It’s here! Our second Roadtrip Nation Live episode ever! (It’s kinda a big deal.)

Hannah, Jason (Ray is stepping out for this one, as he’s speaking at a commencement), and I will be sitting down with Tekzilla host (and avid gamer/social media guru) Veronica Belmont to find out how she defined her own Road in life.

Now, this is where you come in! We had such a blast with the first taping that now we want to open it to our local community to come and be a part of the Live audience!

 
We have limited spots for seats at the taping—so first in, first picked. If you are interested in being a part of the audience, email thelegend@roadtripnation.com with your full name and await a confirmation email.

When: Friday, May 18 at 3 p.m. PST (sharp!)

Where: Roadtrip Nation HQ (853 W. 17th St, Unit A, Costa Mesa, CA)

If you can’t make it to our office, you can tune in to our livestream at 3:30pm PST at www.livestream.com/roadtripnation

During the taping you will be able to tweet questions to Veronica or the Roadtrippers @RoadtripNation #AskItLive

Cheers!

-mariana

Roadtrip Nation seeks an energetic and creative Graphic Design Intern, who is looking for an exciting place to work on a meaningful project. This is a temporary, part-time internship with a project completion date of August 1, 2012. Designer must work in office at our Costa Mesa HQ. Applicants must be able to start immediately.

Project Specifications:

• Build/assemble/create approx. 300-400 physical collages

Rate:

$10/collage completed

Experience Requirements:
• Experience creating collages with found materials

• Experience using traditional lettering or drawing skills for analog & digital platforms

• No professional graphic design experience is necessary

Responsibilities and Attributes:
• Flexibility and the ability to handle constructive criticism are essential
• Must turn around projects quickly and accurately
• Work well in a team setting
• Proactive approach to problem-solving and project management
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Detail-oriented

• Work with Roadtrip Nation’s Creative Director and Design Manager to define and execute look and feel of published content

Please visit our website roadtripnation.com to gain understanding of our Movement. Our hires are typically those who can articulate how they connect with our content, so please have a thorough understanding of who we are and what we do before applying.

If you are creative, like to work hard for something that matters, and read every single word in this job posting and thought, “Hey that’s me!” please apply with the info mentioned below.

Qualified Applicants: please send a resume and a photo of a collage you have made that you feel is aligned with the images below to Monique at monique@roadtripnation.com. Submissions without a collage sample will NOT be considered.

About Roadtrip Nation — Our Culture

Located in Costa Mesa, Calif., a passerby wouldn’t be able to miss Roadtrip Nation’s HQ with one of our big Green RVs parked out front (if it’s not out on one of its many Roadtrips). We’re a team of hardworking, dedicated, creative, individuals who love what we do here. On a typical day, you can find us in our conference room in the midst of a collaborative creative brainstorm or our eyes glued to FinalCut, Illustrator, and InDesign. Although we work hard, there’s always time for a little fun. Find us battling one another in a vehement game of ping-pong or taking a break out at the beach during lunchtime. We’re a quirky (and kind of a geeky) crew, who runs on coffee and often gets excited when a new product launches with Apple or Google. All of us share a deep-rooted passion and pride for our work, and we feed off one another’s energy, ideas, and opinions. If you think you’d fit in well with us, we’d love to meet you.

The Roadtrip Nation philosophy is something everyone can relate to deep down. It’s truly an amazing project, and it certainly changed my experience forever.

As a Canadian, I had seen some of the U.S. before, like Cape Cod; Washington, D.C.; the Big Apple; Disney World; and Disneyland to be precise! And I had so been wanting to make a proper trip across the U.S. to get more familiar with it. I also happened to be in my last semester of university and about to step out onto the job market. One night in February 2006, totally out of the blue, Michael called me asking if I wanted to travel across the U.S. filming a documentary. Within two seconds, I said yes.

I remember how overjoyed Mike, Alex, and I were when we got the great news that we were picked for the Roadtrip. We knew we were in for a treat, and we wanted to make the most of the opportunity for ourselves and for everyone that would watch the documentary. To this day, I remain grateful to have taken part in this adventure. It was a privilege, thank you Roadtrip Nation family! I am more than happy to contribute my story so far and to revisit some special souvenirs.

