I wrote a quick little post about Up in the Air Somewhere over here. I pretty much fell in love with Susan's work the first time I saw it online, and when I saw it in person at Renegade Chicago I knew I had to have a few pieces. Since then I've seen a few people make similar items that can't be dismissed as coincidence.

I'd love it if you have a second to check it out and add your own thoughts.

I realize that blog will never be popular, the premise of it is one that is still too controversial for most makers: making cases against duplicity, questioning the authenticity of independent designers. It's mostly meant for conversation, though questioning any design usually means hurt feelings and emotive response rather than discussion.

As a response to a NY Times piece, Justin Kan defines a generation of makers. Here are a few of the points he makes that resonate with me:

We don’t look down on people creating small businesses.

Before we’re ever selling anything, we have an idea for it, and that is where our love and emotion is revealed.

Our idealism is more individual: that every person should be able to live their own life, working on what they choose, creating what they choose.

I think his points are spot on, but wonder if our collective niceness, the idea that an independent artist is worthier of success than "the man", as a means of entrepreneurial ferocity keeps us from protecting our own creative work. We don't look down on people creating small businesses.

Does the success of the independent spirit rely on niceness?