⚡️ By Kevin Huynh ⚡️
B&W Disposable 001
June 8th, 2018
I’ve come to believe that a camera’s form affects where you take it which affects what you capture. Hence, disposables are great for who-knows-where-we’ll-end-up adventures.
Here are favorite snaps from playing around with an Ilford XP2 black and white disposable. Mostly in Coney Island.
Use Your Hands
June 7th, 2018
Stepping away from the screen.
Austin’s no-frills language on the creative process is liberating. Simple phrases, straight-forward advice. I’ve read the book a dozen times. It quiets my impostor syndrome. It gets me excited to make stuff.
Here’s one of my favorite quotes from Step 4: “Use Your Hands.” This analog-digital-analog-digital multi-decker sandwich pops into my brain almost every day I tackle a creative task.
Once you start getting your ideas, then you can move over to your digital station and use the computer to help you execute and publish them. When you start to lose steam, head back to the analog station and play.
The Joys of Roller Coaster Tycoon
June 6th, 2018
My current park in RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch. Ah, nostalgia.
By 5:15am I had downloaded RollerCoaster Tycoon (Touch) onto my phone. And by the time Yoko woke up, I was deep into arranging the two dozen rides and restaurants in my virtual amusement park.
The first RollerCoaster Tycoon was released for Windows in 1999. I remember passing the mouse back and forth with childhood friends as we took turns building and managing the amusement park.
I sank hours designing custom coasters, carefully laying out ride queues, and strategically placing janitor stations to optimize for path cleaning.
Recently over drinks, my friend Greg told me about how much he enjoys ironing. It’s his wind down activity. It’s sacred. It satisfies some part of him.
Something similar holds true with RCT for me. Sure, it’s an iPhone game carefully designed to reward me with coins and new attractions, but there’s something about the act of building the park. Expanding, designing, and maintaining this simple operation feeds a certain weird part of my wiring.
It’s an easily optimized, anxiety free business venture. I turn knobs, correct small mistakes, and get to focus on building an epic place for people to interact with.
Sure, it’s just a game. But I think RCT scratches at a real itch. A personal itch to build stuff, organize it, and continuously improve it.
The Start of a Secret Handshake
February 24th, 2018
For the first year of People & Company, Bailey, Elmer and I operated as a remote team. In case you were wondering, the sweet spot for a call between Los Angeles, New York City, and Singapore is either 3p PT/6p ET/7am SGT or 7am PT/10am ET/11p SGT.
This year, Bailey moved to New York. And now two legs of our trio stand on Brooklyn soil. We made remote work work for us last year—Slack call stand ups, plenty of travel.
But when you’re in-person you get in-between moments. I really like the in-between.
One output of this in-between is the steady progression of People & Company’s secret handshake. 👋
Kevin Starter Pack
February 22nd, 2018
Kevin’s starter pack by my partner, Yoko
To honor this thoughtful, romantic portrayal of me, here are annotations to provide additional context.
- Sticky Notes
You know, a standard, designy, “look I do creative work” tool. Super Sticky is well worth the extra price. I also use one as a bookmark. - Sony a6500
New camera. First one I’ve owned with interchangeable lenses. Big time! I shot our Iceland video with it. Much more to learn. I still take all photos in “Auto” mode. - Slim Fit Astronaut Hoodie
I currently have two styles that guide my daily wardrobe. This one is called “Slim Fit Astronaut” (an original phrase). That Uniqlo hoodie has served me well. Fun fact: my brother and I purchased the exact same sweatshirt independently. This winter, I’ve enjoyed wearing a second sweater underneath. Some days I’m slim fit up top with FIVE layers. 😀
Slim Fit Astro-bros
- Fly Boy Scout Oxford Cloth Button Down
Style two is “Fly Boyscout.” I found this shirt in Tokyo at a rad store called Graniph. It has patches. Makes me feel like I’ll bolt on a stylish outdoor adventure at any moment. - My Apple TV “Purchased Movies” Selection
I watch the same movies over and over again. For instance, I’ve probably watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty over 100 times. Not straight through, full attention, but it’s like a calming soundtrack for my living room. Can you guess the movies pictured?
Answers: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, The Martian, 500 Days of Summer, Inception, Ninja Assassin, Edge of Tomorrow (Live Die Repeat)
I love movies.
- Patagonia Black Hole Backpack (35L)
I bought this for my travels in 2015. It held everything I needed for three months backpacking. Now I wear it almost every day. I guess it’s another spontaneous adventure accessory. Hm…
Current pins include: Movement Lifestyle, PMP (Project Management Professional) — I passed the test last year!, Mola Mola Fan Club, Hurley Surf Club, Iceland, Cal (Go Bears!), 143. - Shaved Ice
I’ve come to embrace my love for the shaved ices of the world. Kakigōri, Patbingsu, Ice Kachang, Halo-halo, Hawaiian Shave Ice. I’d like to eat them all.
