Oblique Strategies

This was one of the most fascinating pieces i have seen in a while and such a simple concept. 'Oblique Strategies' is a series of cards with dilemma solutions in a way, that lend a helping hand if your in trouble. Originally designed by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt, the deck consists of so many cards, black on one side, clear with a ten point sans serif description on the other. Eno and Schmidt had a strange relationship with one another, they almost shred the same path of thinking and working, even when they were far apart they would still be acting in similar ways. The cards were initially made to provide clear paths of thinking, an almost back to basics of lateral thinking patterns. Eno and Schmidt saw that the pressure of working in the studio, or a beautifully rendered materpiece took they mind away from the actual thinking process that was involved to slove a problem. Essentially its almost a scape goat for the mind. In times of stress or worry, or particulary were you found no cure to the solution you were trying to do, Eno and schmidt devised solutions that are almost generalised but can be applied to anything. If anything they are a tip. It is still unclear though whether Eno and Schmidt designed these with a response in mind or whether they are an instruction. These seem like a great addition to anyone, i know id like to personally have one, its particulary the design that intrigues me the most, its the simple idea behind it. Apparently the concept for this came from Eno and Schmidt documenting their problems or queries, Eno saw to document his in a little diary. It was when Schmidt approached Eno he saw that Eno had done a more or less similar approach to his work. So this was their way of presenting their work graphically in a single deck, packaged around a tight black box.