February 26, 2024 In Apple, Inspiration

Steve Jobs and the Value of the Journey

Recently, I finally got around to listening to the audiobook of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. One quote from Jobs that really hit home for me was: “The journey is the reward.”

 

This quote is a peek into how Jobs viewed life and work. It wasn’t just about the endgame—money, fame, or success. What mattered most was the experience, the learning, and the growth along the way…

It’s easy to get caught up in wanting to reach a goal or a milestone, but if we take Jobs’s advice to heart, we start to see the value in the challenges we face and the lessons we learn, regardless of the outcome. Embracing the journey helps us appreciate the here and now, making us more resilient and open to taking chances. If we fixate on the destination, we might miss out on the fun of getting there.

Listening to Jobs’s biography isn’t just about learning the history of an icon; it’s a nudge to rethink how I view my goals and challenges.

“The journey is the reward” – It’s about enjoying the ride, not just waiting for the celebration at the end. The real prize is the experience itself…

 

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November 29, 2023 In Architecture, Arthur Erickson, Burnaby, Inspiration

Glass House on Deer Lake

My husband Damian found this article about a house we saw a few years ago when we were out on a walk at Deer Lake.

I looked into it, trying to find out how I could get access. Turns out only if you’re an architectural student at BCIT. If you’re ever in the area, it’s a beautiful walk and a nice surprise to come across this amazing house amongst the trees along the trail.

 

“How did this modernist gem end up on a public body of water in Burnaby?” 

The house tries to hide among the trees on the south shore of Burnaby’s Deer Lake, but it’s too beautiful for that.

Passersby call it “the glass house” for the panoramic panels that stretch from floor to ceiling and wall to wall. With so much glass, the house is transparent enough for nosy hikers on the lake trail to peer into the living room, with its sweeping and enviable views of the water.

Is that sisal carpeting? Is that teak furniture?

Whether it’s your first time strolling by or your hundredth, you can’t help but stop to ask what this modernist gem, the only structure actually on the lake, is doing out here in the wild.

 

Here’s a link to the article: Read Here

Historic Places | Baldwin House

Christopher Cheung 22 Nov 2023The Tyee

Christopher Cheung reports on urban issues for The Tyee. Follow him on Twitter @bychrischeung.

Arthur Erickson at the Baldwin House, 2003

 

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March 16, 2023 In Architecture, Inspiration

Observation is a constant…

I just finished listening to a very inspiring interview with Phyllis Lambert. So wonderful to hear her thoughts on ‘The Seagram Building’, (for which she acted as director of planning). Lambert has just come out with a new book of photography – ‘observation is a constant that underlines all approaches‘.  Also found at Amazon Books

At 92 years old, the founder of the Canadian Centre of Architecture (CCA) lived through the rise of modernism, the era of highway building and urban renewal, and the backlash that led to a resurgence of high-density, neighborhood-focused development.

And she helped lead the way. Born in Montreal to the Bronfman family, which built the Seagram’s liquor empire, Lambert was a talented artist from an early age.

Lambert hired Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a German-born architect whose minimalist glass-and-steel houses had caught her attention. Under her influence, the Bronfmans gave Mies an unlimited budget, and the resulting tower—a sleek, black-hued rebuke to the fusty architecture of Park Avenue, fronted by a rare bit of public open space—became one of the world’s most influential buildings after it was completed in 1958.

architecture-history.org

“My own use of the camera began in 1954 as I started to think about what a new building in New York – the Seagram building – could be. While in Rome during Easter, through the lens of a camera, I had hardly used, I began to observe the quality of buildings: how they sat on the land, their articulation, and how architectural details related to a building as a whole.” – Phyllis Lambert

Here’s a link to CBC’s Radio Interview: Listen Here

The Current with Matt Galloway – March 16, 2023: Renowned Canadian architect Phyllis Lambert on how to build better cities

 

 

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January 1, 2018 In Chartreuse

studiochartreuse.ca 2.0

After two years of starting and re-starting studiochartreuse.ca 2.0 it’s finally here!

Sending a big thank you to all my amazing clients. Without you, I wouldn’t have the amazing projects and inspiring design challenges that make my job ‘not feel like a job’. Also a big thank you to my wonderful husband and daughter. You are my rock that keeps me grounded when the work/family juggling gets a little hectic 😉

Wishing you all a very Happy New Years + Cheers to a prosperous and healthy 2018!

