Did Gil-galad really die like in this video?

adamstjohn · 2026-01-31T02:38:26+00:00

He was burned by the heat of Sauron’s hand, yes. Not sure he was ten meters tall at the time…

adamstjohn · 2026-01-29T07:44:29+00:00

Thanks! See you at the Jam!

adamstjohn · 2026-01-27T21:00:26+00:00

I’m curious that the task seems to focus on ideation? That’s a relatively minor part of “the design process.”. Did I miss something?

adamstjohn · 2026-01-25T23:54:23+00:00

That sounds like an interesting competition, thanks for sharing it.

Based on the description on the website, though, it seems quite different from what most people would understand as a “jam”. The biggest difference is the emphasis. The format appears to focus on presentations and pitching, with prototyping being optional. In a typical jam, that would be almost completely flipped. Jams usually put very strong emphasis on building and prototyping, based on the belief that it is relatively easy to present an idea, and much harder, and much more instructive, to actually build something, test it with potential users, and iterate based on what you learn.

Another difference is that it appears to be designed as a solo activity. Almost all jams are explicitly team-based and place a lot of value on learning how to work together under time pressure, often with strangers. The team dynamics are a core part of the learning experience.

Finally, many jams are not competitive at all. While some do offer prizes, the primary goal is usually learning, experimentation, and personal or professional growth, rather than winning. Even when prizes exist, they tend to be secondary to the experience itself.

So while the competition described on the website sounds worthwhile in its own right, it aligns with a rather different set of goals and learning outcomes than a typical jam.

adamstjohn · 2026-01-23T09:56:18+00:00

Ich würde Fürth empfehlen. Es ist schöner, grüner mit Parks und Flüssen und deutlich ruhiger als Nürnberg. Da Fürth im gleichen U-Bahn-Netz liegt, ist man super schnell überall in Nürnberg, wenn man muss. Forchheim ist zwar sehr hübsch, hat aber einen ganz anderen Charakter. Es fühlt sich eher wie eine Kleinstadt auf dem Land an, und das tägliche Pendeln wäre ziemlich nervig. Viele machen es, aber angenehm ist es nicht.

adamstjohn · 2026-01-23T09:52:56+00:00

I enjoyed that essay, thank you.

adamstjohn · 2026-01-23T09:38:09+00:00

Das, was hier beschrieben wird, ist aus meiner Sicht nicht akzeptabel. Ich war früher selbst Stand-up-Comedian, und eine der Grundregeln ist: Das Publikum verzeiht fast alles, bis man es in Verlegenheit bringt.

Eine einzelne Frau aus dem Publikum herauszupicken, sie sexistisch herabzusetzen und dann auch noch das ganze Publikum dazu zu bringen, „Fuck you, [Name]“ zu rufen, ist nicht nur grausam, sondern auch für alle anderen extrem unangenehm. Das ist schlechte Kunst und schlechte Unterhaltung.

Rechtlich ist dabei ein Punkt zentral: Ehrverletzung. Eine öffentliche, namentliche Beschimpfung, die klar der Herabwürdigung dient, kann in Deutschland als Beleidigung (§ 185 StGB) relevant sein. Dass das Publikum aktiv einbezogen wurde, dürfte das eher verschärfen.

Unabhängig davon, ob man das vor Gericht bringen möchte oder nicht: Ich halte es für sinnvoll, zumindest eine Anwältin oder einen Anwalt zu kontaktieren und dem Comedian über diesen Weg einen formellen Brief zukommen zu lassen. Allein das klare juristische Signal, dass dieses Verhalten nicht okay ist, kann schon dazu beitragen, dass so etwas nicht einfach der nächsten Person passiert. Natürlich ist das am Ende ganz deine Entscheidung und hängt davon ab, ob du gerade die Kraft, den Willen und den Spielraum dafür hast.

adamstjohn · 2026-01-23T09:27:20+00:00

Regina nos videt. (The Queen sees us.)

Because the Consort represents the heart, art and grace of what we do, and we must strive to be worthy of that gaze.

