Whenever the opportunity to illustrate the marvels of innovation and creativity happens to visit my doorstep, I am all too happy to try.
Already a relic from a not so distant past, I still love this camera.
What is fire good for if we can’t sit around it and enjoy the company of others? What is a cave painting good for if we can’t communicate its message to others? In short, what is technology good for if we can’t use it for good?
In April 2002 I got my first digital camera.
In 2005 YouTube created a platform for anyone to share videos.
In 2007 Street View was introduced as a feature on Google Maps.
Before moving to Canada In October 2002, I had a summer ride with my dear friend Oded in the streets and alleys of Jaffa. I was already hooked on the newly found freedom of absent-mindedly shooting photos wherever I went. I wasn’t blind to the risk of taking photos while riding the scooter, but what is risk good for if not for the thrill?
What did I do with the images?
Occasionally, I flipped through them and enjoyed the sense of place and movement they entailed. But then piles of new photos were added to my database, another camera was purchased, and smartphones made me come up with the phrase “From being the cigarette, the camera has become the ashtray.”
From the ashes, though, a routine chat with Oded, now, some 22 years older on both sides of the line, brought back the memories of that ride. Half an hour later, almost the whole set of images from 2002 became the video you can see here. With Google Street View, you can even follow the approximate route and see what has changed, and what stayed the same.
‘A’ might be an arbitrary choice to start with when considering Start starts with S. But again, Alphabet starts with A and ends with T, so have fun with this one. More will follow.
There is something so primal in the letter. I imagine when language evolved, the concept of marking it involved a gradual process. The scientific field of research is full of information covering the history of language, writing, documenting, and communicating. My humble interests focus mainly on the Experience of Communication. As a designer, I live in the space between fields.
This explains my intrigue and curiosity about technology and future development. Legibility of text is as important as legibility of function – your cell phone, your sofa, or any other encounter you might have with interfaces and services. We might agree that everything is connected, but what makes a connection tick? Design.
The video here is just a quick sample of my explorations. Apart from managing to reach a close resemblance of the resulting image to what I envision, I make note of what I’d like to do with this tool that it doesn’t do now.
It can’t explain what made it reach the image I see.
There are many confusions between letters such as E and F.
There seems to be a weak ability of the tool to “understand” meaning and context.
The list is longer: the above are quick notes for illustration.
For any questions, comments, and feedback, feel free to let me know. It’s always great to expand the discussion and reach more inspiration.
Sometimes I get lucky and the whole ‘phrase’ comes out right. At the time of writing this, the technology is such that text within image generation can be a wild ride. If it’s only a small PhotoShop correction that is required, I will do it. Otherwise, I turn to other tools. Eventually, someone will come up with the ‘killer code’ that fixes the issue.
In Mintage I got inspired by a large quilt, framed on the wall. In a previous post, I also talked a bit about this, and here are a few more words, expanding a bit into the new world of AI, which will still be the same world even when the AI craze is over.
It’s no longer there, but a few years ago, I was allowed to take a photo of it.
This quilt offered a fresh perspective on where an artistic engagement can go compared to traditions. I really like quilts, but many of them seem so burdened with the maker’s astute adherence to formalities, that it takes time to fall upon a truly inspired sample. My sewing skills were reasonable when I saw the Mintage quilt. As soon as I saw it, I knew what kind of shirt I wanted. I made a few items from scrap pants and other clothing items and concluded with my first functional buttoned shirt.
Quite a few people who saw me with this on commended me for “the jacket”. It is indeed quite thick, heavy, and warm. I still call it a shirt.
As much as I enjoyed making this one, my tailoring skills do not make me a tailor. It’s great to be able to trace an existing product and sort of copy it into a neatly fitting shirt that I am actually proud of. No matter what happens to it, I can always fix it with a few more stitches. I learned quite a lot in the process, and I even learned more in a few later processes when I made some tote bags and a duffel bag. I was starting to accumulate more discarded clothing items. But envisioning the making of another shirt still looked a bit daunting.
In 2022, I started experimenting with prompts to see what this new AI tool of image making is capable of. In general, I notice people are divided into three basic camps: The Dismissive: those who point out the limitations; The Doomsayers: those who fear the disruption; The Enthusiasts: who (naturally) embrace it. My approach is very much on the side of embracing, but I am curious about the other camps. The development of AI and what it can become engages society on many levels. It is a tool. It’s not intelligent, as many already stated, and I’m not sure about the term artificial.
We need to figure out a better term.
The Horseless Carriage transitioned through The Automobile into The Car that we know today. I’m sure our language and experience will allow AI to reach a better level of communication. It can either integrate into its appropriate niche or branch out into more than just a trendy catch-all. I’m thinking of what happened with the personal computer as an example. Initially, computerized graphic design was the big thing. Then computer-aided design became CAD. It all still is ‘Design’. One technology overtakes, takes over, and replaces another. Then we are left with the same challenge of communicating with each other. AI even becomes a bonus in preparing myself to chat with other human beings. A few questions for ‘The Assistant‘, and I am ready with some reasonably verified facts for my next meeting.
For image generation, you need to find a few words that describe the result you are looking for.
I would like to reach a state where my prompt could become an interactive exchange with the assistant. Currently, the system provides me with what looks like a proposal. The image generation tools are like a magic black box that everyone is trying to understand. AI for me, is like an assistant. I want to have an open discussion with it. I’d be happy to hear some thoughts from it and direct it to come up with results.
