UP FRONT

By Richard Mandel
Editor in Chief

Becalming Down

This month’s editorial is brought to you by the mind-state of Hawaii. Not a delusion brought on by the consumption of fermented pineapple juice — I’m writing in morning light on the lanai of a bed & breakfast in Kona, on the Big Island. Sunlight is warming the tops of the palms, exotic birds call to each other, bright green geckos are capering up and down tree trunks, and laughter accompanied by muted words can be heard from people carpé-ing another diem in paradise. Soft breathing slowly cycles from the missus, as she attempts to reset her internal clock to the six hours’ difference separating Hawaii from Ohio.

I am filled with anxiety.

It was a few months ago that the missus observed, “It is our 25th anniversary this year — we should go away somewhere.” To which I squared my Lord-of-the-Manor shoulders and replied, “Uh-huh. Where do you propose we go?” She answered, “Let’s go to Hawaii…it’s exotic and we won’t have anyone we’ll feel obliged to visit, there.” “OK,” said I. Then I panicked.

See, I’ve never been anywhere that I wasn’t either with family or business contacts. Just what was I to do for an entire week in a place where I didn’t have meetings, lunches or dinners arranged? Thinking quickly, I fired off a quick e-note to our West Coast sales rep, whose territory would include The Islands. “Do we have any companies I might go see in Hawaii?” I inquired. His reply was brief — “Make some up,” meaning I should plant a flag of business here, so he would have a reason to come over that could be written off on a chit.

I consider myself a most lucky fella — by the grace of circumstances, I get to write about really cool stuff on a monthly basis. Creating each issue of this magazine, I imagine, is about as neat as designing advanced auto interiors, new surgical tools, or the latest micro-electronics. I get to research, talk to interesting people, work with a development team and, ultimately, see a product roll out to a unique demographic. Every issue of Designfax is designed — and to spend a week away from that kind of dynamic, to actually sit around on a beach catching up with a good book (I’m re-visiting a favorite: Matt Ruff’s Sewer, Gas and Electric), seems to somehow beg a polite request for two large, burley gents in white coats to fit me into a coat with unusually long sleeves. The kind that cross in the back.

At least I brought the laptop, an act that, when first announced to my wife, caused her to pull her lips back so far from her teeth that I could see the plateaus of gum structure that exist behind the her rearmost molars. In 25 years of marriage, one learns to recognize this danger signal…

So, in the spirit of the late George Plimpton, I bravely intend, during my stay here, to observe any opportunities I might and report such back to you, in a future issue. I might investigate the design of the machines used in the processing of macadamia nuts — I’m given to understand that the shells are mighty tough to crack. The Ironman Triathalon takes place at the end of the week — maybe there’s something new in racing gear that would prove interesting. (Note to self: Leave Kona before the ritual “Running Out of the Flabby Cubicle Jockey.”) Snorkeling could lead to articles like, “Facemasks, Neoprene Gaskets and the Modern Moustache — A Personal Test.” Or I may try to locate the company that manufactures the little paper umbrellas embellishing the local fruit-and-alcohol libations, and see what design software they use. This particular research may take some time, but I shall soldier on for the cause. Nothing is too good for our readers.

One additional note: starting soon, we will be adding a new feature to our website. On the home page you will find a linking point labeled “Whitepapers and Tutorials,” where we will occasionally post such documents that we feel are important to the design community. Some have already run in the pages of this magazine, others will be new presentations for you. By continuing to use our website as an extension off our printed page, we are excited about how we serve our readership. Perhaps we should take a quiet, relaxing vacation.