Five Reasons to Adopt a Pet

Posted by in Matters To Us on June 14th, 2013

For the past couple months I have been on the hunt for the perfect roommate and addition to my one bedroom apartment– a furry feline friend. Week after week I would peruse petfinder.com and surrounding animal shelters looking for a companion. Finally, this past weekend I stumbled into a petsmart where they had several rescue cats available for adoption– one in particular named Dallas.
Dallas certainly wasn’t the loudest or most outgoing cat in the bunch. As other cats begged for my attention, meowing, rubbing up against their cages, and pawing at my leg, Dallas lay curled up in the corner of his cage looking up at me with his big eyes. He was a timid, 2 year old, maine coon cat. I called his name in attempt to get him to come over so I could pet him, but no such luck. I grabbed a toy from one cage over to see if that would entice him to coming over. His eyes widened and looked excited to play, but still too unsure. I left petsmart and went to a few other shelters, and despite the abundance of energetic cats ready to put on a show for the next person to come by, I couldn’t stop thinking about the shy kitty from before. After a much deliberation, I went back to the store and adopted Dallas the next day.

The Irrelevance of On-Time Arrival and Dan Pallota’s Ted Talk

Posted by in Matters To Us on May 31st, 2013

Performance metrics are an interesting science. In seemingly all work, there are a few select metrics that industries cater to, with the full knowledge that they don’t adequately address what they seek to measure (think of teacher ratings based on students’ learning). I came across this article the other day and was legitimately surprised that airlines still take pride in their on-time arrival rate. I guess I shouldn’t have been. As a frequent flyer I’ve come to expect something even better than on-time arrivals – early arrivals. Yes, airlines are so efficient and effective that they are arriving better than on-time now…they arrive early! Read the rest of the entry >

It’s Time to Update Wrigley Field

Posted by in Random on May 24th, 2013

I think one of mankind’s most defining characteristics is our affinity for nostalgia. We tend to look back just as much as we look forward. We tell stories of days gone by and rifle through boxes of photographs – diligently captured moments for us more visually inclined types. We document and protect with the hope of preserving what is great about the moment at hand and the story it makes.

While enjoyable, this tendency has the potential for trouble. The potential to keep us from growing, to hinder our exploration, to mire us in the messiness of the past, and to keep us from ever winning another World Series.

Read the rest of the entry >

First Love

Posted by in Featured, Inside Rule29 on May 17th, 2013

Many of us fell in love with paper at a very young age.

The infinite combinations of textures and colors combined with that fresh pulpy smell has conjured up many a glorious mountain of ideas that would eventually get each of us lost in a seas of paper. While our complimenting materials would vary; colored pencils, paint, pastels, pen and ink, scissors, glitter; it always began with the paper. The unending stream of projects those beautiful fibers inspired filled our parents’ homes, our bedroom walls, and inspired many a career where paper and its wonder could be present everyday.

It’s this kind of childhood wonder Neenah Paper has always conjured up for us. Getting new sample books and promotions always carries a little bit of magic with it, sparking ideas of what could be. So when we received an invitation to be transported back to this place of wonder and inspiration with a trip to the Neenah Paper Mill, we jumped at it. Read the rest of the entry >

Value of an Internship

The Value of an Internship

Posted by in Inside Rule29 on April 30th, 2013

As my year-long internship at R29 comes to a close, I realize how lucky I really am. Few people get to experience Rule29 in such an intimate way that I did on a day-to-day basis. I got schooled in mathematical layouts, juggled multiple projects, learned how to communicate with printers, worked with developers, upped my production chops, and refined my type skills.

I knew starting here that some things in school cannot be taught and could only be experienced, but some things can only be learned at R29:

- Carrying 7 coffees at once is truly an art form
- Frozen lakes are best for practicing your golf swing
- Tacos are an essential key to creativity
- Coloring books and crayons make production meetings awesome
- Pumpkin smashing is the new carving
Dual Shake Weights are easiest when doing deep squats
- Biscuits, honey butter, and blackberry jam taste best at 8am
- Healthy work culture breeds creativity

If you’re still in school or just getting out, an internship will help you grow and better prepare yourself to make the plunge into the working world. Thanks R29 for showing me how to Make Creative Matter®!