Super8: Eight intriguing articles from July.

We all have an inner critic that tends to stand on the soapbox from time to time, however, whilst it is important to continually improve ourselves and our skillset; it’s equally essential to treat ourselves with self-compassion and acceptance.

Especially in a time such as now when our thoughts and imagination have more airtime than usual.

Curated by Isabella Murphy, this month’s Super8 gives us the chance to explore ourselves. From suffering existential dread and deciding our own mindset, to being as self-assured as the shoe-giant Nike, July’s edition sheds light on how we can become better supporters of ourselves.

After all, we’re human, and our best selves can look different with each new day, month, or season.

So, what are you waiting for? The best time to start being the best version of yourself was yesterday! The next best time is today. This is Super8 in July.

1. Forgive yourself.

• Read the full article here.
• Article by: David Roche.
• Contributed by: Sarah El-Atm.

We’ve all been lying in bed, eyes glued to the ceiling as our minds fill with the existential dread and worry of the day; a normal human instinct, as David Roche reminds us.

We as people endeavour to be the best they can be in all aspects of life – whether it be professionally, in our personal relationships or our sporting abilities, so whilst trying to improve and do our best, we can tend to be hyper-critical of ourselves.

All in all, making mistakes is something we all undoubtedly experience in our everyday lives – it’s how we choose to respond to these mishaps that makes all the difference.

2. Remove the word ‘design’ and the first thing you notice is that the alternative words help clarify things.

• Read the full article here.
• Article by: Michèle Champagne.
• Contributed by: Leonardo Cantarelli .

If you’re in need of a self-reflexive exercise, Michèle Champagne has you covered.

With the intent to find clarity and get to the root of the disciplines you work with and within, this exercise prompts designers to uncover their own definition of what design really means—with only one limitation; exclude the word ‘design’ from your response.

Champagne’s findings suggest that we often overlook what design really is and the many forms it comes in.

After all, there is no single definition of design—there is only range.

3. Meet Ash Barty’s mindset coach— Ben Crowe.

• Read the full article here.
• Article by: Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski.
• Contributed by: Bridget Noonan.

Mindset coach Ben Crowe has worked with his fair share of sporting superstars—most recently, one being Wimbledon champion Ash Barty.

Regardless of the athlete’s skillset and training, Crowe reminds athletes that it’s important to ‘bring a carefree childlike approach back to the game’; Afterall, athletes are at their best when they’re enjoying what they do.

However, this approach can be applied to any aspect of our lives, professional, personal and everything in between.

Enjoying what we do will only lead to positive outcomes and can be reflected in our performance and wellbeing.

So, take a listen as Crowe affirms the empowering reality that we decide our mindset, attitude, and self-worth.

4. How company culture shapes employee motivation.

• Read the full article here.
• Article by: Lindsay McGregor and Neel Doshi.
• Contributed by: Rowan Barnes.

For many of us, a large part of the day is spent at work; for some, that can equate to around 90,000 hours over a lifetime—give or take.

So, it’s important that our workplace culture seeks to find and maximise the good motives, while minimising the bad ones.

Here, Lindsay McGregor and Neel Doshi propose three questions to help transform culture from a mystery to a science.

How? By identifying how culture drives performance, it’s true worth, and the processes within an organisation that can impact culture.

5. ‘I burst into tears. Then went back to my desk’: when dream jobs become nightmares.

• Read the full article here.
• Article by: Otegha Uwagba.
• Contributed by: Claire Grainger.

There is no doubt that glamourised industries such as fashion, advertising, and television are often highly competitive on the inside—and appear silky smooth on the out.

However, we’ve all seen the TV shows. Sometimes, the toxic culture, lack of support systems for employees, discriminatory comments, and unrealistic workloads do translate into the real world.

Otegha Uwagba has had numerous conversations with individuals who have experienced toxic workplace cultures, and recalls a common response being the toll these environments have taken on their mental health.

This article reminds us that sometimes we need to take a step-back and focus on cultivating a positive and supportive environment for ourselves, and those around us.

6. Nike teases competitors with completely unbranded shoe.

• Read the full article here.
• Article by: B&T Magazine.
• Contributed by: Rachel Antoniadou.

With the Olympics in full swing, there is no better time to envision the best version of yourself; something that the shoe giant has done with the Nike ZoomX Dragonfly.

Nike are so confident in the quality of what they can deliver, they don’t even need a logo to promote it.

Unveiling a completely unbranded version of the super shoe via Instagram, the caption invites athletes to “paint em’, tape em’, do whatever you’d need to do to let them fly by whomever they’d need to fly by”.

But it’s not the stark blank canvas that captures attention, it’s Nike’s self-assured nature of knowing that their product is mightier than their competitors.

7. How to create drop-down and fly-out menus that are web-accessible.

• Read the full article here.
• Article by: Jamie Juviler.
• Contributed by: Tim Copland.

We’ve all been in a frustrated frame of mind when a website is difficult to navigate or has an overcomplicated pathway to find the information we’re looking for.

But imagine how frustrating those kinds of websites might be for those with disabilities?

In this article, Jamie Juviler outlines several considerations to keep in mind when designing drop-down menus to ensure they are web accessible—for everyone.

This may include making appropriate adjustments to drop-down menus to best meet the needs of users with different cognitive abilities, to ensure they have a straightforward and consistent experience.

8. Accept ourselves and expect more from ourselves .

• Listen to the podcast here. 
• Article by: Gretchen Rubin.
• Contributed by: Isabella Murphy.

This story follows a young girl, Candace, who auditions to become part of the next big girl’s group.

Candace describes the intense competition and anxiety she experienced whilst struggling to nail the complicated choreography and training.

Acknowledging that she didn’t have the skills required, Candace persisted in the face of failure.

Showcasing personality and spirit—this feel-good podcast outlines one of the great challenges we may face in life.

Candace’s story encourages us to find a way to be ourselves in this world and how we should accept ourselves – our own gifts, our own limitations, and our own way to achieve an aim.