Quite often I realize my prompt needs a few tweaks to fine-tune the details. Then I start wondering how much time the world is spending these days on a fascination that one day will be the true tool it needs to be. Eventually, Purpose will balance out the disruption. I still allow myself to be amazed at what is possible, and what is yet to come.
That’s why I was curious to see what comes out of the shirt prompt. Among all the other prompts I was experimenting with, my interest is more in the realistic than the fantastical.
This is when I realized, “Oh, I guess I should make myself a new one.”
Essentially finished. By the time of writing this, the buttons were already in place and a few more stitches were added to clean up a rowdy wrinkle. I might replace this image but you get the point.
Like any practice, neglect takes you back a few steps. On the other hand, a new tool, a new practice like the use of AI, has a learning curve. The practice coming out of the learning engagement should not be limited to the tool only. Just like learning how to write letters and words serves layers of communication needs, AI’s reach is in its infancy. We are all experiencing a technology that evolves as we ride its learning curve.
Have you ever wondered what AI can do for you? Or what AI can do to you?
Each of the letters and numbers on this board was made with prompts that differed only slightly from one another. For each image generation process, I usually got four variations.
My curiosity takes me through various streams of engagement. I have been exploring AI tools while listening to other sources debating this evolving technology. As exciting as the prospects for the use of AI are, the risks to humanity are even more tangible. Can I assure you that there is nothing to worry about? What are you afraid of? As I am writing this, I have no idea. The screenwriters’ strike in Hollywood is an interesting cautionary tale. More deadly even is the use of AI in warfare, such as the 2023 October war in Gaza. The use of AI is already in full steam, if anyone had any hopes it was just another bubble or a fad. So, My aim is to share a belief that taking the steps to learn and explore the tool, would benefit both you and society.
The prompt: “naive, child-like drawing of a kid holding a marker in his/her hand, horizontal line for ground, circle with lines around it for sun, other elements in childish expression”
If you are grappling with what AI can do for you, or even worry about its risks, take a moment to breathe, and consider the following steps.
Talk with people. AI is not only a technical matter, but also a social and cultural one. By talking with people who have different perspectives and experiences, you can learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of AI, as well as the values and preferences of others. You can also share your own opinions and concerns, and engage in constructive dialogue.
Ask questions. AI is a complex and dynamic phenomenon, and there is no simple or definitive answer to how much AI anyone should use. It is important to ask questions that can help you explore the implications and consequences of using AI. Is there a problem AI solves? How does AI affect me and others? What are the alternatives to AI? What are the trade-offs and costs of using AI? These and other questions are worth asking.
Express your concerns. AI can raise some legitimate and valid concerns, such as the loss of human agency, the lack of transparency and accountability, and the potential for bias and discrimination. Don’t ignore or dismiss these concerns. Rather express them clearly and look for solutions. You can also seek information and evidence that can help you evaluate the validity and severity of these concerns. Articles in various publications, podcasts and discussion groups are useful channels for inquiry.
Consider the benefits. AI can also offer some significant and positive benefits, such as the enhancement of human capabilities, the creation of new opportunities and possibilities, and the improvement of quality and efficiency. Avoid overlooking or underestimating these benefits. Find ways to appreciate and acknowledge them. You can also seek information and evidence that can help you assess the value and impact of these benefits, and look for ways to maximize or optimize them.
One of the interesting habits I notice in many of my conversations is the initial focus on concerns. You might not even notice you are doing it yourself. For me, when I hear “Yes, but…”, or “I don’t want to sound…”, the following is usually a description of what my counterpart wouldn’t want to do and what they are not.
Then I try to look at myself and ask “Am I doing the same thing?”
Making images of text is one of the most frustrating aspects of current processes. Whenever I get something correct, I keep it like a gift.
It doesn’t matter what the answer is. Even if I think I am not doing what I see in others, I take the opportunity to imagine myself doing it. This way, my thought experiment expands my inquiry. It allows me to free my concerns into better understanding.
Will the steps above promote an informed and balanced view of AI? I hope so. Let me know if you have other thoughts. You can also revisit and revise your view as new information and situations arise. Keeping an open and curious mind is free to all.
(continues below…)
I think I lost the prompt for this one, but it is obviously something with Steampunk in it.
My explorations of AI involve visuals and writing. I started writing this piece, then dropped it into Bing Chat, then reviewed the outcome and edited until I reached what you have just been reading. I also explore image making as a tool for immediate use, and also to learn what the image generator is capable of. Along with being in constant awe of what is possible, I also experience what is still missing. I don’t share the dismissive voices I notice here and there. What I hear most, is what AI can or can’t do. The issue that I hear less is what we are doing with the tool and how we can train to use it. It is mostly a personal journey. It is an opportunity, and as such, an exciting one.
A hands-on approach seems to be historically relevant. The automobile which became the car we use today went through massive changes from the time of its invention. The trails that were used before evolved into the roads and freeways we know today. Industries, regulations, and laws have been put in place in response to the car’s specific nature.
The prompt: “Close-up, low-density Wireframe 3D draft model of a White Shark, dark space, surrounded by spring fruits decorated porcelain cups and saucers, fog, dim light coming from below, passing through, soft contrast”
Only by using AI, will we be able to fully explore the implications it is bound to have on us. While generating images and putting ideas into words, I am still a long way before fully exploiting the power of AI. I am constantly investing more thought into questions such as the following:
How do we address human rights, such as privacy, dignity, or autonomy with AI?
