A Credo from a Door in Lisbon

Position: 38° 42′ 7” N 09° 10′ 41” W

Lisbon’s Lx Factory is a little confusing. It’s billed as an artsy center for creatives and while there’s a bit of that, it seems like it’s mostly tourist shops with cutesy stuff and a bunch of bars and restaurants. What creative enterprises are there spans a range from film-making to haut (well, moyen) couture. In a low, white building at the southern end of the complex we found the offices of the design firm FUCKDUP. The door was locked and no one was home, but FUCKDUP had posted its credo on their window for all to read.

Not your typical mission statement or business purpose, FUCKDUP’s credo is one of those proto-memes that I would have posted above my desk at work. Then I’d probably hand pick a line or two for my employees as the situation dictated. As a parent, as a manager, as the captain of Aleta I have said many of these things, although I may not have used the same words, or been as succinct.

If the ‘f’ word bothers you abstrusely, don’t read further. Otherwise, for my nickel, it’s pretty good advice:

FUCKDUP CREDO

Believe in your fucking self. Stay up all fucking night. Work outside of your fucking habits. Know when to fucking speak up. Fucking collaborate. Don’t fucking procrastinate. Get over your fucking self. Keep fucking learning. Form follows fucking function. A computer is a Lite-Brite for bad fucking ideas. Find fucking inspiration everywhere. Fucking network. Educate your fucking client. Trust your fucking gut. Ask for fucking help. Make it fucking sustainable. Question fucking everything. Have a fucking concept. Learn to take some fucking criticism. Make me fucking care. Use fucking spell check. Do your fucking research. Sketch more fucking ideas. The problem contains the fucking solution. Think about all the fucking possibilities.

Below are a few more photos of the Lx Factory. We’ll have more on Lisbon in a few days.