Firebelly Design

September 29, 2009 by Will Miller

I'm roughly one week away from beginning my next quarter teaching Type 1 at the Chicago Portfolio School. The quarters span 11 weeks while the program lasts a full year. I've been instructing this course for a touch over a year now and I think I'm finally finding my footing in regards to what projects work, what students respond to and so on. In the past, when people have asked me why I do it I've usually said something like "I have a knowledge I learned on my own and want to pass it on." But recently I realized it's fairly deeper than that. 

Generally speaking, within each quarter I organize and instruct, there's one or two students who start as far away from understanding type in relation to design as I am standing from the Great Wall of China right now. What I love, and try really hard to promote, is taking these students naiveté and turning it into something powerful eye opening. I enjoy letting them converse with each other to find the answers while gently nudging them in the right direction without providing the crutch, or easy way out, many of them look for. The ultimate satisfaction is that moment when you see a student's mind open in realization and appreciation. It truly is a "light switched on" moment and every time I see it I'm reminded of the moment it happened for me as I was forever affected by my profession I barely understood.

So, ultimately, I think I teach (or pass on knowledge, or give back... call it what you will) because I know things, and those things are more useful when given to others as tools to make better things. Better than I ever could. But also for selfish reasons; to relive that moment that keeps me excited about what I do everyday and watch that flash of creativity and understanding. Watching others become more makes me want to do more.

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September 28, 2009 by Darren McPherson

Following the first Firebelly exhibition I've had the opportunity to be a part of this last weekend, I've thought a lot about maintaining the creative side of my work outside of the office.

Part of the reason I'm here is due to the encouragement these guys gave me when I first met them all. My main question coming into the design community was how do you get a chance to do the types of work that you love doing but aren't always affordable and practical within the allotted timeline.. the FB answer - you just do it.

These last couple of weeks have been a real eye opener as we all worked hard on pieces for the gallery show. All the effort paid off and we had a really successful opening night.

For me, talking with so many people about my work and getting a ton of feedback on the pieces/concepts was a huge help and a massive encouragement to do more. I'm definitely pumped to push things a lot harder now.

My new goals for the season… Work consistently multiple times a week. Collaborate with others on projects, and get the work out there for feedback as much as possible!

Anyone reading this should do the same. Keep creating work for yourself. You need a moment to try something somewhat crazy every now and then.

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