Month: November 2011

Evolution of an Icon

I needed an icon for an app I was working for. Although I dabbled with drawing and painting in the past, I’ve never gotten beyond the basics of PhotoShop and other graphics software. So I talked to Paul, who is a graphics design guru among others. Over a span of a week, we collaborated to come up with the final icon. In only 4 iterations, no less! Thanks, Paul. You’re the man!

I’m Cool!

Jeanne was wearing her sunglasses and I asked her “Are you cool?” She said “Yes!” without hesitation. Then she continued “Daddy’s cool, also.” Hear that? I’m cool because my baby says so and nobody can tell me otherwise.

Steve Jobs

Finished reading Steve Jobs, the official biography by Walter Isaacson, over the long weekend. The biography is very personal with Jobs himself confiding directly to Isaacson his opinions, his thoughts, his motivations, his aspirations. This is further supported by close friends and business associates, even rivals and enemies. Of course, given Job’s intense privacy, you still feel you’re not getting everything. But I guess this is as close as you can get.

Even better, this book is not just about Steve Jobs. Because they’re closely intertwined, it is also about the companies he founded, Apple, NeXT, and Pixar. Creativity and innovation are Job’s hallmarks and it provides a glimpse of the creative and innovative processes in those companies. One thing you note is that in these companies, it’s not just Jobs coming up with ideas. A lot, including many that he initially rejected, also came from his colleagues. A definite read not just for fans and admirers of Jobs but also for any student of business.