Typeforce X-travaganza

Can you believe that Typeforce just turned 10 years old?! For real, if TF were a child, they’d be reading Harry Potter now. If you missed the opening, peep some pics—so many stunning, powerful, thought-provoking works. Honestly too many to list here, but here’s a taste: Linda Abdullah’s Sectioning the West Bank, Carlos Segura’s Real campaign, and Jenna Blazevich’s Immaculate Contraception.

Come see these works (and all the rest!) at the closing party on March 6. Some of the artists will even give PechaKucha-style talks on type. Until then, take a spin by Co-Prosperity Sphere for a glimpse at our window installation and Kelly Knaga’s massive painting.

Expert on Experts

A good match can be hard to find. Ask anyone who's ever played Go Fish, stumbled through Bumble or sought out an expert witness on a medical malpractice case. But at least on that last bit, The Expert Institute's got you covered. They are, well, experts in finding the needle in the haystack—when a case calls for a credible expert witness with a niche set of skills, they'll find that expert.

"But how?!" asked everyone all at once. Innovation, of course. They're disrupting old paradigms by pairing human talent with meaningful data, straddling tech and law, balancing agility with order. It's safe to say, this is going to be a cool collaboration. We're working together to refresh their identity and website, so keep your eyes open later this spring to see the fruits of our labor.

Doggos vs Puppers

Whether you’re Team Doggo or Team Pupper, we can all agree that canines are pretty much #1 (except for you cat people!). We can probably also all agree that the world can be an overwhelming place for our furry friends. If you’ve got yourself a fidgety Fido (or just love pampering your pets), check out Be Calm. Stay Calm on March 3. You’ll learn about various relaxing modalities like massage, acupuncture and essential oils, to name a few. Bonus!: You’ll help support Bialy’s Wellness Foundation, which helps families and rescues care for pets with special needs. Double bonus!: BWF-sponsored puppers and doggos will be on-site at the chill-a-thon for free cuddles.

Design for Impact

[AIRHORN] Attention agents of change! Clear your calendar for a design double-header at IIT on March 6. First up: Firebelly friend, Antionette Carroll, founder of Creative Reaction Lab, will give a lecture on new methods for equity-centered design. To sample her wisdom, give her Ted Talk a watch—guaranteed to put some wind in your sails.

Following the lecture, Fireballer Kristin Lueke will speak in a powerhouse panel discussion with Katherine Darnstadt of Latent Design (another friend and collaborator of the studio) and Chris Rudd of ChiByDesign who we are excited to befriend. Topics on the table: engaging with issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, developing a participatory process and assessing impact. [WOOT-WOOT]

March 6, 6pm
IIT, 3137 South Federal Street, 2nd floor

FRESH AT FIREBELLY

Road Work: Living and Coding in a Van

Do you secretly harbor dreams of packing it all up, hitting the road and working remotely? Our resident #vanlifer Matt Soria has been doing just that for the past year. Matt, his lady Lydia and Susanne (a converted Sprinter van) have been making their way from coast-to-coast, finding free wi-fi, pounding out code for their full-time gigs and in their downtime, channeling their inner Alex Honnold at local climbing spots.

Watching the sunrise, working in the shade of a giant redwood...sounds like a dream, right? Well, it mostly is. For this month’s Firebelly Thoughts post, Matt gives us the good, bad and (rarely) ugly of the four-wheel lifestyle in his postcard from the road.

Road Work Ahead