It’s been over three and half years since I left Philadelphia to take part in a graduate program at the Sandberg Instituut in Amsterdam. In unexpected ways, returning to school during my late 30’s played an integral part in my development as a designer and human.
The World by Train / Part 5
Travel can (and if you are doing it right, should), make you feel what it’s like to be in the minority. One morning, at the breakfast buffet, a little boy slid up next to me at my table. His parents sat across from me, looking at their phones and eating.
The World by Train / Part 4
What can I say about the Gladiator? He was scrappy and sinewy, about 40 years old. He wore his hair cropped short, with a small bald patch on the back of his head and a widow’s peak. He had hawkish eyes and a mouth full of gold teeth when he smiled.
Ladder 45
At a young age, Jackie was already doing things that seemed crazy to many of her friends from the neighborhood.
Scratch Off Tickets
“12 times 9 is 108 Dad! I should get half that money. You’re tryin’ to tell me a story!” Little Billy shot back, already mimicking the brusque facial expressions and tone of his father.
The World by Train / Part 3
On the newly constructed buildings that line Moscow’s wide avenues, there was a freshly painted mural recreating the historic photograph of Russian soldiers raising the Soviet flag over the Reichstag in Berlin.
The World by Train / Part 2
Lviv is a beautiful city, full of soldiers on leave from the front. I can imagine soldiers from many past conflicts, enjoying their coffees and walks through the park
Side Jawn
A cacophony of other drivers noisily followed suit. It was already dark, around 8pm on a school night. Jake felt bad for the parents on the block trying to put their kids to bed.
Sleeping in ‘Bandos
One of the men from the group on the steps approached the group waiting for the bus. He wore a dark brown leather Avirex jacket and Air Maxs, both surprisingly in good shape despite his financial situation.
Overheard on Septa
We got on at City Hall station. I got off at Cecil B. around 8pm on Wednesday. The break dancing family was talking to me but you and I kept exchanging glances.
The World by Train / Part 1
After three months of riding trains through, Berlin, Kraków, Kiev, Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Ulaanbaatar, Beijing, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia, all cities begin to dissolve into one place.
Be About It
A few weeks ago a friend asked me for advice about running a freelance business. For years she had run large non-profit organisations, published books of her research and writing, and written op-ed’s for major newspapers like the New York Times. But now it was time for a change, time to go independent.
Juicer
Each morning, James would make juice for himself. After hearing an ad for the device during a podcast, he decided to buy it on a whim. He liked waking up and seeing its polished aluminium body waiting on the kitchen countertop. The device resembled an artillery shell or an oversized bullet.