On Life + Screenshots - Newsletter #1
This is our first newsletter together.
Welcome in.
I have taken this to heart over the past six months.
During my venture into solo mode/self employment/temporary retirement, I've remembered how much I love to write. I do it all the time, but I share about 1% of it.
This newsletter intends to change that. Once a month, right before the calendar turns, I'll send you an update — a blend of what's going on in my head, my recent design work, and interesting insights you can use in work/life. Everything is linked, so you can return later. Think of it as your way to make sure I'm staying in line.
The main focus has been the pursuit of the rest of my life. Grandiose, I know...
I've designed tools for creators and thinkers for a while now, and my current research looks at how humans interact with information and synthesize knowledge. Quite complementary! What we're uncovering has the chance to greatly accelerate how we learn. It's kind of amazing how those pieces fit together.
The research is under wraps until ~December, but then we'll publish a public notebook for you to follow along. Surely that will turn into designing a tool of some sort.
So...how have I spent the time?
I've been having a blast alongside the research work. This past month, I shared:
a research and design exploration (with Donna!) on improving phone screenshots,
a bit of design fiction on a tool called Visual-Meta,
a conversation I had with myself about feeling wayward, and
a few bits of lowercase energy on Twitter.
I'll highlight the screenshots project, because it was damn fun concept work. Donna and I dug into 40 of our friends' experiences with screenshots, and found four easy things to upgrade: comments (via notes), context (via an activity log), replay (via screen recording) and reflection (via spaced repetition). You can watch a short here, but the full thread is fun.
I plan to do cool giveaways here frequently, because giving gifts is the most fun a designer can have. So, this newsletter is more like a monthly hang with someone who just wants everyone to have a good time. It will be a fun journey, and the dream is in the journey.
Wherever you are in the Northern Hemisphere. I hope you're enjoying the wonderful early days of fall. Chicago is reminding me why this is my favorite time of year.
Love,
Bren
ps. If you have other thoughts, including what in the hell I'm doing, this is a great avenue to ask. Life is wonderful, and I would love to talk to you, surely. You can throw some time on my calendar here.
oh, also, i've been listening to a lot of Helado Negro. fall tunes. albums only. low key vibes rec.
