Image © Rosie Hardy.


Image via -flume.


Photo by Will Davidson via Fashion Gone Rogue.


Photo by Vilhjálmur Ingi Vilhjálmsson via My Modern Met.


Photo by Ayten Alpun via Fashion Gone Rogue.


Matej Andraž Vogrincic installation. Photo © Peter Bennetts.

 

This post was originally going to be about another super cool design-y thing, but it just didn’t ‘feel’ right. So I changed it 4 or 5 times, until I realised that design just isn’t all that important to me today and that my thoughts are simply elsewhere. Plus I never really realised how much positive energy each ‘typical’ post required of me. Instead, I will share some images which capture my current mood.

I’ve been following Twitter and watching the news far too much in the last few days, and all I can think of is the immense tragedy that is currently unfolding in Japan. My heart is breaking, and I know many of you are feeling the same way.

I’m sorry that I can’t be informative, happy or inspiring for you all today, and for making this post so self-indulgent and personal. It’s also cool if you want to tell me this:

Image via gatekeeper.


I also wanted to share further links on useful information and different ways you can help:

+ Charity Navigator’s guide to intelligent giving on things to consider before you donate.

+ Great summary on Designboom on ways to helps with donations towards supply of food, medical aid, on-ground response etc.

+ Bloesem’s round up of lovely posters you can buy which support charities.

+ “Please Help Japan” video and open letter by Tokujin Yoshioka on Dezeen.



About The Author

Founder & Editor

With a disarming blend of authority and approachability, Dana is a former refugee-turned-global design visionary. Through her multi-faceted work as a creative director, keynote speaker, editor, curator, interior designer and digital publisher, Dana empowers others to appreciate and engage with design in transformative ways, making the sometimes intimidating world of design accessible to everyone, regardless of their familiarity with the subject. Dana's been catapulted to the status of a stalwart global influencer, with recognition from industry heavyweights such as AD Germany, Vogue Living, Elle Décor Italia and Danish RUM Interiør Design, who have named as one of the Top True Global Influencers of the Design World and counted her among the most visionary female creatives on the planet. Her TEDx talk—"Design Can Change the Way You See the World"— will challenge and transform your understanding of design's omnipresent and profound influence. Through her vast experience in interiors, architecture and design, Dana challenges the prevailing rapid image culture, highlighting the importance of originality, sustainability, connecting with your values and learning to "see" design beyond the aesthetic.

16 Responses

  3. linda from OEKE

    I read your post yesterday and thought perhaps you were just busy or preoccupied. Today’s post made me realise it was neither. We all feel the sadness and fear from the Japan disaster – such huge losses. It not only jolts the earth’s core – but I guess our feeling of safety and happiness too.

    Take a break, walk in the park, get a hug.

    We can’t be there too help so sometime’s it is easier just to turn the tv off for a while. It doesn’t help them (I know) but it does help us.

    Take care (-:

    Reply
  4. Susan Rubnsky

    I think you have captured a bit of how the world is feeling right now. If not that, then at least how I too am feeling. On of your best posts ever. Soldier on.

    And may some peace be found.

    Reply
  6. Steph

    Don’t apologise and thank you for the beautiful photos. I think it is human, wonderful and also hopeful that you and many others on blogs/social networks have had this reaction. The world would be a much colder place if the tragedy in Japan did not affect us so. So my heart + thoughts go to Japan but it also makes me realise, as cliched as it may be, how lucky I am right now. xo

    Reply
  7. Heather Jenkinson

    Your post made me feel a bit better about it all, like there is a collective reaction and response and that no matter how great design is and all that, the important things in life still matter. What’s going on in Japan is just catastrophic – I don’t know what to say… Sometimes it’s best to just not say anything, for a while.

    Beautiful images, thank you.

    Reply
  8. Sofia

    Thank you for this post. I was supposed to be in Tokyo right now but was lucky enough to be able to defer my trip for now. It’s absolutely heartbreaking and surreal to watch and hear what is happening there right now, but by keeping people informed and aware of the situation maybe the world can help more than ever.

    Reply
  9. jennifer

    dana, thank you so much for this beautiful and honest post. i really resonate with your feelings and thoughts and am thankful to stumble across posts like this in my reader. i have had to step away from my normal routine of blogging just to process all that is happening. my heart has been so heavy…
    really loving the images you posted. thank you.
    j.

    Reply
  10. naoko

    Agreed. I am truly thankful that my family survived the March 11 but I’m just holding my breath with all the aftershocks and nuclear scares. It has been heartbreaking and it sometimes feels helpless, but it is good to spread the word about these organisations so that we can support in some small way. Love your posts and insights Dana, big fan. x n*

    Reply
  11. (…) « Ein Stück vom Glück

    […] wichtig sind, um neue Kraft schöpfen zu können. Steffi und Virginia von Ohhh Mhhh und Dana von Yellowtrace haben dazu sehr schöne Artikel auf ihren Blogs geschrieben. Dort findet Ihr auch weitere Links. […]

    Reply
  12. Oliver @ Sabi Style

    “The winds that blows –
    ask them, which leaf on the tree
    will be next to go.”
    By Kyoshi Takahama

    They say that to be a great designer you must first be able to see and feel with honesty and an openness. It is easy to put on a smile. Pretend that all is happy. But the reality is that as a designer you work with opposites. With no black how can we know the intensity of the white or the shade of grey? How can you create harmony if you only look at the positive space and ignore the negative space?

    I find your honesty inspiring.

    Reply

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