Lime Design has completed an additional prototype dining set as part of the new 2012 modern-industrial collection for a local Portland resident.
Mild Steel and Bamboo were juxtaposed in this project for both structural and aesthetic reasons. The objective was to transform a conventional interior space by creating an elegant, uniquely modern dining set that was functional, durable and beautiful.
The steel profiles taper to just 1-1/4" in the middle and at the leaf ends holding the bamboo with a series of countersunk bolts. Each chair has 5 individually pivoting back rests that adapt to the size and shape of each user while generating a constantly changing facade.
LIME Design(limedesignco.com), the creative extension of JAMLAB, has just completed the first stage of our seasonal furniture collection, a Natural Bamboo and Brazilian Cherry dining table treated with a water-based, clear finish.
The challenge was to deliver a product that could break down into a shippable kit and be easily assembled in the client's home in Kentucky while commanding a clear presence within their expansive interior space.
Lime Design collaborated with seasoned furniture maker Jordan Geis (formerly from Reform) on this project. Currently under construction is another custom dining table and set of chairs made with natural bamboo and mild, polished steel - scheduled for completion by Christmas this year.
JAMLAB has recently taken its next leap into the world of independent business so we invite you to explore our new website (jamlaboratory.com) when you have a moment, which breaks down how JAMLAB works, who we help, what we think and directly links to this BLOG. I welcome any feedback or comments you might have as well, so do not hesitate to join the conversation.
If you prefer Facebook, please go to our page directly
If twitter is more your style, visit @jamlab365 and follow us there. You'll soon be able to link directly to Facebook and Twitter straight from our website, so keep an eye out for that.
If that's not your cup of tea, just stay involved by following the JAMLAB blog. Simply submit your email address under the FOLLOW JAMLAB BY EMAIL tab.
Lastly and most importantly, let us know if you or someone you know is ready to start JAMLAB-ing and please stay tuned for new developments.
First off, I would like everybody to know that the next chapter in the career series, entitled "KNOWERS," will be out very soon. It explores the rare, enviable group of individuals that somehow discover their professional purpose early in life... and pursue with reckless abandon.
Secondly, please note that JAMLAB has a new web address (http://www.jamlaboratory.com) so I invite you to use this new domain to follow us now. (The old address still works as well).
You may also have heard that JAMLAB has inspired a new venture - Lime Design Collective (limedesignco.com). Please visit us when you have a free moment and review some of our design and furniture work. We're currently developing a scalable, prototype table and other custom pieces for 2 separate clients.
Lastly, Lime Design has decided to recycle some of the byproducts produced from our various projects into a collection of artwork. The first series has just been completed and will soon be available for purchase on our online store. Some pieces from the collection are featured below.
You may recall (or might be awaiting) “undeclared” as a temporary major in college. As a floundering 19 year-old kid, I claimed this title as long as possible. I wanted to declare a major with certainty and commitment, but since “they” didn’t demand a choice until junior year… I waited. Besides, drinking beer and making late night runs to 7-11 for stale nachos smothered in pump-action, artificial cheese was high priority... much more important than choosing the subject I would focus on during my undergraduate years and ultimately in a career.
In the movie Greenburg, Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) and his friend Ivan (Rhys Ifans) reminisce about their prior rock band days. Evidently, Greenburg’s abrasive personality and idealism killed a record deal for the band back in the day and the unresolved conflict remains palpable. Ivan reminds Greenburg of that depressing quote, “Youth is wasted on the young,” to which he replies, “I’d go further. I’d go… life is wasted on… people.” Harshly spoken, but a common attitude coming from a person so disengaged from his true purpose.
When Beth (Jennifer Jason Leigh) asks if he's still involved in music, the morose and quintessentially “undeclared” Greenberg, approaching 40, asserts “I'm really trying to do nothing, for awhile.” He's a cynical reminder of the universal struggle to find meaning in our work and the angst caused by doing something disingenuous. His bitterness eventually boils over, contaminating every interaction and personal relationship in his life, but hold on... I won't spoil the hopeful conclusion.
TOO MANY CHOICES…
In a recent animated video by theRSA.org (RSA Animate-Choice), Professor Renata Salecl explores the paralyzing anxiety surrounding limitless choice, which, in her opinion, emerges for several reasons. 1) We are compelled to choose what other people are choosing because of our need to be regarded by others. 2) We try to make an ideal choice, whether it’s a relationship or picking a phone carrier, often resulting in disappointment. 3) Choice always involves a loss; so when you choose one direction in life, you loose the possibility of another.
Salecl is clearly not suggesting that the option of individual choice be eliminated even if it would make selecting a toothpaste that much easier. She simply wants to illuminate the sociological complexity of making decisions in a modern capitalist society, especially in regards to our professional lives. Too often we hear people say that they don't like what they do or don't really know what they're "good" at. You're considered lucky if you discover something you don't hate. Some actually find decent jobs with benefits or a small pension, but the fear of starting over or loosing what they already have smothers any pursuit of alternate career possibilities, particularly those along the more unconventional path. Thus, many of us end up on the "Greenberg Spectrum," trapped, overwhelmed and underutilized.
