If you’re looking at The Big Word project, you’ll see us. Thanks to Josh Silverman, citizenscholar.com is “the new definition” of citizen. We like that.

Check out The Big Word Project.

We’re officially through one month of 2008. To say that it passed at lightening speed still doesn’t seem to explain the flash of time that’s just passed.

After reviewing our goals for the year, I decided it might be fun (and motivating) to publish some of them. Thus, we’ve created this list:

10 Things Citizen Scholar Will Do In 2008

• Make available to others the custom software we use internally.
• Design and perform a designed performance.
• Design something edible.
• Release and distribute a line of products.
• Re-introduce ourselves.
• Re-visit the art of concert poster design.
• Self-publish a diminutive printed artifact.
• Travel abroad.
• Work with a biologist.

• All be photographed together.

Zachary Moldof will present a paper/hold a workshop at the International Symposium on the Arts in Society at New York Univeristy, February 23-25, 2007. As stated in the abstract, Zachary will “demonstrate how even the most meaning-laden of music can become referentless” thus minimizing our musical attempt to communicate into the science of sound.

On Saturday, November 18th, we’ll be attending the Global Visionaries Symposium at the MCA Chicago. The one-day conference will include presentations by such landmark cultural contributors as Stewart Brand (author of the Whole Earth Catalog), Jimmy Wales (founder of Wikipedia), and Dayna Baumeister (co-founder of the Biomimicry Guild) among several others.

Just around down the street we’ll get our first chance to see the Massive Change exhibit in person.

This is a happy and honored announcement that we’ve recently been working with Do Something, an New York City-based NPO focused on engaging and encouraging youth to address social issues. As they explain, “We believe young people have the power to make a difference. It is our aim to inspire, support and celebrate a generation of do-ers: people who see the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action.”

I recently interviewed the charming duo of Friends With You. Smile away over at Speak Up.

Freelancers Union, the non-profit collective on independent workers united for mutual support and advocacy, have published their 2006 report: New Unionism & the Next Social Safety Net.

In the world of design, many people are self-employed or work under medium-to-long-term freelance contracts. In the New York City area, Freelancers Union has built a community allowing these workers access to group healthcare plans and professional resources.

This Friday is the opening reception for a collection of illustrations created by Zachary Granger Moldof at the AiAi gasa gallery in Brooklyn, NY. It would be lovely to see you there.

Friday, October 27th from 7-9pm
at AiAi gasa
274 5th Avenue in Brooklyn

One of the first projects I designed when Citizen Scholar had just begun was a character for the Fleurons of Hope typeface that was to be included in Building Letters Three. This issue building letters was to benefit those affected by the December 2004 Asian Tsunami.

I’m happy to say that Building Letters Three is now available. All the details are available over at buildingletters.org.
Run don’t walk, this issue includes 25 free fonts.

Our friend, photographer Luke Wolagiewicz, was in New York for a few days before taking of for seven weeks in South Africa. While there, he’s researching and shooting Ponte City, an anomale of a high rise in Johannesburg. Ponte was a desirable luxury apartment building, the tallest in Africa in fact, but since the middle-class dispersion into the suburbs since the fall of the Apartheid, rampant crime in the area has turned the building’s dream reality on its head. This article covers some of the eerieness.

Luke sent some amazing images, but I can’t share them yet. They’ll be available in some upcoming articles.

Stay safe Luke.