Topic: inspiration
Our bookmarks on this topic are also at pinboard.in/u:unison/t:inspiration/
Happy holidays from the Hubble Space Telescope: A cosmic snow angel
Monday, December 26, 2011 · Topics: astronomy, inspiration, space-exploration
From BigThink: This movie presents a visualization of the star-forming region known as S106. This unique three-dimensional view illustrates and emphasizes that many of the objects contained within astronomical images are not at the same distance, but, in fact, spread across light-years of space. The Hubble image is augmented with additional field-of-view from the Subaru Infrared Telescope. The stars and the lobes of glowing gas from the Hubble/Subaru two-dimensional image have been separated and sculpted using both scientific knowledge and artistic license to create the depth in the movie. Of note, the relative distances between stars and the nebula have been greatly compressed. · Watch video →
Eames: The power of ten
Monday, October 24, 2011 · Topics: creativity, design, inspiration
In the Powers of Ten, Charles and Ray Eames take us on an adventure in magnitudes. Starting at a picnic by the lakeside in Chicago, this famous film transports us to the outer edges of the universe. Every ten seconds we view the starting point from ten times farther out until our own galaxy is visible only a s a speck of light among many others. Returning to Earth with breathtaking speed, we move inward — into the hand of the sleeping picnicker — with ten times more magnification every ten seconds. Our journey ends inside a proton of a carbon atom within a DNA molecule in a white blood cell. · Watch video →
Steve Jobs lays it down for Playboy
Saturday, October 8, 2011 · Topics: apple, inspiration
From Gizmodo: In 1987, a young, brash Steve Jobs sat down with the world’s preeminent gentleman’s magazine. · Go to Steve Jobs lays it down for Playboy →
Uncertainty, innovation and the alchemy of fear
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 · Topics: ambiguity, creativity, emergence, fear, inspiration, productivity, uncertainty
From Jonathan Fields at 99%: The ability to live in the question long enough for genius to emerge is a touchstone of creative success. In fact, a 2008 study published in the Journal of Creative Behavior revealed tolerance for ambiguity to be “significantly and positively related” to creativity. · Go to Uncertainty, innovation and the alchemy of fear →
The UP experience
Thursday, September 22, 2011 · Topics: conferences, creativity, ideation, inspiration
Unique Perspectives from Unique People is an engaging and intellectually stimulating event that brings together 16 of the world’s most extraordinary thought leaders, creators, and innovators for one exceptional day. These are the people behind the technologies, the trends, the ideas, and the global movements that shape our existence. The only event of its kind in Houston, UP is a learning opportunity, a creative conference, a think tank, and an entertainment event all in one. During 20-minute onstage presentations, each of our 16 guests discusses his or her work, passion, and ideas for the future; offstage, attendees experience up close and personal Q&A sessions. Designed for both personal and professional application, UP is an infusion of exceptional people, exceptional thinking and exceptional advances. · Go to The UP experience →
Banishing your inner critic
Tuesday, September 20, 2011 · Topics: design-process, emotional-intelligence, inspiration
From A List Apart: Imagine you are standing on a bridge casting a net. Above the bridge is your conscious mind, where thoughts come and go like travelers visiting a fair. Below the bridge is your subconscious — the ever-flowing stream of random thoughts, with countless ideas darting through the water like schools of brightly-colored fish. As is often the case where bridges and streams are concerned, a cold and menacing troll lurks nearby. This troll is your “Inner Critic.” The troll, aggressive and mean-spirited, doesn’t give a lick about your Grand Ideas. The troll has but one purpose: to prevent the ideas which playfully zoom about your subconscious from being gathered into the net of your consciousness and made manifest in the world. · Go to Banishing your inner critic →
Start your own Happiness Project
Friday, August 5, 2011 · Topics: happiness, inspiration, positive-psychology
From Gretchen Rubin: A “happiness project” is an approach to changing your life. First is the preparation stage, when you identify what brings you joy, satisfaction, and engagement, and also what brings you guilt, anger, boredom, and remorse. Second is the making of resolutions, when you identify the concrete actions that will boost your happiness. Then comes the interesting part: keeping your resolutions. · Go to Start your own Happiness Project →
Ten design lessons from Frederick Law Olmsted
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 · Topics: architecture, design, design-theory, inspiration, lessons-learned
Olmsted (1822–1903), the father of American landscape architecture, may have more to do with the way America looks than anyone else. Beginning in 1857 with the design of Central Park in New York City, he created designs for thousands of landscapes. His works include Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Boston’s Emerald Necklace, Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, Mount Royal in Montreal, the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and the White House, and Washington Park, Jackson Park and the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. Plus, many of the green spaces that define towns and cities across the country are influenced by Olmsted. · Go to Ten design lessons from Frederick Law Olmsted →
