Rear Mirror

One day, i'm on my way home from school.

As usual, i drive my car alone.

And, it is this thing, called side mirror, that i always use to look back.

What's interesting is, this:

When the first time i learn how to use it, it makes me scared.

It seems like, another car is going to crash me.

But by the time use it again and again, my attitude change.

Instead of makes me scared, it makes me more careful.

It's the same with our journey of life.

All of us have this "side mirror".

But when we look at it, our respond is either scare or become more careful.

Our past has the power to makes us feel guilty, uncomfortable, and unsecure.

And those feelings makes us like being on a treadmill.

We constantly work it, struggling, and sweating, but we are not going anywhere.

But it'll be different if we use it with different attitude.

When our attitude is become more careful, we'll go faster than before.

And those "past" thingy, won't be able to scare us.

Our attitude, determine our lattitude.

Product Design and Christianity

2 years ago, someone ask me, "what's the relationship between Product Design and Christianity?".
"i don't know", i said.

But now, i know the answer. And it's amazing how those two things related to each other. And I believe that Christianity will also related to other subjects, no matter what it is.

Genesis 1:27
"So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

Our God is a Creator God - Elohim. And so does a Product Designer, a creator.
He's just so creative that He made each of us unique - distinctive. But still, we carry His image (value). And He always put a purpose in every thing that He create. He never make something with no purpose. Even He has a purpose when He made a cockroach. :D
Anyway, that's how we, as a product designer, should design our own product - unique and has a purpose, and carry our own image.
That's why Chris Bangle said, "if you feel sexy, the car u design will be sexy".

So, the first step to be creative is to have a good self-concept.
"The self-concept is basically comprised of one's (1) self-image—how I picture or see myself, (2) self-esteem—how I feel about myself; and (3) self-worth—how much I value myself, all of which add up to one's level of self-acceptance, which is how much or how well I accept myself." (taken from: http://www.actsweb.org/articles/article.php?i=123&d=1&c=4&p=1)
If you have a bad self-concept, i suggest u read the article in that link. Coz i won't explain it in this note. Hehehe.

Ok, the next step after u have a good self-concept is find out what's valuable to you. Just like God, He value Love highly because God is love. So, when He made us, he put His value in us, LOVE. That's why all of us may want to Love and be loved.
So, what's valuable to you? Is it honesty? Faith? or what? U name it. And when you design something, put that value to your design!

Finally, here's an example how a designer put his value to his design: Jonathan Ive head of Industrial Design at Apple. He value Honesty and Simplicity.
This passion for "honest" and "simple design" that is always declared by Ive whenever he's interviewed, is at the core of Dieter Rams' 10 principles for good design:

Good Design
1.is Innovative
It does not copy existing product forms, nor does it produce any kind of novelty for the sake of it. The essence of innovation must be clearly seen in all functions of a product. The possibilities in this respect are by no means exhausted. Technological development keeps offering new chances for innovative solutions.

2. makes a product useful
A product is bought in order to be used. It must serve a defined purpose – in both primary and additional functions. The most important task of design is to optimise the utility of a product.

3. Is aesthetic
The aesthetic quality of a product – and the fascination it inspires – is an integral part of its utility. Without doubt, it is uncomfortable and tiring to have to put up with products that are confusing, that get on your nerves, that you are unable to relate to. However, it has always been a hard task to argue about aesthetic quality, for two reasons.

Firstly, it is difficult to talk about anything visual, since words have a different meaning for different people.

Secondly, aesthetic quality deals with details, subtle shades, harmony and the equilibrium of a whole variety of visual elements. A good eye is required, schooled by years and years of experience, in order to be able to draw the right conclusion.

4. Helps a product be understood
It clarifies the structure of the product. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self-explanatory and saves you the long, tedious perusal of the operating manual.

5. Is unobtrusive
Products that satisfy this criterion are tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained leaving room for the user’s self-expression.

6. Is honest
An honestly-designed product must not claim features – more innovative, more efficient, of higher value – it does not have. It must not influence or manipulate buyers and users.

7. Is durable
It is nothing trendy that might be out-of-date tomorrow. This is one of the major differences between well-designed products and trivial objects for a waste-producing society. Waste must no longer be tolerated.

8. Is consistent to the last detail
Thoroughness and accuracy of design are synonymous with the product and its functions, as seen through the eyes of the user.

9. Is concerned with environment
Design must contribute towards a stable environment and a sensible use of raw materials. This means considering not only actual pollution, but also the visual pollution and destruction of our environment.

10. Is as little design as possible
Pure and simple.

What's In Your Mind Lately?