In addition, our culture has pushed the idea of self-made success, celebrity worship, and the "American Dream" to the absolute extreme, so much that any lack of professional prosperity is typically attributed to personal failure or not trying hard enough. Feelings of self-doubt seep in telling us we don't have enough talent, enough education, enough resources, enough... whatever. Rather than inspiring social change or inciting an appropriate critique on society, the condemnation turns inward on ourselves.
WORK LONGER... GET MORE
With capitalism requiring continuous growth, there is a tendency for people to work more and constantly keep consuming. Remember that anti-drug commercial from the 90’s with the guy walking in circles repeating, “I do coke, so I can work longer, so I can earn more, so I can do more coke, so I can work longer…“ over and over? This situation, minus the coke, describes many individuals current employment scenario. Our work force is exhausted. A recent statistic stated the average vacation time taken by U.S. workers as 9 days per year. That’s just nuts.
FEAR & CONSUMPTION
During an interview in Michael Moore’s documentary Bowling for Columbine, Marilyn Manson commented on why people targeted him as a likely influence for the mass murders committed at Columbine high school in 1999. He, like Professor Salecl, highlights mainstream media's emphasis on acceptance of others and manipulation of fear as probable explanations. “You’re being pumped full of fear… If you have bad breath, they’re not going to talk to you. If you got pimples, the girl’s not going to fuck you… it’s a campaign of fear and consumption and that’s what I think that it’s all based on… Keep everyone afraid and they’ll consume.”
So… how does all this play out in our professional pursuits? Like Greenberg, many of us remain “undeclared” indefinitely, pacified with the status quo… totally stressed out... blaming ourselves because we haven’t worked hard enough or amassed the proper combination of possessions. Resistance to making creative career changes thus makes perfect sense, right? But... it just shouldn't be this way.
“Undeclared” is certainly understandable for a few years in college, but when it becomes a permanent state of mind, it's time for a JAMLAB reawakening. Yes, the cultural milieu might favor greed and self-aggrandizement while continuing to distract us with the pressure to “have” more, but… don’t fall for it! Acknowledge it, but don't settle for it. In fact, here's what I want you to do. Write “FEAR” and “SELF-DOUBT” on a piece of paper in big bold letters. Then... burn it, shred it, bury it, strangle it, drown it… just get rid of it. Like this:
Otherwise... "it" will consume you. Another decade will pass, and you’ll be 40, then 50, and suddenly, you’ll be chatting with Greenberg about how you’re still "trying to do nothing right now." Please don’t let that happen. The road less traveled can be a lonely place, especially if it keeps leading nowhere, so remember, it’s never too late to switch majors, as long as you “DECLARE” what it is you’re doing.
Unlike re-inventors, re-kindlers don’t want a career “do-over,” but instead seek to reinvigorate the passion they once had in their job that has somehow eluded them or faded altogether. Everybody relates to this category because after a certain amount of time, anything and everything becomes routine, especially the things that require so much of our time... relationships, jobs, parenting, drinking... uhhhhh... I guess life pretty much. Is this why we have the expression familiarity breeds contempt? Take the most exciting thing you can think of doing and multiply it by every day. I bet you can't find a rock star that doesn't whine about the hassle of being on the road or performing the same songs night after night. No matter how fun... it's still a job.
The "Love Bank" The important point here is to know this going in. Prepare for it... expect it... count on it... embrace it... transcend it. Just know that you're going to need that much love, passion, and excitement to carry on... across the valleys, over the mountains, into the desert, and through the shit. Life is just one big love bank and you have to keep making sizable deposits, all the time, or you'll end up in "passion bankruptcy."
Re-kindlers intuitively know this. They have a solid love foundation, but somewhere along the way the daily grind threw a couple of curves knocking them off balance. Hopefully, with some minor tweaking and a splash of imagination, they find their way home... back to the place that reminds them why they're doing it. Sometimes the door closes for a moment, but it doesn't always lock.
Cirque du Soleil The Spark
In The Spark, a book about the creative commitment of Cirque Du Soleil, Frank Castle realizes that he has been coasting on autopilot for quite some time in his job as a sports agent. During a convention seminar in Las Vegas, Frank finds himself going through the usual motions, when suddenly he notices two men, who look like they’re heading somewhere important, disappear behind a single discrete door. Frank inexplicably decides to follow them and 7 doors later finds himself in a fascinating performance space that seems to have been constructed long before Vegas existed… during a Cirque du Soleil rehearsal for the show KA. Minutes later, he meets Creative Content Division President Diane McKee, and his serendipitous journey begins.
Instead of being a narrative told from perspective of one of the artists, managers, designers or technicians within Cirque de Soleil, The Spark comes through the eyes of Frank, who after being re-awakened by the energy in Las Vegas, decides to arrange a month-long sabbatical with Cirque de Soleil to learn more about their creative culture. On a shear leap of faith, he travels to Montreal to undergo 3 weeks of condensed Cirque training in hopes of bringing that passion back to his own life and career.
