We seem to have trapped ourselves in a vicious cycle—economic progress and innovation stagnated, except in information technology; which leads us to embrace the past and turn the present into a pleasantly eclectic for-profit museum; which deprives the cultures of innovation of the fuel they need to conjure genuinely new ideas and forms; which deters radical change, reinforcing the economic (and political) stagnation. I’ve been a big believer in historical pendulum swings—American sociopolitical cycles that tend to last, according to historians, about 30 years. So maybe we are coming to the end of this cultural era of the Same Old Same Old. As the baby-boomers who brought about this ice age finally shuffle off, maybe America and the rich world are on the verge of a cascade of the wildly new and insanely great. Or maybe, I worry some days, this is the way that Western civilization declines, not with a bang but with a long, nostalgic whimper.

For the past, I dunno, year or so, I’ve been trying to articulate my feelings about the cultural rut we’re in right now, never quite getting the words right. The paragraph above, taken from Kurt Andersen’s article You Say You Want a Devolution?, couldn’t embody my thoughts and feelings more perfectly. It’s everything that has been plaguing me for so long now, wrapped up so neatly and eloquently into a single paragraph. The problem is, that paragraph is only a prognosis, it doesn’t broach the idea of a cure. So how do we get out of this cultural toilet bowl we’ve find ourselves swirling around in? I’m still not sure, but I plan on trying my damnedest to figure it out.

As I was driving home I was toiling over the topic, and I came to one, rough conclusion – Design is to blame. For the past 50 or so years we’ve seen a rise in design, being conscious of design, trying to design things to be better suited for us. But maybe that’s the problem entirely?

The idea of design seems clinical these days. Pixel perfect design, perfectly executed corners, color-schemes that are pleasing to a majority of users. Should we be confining our lives and ideas into rigid modules, rules, guides and columns? When I think about the idea of design versus the idea of art, I have two completely different emotional reactions. When I think of art I think of expression. When I think of design, I think about perfection. Perhaps we need to stop worrying about perfection and worry about expressing ourselves fully through our work? Maybe we need to start making art again? Maybe we stop worrying about creating the one, perfect product that everyone in the world can love and do something that creates a truly emotional response in people?

Here’s what I think we need, my self very much being included in this idea. I think we need to fuck shit up. We need to make things that are uncomfortable to look at. We need to piss people off. We need to do things that seem fucked up and weird, that make no sense, that will be never be perfect and were never meant to be so. We need not explain ourselves or ask for forgiveness. We need to change this fucked up status quo of borrowing from the past and start thinking about our future. You and I both do it, we know we do. How can we proud of our work when it’s already been created?

I know our generation can create radical change, we just have to hurt and bleed and fight and scream to make it happen. Here’s where I begin to try.

Editor’s Note: I should have ended this post with, “Actions speak louder than words.”

I’m still amazed that 2011 has come and gone so quickly. Nearly a year ago Kyle and I were moving into a new apartment together, boxes all over the place, a new life beginning for the both of us. 2011 was good to me. I started Los Angeles, I’m Yours with the help of Kyle, we adopted an adorable dog, and I got a new day job working at Disney. I don’t have much to complain about, you know what I mean? I guess my life is on the top part of the wheel right now, and for that I’m extremely thankful.

I’m also rather excited to get into 2012. The Fox Is Black turns 5 in April, which is a huge milestone for me. It’s crazy to think I’ve been doing this for so long, and had the opportunity to meet and work with so many rad people. Being on vacation for the last two weeks I’ve realized how much more there still is to do, that I’ve still got a lot of big ideas to achieve, hopefully this is the year it happens. I also turn 30 in August, which is another exciting milestone in my life. I don’t have any fear about getting older, in fact it’s turned into the opposite, I enjoy getting older. Every year I learn more, what I like and dislike, and the path I travel takes shape even more clearly.

I need to give a big thanks to Kyle, for being here, always. A big thanks to Alex and Danica, for being the first writers I ever brought on and for doing such an amazing job. And to Philip and Alec for continuing to post interesting things that I would never write about on my own. Working with such great folks really helps the site grow into something even better.