Each interview was unique according to the individual. But the underlying message was always the same! “Believe in yourself no matter what.” So simple and beautiful, right? Like everyone, I found out soon enough that it takes confidence and courage to believe in and express yourself fully nonstop. Thankfully, I have high hopes that the reward will always be greater than the cost, as long as you respect your own blueprint. Our mentors on the Road were overflowing with sure evidence of that!

It was amazing how open they were and how much personal life knowledge they shared with us. There were so many words of wisdom. Something that stood out for me is that success is not a jackpot you just win or not, but you create it through endurance, one experience at a time. One of the other salient themes was “Think for yourself,” or “Be who you are.”

So many consecutive pep talks, but none was a fairy tale. I saw that a lot of small achievements make up big achievements. I saw the importance of performing to your highest standard and I saw that it’s better to try your best even if you make a mistake than to stay inert and make none. The message I kept hearing was “Don’t deny yourself the chance to be all that you can be and don’t deprive everyone else of your potential either.” There was some discipline involved. You have got to try and have got to avoid asking yourself “Do I feel like it?” every time there’s a roadblock. You always need to get back to the Open Road.

We made the cold calls, we studied the RV driver’s manual, and we finally got on the airplane, destination Los Angeles! It was so exciting to meet Mo and Simon at the airport! We spotted them right away because they couldn’t conceal their smiles and they had the video cameras. We had spoken to them for so many hours already on the phone.

There was a heat wave that summer. We went through so many gallons of drinking water. I think water and gasoline were our major expenses. The RV tank could take half an hour to fill up. We called the RV the greenhouse, both because it was our green living quarters and because it generated heat similarly to the greenhouse effect (maybe that’s an exaggeration?). We may have shed a few pounds in sweat, and we definitely had a hard time finding a decent shower, but we were loving it, because of the purpose at heart.

I can’t list all of the moments I cherished, but I can say that I felt a profound connection to my own humanity and to nature. Plus the little things! I spotted a road runner on the side of the road in Nevada, I slept in the same vicinity as the Colorado black bear, and I drove across heavy winds in Kansas. I so loved basking in the late afternoon sun on Malibu Beach. Five weeks later in New York City, we had grown so much on the inside in so little time! The energy of the big city and of the summer nights gave us the extra boost to keep our days filled to the max right until the end. And then our final night in Long Island with the other teams and the Roadtrip Nation family was amazing underneath the stars! That was an unforgettable party.

The next day it was back to my hometown of Montreal! I stayed put for a couple of years, putting my journalism degree to use and staying true to the Roadtrip Nation commitment to find the Open Road. I had a really great time working for local media. I wrote articles and got involved in radio and editorial projects. In 2007 and 2008 I worked full time creating online videos for WatchMojo.com, which was such a blast! I got to keep interviewing amazing people.

In 2008, I moved to England. I did a master’s in politics and communication at the London School of Economics. As you know, the economy was a fragile house of cards, which made it an interesting time to study under the direction of the U.K.’s former financial services authority chairman. My studies focused on the relationships between media, politics, and the citizen. My Roadtrip Nation memories helped me through the massive workload. I was then hired by a major legal publisher in London as a researcher and writer.

I took advantage of the proximity to see some of Europe and I wanted to soak up my surroundings until the last second. My last weekend in London, I turned 26 years old. I got on a train to visit Windsor Castle, I took a boat to see the site of Greenwich, and I did one of my most favorite things: I went to see a show in London. The following day, I packed all my things, and by the middle of the week, I was up in the sky flying back home.

In 2010, I made my debut for Reuters reporting on Canadian economic and markets News. In 2011, I worked several contracts on a flexible basis and continued to write articles. I got the chance to meet Michael Jackson’s brothers for one of my assignments, and I was a little starstruck, I must say. I recently wrote for a Mohawk community newspaper on the South Shore. I have diversified my occupation some more! I’m glad to say I’m still a stringer for Reuters News, and I promise to keep you posted on what comes ahead.

