The Curiosity Book

I love being a designer, especially in publications. In addition to working with all the elements of design like fonts and colors, one of my favorite parts of work is learning on a continuous basis from my clients just by reading their copy before laying it out. I love learning about the issues that inhabit and challenge their worlds.

A long time ago I started a habit of jotting down any questions that occurred when reading my clients' content. Then whenever I had time I'd Google around, jot down book titles, and talk to people to try and get answers to those questions. For years I've kept a "curiosity book," perhaps what the British would call a "commonplace book," a repository of quotes, facts and figures, and answers to questions. For example, some of the questions in mine:

What happened to the von Stauffenberg children?

What is humanism?

Which countries were part of Arab Spring?

What forces cultural change?

Process of Rwandan reconciliations?

What I've learned is this:

•  Sometimes we don't fully understand what we know. We only think we know it, but often what we really have is a conventional "derivative" of the topic, and that can be shallow or homogenized. (The Valkyrie plot failed and all the conspirators were executed.... Yes, but they had families, loved ones. What happened to them?) 

•  Humans beings are fascinating! Human effort is layered and textured, rich with hidden backstories about petty rivalries, unspoken love, and thwarted intentions. For good or evil, these are the motives that drive effort. Despite our many wars and conflicts, the bigger part of our nature is to create and discover. To do better than before.

•  Creativity is an interdisciplinary act, so it helps to know a bit about everything. The world of work does not exist apart from the world at large. Our workplaces do not exist in a vacuum, estranged from life itself. Maintaining a habit of curiosity keeps life amazing.

•  Some questions are unanswerable. They should either be tackled from multiple viewpoints, or the answers are still works in progress. Oddly, there's a sense of adventure and safety in knowing some of these questions will never be answered in my lifetime.