Where could our social relationships, such as trust, empathy, or diversity go?
What are our moral responsibilities, such as fairness, justice, or accountability while employing the tool?
In conclusion, the use of AI is already offering us many benefits and also poses some challenges and risks. I am trying not to blindly use AI. By exploring it, I see hands-on, what I might want to keep using it for. By talking with people, asking questions, expressing concerns, and considering benefits, I hope to promote and nurture a more informed and balanced view of AI. I believe we all want to make thoughtful and responsible decisions. Dialogue and debate about AI, should be interesting, fun, and productive. Every day is a new opportunity for that.
The prompt: “messed up kids’ room with walls and cabinets all soiled, teenager shouting ‘WHO CARES'”. (The writing on the wall was slightly Photoshopped; the extra finger… does anyone really care?)
From any idea to the business coming out of it, there is a complex set of stages I need to be aware of for it to work. The following covers just a few of the topics I thought worth mentioning in brief. Although I am talking about a very specific creative field here, the concepts may apply to any project.
POD (Print-on-Demand) has become so accessible that at first glance it might seem as simple as a walk in the park.
Let’s make a quick comparison between extremes. Separating an egg into the yolk and the white is supposedly simple. Sending vessels to the moon is one of humanity’s greatest and most complex achievements. Each of the two – separating eggs and sending vessels – resides on (or close to) one end of the spectrum. Maybe that’s why parents say to their kids “This is not rocket science” when they try to teach them how to separate eggs. Then those kids sketch a cartoon asking “What came first – the white or the yolk?” and print it on a T-shirt. Print-on-demand is not rocket science. However, it can definitely benefit from systems that make it as simple as separating eggs.
Apart from adding ideas to the line of designs I turn to prints, I enjoy telling the stories behind the process. Are you an aspiring POD creator? Maybe you just want to find a unique design that someone else created and place an order. Weighing the options available becomes part of the story.
Print-on-demand as an industry has gone through an incredible development process. Today there are many companies offering various ways to upload a design and have it printed on almost anything. Whether you just want to get your single design printed for personal use, or you have an enterprising vision, a system is employed.
What system am I talking about?
Your own system of course. Since I have no idea what your system is (yet), I can only point to possible components of it. Either you’ve already established them or you might one day do that. That is the idea behind my title: provoking thought into action. Your desire to print an image over the surface of a T-shirt is the thought. Your action is the set of processes that allow you to reach the end result.
The first result is an image file.
Then comes the choice of POD vendor.
In that vendor’s platform, setting up the product is next.
Marketing your product is part of setting up the product, but it’s a world of its own.
Now, what comes first, your client or your new design?
Each of the above stages has its own set of sub-stages.
Following is a brief extension that while cannot cover all there is to say, will give a sense of the scope of work involved. Going through this one step at a time will help in keeping the fun of turning your creativity into tangible results. My own journey into POD started years ago when I sketched an idea one morning.
At the time, I created an illustration on my computer and printed it on paper. Then I went to a shop I saw a few days before. At the time of writing this, they (Pongo) are still there. The guy at the counter, who turned out to be the owner of the establishment, transferred my print into a sheet, that was then heat-pressed onto a shirt. That ease of turning ideas into tangible results got me hooked. Then POD was born and made things even easier. So easy, that I am suddenly a shop owner.
The transition from hobbyist to business-making can look seamless. But it does have its very formal checks and balances that need to be applied to make it so.
Image file: process techniques
‘Process’ is a loaded word and so is ‘technique’. Indeed, coming up with techniques that facilitate a process can be complex. And when that is done, life can become easy. That’s why I love the process. Whether you’re a professional designer or a hobbyist, each of us has many ways to deliver an idea from thought to action: pencil and paper, talking to myself or someone else, sculpting a piece of clay, and many more techniques. All of these even before turning on the computer.
Image file: file names
If you are ever going to make a routine of creating designs for print, you will surely end up with a ton of files to handle. Consider not only the end result but the research, the versions, the variations, and who knows what else. The creative process is typically a walk into the unknown. File name protocols are just as useful for a side gig as for any professional outlet.
Image file: filing system
POD is a fancy acronym for labour-intensive shop-keeping. Am I doing this for the money? For sure I am, but there is a lot more than that in this engagement. Whether you make money off your POD commitment or not, it is a business. In my own filing system, I separate projects by design. In each folder, I create subfolders for references, promo images, and other categories to help me visually orient myself. Some people prefer to throw everything into one folder and use the search feature. Look at your filing system as a set of storage and display cases. If you roll up your sleeves and do the hard work of organizing your files, your clients will benefit and hopefully your bank account too.
POD vendors: selecting your platform
The list of POD providers is virtually endless. Creating an account is the obvious first step. Browsing through the platform will give you a sense of both the user interface and experience. You have the option to look for items, artists, themes and more. How convenient to find what you’re looking for is a journey in itself. Have a look at just two and experience the difference. I use Threadless a lot, I have an Etsy shop, and I appreciate RedBubble‘s tools and processes. None are perfect, but I will not get into what’s perfect at this time.
POD vendors: vendor-specific files (templates)
As the variety of products available for applying print on increased, some enable new and exciting opportunities. My favourite is All-over-print (AOP) and its equivalents. Initially, this was a novelty in T-shirts. Then products like leggings, duffel bags and even skateboards appeared. Although the latter is not a real all-over-print product, it does require its own unique file to be uploaded. Vendors provide templates that allow us the creators to make sure the design fits the product. The results can be jaw-dropping.
