I’ve been on Google+ for exactly one week and have logged some pretty serious hours learning and experimenting so that you don’t have to. While the platform is still in BETA and is fairly simple in scope, the more I got into it the more compelling it became and the more there was to learn. Much of this was due to some of the extraordinary content being published there by members. I’m sure I’m going to have to post a follow up (or two or three) on Google+ but here are some of my thoughts so far and hopefully a bit of info to get those of you new to Google+ up and running.

Let’s start by explaining what Google+ is. It’s Google’s roll out of a new social media platform. A bit like Facebook, but cleaner. A bit like Twitter but more expansive. By invitation only, G+ is growing like crazy. As of this post, estimates are that G+ has amassed 18 million members. It still doesn’t compare to Facebook’s 500 million members, just announced by Zuckerberg yesterday, but considering G+ has only been available since June 28 and is not yet available for public consumption, it’s numbers are pretty impressive.

Google+ is a suite of several different start up products, with more to come. At present Google+ offers, of course, a newsfeed. Sparks culls together various recommendations based on your interests…art, design, fashion, photography etc.  Hangout is a video chat service where you can chat with one friend or hold a conference with up to ten people at a time. Huddle is an sms/text messaging service, which I’m hoping will save me lots of dollars on my international sms fees. The main cool feature is called Circles which is how you organize your friends and deal with some pretty slick privacy features which neither Twitter or Facebook can compare. There is also intergradation with Picasa, Google’s photo platform.

I learned over at Samantha Warren’s BadAssIdeas.com about the Designer’s Resource Toolbox. Being completely inspired by this, I put together my own Designer’s Toolbox. Samantha’s article can tell you how to shop for toolbox items, how to collect found objects and implement these unique pieces into your work so that your designs are fresh and original. She includes a link to a tutorial by Natalie Jost on creating original digital textures using photos, scans and patterns.

I’ve taken my toolbox idea a little bit further and you can get really creative with this sort of thing too. For myself, I went and dug out one of my dad’s old toolboxes.  I included found objects from around my home and office. I didn’t go on a shopping or sight seeing expedition (which would also be nice)  but instead I collected bits of sea glass, postcards I’ve collected, notebooks, postage stamps and other various things I’ve had hanging around.  Although these items are rather random, I  just couldn’t part with them. I think every artist or designer studio must have little samplings of keepsakes in it, so why not collect them up and make a resource toolbox for yourself too.  Find yourself a really special box and paint the outside of it.  Make it really personal. I know, every time I open my toolbox it makes me happy and it has never failed to inspire me in some way.

I thought this was a great way to include the both the digital world and the offline world in one’s work. Just another example of living with art and design.

Cheers!

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