- Leila Lemghalef, Montreal Online Series

If not, you’re in for a treat; maybe a little tear will trickle or a mini heart murmur will occur. Okay. I am saying too much.

Meet Caine.

There is so much to this video, beyond the cute factor of 9-year-old Caine. What gets me the most is the power of community support. Getting behind someone’s dream and supporting his or her determination, patience, and imagination leads to beautiful experiences.

A small show of support goes a long way, and sometimes we just need to let that inner kid in us play. So, buy a fun pass, get your five-hundred turns, and let yourself relive your childhood days. The world is full of people trying to make a dream come true―you never know where that little bit of encouragement can take someone.

Cheers,

-mariana

Q: Hey, Roadtrip Nation Design Team! My son/daughter/niece/nephew/friend is graduating from design school, and I have no idea what to get him/her as a gift. Whatever shall I do?

A: Don’t fret! We’re here to help! We’ve put together a guide of our favorite design-inspired gifts and resources to help your designer-to-be get on his or her feet in the design community—and get inspired!

Tawny:

Moleskine : I pretty much use Moleskine sketchbooks for everything, and every time I go to the art store I always see new Moleskine covers designed from different artists. I found this site where you can find all kinds of ideas to customize your ‘Skine! You can also find a lot of the designed Moleskines featured on their site. I love their design with the nifty pocket in the back panel as well as all the different sizes and styles. This is a perfect gift for your favorite doodler!

Enormous Champion: I love these script and halftone cards designed by Brooklyn-based Enormous Champion. These would be perfect to write that special note to a loved one. I know I’d love to get one of these!

Society 6: One of my favorite hand letterers is Chris Piascik. He’s incredibly funny, and his skills are incredible. He’s got great color choices and a huge variety of drawing type to choose from. I found his Society 6 shop through his website, where he posts a drawing a day! It’s insane how much work this dude puts out. And, speaking of Mad Men, check this awesome print out:

You can pretty much spend hours on his site trying to pick your favorite print to purchase for your wall…they are all so damn good! What I like about Society 6 is that it allows you to take your art and translate it for many mediums without a ton of work…such a rad concept for artists. Also, Jon Contino is using Society 6 to sell his art prints. One last one:

I would LOVE this print by David Fleck. Love the watercolor treatment with the hand-done line work. So freaking goood.

Colosseotype: We interviewed Cameron Moll on our Indie Roadtrip to San Francisco for the How Interactive Design Conference in November last year, and he has some amazing letterpress posters. I would ADORE one of these bad boys framed and hung up on my wall!

Ork Posters: Also, these city posters are pretty popular these days. Not sure where I’ve seen them before, but I wouldn’t mind getting one of these silkscreened beauts for my walls, either:

Monique:

Scripts: Elegant Lettering from Design’s Golden Age by Steven Heller and Louise Fili

I love script fonts. Really, I can’t get enough. This book features Steven and Louise’s vast collection of script fonts in advertising, street signs, invitations, type-specimen books, and personal letters.

Quarterly Co.: This is a subscription service—for $25 you get a rad package from someone in the design industry you admire! Each mailing has a unique hashtag (e.g. #YAY02), so you can follow its progress on Twitter. I’m expecting my package from Swiss Miss any day now! Click here to buy a gift subscription!

Yellow Owl Workshop: Yellow Owl Workshop specializes in limited-edition paper goods and stamp kits. I got to see a really cool demo by the owner, Christine Schmidt, on how easy it is to make your own patterns from your stamps! Here is their book and kit with everything you need to do this yourself, all in one awesome package!

Free Gifts/Resources!

Send your grad these free, helpful resources to enrich their design portfolios:

Typekit: The free account on Typekit gives you access to 205 fonts to use on your website! Add a line of code to and choose from hundreds of web fonts—simple, bulletproof, standards compliant, accessible, and totally legal.

Inker Linker: Find an awesome printer. A great site for finding a print shop that specializes in letterpress, offset, digital, screen printing, or engraving services. They also feature shops that offer print workshops or the ability to rent time on a press to do your own projects! Our very own Michelle Dreher’s (who appeared in Season Seven) letterpress shop is also listed as a resource.

