PHXDW + Doodles
Flip Doodle Deluxe for Designers!
Flip Doodle Deluxe lands at Phoenix Design Week for the first time!
It was an awesome time with lots of drawing, laughing and getting to know other creatives. The organizers of Phoenix Design Week 2024 invited me to lead a Flip Doodle event prior to this year’s two-day conference, which was themed as “OASIS”. It was everything I was expecting – reinvigorating, informative and fun.
On June 25, 2024, Flip Doodle Deluxe released to the public. It’s a card deck I created that’s all about flipping cards, cooking ideas and serving doodles. Creative blocks? Squashed! Fear of failure? Haha, yeah right!
When we view creativity as a source of entertainment, the possibilities get cosmic real quick. Thanks to everyone that supported the event. And super special thanks to Larissa (my wife) and Nikki (our dear friend) for their assistance! I’m looking forward to many more chances to connect with people at future events here in the valley as well.
Here’s some images from the event and some thoughts that come to mind.
Three things to ponder
The audience at this event was mostly creative professionals, some of whom already draw but also those who don’t usually find the time. The event was open to conference attendees as well as their friends, family and the public. I’m always amazed at how once given the chance, many people reconnect with drawing quickly.
The artists we were, still exist – At these events I’ve met accountants, engineers, carpenters and other professionals who never doodle, but have such a great time reconnecting with the artist they used to be. Picasso said, “We’re all born artists.” So don’t say, “I’m not an artist.” Say “I know I’ll be an artist again if I try.”
Being creative is human - If you’re suspicious of AI, it’s likely because you understand the potential it has to damage our humanity. It’s serious. I mean, our “phones” already command most of our attention and we all know what it’s doing to our children. But we creatives will never be replaced. We are not robots, using algorithms to tell ourselves we’ve made art. We are the music makers, the dreamers of dreams. And we make those dreams come to life.
People value what’s real - Being seen. Being heard. Being together. True, it may not always be easy to put ourselves out there or want to be creative with others. But once people do, they experience good things in return. A sense that they matter, that their ideas are worth something and that they are part of a collective human experience.
The profound nature of doodles
Ages ago, people drew in caves. They made symbols for places, creatures, people and ideas. In time, they transferred those images to giant leaves, carved stones and bound parchments. They documented their lives through images and taught young ones about where they came from. Long before the printing press.
Well, skipping, skipping – here we are. We’re in an age of image creation that might as well be magic. We draw underwater, with light, with code and even with our eyes. We exist in an optical world where all we imagine can become something real.
If you never think about doodling in everyday life, you’re the perfect person to rediscover the meaning behind it. Who knows, maybe be reconnecting with your creative side you might get closer to a friend / family member, find new ways to manage stress and / or turn a small bit of nonsense into someone’s lasting treasure.
And when you make those first new lines, pause. Feel the moment. Perhaps that goofy doodle will say: “Keep going. Return to the artist you once were.”
:D
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To schedule a Flip Doodle Deluxe workshop or team-building event, contact me for more information!
–E
Let’s Doodle
“Doodle” is a doing word.
The Flip Doodle Deluxe adventure is just getting started. And everyone’s invited.
This is an overview of an event I was invited to participate in at Phoenix Art Museum on Sunday, June 30, 2024 – Family Funday. These events feature art activities, access to galleries, food trucks and much more.
Flip Doodle Deluxe released to the public on my website on June 25, 2024. It was the culmination of three and a half years of work from 2020–2024. I’ve written about how the project started as a way I could give back to the creative community during difficult times.
Now, Flip Doodle Deluxe is a fully developed product. And it’s not just inspiring creativity. It’s spreading smiles, conversations and a sense of togetherness. Thank you to all who attended, played along and gave me doodles.
My fave = Comet / Sheep!
Fire / Face = Web comic hero? Totally!
Thanks to my creative friend Bobby for helping me demo Flip Doodle Deluxe AND the doodles!
A spider, ant, ladybug, caterpillar and worm live on a leaf. Leaf / Bug.
Jellyfish / Drink + Cloud / School
Maybe Starfish / Island is a great place for a tiny kingdom?
Mystery / Monster + Martian / Dynamite
Don’t underestimate (y)our power
So often in our divisive world, empowerment is talked about as something we must gain through conflict. Well, sometimes empowerment is a result of creative play. I’m talking about the power to help heal, comfort and encourage others. All of us have the potential to do this. And I witnessed it at the art museum during the event. Here’s some brief examples:
A rather timid girl and her mom sit down at my table to demo Flip Doodle Deluxe (FDD). The girl immediately connects with the cards and encourages her mom to draw with her. At first, mom doesn’t want to. But as she looks through the prompts she does. They spend the next two hours at my table. We chat and laugh.
A little girl asks what Flip Doodle is all about. I explain. She seems apprehensive and insists “I can’t do it.” Her father kindly compels her to try. She sits at my table for an hour, lost in lines and having a great time. She ends up giving me three drawings.
An experienced photographer gives FDD a try. She draws. We start chatting. Over the next hour and a half we relate about creative pursuits. Doodling all the while. She encourages me to keep believing in myself. Says we need more people who create these moments for others.
A large family sits down with their one grandchild who loves to draw. For almost an hour they’re transfixed by her creations. Some of them didn’t know she could do what she’s doing. Their grand-daughter beams with pride.
At one point, a young boy and his aunt come up. I show them FDD. The boy indicates some embarrassment about drawing in front of others. In the afternoon, he’s back with the courage to draw at a table full of doodlers.
I meet a woman who’s worked as an educator for years. In her eyes I see joy, commitment and patience. She’s very complementary and speaks about the importance of humanity in creativity.
