MISTAKES WE'VE MADE

We've never done a magazine interview before. We're usually funny, entertaining, concise, smart, and even damn erudite at times. But after we read the transcript, we were aghast to realize that we didn't sound like us at all. We were stiY, nervous, and said "um," "you know," and "like" more than any person should be allowed in one sitting. Basically, it was a disaster. We thought about blaming John Bielenberg, who interviewed us, but we knew in our hearts that he had nothing to do with the interview's shortcomings. (He also threatened legal action for character defamation if we said he was even partially at fault.)

We tested this theory on John's current Project M students. We asked them to read the original interview and they confirmed our thoughts with amazingly blunt language like. "It's a bit boring," "Seemed a bit uninspired and formulaic," "It's not very insightful," and "Will anyone really want to read this?" These kids didn't hold back. God bless 'em. They are our future after all.

We pride ourselves on embracing the many mistakes we've made since we started Volume. After all, what do you learn by being perfect? We've even delivered entire lectures about these screw-ups. So whether working on a design project or being interviewed by a magazine, potential client, or employer, learn from our mistakes. Do as we say, not as we do. (Well, in this case, don't even do what we say.)*

ABOVE: The way we work was an exhibit featuring artist collectives whose work is about facilitation of art, often involving the public in the work’s creation. Mendedesign and Volume developed a graphic “event” by encouraging the public to use the invitation/stencil to create public art on banks of posters situated around town. The two-sided poster, once folded down, also doubles as an exhibit catalog. Art directors: Brodsley, Heiman, Jeremy Mende; designers: Eddie Desouza, Heiman, Mende.

*Note to current and potential clients and collaborators: The mistakes we make rarely have anything to do with mishandling your budgets or time, nor have they ever jeopardized the quality of product we deliver.