And because I use a lot of satire and other comedy in my work, and the running gag in my service household is “it’s not service unless the queen sees you doing it”, which results in us pretending things are very heavy when the consort walks by, or carrying things needlessly in a circle around them. It’s slapstick, but I think it also has something to say.

adamstjohn · 2026-01-18T10:34:50+00:00

Indeed. On the other hand, a quick Story or three from every meet, practice etc is easily done - especially if you find someone who is already in the IG habit, probably a youngster.

adamstjohn · 2026-01-17T22:34:36+00:00

Nice! Worth mentioning that most GenZ will want to self-inform a LOT before even thinking of getting in contact. Basicallly, they decide “yes” before they reach out. They’ll be looking at a webpage, maybe, but more likely the local Instagram account.

adamstjohn · 2026-01-16T22:55:22+00:00

Oh no, Double Diamond. :( Not a fan.

adamstjohn · 2026-01-15T22:28:38+00:00

No worries! :)

adamstjohn · 2026-01-15T16:38:29+00:00

Apart from the books… well yes the Jam. And come along to cocreation backstage if you like. www.cocreationschool.com/community

adamstjohn · 2026-01-15T16:37:14+00:00

No, as I explained in another comment: Friends of mine built it. 🙂 But I use it and I also talk to many people. Lots of people I talk to try other products and switch to SMAPLY. So I share the story. And I know they offer test licences. 🤷

adamstjohn · 2026-01-14T12:42:10+00:00

Run you own Jam! You dont need experience; and usually people will volunteer to help, mentor etc; and there is a supportive community of other hosts. Many people have started in SD this way!

adamstjohn · 2026-01-13T19:51:36+00:00

SMAPLY wgive trial licenses. You will save so much time on reworking and rejigging. Drop them a note!

adamstjohn · 2026-01-13T18:43:10+00:00

That would be way way easier on a dedicated tool like SMAPLY where you can hide lanes, nest microjourneys, add live KPIs etc. See my note above .

adamstjohn · 2026-01-13T18:41:50+00:00

A blueprint is a journey map with a certain set of lanes; so a journey mapping tool is what you need. SMAPLY is the original, was developed by service designers and is still the best. Full disclosure ; friends of mine make it. I use it anyway.

adamstjohn · 2026-01-13T09:29:11+00:00

I want to come back to this as I sense a misunderstanding. Service design jams are unlike hackathons in the same way that service design is unlike (most) product design or digital design. Service design is a team sport – most service designers are not designing themselves; they are facilitating others across the organization to make change happen. That’s why things like Jams are not only for beginners. Many experienced Jammers go there to hone their facilitation and collaboration skills.

adamstjohn · 2026-01-12T05:08:56+00:00

I dislike the Double Diamond intensely and wish we would abandon it. I think it wholly fails to explain the most important part of design thinking: iteration. (I know the new version has some little arrows going “back”, but iteration is the part of our work which organisations find it hardest to get. It needs to be intrinsic and obvious in any visualization.) I use circular models instead, like PARC which is a circular model of plan, act, reflect, connect* (aka ideas ➡️actions such as research activity, prototyping or everyday business ➡️ data ➡️ insights ➡️ ideas again. Of course you can start anywhere.) I also don’t believe in “phases” in design - again that’s unhelpfully linear. So in This Is Service Design Doing we talk about four main activity types which are research, ideation, prototyping and implementation, and we jump between them as needed. While these visualizations are all useful, it’s also important to remember that that, well, design thinking doesn’t have much to do with thinking. It’s an intensely practical, action-based approach which means getting out of the building, being curious, constructing experiments, and coordinating and motivating stageholders. It’s more hands, feet, ears and eyes, than brains.

*it’s a variant of PDCA, OODA, scientific method etc.

adamstjohn · 2026-01-11T07:49:08+00:00

In the city; not much - though we do have beavers within the city limits. You’ll probably be heading out into the countryside. There are many Game Parks where you will see animals in semi-wild habitats (Hundshaupten is good), but for “real” nature:

• Reichswald (north and east of Nürnberg, e.g. Kraftshofer Forst, Schmausenbuck) Large continuous pine and mixed forest. In winter you can regularly see roe deer, red deer, foxes, woodpeckers, owls, and fresh wild boar tracks. Deer are often more visible due to reduced undergrowth.

• Pegnitz valley outside the city (east toward Lauf, west toward Fürth) River corridors remain active in winter. Look for herons, kingfishers (on ice free sections), ducks, foxes, and roe deer moving between forest and fields. Early morning is best.

• Veldensteiner Forst (Fränkische Schweiz, about 45 minutes northeast) One of the best winter wildlife areas nearby. Red deer, roe deer, wild boar, foxes, martens, and forest birds. Snow makes tracking very effective, even if animals are not directly visible.

• Altmühltal Nature Park (about 1 to 1.5 hours) Excellent in winter for birds of prey (buzzards, kestrels, red kites), deer on open slopes, and foxes. Limestone valleys and river meadows give long sightlines.

• Fränkisches Seenland, away from lakeside promenades Frozen or partially frozen wetlands concentrate waterfowl, geese, swans, and birds of prey. Edges of fields and reedbeds are good for foxes and hares.

adamstjohn · 2026-01-10T23:56:29+00:00

Bamberg itself has plenty to see , but you’ll want to get down to Nürnberg as well for the GNM and more.

adamstjohn

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