A “Why To” Kind of Guy
I am hoping to make this a fairly short post today. I really need to focus on some plant profiles for our library but keep finding a need to come back here. My father uses to say I never had a thought I didn’t verbalize, and not only does this seem to have been inherited by my daughter, it seems to have infiltrated my blog. Some people tell me I need to learn how to create quick little plant profiles that I can just throw up as quick posts, kind of like what we have in our app. However if you have been following me you know this is not in my blood. Even in the app I had to have room to talk about why and how to use each plant and even why and how each filter and tool was designed. Maybe that’s because my degree wasn’t in horticulture but rather Philosophy. Gardening and landscape design have been my life, but metaphysics has always been my guide.
I find great comfort in this blog. As I write about plants and design these apps, it is much like designing landscapes. There are goals we need to accomplish, needs we need to meet, processes that have to occur, and even maintenance to be done. In the end it is just like a landscape plan, there has to be a design, the pieces and plants have to fit just right, the materials have to be found and it has to work. The end product I hope is something that provides the user a sense of place, brings out the essence of the individual parts, and makes their lives better just like a good design.
What is missing from the first app is the exploration that gets to occur between me and my clients. I don’t get to know them over dinner and drinks, and I don’t get to tell them my stories or theories like I do in person. Likewise they don’t get the same type of interaction with me and the feedback is not the same as sitting in their yard and staring in awe as the garden comes to life in spring. Let’s face it a 2 x 3 inch screen isn’t conducive to my ramblings. This blog gives me a place to do that and your blogs and feedback have also given me a way to get to know some of you. I can already see the results in the things I am creating now.
There is no shortage of “How To” information on the web, and there is not shortage of machines and “money makers” out there recycling it. When I moved from design to this I didn’t see it as a change of course. I saw it as a chance to expand my horizons. My biggest fear in all of this was that I would lose that one on one bonding with my clients and the ability to have those “Why To” discussions. One of the great things about our medium is that we can always continue to grow. Just like our gardens we can always add more plants, try new methods and meet more people. Yes we can even touch people’s lives. Whether you use technology to build up a wall and run from people or to lay it all out for everyone to see it up to you. For me, life is a discussion, and I am a “Why To” kind of guy. I am just glad that I am finding through this so many of you are too.
