Pixelgawker

As you all have probably noticed, Pixelgawker has seen nothing resembling new content in several months. This long-lasting dry spell is due in part to the onset of new life transitions that both Megan and myself have recently undergone. Since our last post, Megan’s tenure at CCS has come to a close, while I myself have become the father of two twin daughters. Needless-to-say, we have each been adjusting to our new lives.
Megan is attempting a smooth transition into the profession, asking herself lots of questions while traveling the country to discover the true meaning of design. Visiting other parts of the country has shifted Megan’s design perspective, and she is working hard to establish herself as a prolific Detroit-based designer and writer.

As for me, I have my hands full; both of them. Trying to balance being a husband, father, designer, educator and writer has, well, been interesting. A parent/designer once told me that when you are doing one thing you are thinking about the other. They were right. Multi-tasking has taken on a whole new meaning.

Both Megan and myself are dealing with very different life transitions. However disparate they may seem on the surface, our situations, when peeled to the core, are actually quite similar. We are both learning to adapt to our new lives, facing a different set of priorities, shifted expectations, and unaccustomed roles. This, coupled with a tumultuous design climate here in southeast Michigan, has us asking the question, “What do we do now? Do we pack up Pixelgawker and ride off into the sunset rationalizing to ourselves, that it was good while it lasted? Or do we shift the focus on Pixelgawker just as we too are shifting? Do we focus on our new situations, our new interests, and on a design climate in desperate need discussion and of answers?”

Since the fall of 2007, Pixelgawker has been aimed at students, serving as an open platform for the ongoing critical discussion of design issues. In its heyday, Pixelgawker sought to acquire new voices and dedicated contributors to help further develop the dialogue and expand the conversation. However, over time it became increasingly clear that securing new and interested student writers was a toilsome challenge that neither of us were prepared to face. So in an effort to revive Pixelgawker and rekindle the interests of our many readers, we have decided to shift our content away from the worn-out topics that already absorb much attention elsewhere, and focus our writing towards the students and professionals living and working in Michigan. We will continue to facilitate Pixelgawker as it matures into a solid outlet for designers and writers within the greater Detroit design community. We still invite new voices to join the conversation, and we encourage others to ask questions and pose answers. We intend to posit new ideas. We won’t always get it right, but we’ll use Pixelgawker to sort things out and hopefully inspire others. Then maybe, just maybe, we can contribute a small slice of optimism in a time when creativity and encouragement can go a long way.

As the content on our forum expands so too will our team of regular contributors. Joining Megan and myself as a main facilitator is Colleen Hill, a CCS alum who’s actively involved in Detroit’s design scene. Nearly two years since graduating from CCS, Colleen has realized that the Detroit design community offers valuable opportunities no other city could duplicate. She is hopeful that in time, the new generation of inspiring designers emerging in this community will redefine what it means to be a designer in Detroit. We’re confident that Colleen will help us carry out our new objectives by providing a fresh voice and new ideas.

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