Den is a fairly new small home architecture company that sells plans, kits, and pre-fab houses. Their aesthetic is a beautiful mix between simple farmhouse or Scandinavian design and modern architecture. The company features a manifesto which states “Den began because we know that building a cabin changes who you are, having a cabin changes… Continue reading Selling a dream: A social media audit of Den Outdoors
Gatekeeping doesn’t need to be a dirty word
I left Facebook in January of 2016. I had burned out on the constant drama surrounding the election and decided that I was tired of hearing even the opinions that I agreed with. It took some time to stop automatically typing facebook.com into the search bar when I opened my browser, but eventually I retrained… Continue reading Gatekeeping doesn’t need to be a dirty word
How cognitive bias affects storytelling
Storytelling is deeply interlaced with our experience as a species. You may think of the bards of Medieval England or Viking-age Skalds, traveling the land and collecting stories. Or perhaps you think of an old grandmother recounting a fable to her grandchildren to help them learn an important lesson about fairness or honesty. But storytelling has… Continue reading How cognitive bias affects storytelling
Malicious Manipulation: The Deadliest Sin in Visual Storytelling
This is a jackalope. This image, which is on a postcard currently framed in my office, is the reason that I thought this antlered rabbit was a real species until I was 12 years old. Well... that image and the fact that my father told me about all the jackalopes that used to run around… Continue reading Malicious Manipulation: The Deadliest Sin in Visual Storytelling
For the love of Pearl
This story is for the dog people. If you aren't a dog person, you probably won't understand. Dog people connect with their pets on an almost cellular level. They become part of who we are. We love them, cherish them, forgive them. Even when they eat the remote. Even when they throw up on the… Continue reading For the love of Pearl
Making the switch to a green(er) clean
When was the last time you thought about something that you wanted to change - whether it was something in your personal life, or something in our culture or society - and then became completely overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the thing that needs changing. Sure... you could stop using plastic straws to save… Continue reading Making the switch to a green(er) clean
Cognitive Bias in Data Visualization
Cognitive bias is a systemic error in thought or understanding of the world around us. They are subconscious and often result from quickly processing information as part of the decision-making process. These biases can affect how we see and interact with the world. Cognitive biases affect everyone and are often unnoticed. With more than 100… Continue reading Cognitive Bias in Data Visualization
Data Visualization: an inexact science
"Increasingly, managers and professionals are expected to make their arguments and decisions based on data and visualizations." Hugh Watson states in a Business Intelligence Article titled Data Visualization, Data Interpreters, and Storytelling. I'd have to agree. In fact, there was a section in a presentation I recently gave at the Northeast Annual Giving Conference devoted… Continue reading Data Visualization: an inexact science
Ikea: A Whole Mood
There are a few very divisive things in the U.S. these days... religion, politics, where you stand on Ikea... I can't say I've ever seen a brand with such fervent supporters or detractors in my life. I am team Ikea. I have memories of thumbing through the Ikea catalogues in the early '90s with my… Continue reading Ikea: A Whole Mood
Visual storytelling: A picture is worth a thousand words
The lamp that launched a thousand cowboy stories My first memories of visual storytelling are from when I was very, very young - probably as early as five or six. The lamp beside my bed had belonged to my father when he was young. It was shaped like a wagon, carved from dried cactus. The… Continue reading Visual storytelling: A picture is worth a thousand words
