Smart Design Starts and Ends with Optimism

Optimism is a misunderstood force.

People may delight in such entertainments as the FAIL Blog and the Darwin Awards, but all too often, we are doing so only because the problems in our lives pale by comparison.

This kind of relativism doesn't quite do the trick when it comes to solving problems. We're in pain. We tackle these problems alone, or with a dash of input from our friends. Through much personal struggle, we emerge from these encounters with a dash of wisdom—where we're "on the upside." We most often keep these kernels to ourselves, and share them sparingly in the digital world.