About
Uncarved
Uncarved is a tech blog with a focus on design. Uncarved aims to explore how design is relevant to various disciplines — from typography and graphics, to architecture and interiors; from software design, to hardware design — with particular interest in exploring how design can contribute to a more fruitful human experience.
Its name is a reference to the uncarved block, an ancient Taoist metaphor representing pure potential.
Prometheas.com
In Greek mythology, Prometheas (more commonly Prometheus) is a Titan who stole fire from Olympus and gave it to mortals. It is a story which I have come to regard as thoroughly illustrative of what I hope to be able to manifest through my life’s work.
On the one hand, it can be interpreted as a Robin Hood-like story, in which a treasure (fire) is stolen from the rich (the gods) and given to the poor (mortals). I, however, am not at all keen on the idea of stealing from anyone. But what does inspire me about the story stems directly from a particular detail regarding the very nature of fire itself: unlike other resources (like water, food, wood, or gold), fire can be shared without depleting the source from which it came.
So what Prometheas ultimately stole was not fire itself, but the exclusivity of its access.
I’ve taken to regarding the fire in the mythological story as analogue to a resource which shares several of the same properties: education; it is my view that what humankind most needs at this time is universal access to information, understanding, and the skill of learning. This is something I hope to continue working towards manifesting in any way I am able, for as long as I draw breath.
And so over the years, I’ve taken on “Prometheas” as a nom de plume to keep myself mindful this story and to invoke its spirit.
The Author
I am John Lianoglou, its author. In a nutshell, I’m an IT exec with a passion for systems design, an adoration of language, a bent towards philosophy, a taste for coffee, and a BFA.
