Ever wondered what famous designers read?

I am great advocate of ‘Reading’. Well, every one does it. At least they think that way. What I really mean by it is to read things that helps look things differently, that shows a different perspective, that exposes life differently, that allows to form an opinion.

Books are a great form of documentation of ideas and principles. Doesn’t matter is its through Kindle or Nook or iPad, reading is good. And if you would like to know what some of the famous / illustrious designers read, here’s a snapshot.

Great to know Milton Glaser is a fan of John Berger. I am a big fan too. You should read John Berger.

Stay curious!

What happens when true story combines with great art?

It becomes FRAY.

A magazine that started out as a website that presented individually designed, true first-person stories. Each one ended with a question that prompted the audience to tell their stories, too. It evolved into a series of live storytelling events, Fray Days and Fray Cafes, that took place all over the world, attended by thousands of people. Now, it is become a quarterly subscription hard copy old style magazine but the spirit of the mag still remains.

True, personalized stories presented in wonderfully typeset, art directed fashion.

My Fray Mag Issue 3 is on its way.

Stay curious!

Must Read: Something Like an Autobiography

Being a huge fan of Akira Kurosawa, I try my best to get hold of every piece of published information about the great man. For me, he is truly Asia’s most valuable of the century, at least when it comes to Entertainment. Bruce Lee could be next in the order.

His amazing journey of life that took 88 years long is captured in his own style in the book, Something Like an Autobiography. Well, most of it. Fascinating read.

He was a not a bright kid to begin with. Amazing co-incidences with genius people that they invariably start poor. There’s a part he talk about his childhood which is a great reflection of his personality. He writes, ‘Intelligence develops at differing rates. It’s a mistake to decree that a year’s progress must take place within exactly one year, no more and no less’. If it sounds this good in translation, I am sure it sounds even profound in Japanese.

While talking about his characters, he says, ‘I like unformed characters. This may be because, no matter how old I get, I am still unformed myself’.

Every aspiring artist has to read this.

Stay curious!

I write this sitting in the kitchen sink

Writers’ block begins with how to begin their piece of writing, be it anything. First line in a novel is always a challenge. And if they get it right, it does set the tone for the entire book. I am sure all of us have our favorite ones. I have mine. In fact, quite a handful. But never bothered to keep track of all of them.

“I write this sitting in the kitchen sink” is the link that starts the novel, I Capture the Castle (1948) by Dodie Smith. What a curious way to start the novel.

Here’s a collection. 100 of them.

Stay curious!