04.08.2009

'Spring'-ing into Action

Spring is finally here, thank goodness!  Birds are singing, the sun is shining, baseball season is getting into full swing, and MCA has a couple of 'new additions' to announce, as well.  I'm very proud to say that we have officially joined the Web 2.0 revolution, with new profiles on Facebook and Twitter.  We would love to have you as a fan; visit our profile on Facebook here or follow us on Twitter here. 

 

03.11.2009

Good Reads

In tough economic times, it is a great opportunity to pick up the pace on learning, reading and growing. Here are some books and articles that have recently struck a chord with me and have given me insight on how our industry can adapt to the cultural shifts the recession is causing.

For a look in the rear-view mirror and some good laughs, revisit David Brooks’ Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There, an excellent perspective on the buying behavior trends of the last decade.

Also, Brooks’ recent International Herald Tribune article “The Formerly Middle Class” offers a sobering reexamination of how the recession affects our social structure. “Over the past decade, millions of Americans have had unprecedented access to affordable luxuries,” Brooks writes. “These indulgences were signs of upward mobility. But those affordable luxuries will no longer be so affordable. Suddenly, the door to the land of the upscale will shut for millions of Americans.”

Changes in our society also provide context for The Great Good Places by Ray Oldenburg, which is a very insightful read for those who are building, developing and designing communities and the amenity facilities that support them. The book is about the significance of the “Third Place,” which refers to the place or places people go when you are not at home or work. Oldenburg explores the importance of these spaces in our lives and communities, and writes: “The ‘third place’ is a place where people can gather, put aside the concerns of work and home, and hang out simply for the pleasures of good company and lively conversation.”

And finally, The New York Times Jan. 3, 2009 Week in Review article “Design Loves a Depression,” about how the quality of design thrives during a downturn, should be an inspiration to us all.