The Bridge #69
tragic heros
Hello
The experiment of these past 2.5 years — writing a newsletter to spark conversation and help us navigate change — has been a remarkable success.
You are a deliberately diverse audience of people — including designers & researchers, entrepreneurs & college roommates, family members & new friends — I hoped to get to know better. & despite stresses and pressures, accidental polarization and fake news, we have together cultivated a different sort of community here. You have been my inspiration; I continue the effort because of you.
It has rarely been perfect though. Finding my way has been part of the process. Allowing myself some mistakes is how I’ve learned to trust you.
Something to Consider
The ego is a tricky thing:
On the one hand, it’s important and good to seek self-confidence.
How do we know though when we might have a little too much (self-confidence)?
After all, everyone is the hero (or at least the main character) in their own story; we have a narrative we tell ourselves about the life we’re living…
& the line between being proud of ourselves
and becoming arrogant … can be a thin one.
Maybe others are saying things about us we don’t wanna hear. Hard to tell sometimes if it’s constructive feedback or cruel criticism. We are pretty sure they have got it wrong. But our feelings are hurt, and we can’t seem to get a clear point of view.
It’s for this reason the ancient Greeks invented the “tragic hero.” For the fact is, a well-intentioned successful person can make a small mistake, which un-checked can become their total downfall. We sometimes need the powerful reminder, wrapped up in epic myths, to slow us down and help us connect the dots.
Do you see what I mean? Let’s take a step back.
Something to Explore
How UX Designers can engage their imagination by Alba Villamil
I’m not often reading Fast Company articles anymore, but this one from HMNTY CNTRD has been something I have come back to three or four times. It calls us to a broader-minded approach to the work of design (if you work in design), and it is full of meaning. Many times Fast Company is offering up brain candy, saying things that we might have thought on our own if we’d slowed down to reflect on the world we’re already living in. This essay though gets concrete (even if they are small gentle nudges) on how we might expand our curiosity, to believe that alternatives exist and to resist a certain resignation that says “change is not possible.”
UX Design is only one part of the larger puzzle, and I do agree with the author that policy change and collective action are necessary to re-imagine the larger system. That said, for each of us to find our part to play, we must get local and specific with the actions we could take. Alba Villamil has bravely done that in writing this piece, and I’m grateful.
Something to Enjoy
“Life’s a Happy Song” by Bret McKenzie (from The Muppets soundtrack)
We might not expect the juxtaposition of an article on UX Design, an allusion to ancient Greek myths, and The Muppets… but when reading The Bridge, all is possible 😁
This opening number from the 2011 musical comedy film, I learned recently, was written by Bret McKenzie (the lesser half of New Zealand comedy duo Flight of the Conchords). It’s naturally full of funnies.
The main characters are introduced, and we see that while there is explicit optimism and a catchy chorus, there’s also a problem: Gary and Walter are brothers, and they are very close. Mary likes Gary though, and Gary likes Mary. Maybe Gary will need to re-assess his priorities if he plans to be married.
Everything’s happier when we’re together, but … if Gary and Walter are together, where does that leave Mary? Will The Muppets end as a tragedy?
Something Friendly
Thanks to Kevin, Nikki, and Boun who all shared of themselves last year as guest writers. The collaboration was energizing.
In two weeks, we will have another reader-turned-writer featured. Stay tuned…
Everything is great
Everything is grand
I got the whole wide world in the palm of my hand
Everything is perfect
It's falling into place
I can't seem to wipe this smile off my face
Life's a happy song, when there's someone by my side to sing along
When you're alone, life can be a little low
It makes you feel like you're 3 foot tall
When it's just you – well, times can be tough
When there's no one there to catch your fall
Everything is great,
JPC 😎