2012 is going to be good. The site is going to be redesigned soon. It’ll be cleaner, simpler, and I’ll be sharing a lot more of the things I see. That’s really important to me, sharing things which are special. I see a lot of people out their spinning their wheels on bullshit projects, and it really bums me out. I hope everyone takes the time in 2012 to look at what their doing and make sure that it’s helping people or making the world a much more beautiful place to live in. Our time is finite, so don’t waste it. Have a good year. Be good to one another. Thanks for reading.

Bobby

Every year, I strive to improve myself. The right way to say it might be that I strive every day to be better than the day before. Only be learning and improving ourselves can we really become something better. It took me about the last 6 years or so to realize this, and Woody Guthrie knew this back in 1941. The list you see below is something Guthrie wrote up on the eve of 1942, 33 things he would improve in the year to come. The list, in my opinion, is pretty bad ass. My favorite numbers are 1, 6, 15, 18, 20, 23 and 33. Wake up and fight, everyday.

Which numbers apply to you?

1. WORK MORE AND BETTER
2. WORK BY A SCHEDULE
3. WASH TEETH IF ANY
4. SHAVE
5. TAKE BATH
6. EAT GOOD – FRUIT – VEGETABLES – MILK
7. DRINK VERY SCANT IF ANY
8. WRITE A SONG A DAY
9. WEAR CLEAN CLOTHES – LOOK GOOD
10. SHINE SHOES
11. CHANGE SOCKS
12. CHANGE BED CLOTHES OFTEN
13. READ LOTS GOOD BOOKS
14. LISTEN TO RADIO A LOT
15. LEARN PEOPLE BETTER
16. KEEP RANCHO CLEAN
17. DON’T GET LONESOME
18. STAY GLAD
19. KEEP HOPING MACHINE RUNNING
20. DREAM GOOD
21. BANK ALL EXTRA MONEY
22. SAVE DOUGH
23. HAVE COMPANY BUT DON’T WASTE TIME
24. SEND MARY AND KIDS MONEY
25. PLAY AND SING GOOD
26. DANCE BETTER
27. HELP WIN WAR – BEAT FASCISM
28. LOVE MAMA
29. LOVE PAPA
30. LOVE PETE
31. LOVE EVERYBODY
32. MAKE UP YOUR MIND
33. WAKE UP AND FIGHT

I’ve posted about the work of Everynone before, and I’ll probably keep doing so because they work is always consistently great. They’ve posted two new videos in the last few months, the most recent one called Losers came out two days ago and already has 114,000 pageviews. Losers is exactly what the video is about – outcasts, rebels, freaks, loners… and the people who bully them. Bullying is getting a lot of much needed attention in the world these days, especially with the rise of young people committing suicide because of it. This video perfectly portrays the feelings, the hate, the anguish that comes out of those situations. It’s powerful stuff, so prepare yourself.

On the flipside is their video called Laughs, which is a compilation of people, you guessed it, laughing. All of the video was found through YouTube and goes through a surprising and touching narrative of young people to old people laughing. What’s funny though is that even though it’s all laughing, it’s still a touching video that got me a little misty eyed. What can I say, I’m a sentimental guy. I’d suggest watching these in order so you don’t end on a sad note.

Bobby

Created for a special Occupy Wall Street screening at the Zero Film Festival, MK12 has done a great job of representing the spirit of what Occupy Wall Street is all about, told through the simplicity of Pong. The classic arcade game works as a great analogy, the 1% keep getting bigger and more unstoppable, but when the 99% team up we make a much larger, more powerful force. I read somewhere that tomorrow is going to be a big day for OWS, especially in New York, so this video is particularly timely.

Bobby

Finding success in life is a difficult path, and they’re different for each of us. In a recent interview with Viktor & Rolf over on The Talk, they mentioned how they started out and how they continued to thrive.

When you started out as young designers, did you ever think you would achieve the amount of success that you have?

