Someone pointed out an interesting tradition. When crossing the Ohio River into Kentucky, you throw away your shoe! OK, even though Shaker Village was very laid back, I found the idea of visitors leaving their shoes at the border a little much. But it’s true!!!

Guest post by Scott Hull.

In preparation for my third Design Revival conference, I’m revisiting some of my favorite memories and experiences (amazing presentations from speakers excluded). In some instances, names have been withheld to protect the privacy of the designer. In other instances, photos have been included to exploit the designer.

Phoning a friend during the conference is not an option. Be entertained as Design Revival virgins panic at the realization that their mobile phones don’t get a signal at the West Lot Dwelling. Time spent away from technology is always refreshing, and it’s one of the things I appreciate most about this conference experience.

The riverboat cruise is most definitely a highlight of the Design Revival experience. The past seven conferences, and we’ve only sunk one riverboat. The odds that we’ll stay afloat this year are average. It’s also worth mentioning that a riverboat full of designers is a supreme opportunity for hat watching. I love hats, so be encouraged to wear one this weekend.

The riverboat cruise - notice the headgear?? (Andrea McCorkle and Oen Hammonds, Design Revival 2006)

Late nights in the basement of the West Lot Dwelling are known for enthusiastic conversation among strangers soon to become friends. Warning: this experience may also include singing designers and attempts to open a wine bottle with a fire poker.

If you and a fellow designer attempt to return to your room by foot late at night, you will quickly realize that without the moon, you are sans light source. Designers may find themselves struggling to follow the gravel path, while the occasional “moo” of an unseen and nearby farm animal startles and drops you to the ground.

Getting excited to taste the bourbon (Tim Smith, Design Revival 2006)

My past two Design Revival conferences included the currently retired bourbon tasting. After years of trying – it is painfully obvious – designers cannot handle their bourbon. Some may try to pace themselves by doodling on their placemat. Others may think that youth, or even maturity, is on their side. They try, but they always fail. If you’re feeling sore about the lack of bourbon, visit Woodford Reserve on your own Sunday afternoon.

She loves the bourbon - delish! (Sarah Alexander, Design Revival 2006, post-bourbon tasting)

You’re in for a unique conference experience and a fabulous weekend, so pack your hat, hit the open road, and let the decompression begin! I’m looking forward to spending the weekend with all of you.

Clothing

• Warm layers of clothing and warm outerwear are suggested for the Friday boat ride. Low temperatures of 46°F are predicted.
• Comfortable walking shoes are recommended in order to enjoy nearby trails and footpaths available on the Village grounds.
• A small umbrella may come in handy in case of rain.

Electronics

• Mobile phone reception can be intermittent or nonexistent, depending on your carrier. For most guests placing and receiving mobile phone calls will prove difficult on the Village grounds.
• Wireless internet: Complimentary high-speed wireless internet access for your laptop is available in the West Family area. The sitting area on the first floor of the West Family Dwelling is designated a public Wi-Fi area for all Village guests to enjoy. Your personal wireless network card is required. Connection is not secure.
• Dial-up internet: For dial-up connections, your laptop should be programmed with 9 (for an outside line) & the toll free number provided by your ISP.
• Bring along your camera. We will be creating a Flickr stream just for Design Revival after the event, and we’d like you to contribute some of your photos.
• Don’t forget to bring some business cards for all those new connections you make.

Be prepared to get creative, and have fun!

For our participants, it’s a recovery. A deepening. A voice. A bridge between design, stewardship, community — a spirit, mind, body interplay. A re-vision of an awareness of one’s core energy as one shapes craft, profession and community. This is what “Revival” embodies and what the Shaker Community has come to symbolize. ‘Tis a gift to be simple! ‘Tis a gift to be free!

Thoughts written by past attendee and speaker Said Osio.

VISUAL AMBASSADOR OBERSERVATION
Being Eco On Your Travel to Design Revival

From the shadows of this creative world that I’ve been able to watch, listen, and learn as the art world has evolved and, more recently, forcefully propelled itself forward.  I’ve been a sponge, what can I say?  By donning the title of Visual Ambassador, I’m forcing my way into the spotlight, if only for the snippets of time a blog entry permits, to pass on the things I’ve absorbed as an attendee over the years of Design Revival.

OBSERVATION ONE

As a designer / artist be a good steward to the earth.  On your trip to or from Design Revival stop along the road and pick up trash.  OK, now use your creative talent in doing something useful with the items. Think Kentucky, think recycle, think art, think music.

Check out the photos to see a few usages I’ve observed for discarded items. These pieces of guitar art have been created from kitchen items, a record player, and a laptop!

Scott Hull, of Scott Hull Associates, is co-chair of Design Revival 2008 and a long-time supporter of the conference.

I’m starting a new job in a couple of weeks. In preparation for that, I’ve been cleaning out my desk and my files at my current job. I’ve come across so many very functional things and beautifully designed samples from vendors, paper mills, and my own team. I can’t take it all with me, and it’s sure to become a pile of “junk” for others after me. So what do I do with all these things?

This sparked a conversation among designer-friends about what happens to all the waste we make. All the funny shapes from die-cuts. All of the leftovers from the bindery. All of the outdated books of paper lines. As designers, we create a lot of waste, if you really want to over-simplify. But I prefer to think of it as functional waste. Informational waste. If it’s worth creating, it should have a very solid purpose.

But this causes me to think about individual projects that I put my time in effort into. Does this have the right to exist? What happens when the end-user is done with it? And what happens to the waste that is created in the process? How can I design more efficiently to reduce waste, and have a more lasting and sustainable effect?

Perhaps these thoughts are appropriate campfire topics at Design Revival very soon!

Continue the discussion with Nikki as she hosts a hands-on Sustainability Craft session featuring re-used materials. Meet on Friday afternoon at 3:15 in the Lower Level Sitting Room. Materials donated by Wendling Printing.

I’m excited to have the chance to share thoughts at this year’s Design Revival on expectations and how they can affect our creative process. My experience has been that many artists carry residual “gunk” from previous experiences that carries over into our current work and can — in an unknowing way — affect our ability to creatively engage.

I’ve found that simple awareness of these unhealthy expectations can go a long way toward “clearing the air” and helping us re-engage with a clean slate. In my own life, the most difficult expectation-escalation occurs around comparing my current work with past work. I find that I lose my energy around a project when it’s not “measuring up” to some invisible standard I’ve set. What I often fail to realize is that all of those “uber-amazing-standard-bearing” projects were once unformed and fragile. (Plus I’ve noticed over time that I tend to look back on projects with a distorted perspective.)

My friend Tim said it best when he said that he wants to be “expectant” without expectations. That’s what I want my day-to-day creating to look like.

Continue the conversation in person with Todd Henry as he leads a breakout session on Expectations. Meet on Saturday morning at 11:15 in the Sitting Room.