Photo by: http://mudstencils.com/share-street/

/ CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

I’ve always thought there is something really beautiful about graffiti and street art, but I can’t condone the defacing of public property. (Chicago’s taxes are already way too high.)

This morning, I learned about mud stencils (from Kirk Roberts via the Kernspiracy mailing list) which could be a very unique, eco-friendly way to spread your marketing message. The darkness of the mud feels like black spray paint, and offers more opportunities for high-contrast, eye-catching messaging than sidewalk chalk. Chalk messages were really big on my college campus … I’m curious to see if mud stencils catch on.

Once Chicago thaws out in the spring, I’m really curious to try out this new technique. It’s pretty straightforward: all you need is a stencil cut out of mylar (the same material used for overhead transparency sheets), a sponge or roller, some tape, a bucket, dirt, and water. Draw your design (or print it out) and place a piece of mylar over it. Using an X-acto knife, cut out your stencil. Mix up your batch of mud until it has the consistency of peanut butter (if it is too runny, your design will bleed).  Tape your stencil to a sidewalk or wall and apply the mud using a sponge or roller. Remove the stencil… bam. Marketing with mud.

More inspiration here:

• Mud Stencils
• other Mud Stencils
• Mud Stencils in Chicago
• InHabitat

Would you consider commissioning mud stencils for your next project?

(Note: Video originally posted here)

Bierut’s stack of 86 notebooks is both impressive and inspiring (and another great defense as to why I refuse to throw design-related items away). The pile of basic composition notebooks contains invaluable notes and ideas that lead to some pretty monumental design work – like the environmental graphics for the New York Times Building.

He likens his craft to medicine — just as a doctor cannot practice medicine without patients, as a designer, he cannot practice without clients. “The ‘sicker,’ the better,” Bierut says, with a laugh.

In this 19 minute video, Bierut outlines five lessons he has learned over the years and illustrates them through five completed projects. The one I identified with most is “Listen first, then design” — a principle I try to live by with each new project. Although clients come to designers with problems to solve, as Bierut says in lesson #3 — “The problem contains the solution.” Clients hold the answers to their own problems, we just need to help them find it.

“Remember who you’re doing it for and why you’re doing it and you can’t go wrong.”

– Michael Bierut

What do you think of Bierut’s “secrets”?

I was introduced to Accidental Creative’s Manifesto at the 2009 Creative Freelancer Conference in San Diego this past August. Months later,  I still find myself returning to it in moments of frustration and creative anguish.

1. We create. Everyday. Not because we have to, but because we can’t help it. We empty ourselves because that’s what artists do.

2. We are brilliant at what we do, but what we do does not define us.

3. We understand that our vocation is bigger than our occupation. We’re on this earth to do more than earn a paycheck.

4. We are committed to growth. We do not tolerate stagnancy, because it’s the first sign of death.

5. We are committed to healthy creating. We recognize that to be prolific for a long time involves intentionality, choice and discipline.

6. We know the value of what we make, and we refuse to prostitute ourselves to organizations. We make career decisions based upon who we are not what everyone else would do in our situation.

7. We are always looking for ideas. We are focused, curious and passionate about life, because life is art.

8. We refuse to play the victim. We are proactive and responsible for our own creative health.

9. We are generous because we are free. We know that the goal is to act on the best idea, whether or not it’s our own. We build other people up, even when they don’t reciprocate.

10. We are committed to relationships. We recognize that healthy creating will come out of vibrant relationships.

I absolutely love these principles. I am currently focused on (#4) growth and (#10) creating healthy relationships. As I started slipping into creative stagnancy, it seemed like all areas of my life felt like they were off-kilter. Since then, I’ve taken on a few new projects that are pushing me out of my comfortable skill set and I’m taking classes on lynda.com. It feels like my brain is finally flexing its muscles after spending a long time loafing on the couch.

In conclusion, the AC Manifesto says:

We are committed to bringing ourselves fully to our life, work and art. And as we do this, the world will change around us.

I don’t know about you, but I’d love to impact positive world change. Design is definitely about more than a paycheck (see #3).

What are your thoughts? Is the AC Manifesto a little too extremist, or right on? Which point is the most inspiring/thought provoking to you?