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Immersion: Operating Framework and “Post Digital” Concept
Jan 10, ’11
8:46 PM
The concept of an operating framework is to organize your time and effort into specific areas of focus. In theory, and with appropriate discipline, an operating framework can accelerate one’s development in one or multiple areas. The very nature of writing down one’s goals (or visually representing them) can plant these ideas and objectives into one’s subconscious, and this becomes a very powerful motivator even if you aren’t explicitly thinking of the framework on a daily basis (you shouldn’t be).
For example, here is an example of a partial framework from 2007 (Plane 6 – “Foundation”):
(Click on the image to enlarge)
While I listed electronics and software development within this framework, I didn’t end up spending a lot of time in these specific areas. And that’s where the evolution of an operating framework becomes relevant; where are you focusing your energy? And if you aren’t spending your time in certain areas, is this necessarily a problem?
In the Immersion (Plane 10) framework shown below, there is now a clear separation of what I’ve focused on in the past and what I ultimately need to focus on in the future. This is a radical shift given that I’ve typically had to justify and take on multiple, parallel tracks that had little relationship to one another – other than the fact that one path was for survival, and the other more aspirational. By logically separating these skills from the “core”, they will eventually become dormant and by default, the skills that I want to develop will have developed due to this increased focus (i.e. a self-fulfilling prophecy).
(Click on the image to enlarge)
Layered above these “dormant” skills are multiple layers of activity – all leading to a radically advanced portfolio along with an increased level of interaction weighted more heavily in the real-world than in the digital realm. What’s truly important here is that this increased interaction ultimately stems from a broader range of experiences. Not surprisingly, this has a dual purpose; the greater one’s experiences, the greater one’s ability to learn, identify challenges and design solutions to those challenges. Experiences represent a designer’s playground.
Finally, one concept that perhaps serves as the basis for this framework is John Maeda’s concept of “post digital”:
[Post Digital] is a term that I created as a way to acknowledge a distinction between those that are passed their fascination with computers, and are now driven by the ideas instead of the technology. […] the “post digital” generation refers to the growing few that have already been digital, and are now more interested in Being Human.
Ultimately, this is exactly what Immersion is all about – I’m less interested in the technology for technology’s sake. Rather I am interested in using technology to increase idea generation to make people’s lives better.
Mental Evolution IV (“Discovery”)
Dec 18, ’10
7:01 AM
After determining that what I was ultimately dealing with was a underlying belief of “learned helplessness” (pessimism), I decided to purchase Martin Seligman‘s book entitled “Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life.” Within the first fifty pages of the book is a “test” that explores the degree of pessimism one possesses. While the overall results were not surprising to me (“average” to “moderately pessimistic”), I found Seligman’s framework for understanding the degree of pessimism very interesting.
According to John Teasdale, Seligman’s colleague, the premise behind one’s degree of helplessness ultimately boils down to the manner in which one explains bad events; this is known as one’s explanatory style. Seligman outlines three dimensions to one’s explanatory style:
- Permanence – How long does someone give up after failing? Explanations that are more temporary in scope translates into increased resilience – i.e. “This failure is just a minor setback. What’s next?”
- Pervasiveness – Does someone utilize universal or specific explanations for their failure(s)? Those that employ a universal perspective for their failures give up on everything, while those that describe their failures using specifics can compartmentalize their failures in one area and progress naturally in others.
- Personalization – Does the individual blame themselves for their failures or the circumstances? Those that internalize their failures tend to have a lower self-esteem than those who place blame on external circumstances.
Not surprisingly, the test is structured around these three dimensions. Below is a more detailed view of my results:
Permanence – I have a tendency to think about bad things using extreme descriptors (always, never, etc.). When good things happen, I tend to believe that these events are not long lasting, but they are also not necessarily fleeting.
Pervasiveness – I tend to believe that bad events have specific causes, and are thus not universal in breadth. I also believe that good events enhance everything that I do.
Personalization – I fall in the middle of blaming myself and external circumstances for my failures. However, when I believe that I cause good things to happen, my self-esteem is much higher than the average person.
Overall, when bad things occur, I’m moderately pessimistic and when good events occur, I am just the opposite. If you guess that this is “average”, you are correct. So, perhaps the problem of pessimism or “learned helplessness” isn’t to the degree that I had imagined – or is it?