- Steal Like an Artist
By Austin Kleon. Bailey highly recommended I read it. Then, I read it. And now I’ve read it dozens of times. Hm… sensing some patterns. - Over Easy Flat Brim
It’s a cool hat Yoko and I made. - 66° North Iceland Beanie
The “emergency beanie” is one my key strategies for navigating Winter in New York. If I want to keep my hair fresh on the way out but know the cold will become unbearable late at night, I stash a beanie in my back pocket. When it’s cold, the ears are the first to go. - Homecooked Leftovers for Lunch
I’ve lost ~20lb since my first year in NYC. The first 10lb I attribute to cooking more of my own food. The second 10lb by eating more vegetables. Tupperware life is for me. This meal is probably rice, a meat/bean mixture, and a pile of pre-dressed salad. Carefully extracted and partially warmed before eating. - Lonely Meatball
Poor guy.
Holding Hobbies Close
January 31st, 2018
As kids, my brother and I made music videos. Picture two Vietnamese boys with plastic shades lip syncing Motownphilly by Boyz II Men in our bedroom. 😎😎
I eventually dropped the hobby of making home movies but years later the motivation to pick up a camera came back. From watching my college roommate, Justin, edit clips of our shenanigans to meeting filmmakers like Jacob and David, I slowly felt the itch to experiment again with video.
On a Tuesday night in 2013, something amazing happened. At a Shutterstock event, Yoko entered a napkin doodle contest and her entry of a panda double fisting sandwiches won the night. The prize? A GoPro Hero 3. I immediately adopted her victory as my own and started recording our weekend adventures. I’ve been editing videos ever since.
In Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon says:
“A hobby is something that gives but doesn’t take.”
Making movies is my hobby. It’s my space to turn off some of the process, logic, and optimization and turn up the joy of taking time to craft something special. It’s amateur hour. It’s play. It’s an investment in my imagination.
I’ve come to appreciate that itch more and more. Wherever it comes from, that inkling to try something new is sacred. Genuine curiosity is my precious resource. My job is to cherish, protect, and cultivate it.
On Sunday, I finished a video I shot in Iceland. Yoko and I camper vanned the southern coast last year marveling at waterfalls, chasing cats, and generally being goofballs.
I’m proud of the final cut. It’s fun to watch and remember. But most of all, I’m glad I’ve held this hobby close. ✨
What I’m up to—meet “People & Company”
July 5th, 2017
Kevin, Bailey, and Elmer of People & Company
Here’s the most important thing I’ve learned from my work:
If you give humans the right sandbox to play in, they can make things they didn’t know they were capable of.
A careful combination of resources and constraints can empower a community to leave a remarkable impact on the world. This idea of building sandboxes—enabling passionate people—is both the work I love and what I’m good at.
Hence last fall, with Bailey and Kai, I started People & Company: a community design practice.
Who are and how did I meet my partners?
Me with Bailey and Kai shortly after I almost died during hot yoga. All photos by Kai.
I met Bailey during her time at IDEO. Common friends demanded that we meet. She was early at Instagram and also worked with organizations like StoryCorps and Pop-Up Magazine. She’s seen first-hand how a sense of ownership can propel a rapidly growing community.
Bailey introed me to Kai who was early on Facebook’s growth team, launched Instagram’s ad business in Asia, and helped expand eBay by designing programs for sellers. He’s witnessed how loyal audiences often drive the most meaningful growth for companies.
Beyond the résumé, Bailey and Kai are good eggs, avid surfers (they’re teaching me!) and different brains on a common mission: to help others embrace the value of putting people at the center of what they do.
At People & Company, we help communities.
Me, ready to eat post-its.
We help communities grow. We help them thrive. We help them evolve. We design programs and processes that help groups of people come together to do meaningful, ambitious things.
Our process involves listening to both what people say and what the data says they do. In summary:
We help people-centered orgs go deeper with their people.
Our clients vary in size and industry, online and offline, but they all depend on a particular group of humans. Some of our work includes:
- Expanding a global marketplace by better educating their best sellers.
- Helping a fast-growing VC empower their biggest advocates to tell their story.
- Designing new roles for an education non-profit’s most die-hard volunteers.
Kai and Bailey looking casually hip, staring into your soul.
I’d love your help!
Thanks for getting this far. If you’re keen to support my work at People & Company, here’s the low-down.
New biz: If you know an organization with a wicked challenge and a rabid community (users, fans, advocates, you name it…) we’d love to discover how we might help. Find me at kevin@people-and.com. We’ll all be in NYC next week (7/10-7/15)!
Research: We’ve also been conducting our own research into how people make each other better. Check out our first interviews:
- How Shaun Evaristo of Movement Lifestyle designs dance classes that bring the best out of people
- The experience of Mia Quagliarello, YouTube’s first community manager
- Lessons from David Noël, SoundCloud’s first community manager
- How Gary Chou pushes students to launch $1000 original ideas [Coming Soon]
Stay in the loop: For once-in-a-blue-moon announcements about new projects and resources sign up for the People & Company email list!
If you have any questions/comments/feedback/ideas or anything else to share, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you thank you thank you for listening,
Kevin