Setting up the product: the online shop
Before the product itself, many platforms provide a sub-platform which is your shop. This is another item that has evolved through the years. Then we’re almost at the point of purpose: creating the products. From the best-known T-shirt, POD today only starts with garments and reaches all the way to furniture and lifestyle accessories.
Setting up the product: marketing
Marketing? Yes. Marketing! I always enjoy getting the occasional email notifying me of a sale, especially of items I haven’t bothered to promote. Like most anyone else, I really don’t like the need to push my own designs. Don’t they attract their own attention? Well, attention builds attention. Fame attracts fame. Until I have a following and admiration of a few thousand or more paying clients, my sales will reflect the simple statistics of obscurity.
If you are turned off by the prospects of doing POD, you can always join the virtual line-up to purchase the designs you enjoy. Better still, let someone else buy your favourites for your birthday, engagement or promotion.
The inventories I update consistently can be reached at Threadless, Etsy, and RedBubble. I’d love to see a picture of you wearing one of my designs. Or riding a skateboard for that matter. The duffel bags are great too.
There is a lot more to making designs for print, enjoying the process, and reaching business success on top of that. Some of the points above are useful as advice to follow. Some might only provoke thought. Your questions, feedback and comments are most welcome. If there are topics you’d like me to cover, feel free to let me know. What interests you is always helpful in fulfilling the purpose of our exchange.
Each platform has its unique benefits and pitfalls. Navigating them is a journey both for me as the creator and for you, as the target audience. Try them out and let me know which one you prefer: Threadless, Etsy, and Redbubble.
Are you out of words to express your feelings at a time of crisis?
What is the analogy that will help you do the right thing?
Do the words you say these days express a crushing need to revolt, condemn, and destroy?
Israel may be facing one of its most existential dilemmas following the October 7th attack. Will crushing the Hamas solve its issues or something else completely? It is natural to express my worries about what might happen if Israel does the wrong thing. I am hoping to reach a message that can possibly inspire the process I believe is better. My whole spirit is engaged in yearning that humanity changes direction.
Let us move from killing on behalf of the dead to keeping life that is there to save.
My first realization of a problem came almost immediately after moving to Canada: not everyone in my communications circles jumped onto the online bandwagon. The explosion of communications tools was exciting to me. I was in awe of the variety, the ingenuity, and the technological promise. But technology alone is a tool which can be used for its intended benefits just as it might be abused. We see and experience this in every generation of human history.
When I moved to Canada, many of the people I was hoping to stay in touch with were still on the other side of the Globe. And my communication skills were not perfect. They still aren’t. As I type these words, I make silly typos. Technology corrects them. Sometimes it’s amazingly useful and many other times it’s hilariously annoying. The creeping analogy I was getting at was ‘The Tower of Babylon’.
We’re all trying our best to talk with each other, do things together. It’s hardly ever easy.
It’s not only typos that screw up my communications with others. My self-proclaimed disability reaches all the way to content, structure and message. My ideas fail to result in the reality I am hoping for. Do they? Is it me? Is it the communications tools? Should I even bother to find the cause?
I am fortunate to have stories that inspire me to persevere. One of them is that of the holocaust survivor who asked with a mischievous wink in his eye:
“Do you think we didn’t laugh in the camps? Of course we did!”
Now, this doesn’t mean that the tragedies we experience are a laughing matter. But neither are they the source of justifying any move we take. I am a virtual victim. None of my immediate relatives have endured an injury (yet) since October 7th. But I know a person whose son was injured. I have a niece who was recruited to help in administration efforts. And yes, a dear friend’s wife lost her son from a previous marriage.
When I try to engage an individual, our acquaintance helps me find analogies that can make immediate sense. On a social scale, I’m not sure analogies are required. I just need to sound my voice. On this occasion, with the permission of the family who lost their son, here is a link to a short video with their call to avoid vengeance.
To expand a bit on a call I’ve had this week, I’d like to use the same words as before. “Each and every one of the treacherous monsters who crossed the border to kill was once a helpless baby. There is a process by which they become what we see in the news or in front of our eyes. It is almost always hidden from us. Their innocent souls have transformed. Individually, one might have a chance to save this person or that.” Collectively, we have to move in ways that the individual can only voice their opinion to promote.
Institutions such as states and their armies have plans for more than one scenario in the future. That future – the Hamas attack of October 7th – is one such scenario. That scenario has unfortunately happened. Tragically, Israel did not have a plan for that scenario. But it still has many other plans. Will you, the individual have any say in pulling out any of them for the benefit of the coming days and weeks? Neither will I. My hope is that we engage in a constructive way to advance the insights that we can for the benefit of life. What that means is not the same for everyone. So, what can we expect to advance together?
Whether you come up with an enlightening analogy or just have to say something – do the right thing: voice your opinion and take action. Even questions and feedback on this page would be a great first step. Feel free to let me know.
This is one in a series of stories that have no specific beginning and no intended end. Its working title is “Funny stories of a sad life.” I consider myself an optimist and am happy in my life. Apparently, not everyone thinks that way. This is what makes me curious to keep exploring the ideas and details behind the mysterious face of life.
