Bruce Mau is smart, different.

Bruce Mau's Incomplete Manifesto has a lot of good information and each point is worth devoting at least a little personal and professional time to. More importantly, Mau's work speaks to the kind of things design is capable of. Design, for me at least is a pretty selfish thing. At it's surface, design says, "Look at me," and in turn, the designer echoes this statement.
For nearly a decade Bruce Mau has been using his design voice to say, "Look at this, this is important (and the list of work on the Bruce Mau Design website attests to this)." Personally, I think that speaks louder than any of the Manifesto statements but in the spirit of talking about me, here are some of the finer points of the Incomplete Manifesto:

3. Process is more important than outcome.

I'm projecting a bit here but as far as I can tell, the end result isn't what gets you paid. It's the process, as it breeds the end result. I've been thinking a lot about that lately and over break decided to treat my process book like an additional assignment. At the end (of each year or of senior year, I haven't decided) I'd like to compile process up to that point and package it in a refined and presentable way. If nothing else, I have a reminder of where ideas come from.

32. Listen carefully.

I tend to be judgemental. Overly so. I tend to stereotype quickly and jump to conclusions, especially while someone is talking. Stop it. Stop it right now.

13. Slow down.

To which we could add, "Speed up." I like the idea of finding things or discovering outside of routine. We get so locked into routine that it can become detrimental fast. I'm going to start changing up the way I work, staggering my own progress and process in order to push and pull creativity.

And finally, 25. Don't clean your desk.

I'm sorry Mr. Mau but this one I call out. This one is bullshit. But, only because I find little bits of importance I had long since forgotten about when I clean my desk. There's always some inspiration under a month of scribbled notes and receipts. Plus, I like to move things around on my desk, rearrange for a fresher approach, it's not your fault, it's me trying to speed up/slow down, break routine and hopefully grow a bit too.