USE LESS
things I tend to collect. María A. González
USELESS
USE LESS
things I tend to collect. by María A. González. 2010
Copyright © 2010 by María A. González All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 First Edition
CONTENTS Introduction
vii
Society
1
Profession
5
Gender
11
Choice
17
Colophon
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INTRODUCTION It’s not my hobby or my passion to collect but unfortunately or not, I am the result of a generation influenced by capitalism and consumerism. When you buy things, one never seems enough, after having something, you want another of the same thing and somehow you start collecting. If we lined up a group of people and ask them to give steps forward for every item they only own once, most of the group would stay behind. Even the most unexpected things are owned in pairs or more. “Walk forward if you have more than one cell phone”, it seems obvious that you can call with one; nevertheless some people own two or sometimes three active phones. I for sure have a few in my pile of junk collected by default. Would this make me a collector? Certainly no. I don’t keep record of how many repeated items I have, or not until today, where I will list all the things useful or not, sorted by categories: Society, Profession (Graphic Designer), Gender (Female) and Choice (things I like) that I own repeatedly. I will show you how I tend to collect.
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SOCIETY Technology gets dated very fast nowadays and society constantly invites you to keep up.
I use only one phone, the rest lay in a drawer useless.
2
I have two ipods that I alternate based on battery matters.
3
Five sets of headphones. Different in color and shape but basically for the same use.
4
Two external hard drives. One for backup and the other to save music and big files.
5
6
PROFESSION I am a Graphic Design student and apart from all the materials I have to buy as part of my learning, I love going into an art store and pick any object that I find interesting.
7
Fine black markers, it’s like a disease. I own at least 30 fine black markers, different brand, tip size and ink, just to try them out on the different types of surfaces to make sure they don’t bleed or smudge. I so far haven’t found my favorite, but I might be close.
8
Metal, plastic and wood rulers. I own seven. Different sizes, some for cutting, others for measuring. But I mostly just use the one that does everything and fits in my bag.
9
How about glue. Sticks, liquid, gel, endless types. I have at least six and they all just adhere things together, but it would be almost wrong not to try which one dries clearer.
10
Rare materials that I might use someday, From gold leaf to resin that I don’t have a clue how to use, but found interesting at the art store for a project.
11
Five post-its pads in which I write no memos because I already wrote them somewhere else, since post-its are too small anyways and get easily lost.
12
Paper. White matte, glossy, cover stock, text 90 lb, colored, double sided and everyday use, so I can preview my work more accurately.
13
14
GENDER These things that girls always have, but want more. Lotions, shampoos and all the things that you can find in a pharmacy for daily use.
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Six different types of body lotion. The good one, the not so good one, the one that smells funny, the one I wanted to try and my favorite. Four Shampoos not for different types of hairs or whatever distinction shampoos have. They just piled up in my shower, because I only use one.
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18
Three toothpaste tubes. I use the same one everyday. Two toothbrush in my bathroom, probably another on my purse and another one for trips in my travel bag. 24 different nail polish colors. I have been collecting them over the seasons and as new colors come out, you must get them. When I actually get the time to paint my nails, it is nice to have the opportunity to choose.
19
20
CHOICE These are the things that I am more inclined to consciously collect. Things I like and will always want more, because I really do like them all.
21
22
My fantastic and proud ten watch collection. I get to combine or clash them with my daily outfit and even sometimes don’t wear one at all.
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24
The nine pair of sunglasses I love to admire and not pick from, since half of them don’t work very well.
25
26
My happy analog camera collection: three Lomography cameras, two Polaroids and one I don’t get.
27
28
Tons of films developed make a huge collection of pictures. They take up a whole shelf out of my tiny bookshelf.
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30
My craft materials. Thread. I have twelve colors I found on a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Now they sit in my drawer since I barely touch them.
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32
Four water bottles I carry with me everywhere. I constantly forget them home and end up buying water on the way because I always get thirsty or paranoid that I need water.
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34
A weird attraction to absurd objects, they are usually found in body shops and travel size things sections. Lotions for energy, face massagers, water spray, tiny first aid kits, among others.
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Rings. Easy to wear, there is everything to love about them and no reason why not to get more.
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And two piggy banks. As if I will fill them both with a bunch of useful coins.
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COLOPHON Useless things I tend to collect is typeset in News Gothic designed by Morris Fuller Benton, and released by the American Type Founders (ATF) in 1908 and in Chronicle Text and Display designed by Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones, and released in 2002. Printed in 115 gsm matte white text stock. Photography and design by MarĂa A. GonzĂĄlez.
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LESS USE