“There isn’t much that the army can do with people like you,” the officer said. He looked and sounded informative, matter-of-fact kind of informative. This was the last stop on my journey to be formally released from reserve service. In Israel, men typically become soldiers after reaching the age of 18 years. After three years of service in the army, they are scheduled to contribute roughly a month each year until they are 40.
Growing up, I wasn’t questioning the need to have four and a half years of my life dedicated to being a combatant. Pacifism was not a strong concept of my existence. I just knew that my life would involve this civic duty. The idea of war was always remote, in the sense that one only needs to go to war in crisis. Participating in martial activities is mostly a matter of practicing for something to be avoided. A very strange concept indeed, when considering the wording needed to describe it: but the realities in Israel make war a too frequent fact that needs to be dealt with.
In that sense, I am definitely lucky. During my first three years in the army, I was involved mainly in standing in front of soldiers like me and teaching. As part of being one in a team of electronic warfare equipment operators, my duty was also to train new recruits. If any war erupted, I would be operating that equipment from a helicopter, away from the enemy lines. Although not risk-free, I never made much of the prospect of one day having to participate in war. I never felt close to being a combatant. At most, I was an instructor. No war or major tension took place within the mandatory three years of my service.
I enjoyed my time in the army. We were a group of highly skilled young adults, all planning their future after being released. Some of us were more enthusiastic about our military service than others, but hardly any of us considered the army as the center of our lives.
In 1982, when I was in high school, the Sabra and Shatila massacre in Lebanon raised significant tensions in Israeli society. The sense of trust in our government was seriously eroded. However, I was still very much like many others, ready to join the army in whatever role I managed to be signed up for. I ended up in my role as an instructor and was pretty good at that.
Much of the borders around Israel are surrounded by chain-link fences decorated with barbwire. They are also heavily patrolled.
My doubts about the vicious cycle of conflict-driven militarism began to seep in after I rejected the push to become an officer. “The army needs people like you. You are highly capable, driven, and in a position to become a future leader.” My commander was very persuasive. But I was already planning my application to Bezalel, the Academy for Arts and Design in Jerusalem. At that time, I knew I wanted to become an automotive designer. So, serving more than three years in the army looked like a huge sacrifice to me.
After my release, I took a few months to prepare my submission for Bezalel. My first choice, industrial design, didn’t work out. With my second, I was invited for an interview and was left out. I knew I would try again. But before that, I took a break and flew to Australia.
Like many of my generation, I too was drawn to the excitement of exploring the world in various ways. Taking time off was very common, and still is among people in their early twenties. The first Intifada – uprising in Arabic – started in 1987, while I was in Australia.
One day, the headlines talked about the jockey who won in the racetracks. The name of the horse was prominently shown. Who knows, maybe it was Kensei, maybe Jesabeel. Another day, the headlines talked about Bradley Hughes, or maybe it was Greg Norman. I had no idea how golf was played, and the grading system was beyond me. But the contrast to headlines I was used to from Israel kept slapping my face.
Then Australia “defeated their arch-rivals England by seven runs in the second-most closely fought World Cup final to date in Kolkata’s Eden Gardens stadium” (Wikipedia). Ads on TV showed a life that I knew about, but were not so common in Israel at that time: a softly shaped bar of soap rests on the exquisite edge of an expensive bathtub; planks of wood are being varnished with deep stains; a circle of brie is turning in the center of a few happy models. Lo and behold, the models grab a piece of cheese and stuff it in their mouths as they are holding a cracker loaded with yummy-looking sliced meats.
How easy does life need to be? Being secular, my family enjoyed non-Kosher food quite frequently. However, in public and even on TV, showing the combination of dairy and meat together was frowned upon at best. In many cases, it was even controversial.
On the more existential front, terror attacks are still to this day part of the routine. From the outside, the immediate question would be “What is the point of the endless fighting in the Middle East?” This battle makes us all blind to the fact that we are all the same. What would I have become had I continued the typical journey of an Israeli soldier, turned officer, turned commander, turned leader?
Burnt cars beside the party location, one of many where Hamas attacked, on the night of October 7 2023
As I am writing this, in 2023, about a year of Israeli government reaches a crucial moment of its tenure. A deadly strike by Hamas fighters has wreaked havoc on the lives of thousands of Israeli civilians. The Israeli military is reacting with deadly counterattacks. I’ve already been living in Canada for more than twenty years.
But 1987, was the year that for me, the need to continue my life in Israel was properly questioned.
It was my time to prepare for higher education in either design or engineering. I completed my travels and returned to Israel in 1988. Would I design functional devices that make no sense in battle? Should I avoid being involved in the development of warfare? In 1989 I started my life as an Israeli student to become an industrial designer.
In 1992 I reached out to the Air Force sergeant of my unit and informed him of my intention to avoid my duties in reserve service. I wasn’t expecting much. I knew I would be marked as a deserter. I was aware of the risk of being sent to jail. When my unit’s sergeant made efforts to accommodate my decision I was pleasantly surprised. There were steps to take that he duly informed me of. He then scheduled meetings for me with various personnel, among them a social services officer, a psychologist and eventually, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, the highest rank in the army who could sign a document and seal my release.
We had a serious yet polite confrontation. He challenged my points and tried to understand how serious I was.
I told him “I know that if I was a Syrian citizen I would be executed. But that doesn’t change the disconnect I feel towards the Israeli cause. We declare our call for peace all over the world. On the ground, our actions reflect the opposite.”