Viktor: Of course it’s pretty great to be successful. But when we started out we didn’t have a blueprint of how we imagined our career going. On the one hand there was this ambition and conviction that we wanted to work at the highest level possible and then on the other hand a very pragmatic approach, being very aware of what we could and could not do. You immediately assess the risks you can and cannot take. That doesn’t sound like a business plan, but that was, and still is, the approach we have to our work. We control everything.

Everything?

Viktor: Everything. Not just exhibitions, also collections, perfumes, everything. Of course we work with a team, but we’re very involved in everything we do.

The idea of maintaining control in everything you do is a really great point. It’s extremely hard to keep control of your creative world, especially when money starts to become involved, and it’s oftentimes that much harder because you’re forced to do so much yourself. The joys of having things your way and to your liking far outweigh the struggles you may face.

Bobby

I was reading an interview with Yohji Yamamoto over on the The Talks and found this particular part inspiring. Have you found something of your own?

I simply cannot stand people’s tendency to become conservative. There’s always a move back to established conventions, otherwise upcoming waves would be soon categorized as common sense. Even the term avant-garde – avant-garde is now just a tiny fashion category. It became so cheap and pretentious. I hate it. But still, I strongly believe in the avant-garde spirit: to voice opposition to traditional values. It is not just a youthful sentiment; I live my life by it. Rebellion. You will only be able to oppose something and find something of your own after traveling the long road of tradition.

Bobby

Last Monday I posted about my mom needing help, and I was amazed at the outpouring of kindness and generosity given by my friends and readers. I honestly wasn’t sure how it would turn out. Would people think I was using them? Would we not raise any money? Sunday night I didn’t sleep very well because I was thinking about it, but thankfully everything turned out alright. In all there were donations of a little over $2500, which is a huge, generous amount, and that was only Monday through Wednesday of last week. I decided Wednesday that what we raised was plenty, and that I didn’t want to ask anymore of anyone else. This is my big thank you to everyone who donated, who tweeted, who shared my message through Facebook or however… it certainly means a lot to me and my mother. I’ll post an update once we get her a car as well, which should be in the next week or so. Yet again, thank you all so very much, especially these people.

Ryan Coseboom, Grant Custer, Ronald Cox, Kate Bingaman Burt, Grigor Atanasov, Darin Cavallero, Matthew Scribner, J3 Productions, Inc, Eugen Sakhnenko, Emmy McHugh, Angelique Groh, Danny Magnino, John Stanbury, Tony Proud, Brook and Frances Shelley, Monique Proctor, Austin Radcliffe, Eric Hillerns, Jennifer Lorentzen, Lauren Fundora, Suzanne Smith, Laura Frame Illustration, Johannes Agerbo Haahr, Sean Percival, Aaron Garber, Adam Puncochar, Zach Bulick, Anthony Shiver, Matthew Herz, Dana Robinson, Grace Cooper, Rachel Yonda, Mason Plunkett, Norman Chan, JB Hartford, Keep Us Posted, Armando Godinez, Harpreet Padam, Sanya Obsivac, Michele Miller, Kristi Ryan, Mary Tamulis, Kimberly Linn, Nate Israel, Petra Wennberg Cesario, Eric Trine, Andrea Cheng, Eileen Tang, Felix Herzberg, Tobias Fonseca, Karen Owens, James Wright, Carrie Patterson, Kim Jae Seok, Michael Robbins, Grant Blakeman, Joe Van Wetering, Smoky’s Mom, Daniel Tjoelker, Nicole Reinertson, Arnór Bogason, Dan Matutina, Michael Duskus, Amy Stella, Jenny Carr, Hock Guan Song, Amanda and Jon Tobin (Amanda’s website), Vinciane dePape, Jennifer Talesfore, Julie Molloy, Kevin Dobson, KeFe, Brian Wade Scott, Fredrik Broman, Spit & Spite, Edlynne Laryea, Vincent Marjes, Sawyer DeVuyst, Karen Hiller, Alexandre Le Goff, Paul-Laurent Hughes, Haigen Pearson, Standard Motion, Scott Ogle, Matt Renskers, Robert Vidaure, Rebecca Cascio, Yu Hayakawa, Clinic Vitamins, Ian Bauer, Benjaman Horne, Lisa Krug

Bobby

I don’t like doing this, but I need your help.

