I’m aware that it’s some sort of a commercially driven love day today. What is it again? Oh yes, Valentines Day. That old drag. As you might be able to tell, I’m not so much into the old VD, never have been and quite frankly never will be. It’s not that I’m anti-love, I’m just from that funny old school of thought that thinks that if you love someone, you should show them and tell them every day, not just once a year. It’s the small things that count, you see.
However.
I understand that for some it is a day of breathless anticipation, exquisite highs and lows and secret admirers (when asked by Mr. B what we should do for Valentine’s, I think my response of nothing I don’t really care was taken with surprise and furtive delight, he did think it was a trick though. I assure you it’s not!)
Anyway. For today’s Design Detail I’ve put together a few images on a mood board that I think are without too much schmaltz. I invite you to think outside of the Hallmark card box and show your loved one how much you care in a personal way.
{visuals via tumblr}
If you are searching for something more this Valentine’s Day, consider the movement Generosity Day, started last year by the incredible Acumen Fund. They are championing to make Valentine’s Day “about more than flowers, chocolates and romantic dinners, [and] to reconnect it to generosity for all”.
What does participating in Generosity Day mean? Here are some ideas (the crazier it seems, the more genuinely generous it is! Even just doing one thing is amazing):
Leave a £5 tip on a £2 cup of coffee.
Sign-up for a volunteer activity in your community.
Go out of your way to do something nice for a friend, family member, or colleague.
Introduce yourself to someone you see everday but have never spoken to.
Take a £7 taxi ride, give the driver a £20, and say “keep the change.”
Pledge to spend at least an hour helping someone with something you’re really good at.
Make an unplanned donation to your favorite charity, or help someone in need.
Here at The Design Emporium, we are focused on the role of accountability in business, design, and philanthropy. And whilst we strive every day to be accountable to our precious design partners and the special TDE members they serve, we always remind ourselves why we are doing this work in the first place. Our purpose and motivation stem from a place of generosity, to share the best of all we know. Whilst seemingly unrelated to design, the balance of these core values of generosity and accountability make part of the foundation of what we are striving to do.
Posted on February 14th, 2012