A sweet Unicorn / Bear
Mystery creature team-up
Turtle / Money
Bees in space? Uh, yeah!
Swan / Taco + Dragonfly
That cup!
Seahorse / Dragon = worked on this critter thru the day here and there
It’s all happening, now
They say we need to move on from the past few years. That we need do-overs, undos and redos. I can relate. And all of that: the soldiering on, the healing and the forgetting – it’s all happening. But there’s something else. Coping. Some of us are coping with hardships. Day after day. And may always be. But how we cope is a choice.
Do you think art can help? If so, we might as well be friends! From a young age drawing was my imaginative outlet, an escape from bullies, a skill to develop, a source of entertainment and… a potent medicine. An elixir brewed with lines, colors, shapes and stories. Through my creations I discovered my individuality, purpose and meaning.
It’s no different now.
Monsta-attack! (Thanks for scaring me Sydney)
Proud of you Livia ;D
Really cool masked Peacock by Faith
My Snail / Clown + Trout / Chocolatier, heheh
Long live King / Marshmallow!
Required reading I think
To infinity…
We don’t need roads
Flip Doodle Deluxe is the beginning of a creative voyage. And the most exciting thing is, it’s one we can take together. Through real connection. The kind not found in an app or by suffering through ads. I’ll be talking with new folks. Listening to their stories. Understanding where they’re coming from. With doodling to connect us and guide us.
When I’m drawing, I try to relax. I breathe and get comfortable. Looking down I see a plain white landscape. I imagine the possibilities and start with some lines. I might mess up. Whatever. I might change my mind. It’s ok. And somehow, I get closer to the idea of being here on this planet for a reason. A feeling I’m going somewhere.
Hey, maybe doodling is like flying. We soar across reality from a high place. With complete freedom. Down below our fears reach out, but they can’t catch us.
Ready? Let’s go!
Lily’s solution for drawing butterfly wings gives me an idea for making hands easier to draw :D!
Fluffy / Hammer by my Larissa! (<3)
Mermaid / Shell by Alonzo
I lol’d with this Tree / Robot combo by Autumn!
When a doodle makes us laugh, it’s something more than a doodle
Ooze / Blanket :P
Next stop: Phoenix Design Week – “OASIS”
The crew organizing Phoenix Design Week 2024 has invited me to present a Flip Doodle Deluxe workshop at this year’s event in October! More to come soon!
More about Flip Doodle Deluxe.
–E
PHXDW – Unite
Things to remember from Phoenix Design Week 2023!
These things happened at the Ph0enix Design Week 2023 conference. Good things. Funny things. Creative things.
I drove to the conference feeling a little anxious, also hopeful
My friend Sheila said hi to me from the stage in Whitehall, with a microphone, I waved
Melissa said some things that made me feel truly appreciated
Bob and I shared some grouch-isms, laughed and caught up
I had an idea for a game, I sat outside for a bit to write all my ideas down
Rebekah gave me a hug and expressed interest in how I’d been
I learned I’m one of Amy’s “cousins”, we all are, which is cool
Nikita said: “people desire comfort, community and connection”, it’s true
I tripped in the hallway, I looked around to see if anyone noticed
Scott reminded us of the importance of “play”, so glad to hear him reinforce this
Kaitlyn smiled and we recalled other creative events we’d been at
I reconnected with my long-time creative friend Jen, we talked about in-house design
I met Jen’s colleague Shelby, we also talked about in-house design
A museum-goer asked me what the conference was about, I felt lucky to tell ‘em
At one point, I wondered where I’d be a year from now
I heard someone say to another “I’ve missed you, it’s been so long”
My buddy Bobby and I ended up having lunch and getting cosmic about art
Garren asked “What does success mean to you?” I think about that a lot
I decided to start meeting up with others once a week to co-work
On 10/7 at approximately 10:17am while eating a snack, I felt confident
While waiting for a session to start I thought about what serving others means
Always cool Justin won a prize, sometimes I think he coulda been the fourth Beastie Boy
At lunch one day I saw a bird fly off with a potato chip
I ate a turkey wrap that had mayo in it, which for me is a big deal
Chris talked about artists making the unseen be seen, I like that idea
On the second day of the conference I gave some zines away, giving felt good
I listened to Mack and thought more about community and working with good people
Saw a shy person trying to talk to someone new, I felt compassion
I made up my mind to care less about being validated by others
Safwat’s story and art exhibit moved me to tears, two times
Fellow designer and teacher Matt said I should come chat with his students
Chad thanked me for the Daft Punk screenprint I sent him, I’m grateful for music
Julie and I encouraged each other as fellow parents
I let go of some things to make room for new things
I thought about an AR event I hosted at Phx Art Museum in 01/23 and had new ideas
Adele gave a presentation about each of us being a treasure, it helped me
Carissa’s keynote got me to sing for the first time in years
My friend Brian and I laughed, we should hang out more
I decided I still really hate mayonnaise
Kathy got emotional, then I got emotional, again (See #30)
Bob won two “Best of” awards, so deserving that guy
I saw myself in a mirror and I looked… happy
Someone said to me: “Nooo, you’re not to old for TikTok”, that was… reassuring?
I was so proud of Yuxin winning a “Best of” award, such sincerity and humility
Seandean made me feel more assured
Steffan’s work inspired me as a fellow vector artist
I made some realistic goals for 2024
One of my goals = Collaborate on three projects with local creative / agency friends
This year I missed seein’ Will and Michelle and Jon and the Monomyth team…
I left the conference feeling excited about what I learned and the possibilities
If you read this far, thanks for reading. I made this list for me. Lists tend to be useful in my world. One day I’ll look back at this post and I know it will help me!
Be well.
–E