Lisa | studiochartreuse

 

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January 20, 2013 In Chartreuse, Graphic Design

studiochartreuse

Branding studiochartreuse has been a project in the making for many years now. After 16 years in the design industry, it was definitely past due to put an identity and web presence together.

I choose ‘chartreuse’ because this colour has followed me for quite some time. For many years I’ve been drawn to its tranquility and vibrancy. Chartreuse manages to find itself in many places throughout my home. It is neither feminine nor masculine, and a little-known fact is that chartreuse is the most visible colour for humans.

Helvetica Neue is a recent favourite, and pairing the ultra lightweight with the stylized ‘S’ and ‘C’ fit well with the open and modern look I am drawn to when designing.

Venturing into ‘WordPress’ for my website has been both challenging and rewarding. Once I’d moved passed what seemed like an impossible learning curve, understanding the css, php and hex colours are now something I feel very comfortable with. For someone who is fearful of ‘math’ and especially ‘code’, it’s definitely a contrast to the visual realm I usually work in.

I’m looking forward to the interesting projects in years ahead with ‘studiochartreuse’. A brand that I finally settled into.

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November 18, 2012 In Graphic Design, Typography

Barbara Kruger

My latest Pinterest addiction has been all things Barbara Kruger. I rediscovered her work last week and immediately became nostalgic for an artist that has inspired so much for me in the past.

It started back many years ago during one of my Foundation classes at Emily Carr. Our assignment was to study an artist picked at random for us, and then create you’re own piece in their style. The artist assigned to me was Barbar Kruger. I was immediately drawn to Kruger’s strong use of typography mixed with images of feminism and her critique of consumerism. I found it fascinating that she had started as a graphic designer at Mademoiselle magazine before moving into the art world.

I was newly vegetarian and had just finished reading John Robin’s Book ‘Diet for a New America’. I was pretty taken back by the images of factory farming and chose this as my subject matter combining it with some recent MacDonald’s ad slogans. During the class critique, many controversial topics were discussed — which was the goal of the piece.

It’s still one of my favorite projects. I learned a lot about typography, the impact of the image and how to combine them in a simple way to convey a message. To this day, I still design using the principles I learned from that long ago Barbara Kruger project.

 

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October 30, 2012 In Graphic Design, Inspiration

Why Design?

Since grade 9 art class I’ve known that I wanted to become a graphic designer. My teacher Mr. Petrasko gave me a ‘Graphis’ magazine to go through as inspiration for our latest project. I asked him, ‘What type of art is this?’ He then went on to describe to me all the things that graphic designers work on. I was sold. From then on I made it my goal to somehow find a way to do this every day.

 

Find something you’re passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it. — JULIA CHILD

 

ART + DESIGN THAT HAS LEFT THE BIGGEST IMPRESSION:
Bauhaus Movement, everything by Ray and Charles Eames, Alexander Calder’s kinetic art (mobiles), Helvetica, all work by Mondrian (I am especially attracted to anything white and grid-like).

VICE: Anything Mac related / Tequila / Modern furniture that is white

DESIGN HERO/HEROINE: Barbara Kruger

FAVORITE PROJECT: SSTC Science Centre in Saudi Arabia. By far the biggest challenge in my career so far. It was like going back to school for science and cultural studies. I learned so much and met so many great people during this project. It was a phenomenal 2 & 1/2 years…

Article // 30% of people end up working in the careers they dreamed of as kids

 

 

 

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September 30, 2012 In Graphic Design, IDSwest

IDSwest 2012

On Friday I checked out the 8th annual Interior Design Show West with my friend, Tanya Tweten (Promoter at Heart). With over 350 exhibitors it was a lot to take in, but there were certainly quite a few booths that caught my eye.

My fix for interiors and amazing design was satisfied by Inform Interiors, Bocci and the latest pieces by Brent Comber, including his new artwork and the incredible large polished tree trunk. You can see how tall it is with 5′ 10″ me standing beside it. Contexture Design introduced their latest project, a cedar and ceramic birdhouse called ‘The Chickadee’. A very inspiring day!

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