it’s day three of C.F.B., but i have yet to speak of my first two days here. let’s just say it seems like one big blur…right before taking on this project i had been taking a three-day morning-night intensive course learning the motorcycle. as soon as that was over, i drove to chicago to firebelly to begin the camp, for a 10-day design-marathon…whew.

i’ve never stepped foot in a real design studio before, and i think i am so fortunate to have the firebelly studio as a first introduction to the chicago community of design. the walls here are covered in beautiful illustration, art work and typographic explorations. there are a few typewriters here and there, colorful furniture, functional spacial pieces. it’s something out of the helvetica documentary or something…

the staff is very welcoming, and designers to heart. as i made my first step into their studio, i was being photographed, video recorded, and stuffed with food. everyone was given a backpack full of goodies (our own airmattress!…scout patch, custom camp stickers, sketchbook, camp cookbook, fancy tshirt, flair, and various designed printouts). the first hour was awkward, but the ice breakers made me feel more at home. i felt i was surrounded by many amazing talents that i could not possibly live up to…now that i’ve been designing with my 9 teammates (dom, kyle, nick, carlos, lisa, megan, abby, jarred, sage) for the past three days, it’s become clear that it could not matter less. we all work together so well…the only disagreement thus far has been over a shade of green for a two-color zine we’re working on (more details of the zine in earlier blog posts).

the past few days has been a combination of a lot of design, inter-dispersed with surprise visits, inspirational speakers, creative pushes, and A TON of food. it seems like there isn’t a moment where i’m not stuffing my face with either a veggie/tofu omlette, a spinach wrap, hummus, pasta salad, vegan chili or some other creative concoction. unfortunately, all this interesting food (and often spicy…maybe that’s why they call themselves firebelly?) has not agreed with my digestive juices :-( however, the backbreaking amount of design work has kept my mind off of my stomach aches, thank god for that!

yesterday we payed a visit to a rather renown designer by the name of rick valicenti, owner and director of “thirst” (3rst) design. he also turned out to be a furniture enthusiast and works above a warehouse full of designer chairs and furniture that cost more than anyone would want to pay to look good sitting down. i found myself wishing i was more excited to see this man, because i felt he was indeed someone that had it all figured out. even though he’s probably over 50, this man is a child at heart, always creating and thinking differently. it’s so admirable and relieving to meet someone older who is as creative, motivated, and spontaneous as rick!

tonight we had a “final crit” in the studio, made some final decisions on our spreads, and we’ve called it a night (only 10pm!). some are reading, laying around, talking on the phone, perusing firebelly’s design library, or playing a game of guitar hero. the project launches into production tomorrow, then screen printing all day friday, and then we’re free for the night and saturday for our own adventures :-D. i’m hoping to get to know my designers outside of the studio more, and at the same time explore chicago as a designer…

i’m sitting behind a tall construction of red mattresses as i blog, and they have begun speaking to me…more to come!

A