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Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, the Joslyn Art Museum was a hub of culture for surrounding Midwestern towns. No matter how much or how little you knew about fine art, it was the place you could go to see works that you might not otherwise be able to access outside of the coasts. Decades after leaving Omaha, I returned this past December, and while visiting my mothers house, I noticed a brochure for the Joslyn in her mail pile. It was unusually striking and had a look and feel that was vastly different from the Joslyns original brand identity. The old logotype, locked up with a pictorial mark, was traditional and respectable, but also very much tied to the past. The new brand consisted of a bespoke typographic system, with an angular logotype and a color scheme that made the brochure stand out from the mail pile. Weeks later, I saw Pentagrams Instagram post about its work for the Joslyn. Pentagrams Eddie Opara, whose team won the workcompeting against multiple design studios, some in Nebraskaled the strategic and visual rebrand. The rebrand launched shortly after a new extension of the museum was completed by the famed architecture firm Snhetta, who partnered with Omaha-based Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture. [Photo: courtesy Pentagram] The museum’s glow-up is a notable investment in a region whose cultural contributions are often overlooked. As Dusty Davidson, Vice Chair of Joslyns Board of Governors, explained in the rational for hiring top tier design talent: Great cities have world-class art institutions, he says. Snhetta brought world-class architecture to Omaha, and we wanted a brand design that could be world-class. Past with present Opening in 1931, the Joslyn Memorial as it was originally called, was designed by father-son architects John & Alan McDonald, whose work for the Joslyn landed the building on a list of the finest buildings in the United States in 1938. When I saw it the first time, way back in the ’80s, I was gobsmacked by it, says Snhetta partner Craig Dykers of the original building. [Photo: courtesy Pentagram] In 1994 came an expansion, known as the Scott Pavilion, designed by British architect Norman Foster. Boxy in its look and feel, it’s well lit from almost any angle thanks to the large glass atrium with a 45-foot-high ceiling. Then, in fall 2024, the Rhonda & Howard Hawks Pavilion opened. The 42,000-square-foot expansion, led by Snhetta, was the impetus for rethinking the Joslyn’s entire identity. [Photo: courtesy Pentagram] This architecture proved to be a rich source of inspiration for Opara and his team as they worked on the visual identity. I remember on their first visit, we lost track of Eddie for a moment. He was at the top of the grand steps, seeing this lettering that is carved into the building in this really unique typeface and he was up taking photographs of it, recalls Amy Rummel, the Joslyn’s director of marketing & public relations. Later he told us, that was a real a moment, this building has a typeface that could be a seed for something new. [Photo: courtesy Pentagram] The Joslyns resulting type system, designed by Pentagram alongside Berlin’s ABC Dinamo foundry, is multifaceted, connecting architecture, art, history, and culture. The bespoke typeface essentially functions as the museum’s core identity, in lieu of a solitary logo. The design is sharp yet elegant, and pulls the past and present together. We looked at the different periods of art that the Joslyn has, says Opara. And we looked at the anatomy of the architecture to make display type, relating it to the Umóho (Omaha) and related Indigenous languages spoken in the region. [Photo: courtesy Pentagram] Opara’s goal was to fuse those architectural designs with a rebrand that would speak to Omaha citizens who know and love the Joslyn. To do so, he and his team set out to understand the importance of the Joslyn to Nebraska and the neighboring states. We really went to town in regards to having a conversation with not only the key stakeholders and the board, but also the community, he says. We did different surveys with Nebraska and neighboring states, to understand how the Joslyn is a magnet, and from a branding perspective it has lost its magnetism. What does it need to bring its magnetism back? [Photo: courtesy Pentagram] Part of the answer is the shot in the arm effect that investing in top-tier design can have. The other is ensuring that bringing in outside talent doesn’t lose track of what has always mattered to local institution: its community. In Omaha, in particular, you have a lot of people who generationally have the Joslyn as part of their families, says Rummel. They have personal experiences here such as, I was married here, or, I saw my first work of art at the Joslyn. People are really invested in this particular museum.