1 Cor 2:16
"For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart."

When we're born again, Holy Spirit makes us clean inside.

1 John 3:9
"No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and [a]habitually] practices sin, for God's nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God."

When we're born again, we're litterally "pregnant" with everything that God is. When someone is pregnant, she has to believe by faith, that the baby is developing. And she'll give birth into a healthy baby.

When we capture a picture with a film camera, we can't see it until it's developed... in a dark room. But so many people give up when they're in a dark time.

What you've learned in the dark, show and tell them in the light.

Regarding our work, the things that we do, people get impressed what we do. But God doesn't impress about what we do unless the right heart attitude is attached. That's why we need to pay so much attention to our mind.

1 Cor 3:11-15
"11For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

12But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done.

14If the work which any person has built on this Foundation [any product of his efforts whatever] survives [this test], he will get his reward.

15But if any person's work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire"

God was so concerned about why we do things. Too many people do things with wrong intention, they might doing it for people pleasure. People might happy, but God isn't happy.

4 things that God teach JM when she is born again:
-Salvation
-Being filled with the holy spirit is wonderful. It's the time when we surrender all, and we realize that we need His power.
-Understand the presence of God is always with us, and to seek Him for what He is not what He can do for us.
-Learning about the important of the inner life: thought, attitudes, motives.

It's a matter of heart.

1 peter 3:3-4
"3Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] [a] interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes;

4But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God."

It's not hat we can't wear something good (jewelry, hair do, clothes). God created color so we can use it.
The "merely" means "not only" that stuff, but also the inward adorning and beauty of the heart.

Just like Maria and Martha. While Maria was listening to God, Martha was busy to make things right. The real problem was Martha wanted to impress God. Everythings just need to be right.

You can't stop the thoughts that comes to your head, but what you can do is start to focus on the right things. When you can mastered it, life is suddenly really GOOD.

Why God is so concerned about Heart?

"Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Sam 16:7)

See? Tuhan lebih melihat sesuatu yg tidak dilihat manusia.

Ibarat rumah/ bangunan, org lebih liat desain luarnya... tapi sedikit sekali org yg memperhatikan fondasi yg tidak terlihat. Desain boleh bagus, tapi klo fondasinya lemah? ya cepet roboh tuh bangunan. Kena angin sdkit lgs tinggal kenangan. Atau mungkin baru dimasukin beban2 sperti kasur, TV, sofa, dsb, lgs roboh. Hehehe.

Sama kyak hati kita, jika hati kita lemah.. akan cepet skali 'roboh' ketika kena angin, atau ketika mulai diisi dengan barang2 yg berat. Angin itu bisa berupa perkataan2 teman2 tentang diri kita, kritik2 yg menjatuhkan, atau apapun itu yg masuk lewat panca indra kita. Klo beban itu ya salib kita masing2.

So, as long as we have a content, secure and whole heart, whatever happened in our live, we'd still have faith in Him.

Apa sich content, secure and whole? Berikut penjelasannya oleh Jerry Gunawan (dikutip dari discussion board DATE Gading 5):

"Content => feeling good for who you are (nothing more and nothing less) because you know you are precious and irreplaceable in HIS eyes .......
AND ........feeling grateful for what you have because you know whatever you have and do is actually part of something big and important, which is HIS master plan for your life.

Secure => having assurance that you are being loved by HIM unconditionally without exception and the source of your self-worth is coming from HIM and HIM only, defined by HIM and HIM only .... not by what people say / do.

Berkaitan dengan 2 kata di atas, biasanya ada one more word tuch, yang in the past, I struggle a lot to understand, yaitu "whole" ... sering banget kan kita denger. Dulu gua pikir "whole" itu adalah orang yang SELALU merasa content dan SELALU merasa secure ... TIDAK PERNAH merasa down akan dirinya sendiri, ...TIDAK PERNAH merasa ketakutan dalam hidup ....

Tapi pengertian yang seperti itu malah membuat gua merasa tidak "whole" in HIM karena ... yes, in life, ada kalanya gua masi merasa tidak content dengan diri gua .....ada kalanya gua masi merasa tidak secure dengan diri gua ..... ada kalanya gua masi merasa takut dan ragu-ragu tentang hidup gua ......Apakah itu membuat gua tidak "whole" in HIM ? Itu pertanyaan yang senantiasa menghantui gua dulu .....

Tapi then HE revealed something to me :
"A whole person is NOT one who springs out of bed every morning w/ a perfect story - no fears, no tragedies, no insecurities,no self-doubt, BUT the one who has courage to overcome his fear,faith to answer his doubts & love to get him beyond his loss"

Hope it helps, guys ... content, secure, and whole :)"