The Beast Sleeps

Posted on Mar 25, 2013 in Inspiration, Observations, Photography

LogoSleepingonDog'sBed#1

This is my cat, Logo. He’s a 15 pound yellow tabby with a big heart that matches his appetite. I feed him three times a day, (small meals of course) otherwise he gets grouchy and starts to nibble on my legs or worse, attack his much smaller female feline. In a nutshell, that’s Logo. His sweetness is directly related to the amount of food in his belly.

One afternoon, I found Logo asleep in my dog’s bed. Yes, this is my dog’s bed. My dog, Akira, is a 75 pound boxer-pit mix, and while she may look intimidating, she wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone a cat who has taken over her bed.

Either way, all I could do was admire the exquisite scene which serendipitously formed out of the ether. The light was just right, giving Logo’s fur an iridescent glow against the simple plaid pattern of the sheets, and he was still, so very still.

What I found most unique about this moment however, was the amazing form Logo’s body just happened to create. Legs folded into and against arms. Feet, hands and paws all coming together into a perfect dance of lines, repetition and variety. Maybe it’s just the designer in me, but I found this to be utterly irresistible. I couldn’t have done it better if I tried.

I allowed myself to admire the beauty of this moment for several minutes before thinking to grab my camera, and as I look back on this image a question comes to mind.

How much is the creation of good design dependent on simply allowing ourselves to see? In our fast-paced, pressure-filled world of deadlines and clients, it’s very easy to seek isolation and look inwardly for inspiration.

But as designers, we must remember, our job is to remain receptive, to see the world differently, to notice what others won’t and to revel in the no-man’s-land of ideas and beauty.

For this may very well merely be a picture of another sleeping cat, but I SEE so much more.