“There isn’t much that the army can do with people like you,” he said. “After this meeting, I will consider your case. If I decide to sign your release, you will be notified. If I don’t, you will still need to show up for reserve service. If you don’t you could be sent to jail.”
In June of 1993, a week before my final presentation in Bezalel, I was arrested. For about a week I was held as a detainee with other reservists. Each of them had their own story. Most sounded like excuses, but they were real-life circumstances. One was expecting a baby and had to help at home. Another one’s business was in financial stress. Someone else had health issues. The authorities refused their cases. They didn’t show up and were sent to jail.
When my cellmates heard my story, they showed real concern.
“Don’t tell that to the judge.” “You’re up for trouble.” “They will throw you in for a long time.”
But I knew all of that. I wasn’t enjoying myself but I had about a year and a half of going through the ranks of advisors and officials who let me know what I was about to face. I also read about others who were sent to jail for refusing to serve. It all looked to me worth exploring. I was tried, and sentenced for the full time the judge was allowed to impose. I called that time the three most boring weeks of my life, but boy, was I exploring!
I post designs on POD (Print on demand) platforms. It’s been a while now. Every now and then I add a design. Sometimes I forget about it. Sometimes I invest in promoting it.
This promo image was provided by RedBubble. The design is mine.
What is it?
Let’s start a few steps back. In the late nineties, I did a few designs in the primitive technology called transfer: a sheet was inserted into a printer, the design was printed on it, and then ironed onto a shirt. As technologies improved, a direct-to-garment process became available. A few companies started to offer the service online, and voila: P.O.D!
Now, of course, this disruption, such as reducing the demand for traditional screen printing services has been a blow to some. I too, love quality. I advocate many norms that are dear to people invested in screen printing. But POD is just another service. It is lower quality than silk screen, which is aimed at a much more discerning audience. POD is relatively cheap, and so, might be discarded shortly after its purchase. I try to use it sustainably. Just like anything else.
Gradually I tried more than one. I started with Threadless, who have changed a lot since my first days using the platform. Initially, I hardly knew this was an industry. Each platform has its own uploading workflow. Some are terribly slow; others have amazing previewing mechanisms; then, some have features that make the process of creating new products hassle-free. I’d say, that even the good ones could still benefit from improvement.
As I go through Printify, I notice some bugs. Typically, I send the company feedback. It’s a habit of mine to express my appreciation for their service. But it’s in my best interest to push them to make my life even easier. The thing is, that some of them invest a lot in making me buy my own designs through them. But apart from trying to sell my designs through their services, I am gaining insights into their user interface.
Some apps on the market are very very simple. POD websites are not in any way simple. Have you ever walked into a brick-and-mortar retail store and counted the number of shelving units? Have you followed a worker making updates to pricing labels? In the virtual environment of a POD service, I am acting as much more than one role holder. This is my user experience.
I still like plain T-shirts more than printed ones. This might look and sound contrary to what you’d see in my closet. With time, I wanted to try out the services I am using. Whenever I add a product, I try to update all if not most of the websites with the new design. Apart from expanding my exposure, I keep learning about new features any of the companies have introduced. RedBubble, for instance, encouraged me to download promo images that their engines made. I looked into it, and what you see in this post is the result of these downloads.
However, I found it a bit time-consuming. The way their offerings work makes me consider other options. For now, it looks like I could only download images one by one. I’m sure they will figure out a better way soon.
But I do love these POD services. Whenever I come up with an idea that either intrigues me, amuses me, or makes me feel like sharing, they provide an outlet. Like so many creatives out there, I make connections that might not make sense immediately. I was clicking my way through hyperlinks and bumped into a phrase coined by American author Ursula Le Guin: “Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.”
I like it. It has a simple truth in it that I relate to. Still, my love of words is playful. It could be the question “What if?” that triggers an unexpected response; maybe a random thought that the stone has equal rights in this world. The result is now available in a few of the platforms mentioned here.
My user experience installing my design as new products, allows me to benefit from more than one world: design; storytelling; user experience and much, much more. My posts are typically available on a few platforms, such as this one, Medium, and Substack – just like my designs are posted on a few POD websites. Your comments and feedback are most welcome.
I really like Ursula Le Guin’s original. However, when I can’t help myself, I can’t help myself…
Some of my thoughts turn into graphics that I make into designs for POD (Print On Demand). If you have a phrase you’d like to suggest, feel free to give me a shout. You can do that by posting a comment or getting in touch through the contact link.
Design is a matter of life. My grandmother asked me once: “What is it that you do there all day, draw nice pictures?” Typically, designers get pretty frustrated when required to explain what design and its subcategories are. I took my grandmother’s question as a reminder that my passion cannot be taken for granted. It is worth explaining but a good story is better than a few trendy catchphrases.
For a while Design Thinking stormed the world; if I followed the trends so far right, Customer Journey is going to sweep into our lives and take us all on an exciting… journey; UI/UX started as cumbersome and unintelligible phrases that meant nothing to anyone, and are still creating jobs.
Storytelling comes in handy to clarify some of this confusion. I like using it anyway in sharing insights. What UX entails exists in every step we make. Just like design is a matter of life, UX is one of its lifelines. By employing this real-life story as a test case, I will try and make sense of events myself.
It was my first time with this bike-riding group.