Last Thursday night I received a frantic call from my mother, telling me that her house was on fire. Honestly, I didn’t believe her at first, it’s one of those things that you hear but you can’t believe it’s true. Mysteriously her car caught on fire, we’re still not sure what happened, which in turn set the garage of the house she’s renting on fire. Ultimately, her car was completely destroyed and the home she was renting, which thankfully didn’t burn down, is uninhabitable.

Thankfully she had car insurance, but she had no renters insurance, so we’re not sure how much money she’ll actually be getting. She drove a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix, so we’re not exactly optimistic. Currently she works at a local casino at a gift shop, since the economy crashed. She hasn’t been able to find a job as a secretary despite working as one for 20+ years. Unfortunately she doesn’t make much and doesn’t have any savings to fall back on. Currently she’s staying at my grandmother’s house (where I’m writing this from) and I’m helping her find a place to live. I currently take care of Kyle, Dottie and myself, so helping my mom is stretching me thin, so this is where I’m hoping you can help us.

We’re hoping to raise money to get my mom a new (used) car. We’re not talking about a Porsche, as she’s a simple lady. I’m thinking we’ll get something small and reliable like a Honda Accord or a Toyota Corolla so she can keep her job. Anything you can give would be helpful, there’s no donation too small. I’m not sure what else to do to help her, so I hope I could rely upon you readers to try and help us out. I don’t think I’ve ever asked anything from you readers, so hopefully you’ll do me a favor this once and give something.

All you need to do is click the link below, it links to my personal Paypal, and give something. I’ll be posting the names of donors (let me know if you don’t want to be listed) your amount and a link to your website/blog/wherever on this post, maybe some of you will be enticed by this. Thank you to anyone who gives: I so deeply appreciate it.

A huge thanks to these people for donating:
Ryan Coseboom – $25
Grant Custer – $25
Ronald Cox – $20
Kate Bingaman Burt – $25
Grigor Atanasov – $30
Darin Cavallero – $20
Matthew Scribner – $30
J3 Productions, Inc – $25
Eugen Sakhnenko – $20
Emmy McHugh – $20
Angelique Groh – $25
Danny Magnino – $10
John Stanbury – $25
Tony Proud – $20
Brook and Frances Shelley – $25
Monique Proctor – $20
Austin Radcliffe – $15
Eric Hillerns – $25
Jennifer Lorentzen – $25
Lauren Fundora – $45
Suzanne Smith – $20
Laura Frame Illustration – $15
Johannes Agerbo Haahr – $25
Sean Percival – $100
Aaron Garber – $30
Adam Puncochar – $50
Zach Bulick – $25
Anthony Shiver – $15
Matthew Herz – $20
Dana Robinson – $50
Grace Cooper – $25
Rachel Yonda – $50
Mason Plunkett – $25
Norman Chan – $25
JB Hartford – $25
Keep Us Posted – $25
Armando Godinez – $25
Harpreet Padam – $15
Sanya Obsivac – $20
Michele Miller – $100
Kristi Ryan – $20
Mary Tamulis – $10
Kimberly Linn – $40
Nate Israel – $50
Petra Wennberg Cesario – $100
Eric Trine – $25
Andrea Cheng – $20
Eileen Tang – $5
Felix Herzberg – $30
Tobias Fonseca – $15
Karen Owens – $25
James Wright – $10
Carrie Patterson – $10
Kim Jae Seok – $30
Michael Robbins – $35
Grant Blakeman – $10
Joe Van Wetering – $15
Smoky’s Mom – $18
Daniel Tjoelker – $25
Nicole Reinertson – $25
Arnór Bogason – $25
Dan Matutina – $25
Michael Duskus – $20
Amy Stella – $25
Jenny Carr – $8
Hock Guan Song – $10
Amanda and Jon Tobin (Amanda’s website) – $10
Vinciane dePape – $25
Jennifer Talesfore – $10
Julie Molloy – $20
Kevin Dobson – $25
KeFe – $50
Brian Wade Scott – $10
Fredrik Broman – $30
Spit & Spite – $25
Edlynne Laryea – $20
Vincent Marjes – $15
Sawyer DeVuyst – $25
Karen Hiller – $10
Alexandre Le Goff – $35
Paul-Laurent Hughes – $25
Haigen Pearson – $30
Standard Motion – $25
Scott Ogle – $10
Matt Renskers – $10
Robert Vidaure – $20
Rebecca Cascio – $20
Yu Hayakawa – $10
Clinic Vitamins – $25
Ian Bauer – $25
Benjaman Horne – $15
Lisa Krug – $50