When one experiences a stream of continuous failures, one’s ability to remain optimistic becomes more difficult. While there are those that have “bulletproof” levels of optimism, I unfortunately do not currently fall in this category – at least not yet.
Crises that I can “plan” for (e.g. burglary, fire, etc.) are easier for me to maintain a high level of optimism than those that I cannot foresee. Since there will be many challenges that will not display a “early warning signal”, my main challenge is to learn how to develop the skills necessary (i.e. an enhanced explanatory style) to ensure my optimism remains high independent of the crisis encountered.
Mental Evolution III (“Lessons”)
Dec 15, ’10
8:02 PM
January 1, 2011 marks the beginning of the tenth chapter (“Plane”) in the Planescape saga – a chapter I call “Immersion.” While the details are still being mapped out, I am becoming enthusiastic about what this new framework entails.
In advance of sharing more details about Immersion, I think it’s worth sharing a few things that I’ve learned over the past year – particularly over the past sixty days – all of which will be incorporated into my larger advancement strategy.
- In the workplace, team chemistry is perhaps the most important thing to me.
- I have a much clearer sense for what I should ultimately strive for, and what I can leave behind.
- I have a better understanding of my strengths and skills, and also have the confidence to let some of those skills lay dormant as I develop new skills and further improve my strengths.
- I believe that if I am not happy, moving somewhere else will not necessarily change this.
- I am uncomfortable with a significant amount of uncertainty, but I have learned ways to accommodate where extreme uncertainty exists.
- I have learned what it feels like to be unemployed and the psychological effects of the job search.
- I have a better understanding of the types of companies that interest me – and those that do not.
- I know I need to centralize my development around design, technology and business.
- I need to be more careful and conscious of future decisions to increase my life satisfaction.
- The past several years of effort have ultimately paid off in terms of being able to tell a more accurate story of who I am and where I’m going.
- I am interested in leading design efforts with proper experience / education.
- I have learned that a continuous bombardment of failures can result in a sense of “learned helplessness” which can be corrected.
- I have a better sense of who to trust and when trust should be given.
- I have learned better decision-making skills given past failures.
- I do not wish to work at home or alone because it is psychologically very draining / alienating for me.
- I have a better understanding of what I want and do not want in my life.
- I have learned that I can become blocked when facing too many significant (life) decisions at once; thus, employing some type of partitioning strategy is necessary to make these decisions in confident, thoughtful and expedient manner.
- I may never be completely satisfied with my life, and maybe that is okay.
- My graphic design portfolio is fairly strong, but I need to spend more time developing the other sections of my portfolio (e.g. 3D).
- I would like to expend more time on entertainment design, but realize that it may always be a passion but not necessarily a career.
- A robust ID portfolio and MFA degree could open a lot of doors for me in the long-run.
Mental Evolution II (“Turning Point”)
Dec 9, ’10
8:28 PM
I recently came to the conclusion that what I have been dealing with for an extended period of time (years) is something called learned helplessness. Learned helplessness is a condition where you find yourself believing that you have no control over the outcome of your actions. It stems from a stream of negative events that demoralize and ultimately cause one to give up – albeit temporarily. While I don’t know when this period began, I do know that this period is ending.
I have always labeled myself as a realist – which, in my mind, has been a balance between optimism and pessimism. The challenge that I have been facing over the past several years – particularly in 2010 – is that when reality presents you with continuous challenges, one can become overwhelmed with trying to make sense of what has happened. I’ve found that this original sense of realism has become replaced with that of pessimism and extreme caution, both of which has resulted in stagnation and an inability to advance into territories that will ultimately make my life more fulfilling and positive.
Interestingly, but not surprisingly, I have been amazed at my recent ability to quell feelings of positivity when they arise because I no longer trust these feelings will last. By default, these positive feelings rarely have a chance to develop and a self-fulfilling prophecy is created.
This is a turning point because feelings of learned helplessness and the tendency to employ a pessimistic perspective can both be overcome. Setbacks no longer need to be classified as disasters. I have too much potential to allow this pattern to continue any longer.
Mental Evolution I (“Realization”)
Nov 26, ’10
7:24 AM
[This is part one of multi-part series related to my experiences in searching for a new career opportunity.]