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Tj Power is the lead neuroscientist at the DOSE Lab and cofounder of Neurify, a trailblazing organization in the mental health sector. He is also a renowned international speaker, having captivated audiences worldwide and worked with major corporations and health services. Whats the big idea? Human brain chemistry is at odds with modern lifestyles. The activities and habits that naturally boost dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins have been largely replaced by routines that leave us feeling depleted. Uplift mood, tune focus, boost energy, and deepen relationships by fostering optimum conditions for your bodys favorite neurotransmitters. Below, Tj shares five key insights from his new book, The DOSE Effect: Optimize Your Brain and Body by Boosting Your Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins. Listen to the audio versionread by Tj himselfin the Next Big Idea App. 1. Dopamine that requires effort is better Dopamine is your brains motivational fuel. When elevating your dopamine levels, focus on the idea of earning dopamine and not just getting instant, quick hits. In our hunter-gatherer past, dopamine rewarded us for effort. It made activities like hunting for food or building shelter feel good so that we wanted to keep doing these things. Today, dopamine is getting hijacked by quick hits like social media, sugary snacks, and online shopping. These easy dopamine fixes cause brief neurochemical spikes that then crash out and make us feel quite low. To optimize dopamine naturally, start your day with action. Instead of going on your phone first thing in the morning, go to the bathroom, brush your teeth, splash some water on your face, or even get a little bit of sunlight. This kind of action naturally starts generating dopamine in your brain. Throughout your day, really connect with goal-oriented tasks. Maybe thats tackling a challenging project at work or cleaning your home. We all know that feeling, for example, when you need to change and wash your bedding. Its an annoying task that isnt particularly fun. You wake up one morning and think, yeah, I should probably change and wash my bedding today. And then a few days later, youre like, oh yeah, I need to. You go through the hell of unbuttoning the duvet, getting the sheet off, jamming it in the washing machine so it all fits in one load, getting it out, drying it, and putting it all back on the bed. Eventually, you find yourself getting into your freshly washed bed, and you think about how nice it feels to be under clean covers. No one regrets washing their bedding. Thats dopamine. Dopamine rewards you for an effortful task that is beneficial to you as a human being. Try to limit quick dopamine behaviors. Replace endless scrolling with something like reading, writing, solving a problem, or connecting with a human. If we can reduce quick dopamine and increase slow dopamine, then our brain will operate much better. 2. Build connection through the love hormone Oxytocin is a connection chemical that strengthens relationships and develops trust. In the past, oxytocin was essential to survival because it drove cooperation within tight-knit social communities. Today, digital habits and individualistic lifestyles weaken oxytocin pathways, leaving us feeling isolated and lonely. To elevate oxytocin, consider a few of these actions: Physical touch. Hugging someone for five seconds is a scientifically proven way to raise oxytocin. Deepen social moments. When socializing with people you love, remove distractions. Get that phone as far away as possible. Eye contact is a priority. Listen actively and ask interesting questions. Altruism. Pro-social behaviorlike acts of kindness, helping a friend, writing someone a thank you, or smiling at someone and asking how their days goingincreases oxytocin. 3. Have a dose of natures antidepressant Serotonin is the bodys mood booster. Spending time outdoors in the sunlight and consuming unprocessed foods supports serotonin production. Unfortunately, our modern indoor lifestyles and processed diets deplete this chemical, leading to mood swings and fatigue. To boost serotonin levels, spend more time outdoors. On a sunny day, you might only need five minutes outside to achieve a nice increase in this chemical. On cloudy days, youll require 10 to 15 minutes. Often, we only go outside when its sunny, neglecting the cloudy days when we really should be getting out there. A simple rule I like to follow is the principle of seeing sunlight before checking social media every single morning. As someone whos addicted to my phone, going on social media first thing in the morning primes my brain for that dopamine loop, causing me to stay on my phone all day. Observing sunlight before social media is an essential routine in my life that helps maintain my serotonin levels. The second part of this is prioritizing gut health to increase serotonin. Ninety percent of this chemical is made in your gut. Anytime you eat fibrous, rich, nutrient-dense foods, your body uses them to generate serotonin. The third part is a practice called underthinking. When overthinking, our brains and thoughts go rapidly and often in a negative direction. Its important that we know how to calm down our bodies in those moments. If we settle our hearts and reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone), our thoughts will also calm. We often do this with a physiological sigh. This is where you take a double inhalation through the nose, followed by a big exhalation from the mouth. Repeating this three to five timesdouble in, one out, double in, one outbuilds serotonin and slows overthinking. 4. Use endorphins to alleviate pain Endorphins are your brains natural painkillers. Theyre activated by physical activity, hot environments, and laughing regularly. For our ancestors, endorphins were critical for enduring the physical demands and stressors of surviving in the wild. To activate them in your life, you need to make sure you move daily. Exercise triggers this chemical. Take a 10-minute walk. Try walking faster or up a hill, or turn it into a little jog or sprint. Any moment of physical activation is great. To activate them in your life, you need to make sure you move daily. Next, I suggest experimenting with heat therapy, like a warm bath or sauna. You may have experienced this before getting in a bath: suddenly, you feel a bit more relaxed, neurobiologically speaking. Thats because endorphins are released into your brain, calming you down. Finally, we really need laughter. Our research at the DOSE Lab shows that humans in our modern world are not laughing enough. We ask people, on a scale from one to 10, how frequently they laugh. Using data from 50,000 people, we got an average answer of only 5.1. If your personal answer to that question is a low number, you need to prioritize happy social moments or funny movies and TV shows. Things that get you laughing are essential for this chemical. 5. Get happy from DOSE Happiness isnt just a fleetig emotion. Its deeply rooted in brain chemistry. You can transform your mental and emotional state by understanding and intentionally boosting dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. Start with small changes to your daily lifestyle: phone habits, food choices, and time spent outside. Over time, youll notice significant shifts in your motivation, mood, relationships, and happiness. This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission.