Lost Type Co-Op: This site provides unique and quality fonts based on a pay-what-you-want model. All designers get 100 percent of the donations their font receives.

P.S. If you dug the dedication song, you can buy the vinyl here!

Best wishes, and Happy Graduation!

<3,

Design Team

Ray, Hannah, and I (with the company of Dan and Willie, who are filming the trip) are in San Francisco for the week!

We are interviewing Leaders in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields (STEM) to learn how they defined their own Roads in life.

We’re excited to connect with Leaders in dynamic STEM pathways and learn how they built meaningful lives around what they love.

I am also so excited to hit the Road again, especially with Ray and Hannah! We are all past Roadtrippers—Hannah took her Roadtrip two summers ago, and Ray and I took separate trips four summers ago. The best part about this is that although we took different trips at different times, we are able to come together and share this amazing experience!

We can’t wait to collect impactful stories from Leaders in STEM fields and empower people everywhere to define their own Roads in life!

We will be tweeting (twitter.com/RoadtripNation) from the Road, so be sure to follow our progress!

-Mariana

Hello! Well, it’s been a solid week of recovering for Chrystal and I from the excitement and buzz of South by South West in Austin, Texas! We will have an edited video piece soon of the trip and the incredible people we met.

I was fortunate enough to spend some time with local Costa Mesa nonprofit Krochet Kids, which was at SXSW sharing the work they do with the women of Northern Uganda and Peru.

It is always inspiring to meet up with like-minded people who are trying to make a change in the world. Seeing Krochet Kids interns, Kate Hinrichs and Meghan Henrich, passionately spread the word and raise awareness for the Krochet Kids program was, to put plainly, awesome! If you don’t know about these guys, check out their program and buy a hat here!

Chrystal was able to meet up with our Roadtrip Nation musicians―like Conner Youngblood, Bee vs. Moth, Will Dailey as well as Seth Hubbard from Polyvinyl Record Co., whose artists Of Montreal, Headlights, and Asobi Sesku have appeared on our soundtracks! We also had the opportunity to meet up with Jay Shafer, Bob Boilen, and Terry Lickona from our Leader community. After hearing their stories, it was great to catch up with them to see where their Roads have led them in the past couple years.

Another really great group of people we got to meet was the brother-sister duo Carmin and Christian Black from Half United, who sell jewelry and garments, giving away half of their profit to help feed the hungry in the U.S., Fiji, Liberia, and Cambodia. Learn more about them here.

See you next year Austin!

Cheers,

-M

Our Roadies are hitting the road to Idaho to inspire high school students across the state to hold conversations about their futures and what truly lights them up.

To help us bring inspiration to the Gem State students, the SAT® filled up the tank of our Green RV!  We couldn’t be more excited to get on the road and empower students to define their own Roads in life!

Check out where we’ll be heading in Idaho:

March 19, 2012 Boise, ID    Capital High School

March 20, 2012 Middleton, ID    Middleton High School

March 21, 2012 Caldwell, ID    Vallivue High School

March 22, 2012 Meridian, ID    Meridian High School

March 29, 2012 Caldwell, ID    The College of Idaho

April 3, 2012 Twin Falls, ID    Canyon Ridge High School

April 4, 2012 Kimberly, ID    Kimberly High School

April 6, 2012 Rupert, ID    Minico High School

April 9, 2012 Rigby, ID    Rigby High School

April 10, 2012 Challis, ID    Challis Jr/Sr High School

April 12, 2012 Plummer, ID    Lakeside High School

April 13, 2012 Sandpoint, ID    Sandpoint High School

April 16, 2012 Moscow, ID    Moscow High School

You can also follow our Roadies on Twitter @GreenRV!

Here are some of the answers we got.

Bob Boilen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1M5Uj31B5s

Delta Spirit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h13Y4tulU5Q

Seth Hubbard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Si4ESVr3U

Bee Vs. Moth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQGvea6rWmA