Planning: Experience 1
“West coasters are a bit laid back,” is a regular thought that I have when trying to communicate with acquaintances. Maybe it’s not a unique west coast trait. It is an impression and I am not trying to be objective. I hate the idea of arriving early just to realize that everyone else knew the schedule changed. The invitation stated 9 am. In the discussion on Facebook, the group admin commented that the organizer said 10 am.
I tried to get in touch with both the organizer, via Facebook messenger and the group admin via text. Since no one responded I couldn’t even say anyone would be there at all. This is an experience related to human behavior, which is one of the most challenging any of us faces.
My choice is to stay home or experience the journey whatever it turns out to be. It’s the lower mainland, not the wilderness of a remote country. My user experience already involves a variety of technologies.
Tools: Experience 2
Since my phone does not have a data plan Facebook is useless on the go. The komoot app is installed on my phone, and the map is loaded. The other technology in use is my good old, somewhat reliable bicycle.
A while ago I replaced the rubber pads with disk brakes. That was a beautiful change. Recently I followed instructions on YouTube to adjust my front derailleur. Finally, I can switch gears all the way with the chain running smoothly. I don’t even use all of the gears for the short ride to the Skytrain yet, but we will get there.
Motion: Experience 3
I ride my bike to the 29th Ave Skytrain station, aiming to reach the gathering spot five to ten minutes earlier. I am not used to taking it on the Skytrain, so this is quite a joy to do now. I hop on the train that arrives on its way east. Few commuters occupy the car in this direction on a weekend morning. I take the time to figure out which way to place the bike so that there is enough room for anyone to move within and in and out.
My navigation habits are capable but allow for mistakes. Am I overconfident?
First mistake. Passing New West Central Skytrain station, I notice that I boarded Production Way/University, instead of King George. I get off in Sapperton and return to New West. Ever since I moved to Vancouver, I am still in awe of the Skytrain system. I wish it covered a lot more of the region, but what exists, is just fabulous. Whenever people talk about UX, I want to remind them of experiences such as this. Minus the occasional homeless, who rubs off the sleeping marks from between his toes. I hope he’s enjoying the concept of rapid transit as much as I do. As far as UX is concerned, my main concern was to hop off the train as soon as its door opened.
Smells are yet to be part of any app. We don’t have control over the environment an app will be used. We can try to inspire a pleasant experience with the interface. Pleasant could sometimes mean that the user doesn’t even feel that they are using it. That could very well be a designer’s best achievement.
Lifting the bike to go up and down the stairs between platforms is pretty challenging. I have two full bottles of water and a bike lock in my detachable bags. I am back on the platform facing east, waiting for the next King George train.
The technology of my bike intrigues me. The drivetrain, the steering mechanism, the seat, and the wheels all come out of unique production lines. The replacement tube I dropped into one of my side bags was joined by the compact pump, which I purchase some time ago and never used. If I’m taking a tube, at least I should give the pump a chance too. The experience of riding includes unforeseen events.
The longest I went on my bike so far was maybe 10 K. As I told the riding group in the chat, my fitness is reasonable. 60 K on mostly flat roads doesn’t sound too arduous. I reach our gathering spot a few minutes before the scheduled gathering. Or almost an hour after. As I half expected, there is no sign of the riding group. When there are no users, the experience is still there. I try texting again. I decide not to wait for too long.
Human Interaction: Experience 4
When I was four years old, my six years old brother was planning to go play baseball with his classmates. I asked them to wait for me as I was tying my shoes. They left without me, but I rushed out as soon as I noticed they were gone. I ran after them, crying “Wait for me….!” As soon as I reached them, I stopped, fainted, and fell backward. My screams could be heard all over the neighborhood. I was rushed to the hospital and a few stitches sealed the cut at the back of my skull.
What is the experience I am hoping for?
On a journey like this,charm is displayed in the open air.
This is the question I ask myself, and this is how I fill in the gaps. I’m here for a bike ride. What I am immediately impressed with are the bike lanes. They are easy to notice and clearly marked. As much as I am disappointed with the dysfunctional communication with the Facebook group, I am most comfortable on my own. No need to worry about anyone but myself; the freedom to ride whichever way I decide; explore optional paths, or just be absolutely free to make my own choices: this is a time off to experience a very low-risk adventure!
And the app. The app I installed starts voicing commands. OK, for now, I mute it, but hey, it can be useful. Since I don’t have a mounting feature for my phone yet, I slide it into my pocket for quick access. Initially, I thought of relying on a few notes I took; just a list of streets I need to take turns into. But very quickly I realize the app provides much better directions. This alone improves my sense of UX immensely. What is it if not?
To be honest, the experience I am enjoying the most is the ride.
After gliding down long slopes and climbing a few uphill, I reach Fort Langley with the understanding that I am not even halfway. My muscles are starting to voice their opinion. I can’t argue with them. They are me. My fitness is reasonable, not good. Not great for this intermediate-level effort.
A manhole called ‘The Elevator’
I’m in Fort Langley, after unintentionally taking a wrong turn and making a slight shortcut. I don’t think twice about having some ice cream at Mario’s.
A few years ago, I was here with my wife and then six-grade daughter. We played ‘elevators’ on the manhole placed between the two benches in front of the local Community Hall. My current diversion was enough for me to keep on pedaling to my next destination, the Krause Farm, on 248 St.
My mood was OK but my mind was constantly switching between trying to absorb the scenery and asking myself if this is ever going to end. I did pass a few riders though. How can I even complain!?