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If you tune into the Puppy Bowl on Sunday, you’ll likely see a key person’s influence even if you don’t actually see her. Victoria Schade is a dog trainer and novelist who’s the shows lead puppy trainer and wrangler. She’s the one making sure the shelter pups have a conflict-free contest and that they’re captured at their most adorableall from off-camera. It is Schade who gets the puppies to look up during the The Star-Spangled Banner or run through a tunnel to get to the field for the starting lineups. Shes on the lookout for possible conflicts or nervous dogs. My responsibilities include ensuring puppy happiness and safety during gameplay, she says. So if theres any moment where a puppy looks like theyre overwhelmed or they just need a break, Ill step out and give them a little break on the sideline. Schade has been working with the doggies on the Animal Planet show for 19 years and is believed to be the longest serving member of the Puppy Bowl crew. She also works the kitten halftime show and calls filming both her favorite week of the year. I think she is one of the most dedicated, hardest working people out there in the business, says Puppy Bowl referee Dan Schachner, now in his 14th year. She doesnt ever seem to run out of energy. She never says no to a request and theres always brightness and sunshine from her with every step. Schade has coached hundreds of dogs over the years but never adopted one from the showuntil now. She took home Boris, known on the show as Mr. Pickles, from Dallas Dog rescue. I saw star quality. So this was the year, she says. Treats and funny noises Early on, Schade was responsible for recruiting and selecting the puppies, a task now that leans on animal rescue groups and shelters throughout the country. These days, she’s the lead trainer. If youre seeing the puppy looking up at the camera, Im typically right there with the treat, she says. Its a lot of treats and funny noises. And that does the trick. This year, Schade is stepping out from the sidelines and joining Schachner on camera for an hour-long pre-game kickoff show, which features a doggie combine and a draft. Other show highlights include segments with Dan Smyers, from superstar country duo Dan + Shay, and Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi. Schade has developed some very special animal-related skills over the years, including anticipating when one of the players needs to relieve itself. One of my Puppy Bowl skills is reading butts. So I know when a puppy is going to go to the bathroom and Ill typically say like, Watch out in the 20-yard-line, were going to have a deposit and everyones ready to go with that cleanup. The Puppy Bowl made its debut as counter-programming to the Super Bowl in 2005. Dogs score touchdowns on a gridiron carpet when they cross the goal lineany goal linewith a toy in their mouth. The show is really just an excuse to spend time watching adorable, clumsy pups play with chew toys, wag their tails furiously and lick the camera. A deeper reason is to encourage animal adoption. According to the ASPCA, approximately 390,000 shelter dogs are euthanized each year and 2 million shelter dogs are adopted. Most of the puppies are usually adopted by airtime, since the show was filmed in the fall. But the point is to show that animals just like the ones on the show can be found at any shelter at any time. This year’s three-hour television event will feature 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters across 40 statesand one from Nicaragua, a Chihuahua-German shepherd. There will be 11 special-needs dogs. Thats the most amount weve ever had,” says Schachner. “Look out for Jolene, who is a pitbull mix thats in a wheelchair. Look out for a three-legged Boston terrier from New York City. And my personal favorite, is Sprinkle, who is a blind and deaf Aussie. So its just incredible to watch them play. The inaugural Puppy Bowl was watched by nearly 6 million viewers. Last year, 12.6 million viewers tuned in. In comparison, this years Golden Globes attracted 9.3 million. Practical advice for raising puppies Schade, whose first book was Bonding With Your Dog, and who then pivoted to writing pet-oriented novels, like Life on the Leash and Dog Friendly, is a wealth of information about our four-legged friends. She advises dog owners to learn to read the body language of their pet, to try to understand what they’re trying to say. Like tail-wagginghow tight? And where is the tail positioned? Schade is a big advocate for positive reinforcement and science-based training, not the so-called alpha dog approach, which uses intimidation or force. Theres no need to be the alpha, which has been debunked anyway. You are your dog’s ally. Youre their friend. Youre their No. 1. And its a relationship based in compassion and understanding. That means load up on treats. She advocates keeping them in your pocket and consistently using them as rewards for good behavior, especially when potty training. I cannot stress it enough: When you think youre treating enough, treat more because, especially during puppyhood, it is such a critical learning period and every interaction is a chance to teach something. By Mark Kennedy, Associated Press
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