The Echo Conference is a three-day gathering of creative church leaders who are passionate about digital media and the gospel. This year’s event will be held at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas, from Wednesday, July 28 to Friday, July 30. Together, we’ll explore topics such as visual storytelling, event programming, social media, online community, graphic and motion design, and more.

Though that’s the official “google echo and you’ll learn that it’s:” definition, for me it’s something I’ve looked forward to for over a year. I didn’t get to be a part of it last year, and figured this year I’d be flying solo coming out here to take in this experience, to learn, to meet, greet, and see what I could glean. However, now that I am writing this from our hotel in Dallas, I am joined by our Technical Director Andrew Hunt, our video producer/editor Tim Gosnell, and our K-5th Technical/Creative Guru Chad Schaub. Though coming here with just me would have been rewarding for sure, an experience like this is always best when shared. We all come to this bringing something different, but can learn from one another in ways that just one of us could never have learned.

I look forward to hearing some great speakers in the big keynotes and breakout sessions, some of which are guys/girls I’ve looked to for wisdom, advice, and inspiration for a long time. Getting to sit it on their talks or possibly even meeting them kinda makes my brain melt. Also there are people here who I’ve only communicated with through blogging or Twitter that I’ll get to meet for the first time, so that’s exciting as well. For me it will be a huge opportunity to network with relevant people who are eager for and passionate about the same goals that I am.

A few of the speakers:

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I love this commercial.

I feel like I could watch it 100 times and it would make me smile each time. It’s a brilliantly simple in concept, but the compositing work in it to get all the window reflections, shadows, motion-tracking etc looking as good as they do would take some serious effort. It’s top notch. I have AT&T and could get on the bandwagon of their shabby network coverage, but this commercial somehow makes that all go away, at least for a second. Thanks Gene Wilder for singing that little tune to make me feel better…

Hey AT&T, maybe take the same awesome sauce you dabbled onto this commercial and lob a dollop onto your network. Just a thought…

What ya think? Watch it in HD if you think about it.

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What ya think?

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I don’t know where it is from, who to it, or when, but I love it. It’s everything I imagine a sunset on the water should be. If it look at it long enough a d try to imagine myself in that place, I feel like I can hear the soothing sound of the waves crashing on a beach. I can feel the salty air on my face, and it makes me feel serene.

There is something to be said about “that place”. I love when I can, even if for just a second, be taken to another place simply because of a photo, video, sound, or aroma.

I at times wonder if other people experience that level of departure from reality whence they encounter something so seemingly captivating.

Do you have that place you go to? What relaxes/excites/soothes/captivates you? Do tell…

An adventure with my housemates Andrew & Wade to Charlottesville is always a good time. Looking forward to it as we’re on our way now.

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I am not a big “go all out for my birthday” person, but I am so grateful for the people who care enough to spend time with me. I love you all, thanks for caring about me so much.

In other news, Despicable Me is hilarious, go see it. Here’s a link to a little sneak peak.

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That’s right, I Colin Harman have a not so secret kinship with disc golf. Right now you may be asking yourself why you’re continuing to read past that first sentence that is ever so riddled with loserdom, but I thank you for fighting back against your every instinct and making it to sentence two. No promises of it getting better from here.

As many of you know, I am a graphic designer and it is one of my favorite things to do. It is such huge blessing and a curse to get to do what I love to do for my everyday job. I get to come to work and do what I would probably be doing for fun anyway. How cool is that? However, the flip side of that is that when I am just ‘designing for fun’ it feels like I should be working. It’s a weird thing, I accept it.

Enter disc golf. Something that has nothing to do with design, or graphics, or computers, or technical things, or things that most people would consider fun—but I love it. I love how mindlessly focused I can be whilst chasing an injection molded piece of plastic around a field (or semi-wooded area) for fun. Sure there’s times it’s hot as the inside of a cow’s posterior (I live in VA, cow posterior is an acceptable form of thermal measurement, don’t judge me), but I love it. 

What’s the draw you ask? I don’t know. I think for me it’s due in part to the fact that it’s a complete departure from my normal responsibilities and work routine. I get to be out in nature, in what God created, and just keeping score to see how I improve overtime. I know I’ll never be a pro, win tournaments, or gain sponsorship, but it’s mindless enjoyment for me.

I find that it’s a healthy thing for me, it helps me do what I should do better, because it give me a chance to walk away, to disconnect, and to have a boundary in life. To most it’s just a sport that youth pastors and the kids who play dungeons and dragons get to play to appear semi-athletic, but I love it.

So there’s a look into the behind the scenes of my brain. I am a frolfer. What do you do that helps you disconnect from life for a second on a completely human level? Do you have those places that have nothing to do with your normal routine that you can say “this is my hobby, I do it for no other reason than personal enjoyment”? I know how good it is for me, so what is that thing for you?

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There are times when things just need to be explained using a spectacular Venn diagram. I made this last night whilst sitting on a screened in porch by an outdoor fireplace when it was late. Design is a funny thing, not as funny as a Kangaroo jumping on a trampoline, but let’s be honest what is as funny as that? I’ll give you a little hint: nothing.

Anyways, I love design, but it has it’s limitations in the creation process. Hopefully this helps you understand what those are and help you choose how you would like your design work in the future.

Your thoughts?

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