Jeff’’s biggest and most exciting project to date has officially been released. Booooooom readers from around the world will be producing a Choir of Young Believers music video– all entries and participants are welcome! Visit the link below for more information; I’m so thrilled by the marriage of art/visual productions/music. Go, Jeff!

[Have you seen my collaboration with Jeff? Check our the Free Encouragement postcards right here.]

Link:  BOOOOOOOM!

So. It’s official. The postcard designs from the first Booooooom/Design for Mankind collaboration have arrived, and they are GORGEOUS. I’m in mad love and plan to buy up most of these myself, but for those of you who want a piece of the action, visit our Etsy shoppe to purchase either set.

Special thanks to our awesome artists— be sure to look them up! They’re goodies.

Missed the story behind it all? Or the catalyst that began the project?
p.s. As one project ends, another begins… tomorrow is a BIG, BIG day.

Link:  :: freeencouragement ::.

Oh gracious– I am quite embarrassed, but I just realized today was President’s Day, so since everyone else is taking the day off, I am, too! Yay, Presidents!

BUT… before I go, I have some big news. The Free Encouragement project is in its final phase and we have chosen our designs! What this means for you is that two very beautiful postcard sets will be available for sale right here in a week or so. I’ll keep you posted [literally], but in the mean time, here’s a teaser of one of my favorite designs that didn’t make the cut, but that I LOVED…

All thanks to our 400+ entries! What a tough decision this was!

Eek! The deadline for the Free Encouragement project is fast approaching– you have until Feb 1st to send in your 300dpi artwork of your favorite encouraging phrase from Part 1.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, click the link. ;)

Link: It’s Project Time! | Design For Mankind.

10. Submissions are pouring in for Free Encouragement! Deadline is Feb 1st. :)
9. Could Sophie Meier be any cooler? Never!
8. My first co-curated gallery opening! Eek! Thanks, Tinlark!
7. Christina Entcheva at Alfa Art Gallery in February!
6. A sweet interview with me at No Good For Me– I’m an otter!
5. Postcups for V Day? Genius.
4. A bit of sad news. Let’s let Jen know how much we’ll miss her.
3. A big, big, twiggin sale.
2. Art for peace and peace for art. Proceeds donated toward PEACE in Mexico.
1. Calling just a few more cover girls! Email me. ;)

A new year brings both beginnings and endings, and today marks both for 2009! The official ending of Part One of my project with Boooooooom has come and gone, and now— Part Two begins!

For those of you who hibernated the ‘08 winter away, click here to see Part One of our super-awesome collaboration. You’ve missed quite a lot of awesomeness, but don’t worry— much, much more is in store for you!

You want to know more? Really? Here goes…

Part Two is where all of you, my dear artistic readers, come in. You know all of these messages of encouragement floating about [you should--- there are over 400!]? Pick one [yes, you!]. It doesn’t have to be your own message. Pick anyone’s message. And draw it. Paint it. Collage it. Art it. Do it. Whatever you do, however you do, just do. And you have thirty days to “do.” And then?

Then you send it to me at erin[AT]designformankind[DOT]com with the subject line “Free Encouragement.” Your entry [4x6 dimensions, please!] will be sifted through and loved and canoodled and may possibly be chosen to be part of a VERY special and inspiring postcard pack for you to send MORE encouragement into the world. See how it works? It’s one big food chain of niceness!

Be very excited. And get to work. Don’t worry if you choose the same message as others— there are plenty to go around, and duplicates are just fine! The more, the merrier. Comment below to declare your participation, tell your friends, and go forth— be inspired!

Remember: deadline is FEBRUARY 1ST. Don’t be late. ;)
[special thanks to Jeff at Boooooooom, who is basically the BEST collabo partner EVER!]

“One of the components of Booooooom.com that Hamada credits with much of its success is… Free Encouragement [where] participants were instructed to submit a message of encouragement written for a specific real-life friend… with the help of fellow blogger Erin Loechner of Designformankind.com.” //

National Post, 2010

Submissions are continuing to pour in for my project with Booooooom! I’m so thrilled you all are loving it as much as we do, and check back soon after the holidays for part two of the project!

You’re going to LOVE it.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! See you MONDAY!

Link:  BOOOOOOOM!

I would buy this piece, but believe me— my dogs need no encouragement in this department.

Link: Etsy :: jikits

It’s a good day in the land of Design for Mankind. If you’ve been reading this site for more than two days, you’ll know I have a pretty stark aversion to discouragement. It’s mean, it smells and it makes you look fat. So, you can imagine my excitement with the AWESOME Jeff Hamada from Boooooooom! emailed me to brainstorm a potential collaboration. He became my instant hero when he suggested we do something that will filter out all of the gross negativity and bring something shiny to the table.

Thus, we introduce: Free Encouragement, an untitled [for now] project for EVERYONE! Details are over on Jeff’s site, as I won’t be taking over until the second half, where the project takes a fun and unexpected turn in December. Get excited—- this is going to be the BEST project of ‘08.

Well, one of them at least. ;)

Link:  Project #5–Instructions