Inspirations + Links
This webpage is a dedicated to individuals who I have been repeatedly inspired by or learned from. I have incorporated some aspect of their thought process into my own, or I strive to. There is a wide variety of reasons why I may be interested in adding someone to this page, but generally, they are related to their design practice.
There is no particular order to the inclusion of individuals on this page.
Charles Hamilton
https://enterthehamilton.blogspot.com/ Charles Hamilton is a producer, musician, rapper, multi-instrumentalist, and life-time blogger. His story is quite layered and complex. He is certainly a human who has exposed himself and experienced a wide spectrum of human emotion.
Besides the fact that he self-produced and performed one of my favorite albums (The Pink Lavalamp), I am inspired by him by his unwavering work ethic, ability to embrace new media, and consistency in self-belief. "I guess I'm destined to remain clandestine"
I would recommend his album The Pink Lavalamp, as well as Well, Isn't This Awkward.
Simplifier
https://simplifier.neocities.org/ Simplifier is the name of an anonymous research project hosted on neocities.org. Beginning as a software designer, frustrated with the impermanence of his software, Simplifer began researching hardware solutions and encountered further instability and premature obsolescence. This propelled him into his current project, which is to create a sustainable base using simplistic and abundant natural resources.
I remain inspired by his for reminding me that web design can be creative and interesting, for showing me that committed individuals are able to make great progress on difficult tasks, and for the efficacy of his abstract (theoretical) simplifications. I still think of his ideas regarding color, shape, and material while I am designing.
Luke Smith
https://lukesmith.xyz/ Luke Smith can be best characterized as a promoter of self-sufficiency. He is well-known for creating videos and articles on topics related to technological freedom, philosophy of science, linguistics, linux, Monero (secure cryptocurrency), economics, and self-sufficiency. He has an interesting academic background and a more interesting denial of it; he dropped out of his PHD program and moved to rural florida. He advocates for normalcy.
I am inspired by Luke Smith by the way that he scolds modernism, articulates himself, chooses real life over digital participation awards, lives in accordance to his values, synthesizes a seemingly disparaging variety of topics into one "philosophy", and after everything, has not become pessimistically cynical.
Paul Graham
https://paulgraham.com Paul Graham is an essayist, programmer, painter, founder of Y-Combinator, and author of a dialect of LISP.
I am inspired by the clarity and applicability of his essays. I rarely, if ever, read one of his works and feel that his thought cannot be instantly assimilated into whatever project I'm currently working on. I especially love his essay: How To Do Great Work.
His work introduced me to the concept of programming language philology, technological history, alternative points of view about entrepreneurship and capitalism, and creative methods of life design.
Sam Hyde
https://mde.tv/ Sam Hyde is a comedian, boxer, graphic designer, and video artist. He's probably best known for his controversial style of humor, but I include him on this list for the wide span of creative knowledge and I have gained from him and implemented in my personal life. You cannot argue that he has carved himself a unique path in media. My friend called him "a great utilizer of free will", and I feel that that is a great assement of his work.
For an introduction to his comedic work, I would recommend Sam Hyde's 2070 Paradigm Shift. For his graphic work, I would recommend HWD_e07_Herbal-T (GFX cut, 4K)
Kanye West
https://yeezy.com/ Ye is an controversial American artist. He is well known as a record producer, performing artist, and fashion designer. Lesser known is his interest in hardware (culminating in the Stem Player w/ Teenage Engineering),
I am inspired by his commitment to the defense of his creative output. Its not a popular choice to place Ye on this list, but when his life is over, we will see that has influenced every single medium he has been interested in
Nicholas Nasim Taleb
https://www.fooledbyrandomness.com Nicholas Nasim Taleb is a philosopher. He is best known for his unique essay series titled "Incerto" where he muses over a variety of topics related to human unintelligence and the limitations of knowledge.
NNT is the author of one of those pieces of literature that provides a perfect voice for an otherwise well-hidden aspect of my subconscious. Since I have read his works and gained a vocabulary for an otherwise silent, salient aspect of my thought process, not a single day has passed by where I have not considered the concepts of "The Black Swan", "The Turkey Problem" (the problem of induction), or "Fooled By Randomness". I also really appreciate his appreciation for literature, especially Latin and Greek texts, and the way he weaves them into his thoughts. He also talks about eating lamb a lot, I respect that. I recommend any book from the Incerto series - they can be read out of order.
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