I read an article on CNN today which really hit home with me. The article was about the rescue of two boys who were lost at sea for nearly two months – having recently been found by a tuna ship off the coast of Fiji. The story is nothing short of a miracle. While the concept of faith is perhaps an underlying factor in their survival, the final sentence of the article is a very powerful one:
“They’ve got a lot of gusto, a lot of strong mental spirit,” Fredricsen told the Morning Herald. “Physically they are very [distraught] but mentally they are very strong.”
When I attempted the summit of Mt.Rainier in 2007, the main reason I was unable to accomplish this goal had everything to do with a lack of mental toughness and very little to do with physical capability. This was very surprising to me. The fact that these boys’ survival was based primarily on their mental strength says a lot – not only about them but about me as well.
I am physically very strong. Mentally, however, I think there is opportunity for improvement. Of course, the degree of “weakness” depends upon a number of factors – and there are certain circumstances where I can be quite resilient when many others cannot. In any event, this ability to adapt can be strengthened – and this identification is the first step towards a stronger “mental infrastructure.”
Using my personality type (INFP) as the basis for this journey is key. Without going into elaborate detail about the aspects of this personality type, I was able to locate ten INFP-specific “rules” to achieve greater success and become mentally stronger.
In scanning this list, and looking back over the past year, it’s safe to say that my ability to “follow” these rules has varied depending upon the situation. Fortunately, given the degree of personal introspection I’ve invested over the past two years (e.g. this blog), nearly all of these rules are ones that I employ on a daily basis. But, there are two major exceptions:
- Express Your Feelings. Don’t let unexpressed emotions build up inside of you. If you have strong feelings, sort them out and express them, don’t let them build up inside you to the point where they become unmanageable!
- Assume the Best. Don’t distress yourself by assuming the worst. Remember that a positive attitude often creates positive situations.
The first one has been the most difficult for me – primarily because I tend to internalize everything I’m feeling before expressing those feelings. In certain circumstances, this can be a positive but in many cases it causes me significant stress – particularly if those same feelings remain “hidden.”
The second is another area for improvement. While my ability and desire to help others can be seen as having an optimistic outlook, I’ve found that this level of optimism is in contrast to what I sometimes feel in my personal and professional lives. I need to take steps to employ a similar perspective independent of the situation.
While this CNN article prompted me to share these thoughts, they have been there for some time. Given my experiences over the past several weeks, I’ve felt this lack of mental toughness to be something that I really need to pay close attention to. When you strive for success on a daily basis, any and all barriers need to be managed accordingly – and increasing my mental strength is my primary barrier right now.
Point in Time Visualizations.
Nov 2, ’10
7:48 PM
I stumbled again upon the Wordle site by Jonathan Feinberg and thought it would be interesting to see what visualizations came about from both Incubator and Big Generator. Here’s what it came up with:
Incubator (November 2, 2010)
Big Generator (November 2, 2010)
Visualizations such as these can be extremely useful in situations where you aren’t certain of the content as it can highlight key themes that may remain “hidden” within the text.
The Visual Journey
Oct 26, ’10
11:18 AM
As you may already be aware, this blog is one of several projects that I have been working on over the past several years. The underlying goal has centered around building a foundation onto which I can layer in new creative projects and pursuits. This is why I’ve branded my main web site and bundled these projects within a title I call “Supercharged Creative Exploration.”
The original home page design launched earlier this year showcased the three original projects – Incubator, Microcosms and Pixeldust. Since that time, I’ve also included a few other projects to the list – including Ink.
Not surprisingly, one of my goals has involved designing a new home page that provides visitors with a complete inventory of these projects along with a modular format that is easy to update.
With this goal in mind, I’ve formulated a few graphic designs that do just this. While the current design solves the current objective and is easy to update, I consider it an early version and will eventually be replaced. Over the next several months, I plan on eventually migrating to one of the site designs show below: (or some derivation thereof)
If you visit the new site, you’ll also notice a new link – something that I call “The Visual Journey.” This is a design that encapsulates who I am, what I am interested in, and some more information about the history of my professional career and my interests. I think it will help people understand what motivates me and what I am passionate about.
Due to the nature of the design and purpose, I’ve left it in a PDF format. It’s best read using the official Adobe Acrobat reader but aside from a few minor graphic inconsistencies on the title page, the Preview application available in Mac OS X should also work well.
The combination of this new design along with the Visual Journey supplement symbolizes the next chapter in my creative and intellectual journey – it’s a chapter I call “Immersion.”