An old silent pond ... A frog jumps into the pond, splash! Silence again. — Matsuo Basho, translated by Harry Behn
Hey, Sebastian here. I'm a Brand Writer at Focus Lab. Natalie has graciously allowed me a guest spot on Create First. Thanks, Natalie!
Natalie's last newsletter encouraged us to pause and be present, which sparked a lot of conversation for us here at Focus Lab. We asked ourselves, "What are some ways we allow ourselves to pause?" In that spirit, I'd love to share one way I do this: I like to practice the art of haiku.
A writer talking about their love for haiku? I know, you're rolling your eyes. But I'm here to tell you — haiku is for everyone, "writer" or not. In creating them, you're given a quick, low-commitment opportunity to pause and engage your senses as you take in and make observations about the world around you. And they don't even have to be big or important observations. The tiniest, most inconsequential ones will do.
Now, there are three things to know about how haiku are typically structured: They focus on a specific image or action, usually something related to the natural world. They're three lines long: seven syllables in the first line, five in the second, and seven in the third. The last line provides some kind of "twist": a humorous or insightful observation, or an unexpected turn.
But, most importantly, there's one more thing to know about haiku: You don't need to follow any rules at all. Go wild with your syllables and line counts. Write about whatever you want. The key point here is to write. Play. Create. Make an observation nobody else has before. Because nobody experiences the world quite like you do.
As the weather starts to turn more agreeable up here in Michigan, I'm challenging myself to write a haiku every time I take my dog around the block — letting my senses guide me as I try to consider the world a bit differently. How can I look at the grass in a new way? What are the birds saying when they sing? How could I describe a certain sensation, and what does it remind me of?
By the time I've returned to my desk, I'll usually find that I'm feeling just a little lighter than I was before. And I hope the same is true for you.
Sebastian Fryer, Brand Writer
LINK ROUNDUP
1. Printing Bread for Rose Boulangerie
Super Studio achieved beautiful textures by painting bread for a bakery's branding. LinkedIn loved it, too.
2. New Currency Symbol Just Dropped
Saudi Arabia has approved a symbol to represent their riyal currency unit, complete with a cinematic trailer. "The new Saudi riyal symbol embodies the Kingdom's rich cultural heritage."
3. Fonts In Use
A treasure trove for design enthusiasts, showcasing real-world examples of typography in action.
4. Co-Branding With Apple and Major League Soccer
"As the 30th season of Major League Soccer kicked off last month, the league unveiled an interesting new design addition: Each of its 30 teams sported a custom Apple TV logo on the left sleeve of its uniform."
CREATIVE SPOTLIGHT
Work by Laura Bonanno. Reminiscent of the psychedelic illustrations of the 1970s, Laura Bonanno's illustrations capture the dreamy experimentation of the time. We're particularly fans of her unexpected color palettes of purple skies, pink clouds, and orange mustaches.
