Loved this interview (though I knew I would)! Also: “I think when people come across this stuff, a certain light bulb goes on over their heads. There’s a pleasure in that, a delight and a sense of discovery in learning something that you didn’t realize was even there to be learned.” Yes! That’s exactly it!
"I’m not too concerned about “Are people going to get it?” The people who like what I do will get it, I’m fairly positive of that. And if they don’t, oh well. I’ve had so much fun doing working on it, and I’ve learned so much, so that’s enough for me."
This passage really spoke to me.
I've spent the last six months writing and releasing a content series that - if I'm being brutally honest - has not received the views or reaction I was hoping for. And for a while - especially in the beginning of the release cycle - that really had me down.
Paul, as soon as you mentioned the figure on the “Caution: Wet Floor” signs, my mind leaped to this book, which I stumbled upon on a work trip to San Francisco in 2013. I can’t find my copy at the moment so here’s the Amazon listing. The entire story is told in pictograms.
I’ve just subscribed to The Art Of Noticing, thank you! BTW I am personally responsible for buying at least seven copies of “Inconspicuous Consumption” back in 1998 because I loved it so much and wanted my friends to appreciate the finer points of Kraut Juice and candy flavors such as the abstract condition of “thirst.”
I mentioned that just briefly, in passing, and there are lots of other people who've written about those doorknobs, so you might have seen it elsewhere. Either way, a gorgeous design!
Loved this interview (though I knew I would)! Also: “I think when people come across this stuff, a certain light bulb goes on over their heads. There’s a pleasure in that, a delight and a sense of discovery in learning something that you didn’t realize was even there to be learned.” Yes! That’s exactly it!
"I’m not too concerned about “Are people going to get it?” The people who like what I do will get it, I’m fairly positive of that. And if they don’t, oh well. I’ve had so much fun doing working on it, and I’ve learned so much, so that’s enough for me."
This passage really spoke to me.
I've spent the last six months writing and releasing a content series that - if I'm being brutally honest - has not received the views or reaction I was hoping for. And for a while - especially in the beginning of the release cycle - that really had me down.
But recently I've adopted your mindset above. The process was a fun challenge. I enjoyed the rabbit holes I've gone down. So, even if nobody wants to read about college football Grid Graphs of the 1920s (https://www.si.com/college/nebraska/football/dave-feit-s-greatest-huskers-by-the-numbers-24-lloyd-cardwell-brandon-rigoni-grid-graph), I'm proud of the end result.
Thank you
Update: I found my copy of “stick man’s really bad day” and the story is told entirely in road signs. No text.
Paul, as soon as you mentioned the figure on the “Caution: Wet Floor” signs, my mind leaped to this book, which I stumbled upon on a work trip to San Francisco in 2013. I can’t find my copy at the moment so here’s the Amazon listing. The entire story is told in pictograms.
https://a.co/d/bjgFu8M
I’ve just subscribed to The Art Of Noticing, thank you! BTW I am personally responsible for buying at least seven copies of “Inconspicuous Consumption” back in 1998 because I loved it so much and wanted my friends to appreciate the finer points of Kraut Juice and candy flavors such as the abstract condition of “thirst.”
</fangirl>
Speaking of doorknobs, Paul, I remember reading an article about New York City public school brass doorknobs, and it reminded me of elementary school.
Was that your article? I can't remember where I saw it.
Possibly! In my original series of "Permanent Record" articles in 2011, about the report cards I found that were originally from the Manhattan Trade School for Girls, I mentioned how the school had doorknobs like these: https://www.picclickimg.com/d9cAAeSwg0lobX9T/Antique-New-York-City-Public-School-Brass-Door.webp
I mentioned that just briefly, in passing, and there are lots of other people who've written about those doorknobs, so you might have seen it elsewhere. Either way, a gorgeous design!
I think that was it! I remember those from my elementary school in Brookyn.