“Boredom is the brain casting about  for new information. It is the feeling we get when there are no more patterns to observe.” Raph Koster, A Theory of Fun

So if you’re bored look for some new patterns — in other words, go learn something.

Many products,toys and apps have tried to solve the boredom issue by surface level entertainment. This method is short lived and in the bigger scope of things ineffective. Why? At the end of the day the pattern to solve was so simplistic that we master it to quickly and in turn become bored once again.

Solution. Look for a more difficult problem to solve. A few suggestions: world peace, cure for cancer, cheap renewable energy — perhaps too difficult — there is always sudoku and cross word puzzles.

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This might be more of a rant — Somebody help me out.

More and more smartphones with QWERTY keyboards, whether physical or digital, and they are great for rapid texting and for short novels.

I don’t think Major companies have truly grasped this. Why? You ask.

Simple. A company tells me their number is 1 800 TW CABLE. Most people would think that this ploy is clever and easy to remember.

If you have a smartphone of any kind this number can come across like a big F.U. because I don’t know what TWCABLE translates to. You might as well just tell me you don’t want me to call.

This is a fundamental case of a company so rooted in the way things were that they have not grasped that what was once helpful, even clever, can now be a nuisance.

Let us know if you have had this experience with other Phone Number designs.

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Do you drink several cups of coffee before the day even starts? If you do then I would recommend the art of Java Control — strengthening the kick in your brew.

The trick? Pack it in. Simple. Amazing results.

In a nutshell, the more you pack it in the longer it takes for the water to pass through the dark stuff the more dark stuff that makes it to the brew the stronger the kick.

Try it out. You’ll be glad you did!

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To drink or not to drink? That is the question.

The number one item people spend money on is coffee. Coffee is one of the worlds most lucrative industries, but what does it do? How does it work? Should you drink coffee at work? Let’s start by examining what coffee is and how it works.

Coffee’s main ingredient is caffeine; with out it coffee would be useless. So to understand coffee we must first understand caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that speeds the actions of your brain allowing it to work at a faster pace. The main benefit its that you become more alert increasing your attention span.

It does this by taking the place of adenosine and binding with receptors in your brain and constricting your blood vessels.  Nerve endings cannot distinguish between adenosine and caffeine making it very easy for caffeine to bind to them.  When this happens, the activity in your brain(neuron firing) is so fast that your body automatically assumes that you are in some type of activity or emergency. Your body then releases adrenaline, your “fight or flight” hormone, and that’s what gives you that boost in energy.

That in mind, is it a good thing to drink coffee and work? There are conflicting arguments on both sides.

Some pro coffee arguments say that it helps productivity, boosts employee moral, and allows prolonged periods of focus.

Some of the anti coffee arguments say that when caffeine takes the place of adenosine it affects your sleep. Your body will still be working while you are sleeping not allowing it to fully gain the effects of sleep. Coffee is also very acidic and that opens you up for more disease. Prolonged use of coffee also exhausts your adrenal glands.

Ultimately it comes down to what you want, and what is important to you! I know that I will be drinking my cup of java in the morning before a Vujá Dé meeting, but not before bed!

Email me at: james@vujadestudios.com and let me know what you think!

Reference - How Stuff Works

J

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It seems more and more that inspiration is coming from past iterations of design. From fashion (shoulder pads are back) to products (KitchenAid mixers are a great example) to furniture (Kartell has a selection of retro clear plastic seats and tables) to automobiles (Challenger, Mustang, Mini to name a few). 

This seems to be a trend that supersedes design and has ventured into entertainment, film making, food, and even lifestyle.

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Suit up for work! The Essential ergo-gear for any work place.

Oh, and don’t forget to dance.

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Simple guidlines on how to enjoy working in front of a computer all day.

Don’t forget to dance!

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infographic office ergonomics illustration dance