I've been quite busy with either freelance work from previous contacts or temporary contract jobs through PSG. I'm so happy to be working with designers again, and thrilled to be surrounded by such creative talent. I aim to keep building on the current design-forward momentum.

On another note, I am much more active in my community, thanks to Bike & Build. Between the monthly Architecture for Humanity meetings, I have attended Bikes Not Bombs' volunteer night. Here I packed bikes for shipping to needing and deserving communities overseas, and fixed bikes intended for "earn a bike" recipients. Their program is centered around improving the lives of inner city youth through imparting the love of biking and teaching respect, bike safety and mechanics. I have also enjoyed meeting people every week through either running or biking groups. Not only do I look forward to the great companionship while exercising, but I have found some design connections as well.

I'm finding that by working for a large number of design companies, I am developing a better understanding of verbalized design intent. Every design director has a different way of communicating their needed deliverables and the styles and quality that suit the time-frame. Grasping this quickly is not only valuable, but imperative as a contract designer. There is a series of ballpark questions that help to solidify their concept, but the assumptions are what can cause the problems. I'm learningto ask about what isn't said, because the connotations are as important as the denotations.

By the way, today is the first day of almost two weeks that I'll be working at Reebok's headquarters in Canton, MA. It's quite an AMAZING campus, and I look forward to getting acquainted with it and the other employees!

I had the pleasure of again working for Advanced Design Concepts in Reading to design and render a work boot for Wolverine. After roughly a day of sketching and brainstorming within the client's target audience, I jumped into Illustrator and Photoshop to realize a rendering deliverable by the end of the second day. Designs expanded upon the possibilities available for a specific leather treatment, accounting for areas of structure and flexibility. The rendering was comprised of several editable layers that created the illusion dimensions and real materials.

Working with PSG as a creative contractor for hire, my first assignment was quite fantastic on all levels. Located in Newton, Buyer Advertising is a recruitment communications agency who creates effective ads for print and web publications, and much more. I quickly adapted to their highly-organized system for processing ad requests and efficiently completed projects ahead of schedule. I was thrilled to then be chosen to help with a major internal promotion piece aiming to retain a 6-year client. Another successful project entailed creating an illustration of a chromed star in a spotlight, similar to a rendering with pizzaz.

The talent in that office is equal to the friendliness of the staff. We worked so well together, my assignment was extended from one week, to almost two! I look forward to working with them again while I continue searching for the right industrial design position.

Killing some time over some hot cocoa with a scoop of van-ice. I forgot how much I loved just toying around with Illustrator, creating just for the experience. Part of the challenge and the fun was using my old lap-top which could crash at any time, is slow, and has an old version of Illustrator.

Thrilled at having found the perfect polygamous marriage of design, community service, and socializing, I eagerly look forward to helping out with Architecture for Humanity's (AfH) next project. I attended the September meeting, where a list of several in-progress designs were discussed over a slice of pizza. I anticipate a great sketching and brainstorming session at next month's meeting. Read more about national AfH here.

Now, if I can be successful at connecting AfH with Habitat for Humanity (HfH), maybe "poverty houses" will be desirable for their aesthetics and function, rather than just their price tag. Having worked with HfH on primarily new construction during the summer, I know that it's cheaper and easier to run these programs where there's available land for fresh construction. Boston, being pinched for land, would only rarely offer this opportunity, let alone to HfH. However, New England is far bigger than just one town, and there are several communities whose needs require attention. Proposing a AfH design for a new HfH house would ideally save money in either construction, or upkeep. New construction methods could steer away from the short aesthetic lifespan of 2x4 construction and effectively use windows to heat and cool during the appropriate months.

Here's just one example of eco-friendly housing construction.