Frank's experience connecting with a spectrum of designers and performers, as well as seeing one of his own clients become part of the organization, pushes him to take on some new risks within the sports agency back in Chicago. He declines an offer from his boss to represent a Heisman trophy winner, instead proposing an idea to create and head a New Talent Division. So… Frank figures out a way to get back to doing what he enjoys the most... traveling to high schools and colleges in the middle of nowhere to take a chance on young athletes no one has ever heard of. Sometimes... all it takes is some out-of-the-box thinking and a generous deposit into the love bank to get the career back on track.
"One Thing..."
In City Slickers, Mitch Robbins (Billy Crystal) gets together with two close friends every year for an adrenaline-rush vacation. One year it's the running of the bulls in Spain and the next it's driving cattle across New Mexico with an intimidating Cowboy named Curly (Jack Palance) that describes the secret to life as, "One thing... just one thing. You stick to that and everything else don't mean shit." The problem is, Mitch needs to find the "one thing" before he can resolve his epic mid-life crises and pressing professional woes.
Do It Better.
While talking to his wife, Mitch condenses what he actually does at his job selling advertising space at a radio station to "selling air." Somewhere along the path, just like sports agent Frank Castle, he fell into the daily grind abyss and stopped depositing into the love bank. Towards the end of the movie, after successfully guiding the herd to Colorado, Mitch arrives home with renewed purpose. "I'm not going to quit my job," he tells his wife. "I'm just going to do it better."
I don't know anyone who doesn't vent about their job from time to time... or their crappy boss or conniving co-workers... or "selling air." The difference with re-kindlers is that one way or another, whether it's an epiphany brought about by Cirque du Soleil or a life-altering adventure across the Southwest landscape, they re-ignite the flame and find a reason to stay the course.
The truth is we all need to change our frame of reference once in a while in order to see things in their best light. So... rattle the creativity cage slightly and appreciate what you have. A little gratitude goes a long way. Instead of seeing the tedious journey ahead, pause, look back, and remember how far you've already come. At least this way, you'll really know if you've hit the end of the road or if you just need a little more fuel in the tank.
On a quest to unravel the mystery of true happiness Matthieu Ricard left his life as a molecular biologist to become a Buddhist monk in the mountains of Tibet. In a 2004 TED presentation (Matthieu Ricard 2004 TED Talk) he illustrates the difference between fleeting pleasures and sustained well-being. “A beautiful chocolate cake… the first serving is delicious, second one… not so much… then we feel disgust. That’s’ the nature of things. We get tired.” When you feel cold, you approach the fire only to retreat moments later because of the heat of the flames.
He continues to explain how meditation is a vital technique involved in training the mind, ultimately leading to ones overall ability to control their state of consciousness. We spend endless hours conditioning our bodies through physical exercise, but when it comes to our minds, we invest very little.
As the quintessential re-inventor, Ricard emphasizes the difficulty in recognizing the difference between a new roadand adead end. A temporary setback should not force you to throw in the towel any more than a lucky roll tempts you to keep on playing. Pleasure and pain are simply opposite sides of the same mirage... blurring the foundation of sound judgment. Pleasure can be intoxicating, especially in a culture centered on immediate gratification. The rush of “newness” seduces even the most grounded individuals, often becoming addictive. The grass may indeed be greener on the other side, but it shrivels and dies when trampled on over and over. Be careful not to exit too early for the promise of something new, whether it’s a relationship, career or card game, only to realize later that maintenance and discipline will be required in any new venture as well.
True re-inventors then are not impulsive flip-floppers that change sides on a whim because they don’t like the current conditions. They zoom out to see the big picture, understanding that success is not dictated by a single game but is rather a long-term strategy. Some doors do indeed close, but the key to taking any new path, as Lewis Carroll reminds us in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is knowing where you want to go…
One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. Which road do I take? she asked. Where do you want to go? was his response. I don't know, Alice answered. Then, said the cat, it doesn't matter.
So the main issue for re-inventors, especially during this brutal economic crisis, that has blatantly forced so many people out of their industries, is re-navigating their professional destinations… deciding where to go. Yes… the world has been shaken like a massive snow globe, but maybe there’s a blessing in drag here. Peel back the layers of shock, discomfort and inconvenience, and you might have a sexy pearl... like the “ugly girl” in any high school coming-of-age drama ---- brush hair, remove nerdy glasses, add lip-gloss and BAM... you’ve got an instant hottie.
It’s just about any episode of Jerry Springer. We’re all sad that Anastasia’s moving on from the wonderful, monster truck driver she can’t live without… who is also sleeping with her sister’s, boyfriend’s tranny-lover, but... at the same time… we cherish her opportunity to start fresh. This is basically the professional environment for a lot of people these days.
Sometimes… for a host of reasons… you just can’t go back.
NOTE: Please stay tuned as JAMLAB explores an array of additional professional positions, including but not limited to:
• UNDECLARED - Those perpetually uncommitted in their professional lives. • KNOWERS - Those that discover their true calling early in life. • DAY-JOBBERS - Those that work to support their true passion. • COMPLACENTS - Those ambivalent toward their work. • RE-KINDLERS - Those seeking to re-discover the passion they once had in their career.
