The Science of Gratitude | We’re very excited to share our latest passion project. It’s a short (just 2 minutes!) video about the health benefits of practicing gratitude—as well as simple steps to help you get started. Enjoy!
Epoch Artwork Lineage | “I’ve been very busy for the past year or so working on a new album so it’s been a while since I’ve posted. Now that the new Tycho album — Epoch — is out I wanted to write a little about the meaning and origin of the artwork. I worked as a graphic designer for 14 years until I decided to pursue music full time so the visual element of Tycho has always been at the core of the project for me. I think the imagery tells a story that the music can’t fully articulate, and vice versa.”
The History of Electronic Music in 476 Tracks (1937-2001) | “You may hear the phrase ‘electronic music’ and think of superstar dubstep DJs in funny helmets at beachside celebrity parties. Alternately, you may think of the mercurial compositions of Karlheinz Stockhausen, the musique concrete of Pierre Henry, or the otherworldly experimentalism of François Bayle. If you’re in that latter camp of music nerd, then this post may bring you very glad tidings indeed. Ubuweb—that stalwart repository of all things 20th-century avant-garde—now hosts an extraordinary compilation: the 476-song History of Electronic/Electroacoustic Music, originally a 62 CD set.”
The Shortest, Best-Designed Presentation We’ve Ever Seen | “Getting your point across with quick, visually effective storytelling works every time.”
This Is How To Resist Distraction: 4 Secrets To Remarkable Focus | “Maybe you’re lazy, maybe you’re not lazy. But one thing is for certain: your brain is. Research shows that even in our free time we often don’t do what we enjoy most — we do what is easy. Your brain doesn’t want to waste energy. So it’s always a bit lazy. Problem is, the world is not lazy. These days it’s constantly shouting at you.”
Old post, but still interesting: 100 years ago today, ‘The Rite of Spring’ incited a riot in a Paris theater | “The premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s ballet was one of the most notorious performances of the 20th century.”
The short list of nominees for the 2016 Information is Beautiful Awards | “The Information is Beautiful Awards have announced the shortlist of nominees for the best infographics, data visualizations, and data journalism for 2016. Literally hours of exploration here.”
How to Survive Bureaucracy | “…inevitably, as we grow into adults, we slam into something very frightening: the rigid indifference of the wider world to a lot of what we are and want.”
On hearing voices. | “There’s this voice in my head. It’s a derranged asshole, and it says vile things to me. My brain (like yours) absorbs the garbage I hear and see, digests and distills it. Inside my brain, that nastiness congeals into a distinct and horrible voice. When I picture the face behind this voice, I am reminded of everyone who was ever mean to me.”
We made some cool stuff for our AIGA STL Design Week open house. Here are two examples: Chris Roettger’s kombucha wall and Bill Keaggy’s paper airplane wall. The folks who showed up made stuff too! Here’s the self-portrait sign-in wall and the wall of gratitude.