I’m back from the epic week-long adventure in the desert that is Burning Man. Located in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, Burning Man is a celebration of art, music, community, and self-expression. This was my first year attending the event after being (easily) convinced to go by a group of my close friends. It seemed like a perfect event to go to during this transformative time in my life of graduating college and beginning my professional career. Burning Man was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. What happens at the event is hard to explain and each Burning Man venture is unique to every individual. I’ll attempt to give you a glimpse at my first Burn.

I found myself in extreme conditions surrounded by constant electronic beats, flashing lights, and loads of dust… loving every minute of it. Inspiration and creativity were exploding around every corner of the desert. The art installations were some of the best pieces of contemporary art I’ve ever seen or interacted with. Art and sound were also made mobile in the form of incomparable art cars ranging from my own camp’s colorful Lego Truck to a giant steampunk octopus shooting flames several feet into the air. The most beautiful structure at Burning Man in my opinion was the Temple. From far away, the Temple appeared to be made out of lace, but upon closer inspection was constructed out of finely cut pieces of wood. The sad thing is, that like most objects at Burning Man, the Temple could only be enjoyed for the week before being engulfed in flames during the final days. Not only was the art beautiful, but so were the people. Everyone I encountered was so kind and welcoming. One of my favorite moments was when a man walked into our camp one afternoon with a bag of warm Dick’s cheeseburgers for everyone! Free Dick’s cheeseburgers in the middle of the desert? Yes please!

Coming back to the default world has been a bit tough, but I have definitely returned a more inspired person. I really hope that I can channel the new creative energy into some interesting designs, especially during the remainder of my internship here at Urban Influence.