Something that a short text message does very well.

2009-04-21T04:33:00.000-07:00

The joys of being lost

2009-04-21T04:22:00.000-07:00

After Saturdays car journey i made some interesting observations. Firstly i rely on technology far too heavily and seem to have lost or have never even obtained some basic skills such as map reading. The problem could have been resolved straight away with a quick phone call but i actually preferred our way. OK the extra length of the journey couldn't have been good for the environment or my wallet but it was fun. I got to see places of a city that i hadn't seen before (I lived there for 3 years during my undergrad course) and met a few people on the way. When added up, i spoke to 11 extra people that day in what I'm gonna call 'micro conversations' (I apologise if this phrase has already been coined, but it seems to fit) It was good to see that there are loads of nice people out there willing to help others, even if they don't have the answer!!

Lost but not hopeless

2009-04-21T04:12:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening should have been a 30 minute car journey to see an old lecturer but instead it turned out to be a 2 hour adventure. I hadn't been to his house before so hastily jotted some directions down off google before leaving the house 15 minutes late (I don't wear a watch and lost track of time). All seemed to be going well until we were faced with an unexpected fork in the road after leaving the motorway. So we went left. Realised we were lost, went into a shop to ask for directions, spoke to 4 shop workers to no avail, left and followed a taxi who explained exactly were we needed to go. Unfortunately for us he was very wrong. We managed to find a supermarket and bought a map, only to quickly realise that not one of the 3 of us could read one! So our journey continued until we drove into the city centre (He lives nowhere near the city centre) and spoke to a taxi office who pointed us in the opposite but seemingly correct direction. 20 minutes later we arrived at our destination and apologised like never before, especially when we found out that they had cooked for us.

Unplugged in a pub

2009-04-21T03:59:00.000-07:00

Im starting to realize that as long as im organized for a social situation well in advance i can handle not having a phone. When it came to a night out on friday all went ok! only the night out was different. As most of my friends dont know im doing the experiement and as i dont have their contact details only 4 of us went out clubbing, compared to a normally larger group. Throughout the night we seemed to talk a lot more than usual and I became somewhat frustrated with other who i observed either on the phone, sending a text, or holding their talk box waiting for a text! I found it annoying and maybe selfish that I was sharing a persons eye contact and attention with a small black box, its not even been a week and jealousy has arrived on the scene!!

Lost in the woods

2009-04-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

So it turned out that I did walk past them at the airport but luckily they spotted me walking around like an idiot and came over. I took my two friends for a hungover shopping trip today. While they visited one shop i went to another but then when I'd had enough i went to find them, only i couldn't see them. So i went into the adjacent shop to see if they had moved on but still couldn't see them and began to wonder how I would explain to their parents that I'd lost their children. A few minutes past and went back into the first shop and saw them behind a stack of clothes. relief for a problem that could have been instantly fixed if i had been able to call them. I spent the rest of the afternoon trawling round the town centre sitting down with the other guys who had also made the mistake of going shopping with girls. Only they had their mobiles to keep them occupied while they waited. I on the other hand had to stare at shoes. Bad times.

Everybody needs a plan!

2009-04-16T06:35:00.001-07:00

This evening I'm picking up 2 friends from the airport. They texted me their flight number but as I can't turn my mobile on i can't get it. So what do I do? I know the airport they are flying from and can remember the approximate time they land so i guess all i need to do is get there in plenty of time. But what if they walk past me and i don't see them? What if their flight is delayed and i don't find out until i get there? Its been a while since i last saw them so what if i don't even recognise them! Its a pickle.......watch this space!

P.S. I really hope my car doesn't break down on the way there!

Chopped

2009-04-16T05:14:00.000-07:00

Ive just had my hair cut and before leaving the house and whilst walking down the street i padded down my jeans pockets looking for my little plastic talk box that i no longer carry. It appears this little parasite has infected me with a reflex, one that i can imagine most phone users suffer from. I normally don't really say much when I visit the barbers but today was different. As well as the obligatory polite hello I struck up a conversation about what he had been up to lately and complimented him on the renovation work that had been undertaken since my last visit. He seemed a little shocked to be honest! But i hadn't spoken to anybody today other than via email so I let loose on him!

Oops

2009-04-16T02:53:00.000-07:00

Its 10:54 am GMT and ive just been woken up by the house phone. Crap. I think I need to rethink my wake up strategy. I thought that i'd hear people moving around the house getting ready for work, I thought that the sun coming through my blinds would wake me up or even the sound of birds chirping away would get me out of bed, but not one of these 'natural alarms' worked. Wheres my internal body clock? I think somone has removed the batteries.

My missing limb

2009-04-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

Ive just gone to bed and look what followed me. I'd completely forgotten about the task and its still turned off but when I got up to go to bed I instinctively brought it with me and placed it on my pillow. I wonder how much energy I expend carting this little creature around everyday. Its like a parasite that wont let go. Now how am I going to wake up in the morning without an alarm? Shit.

Freak out

2009-04-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

Its only been an hour or 2 and I'm freaking out. Ive lost count of the times Ive opened my phone just to see if I had a text message, even though I know its not even turned on! But what if i did? What if it was important? Or just a friend saying hello. What if somebody is worried cause I haven't replied? Thinking about it now I should have notified my friends and family that I was doing this! The worst thing I've just considered is turning my phone on in a few weeks and not having any messages at all! Gutted.....

A little bed time reading!

2009-04-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

This may just be the thing I need to get me through any sticky patches!

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

2009-04-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

What if i break down in the middle of nowhere and cant call for help! What if i have an accident and nobody can hear me? I should have thought this through a little more..............

2009-04-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

Intro

2009-04-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

What is a mobile phone to you? I came to the realization yesterday that I was addicted to my phone, constantly relying on it for attention and gratification. But it wasn't always like this, I haven't always paced up and down waiting for a call, I haven't always took the easy way out and called somebody instead of meeting them in person, but more importantly I haven't always spent money on a product that to be honest I don't really need. So what is my life like without one for a few weeks? Lets see...