We talked about Foursquare, of course, and Shawn observed this: Foursquare creates this hope that after checking in somewhere, one of your contacts will see your check-in and spontaneously join you, and technology will have magically expedited real social engagement. However, it very rarely happens that way. I agree; I think I’m relatively active and connected on Foursquare, but it’s not happened for me either.

The more I think about it, though, the less I see it as a failure. In fact, I see this as a valid part of their product. They create promise, and indulge my hope that such spontaneous “happenings” are both possible and desirable. In part, my use of Foursquare is a statement of belief in this promise, and this in itself is valuable.

A separate example of a product which offers “promise” as a benefit is Basecamp, I think. In my years working with clients, I don’t think I ever fully realized the promise inherent in Basecamp: that two organizations, mine and my client’s, would come together in a beautiful orgy of planning and communication. But the tool’s total indulgence of this fantasy helps bring me closer to it.

Both examples — Basecamp and Foursquare — indulge dreams, and are designed on ideals we’ll rarely achieve. I think this is not only not a failure, but a kind of success I’d like to see in every product I develop.

I know how to avoid this mistake and in a moment, so will you!

Writeboard and Basecamp are actually separate products, much as Highrise and Campfire are separate. Basecamp provides Writeboard integration, and most people I know just think of it as a Basecamp feature (which is fine).

See, this is actually a Writeboard URL, and we’re not in Basecamp right now.

If you copy-and-paste the URL from the Location: field, you’re actually capturing a link to your Writeboard account, and not your Basecamp project. That’s why 37signals provides the “Share this Writeboard” link. If you want to link to this document Basecamp-wise, you must right-click the “Share this Writeboard” link, and select “Copy this link” (on a Mac, that is). You do not want to copy the 123.writeboard.com URL.

This is oddly inscrutable for a 37signals product and I hope it gets improved someday. In the meantime, we’ll just have to suck it up and make ourselves remember to link to Writeboards the right way and not the wrong way.

Long-time client and all-around mensch Jeff Chang has relaunched Can’t Stop Won’t Stop with a new look:

http://cantstopwontstop.com

If you don’t already know, Jeff is an acclaimed hip-hop scholar and mad Twitterer — start following him now if you want to stay current on hip-hop history and activism.

The blog is a collaborative feat by Kuwayama Design, 226 Design, and the man himself. Check it out, and be all the cooler for it.

John talks a bit about Eight Bit Studios, of which I’m fortunate to be a part. I’ll post more news when it comes; in the meantime, follow Eight Bit on Twitter if you want the real skinny.

Mid-1960s
Later 1960s—Mid-1970s
Mid-1990s—2000s

There’s also a nice write-up of his Wigmore show on Joanne Mattera’s blog.

Michael Storrings

Michael Storrings is an award-winning illustrator, designer, and art director working in New York City.