Am I really talking about UX?
Good question. My attention is continually directed toward tooling people for life. ‘Design’ evolved to become a term that is surrounded by derivatives. At one point in time, ‘Interaction’ was all the rave. ‘User Experience’ quickly became UX. Even on my leisurely weekend ride, I keep registering experiences that inform my design process. It is first and foremost an exploration of systems at my disposal.
Apart from my communication with others, I take note of the technologies involved. They relate to each other in a mesh-like enclosure. Paying attention to useful comparisons expands my insights. And it never ends.
But I am still somehow, about halfway through my journey. In Krause Farms, I lock my bike to a pole beside a tree in the parking lot. I stand in line for a refreshing berries milkshake and a corn pizza. Then I quickly browse through the touristy grocery shop and head back to the bike.
Reflection: Experience 5
Some people see me as passionate. They’re not wrong. However, inside, I feel mostly curious. I am switching from one experience to the other almost seamlessly. Maybe because my eyes are open and my mind is engaged. There is a flow whether I am aware of it or not. The world revolves around each of us metaphorically, and in essence, we are hardly moving. The moment our paths cross is our opportunity to engage. Then each of us is on our own again.
The flat tire waits patiently to make use of the spare tube. I even have plastic levers to help in separating the tire from the rim. A woman shares her experiences going to work in the past. She was always afraid of flat tires because she couldn’t change tubes. We exchanged a few jokes and I finish the fix.
The remainder of the way was uneventful, a bit boring with its urban landscape, but not close to being depressing.
Blackberries are one of my favorites
About 15 k from my destination, I check what bus can take me to King George. I tried to text a bus stop’s code into Translink’s dedicated service. Sneaky, eh? However, that failed to show a response. My muscles were really complaining, but I kept on pushing gently. I knew I would survive.
A while later, maybe 6 k from my destination I saw people waiting by a stop. The look on their faces suggested a bus was approaching behind me. I looked back and indeed; it was the one to King George. The bike racks at the front of buses are ingenious. Again, this is all part of a system. One can take a bike for a ride and still complement the experience with the use of other modes of transit.
Summary
If there is any conclusion to this fragmented verbal documentation, I returned home happy to have embarked on this exercise. Each experience I had on this day can ignite memories from the past, thoughts about the present, and an outlook on the future.
Planning allows me to provide structure to the unknown.
Tools are functional helpers in executing my plan.
Motion always gives a good sense of being alive
Human Interaction is what we are all here for
Reflection concludes many adventures for future reference
If you are creative too, you might find parts of this story personally relatable. If you are just curious, I hope I took you on a compelling journey.
The following is in no way trying to clarify. Just a preliminary mind map that covers the most I could from a simple half-day bike ride. Thanks for joining.
Mind Maps and Land Maps: a loosely superimposed illustration of insights, inspirations, and reality
Some of my thoughts turn into graphics that I make into designs for POD (Print On Demand). If you have a phrase you’d like to suggest, feel free to give me a shout. You can do that by posting a comment or getting in touch through the contact link.
I could even say it in more specific words: no one knows what user experience really is!
How do I know?
No one knows what a book really is…
I am paraphrasing words I heard from two librarians a few years ago. Although the two said it to me on different occasions, they might have heard it in the same context: “No one knows what a library really is!” Libraries are a community feature in urban life that is institutional as an organization yet personal in purpose. In our technology-driven social environment, physical books have become a niche. The library, whose core existence relies so heavily on this tired technology (books), needs to frantically adapt.
Is user experience under any threat of becoming a niche? Not really… It is a niche already, and a pretty cozy one as such. I see UX as a term that helps define an important aspect of life. In a business setting, User eXperience is a core aspect of product and service development. The hammer is a product that was perfected through the centuries. What is the user experience of a hammer? Medicine evolved as a service whose practitioners are still revered by the general public and regulated in law and procedures. There has also been a shift in the balance of power between care providers and receivers of care.
No one knows what a tool really is…
In my childhood, my parents always reminded me to behave when we visited our family doctor. He was a grumpy yet friendly old guy my parents wanted to please. Through the years, I noticed how more and more doctors I visited, changed their approach to my body. In my early years, it was as if I wasn’t there myself. Gradually, I noticed how they started chatting with me before anything else. And it wasn’t thanks to my age. I saw the same happening with my, then still young siblings. They asked me questions about my well-being, they explained their thoughts, and they proposed courses of treatment. My experience as a user, without it being mentioned, was an important component of the process.
Every product and service that we develop results in use by a person. From our history, we can take many lessons to help us consider what our user needs. But who is the actual person that our development aims to benefit? That is always the unknown that is revealed through time. The better I pay attention to user experience, the more likely my investment will reap benefits.
No one knows what intelligence really is…
I am always in awe of the way technology, especially its rapid progress, generates constant debates in society. And not only at large. Even within the groups of people developing it, there is always a power struggle between stakeholders. Some are pushing ever harder to advance the tools; others are raising red flags and sounding alarm bells. My belief is that both sides have good points. Our challenge here ISthe opportunity: to provide a journey that human beings (users) will want to take, AND that will benefit them. The tension between challenge and opportunity very easily derails into a power struggle. But for me, there is a limit to how much control I can assume.
Being a designer helps my observations turn into purposeful insights. One of my mottos is “Design is a matter of life.” UX being a niche within my field of engagement makes it an important aspect of life.
Design is a Matter of Life 