Bobby

Like most people, I have a phone charger next to my bed so that my iPhone will have a full charge for the next day. I do this everyday because I use my phone often, making it through 24 hours on one charge is about all I can do. When I woke up yesterday morning, it was at 100%. Throughout the day though, I noticed that my battery life had been draining rather quickly, noting to my co-workers how I thought it was weird. It was a busy day though, and I kept forgetting to plug my phone in, so around 4-ish it ran out of battery… and news was released that Steve Jobs had passed away. It took me a while to realize the oddness of this coincidence, which I do understand is just a coincidence, but one that was certainly weird to me.

Yesterday was also a very rainy, gloomy day. We haven’t had real rain here in Los Angeles for… I don’t remember the last time. But yesterday, the sky dumped on us. Shortly after the announcement of Steve’s passing, around 6, I went outside and took the photo above, a beautiful sunset framed by puffy clouds. Yet again, another coincidence that the rain had stopped, but it’s these odd things that make me question life and get a little deep.

I used my first Mac in the 3rd grade. I couldn’t tell you what kind it was, but I learned the struggles of the Oregon Trail on it, a life of cholera outbreaks and broken wagon wheels. This was 1990. I didn’t get another Mac, a Power Mac G5, until 2003, when I realized that I wanted to be a designer. All designers used Macs, it was a fact, so I knew if I wanted to be properly outfitted I needed to join the gang. I felt proud of what I was using, a machine that so many other important people used, it was inspiring.

Last night I had dinner with some old friends, one of them I’ve known basically since I moved to Los Angeles. We lamented about the passing of Steve Jobs, but our conversation easily turned to how much he’s shaped our culture via technology, and how few people have done that. We through ideas like “he’s the Mahatma Ghandi of our generation” or “he was our Michael Jackson” and “how many CEOs have you morned?”

Ultimately, the conversation boiled down to one truth: Steve Jobs made the world better by making our lives better. We live in a hyper connected world, and he helped make the devices we use on a day-to-day basis better. He made them feel human, he made them feel special. In turn he’s shaped the future. Without his vision we wouldn’t have a plethora of touch screen technology. Were there touch screen devices before the iPhone or iPad? Sure, but they sucked. Steve Jobs helped make them good. With the iPhone 4S, Apple is trying to make voice commands work, you know, for real. Android already has voice commands, Apple didn’t invent the idea, nor did Android. But I believe that Apple is going to perfect the idea, and that’s what makes them, and Steve, special.

There really isn’t a big point to this, I guess it’s just my way to get some of my thoughts out. I wasn’t sad when Michael Jackson died, I was shocked more than anything. Michael Jackson wasn’t my hero though, Steve Jobs was the kind of person I looked up to. He was smart, he was inventive, he was passionate about design. He had a tough life, he was kicked out of his own company and survived pancreatic cancer for 7 years. At the end of the day, and the end of his life though, he made a difference in the world, one which will continue to influence us for the rest of our lives. If any of us strived to be half as brilliant and determined as Steve Jobs, the world would be a much better place. User your time wisely folks, it’s gone before you know it.

Thanks Steve.

Bobby