Together& MMXXIV
An occasional newsletter as a deep dive into the minds, habits, obsessions, affairs, and influences of our friends and fam.
As Together& is deeply connected with Another Something, we wanted to share our end-of-year message here as well. To start with a bit Thank You All for an incredible year and for being part of the Together& community—whether you're active in our Slack channel or following along as a Substack subscriber 🙏🏻
While we haven’t sent out many newsletters this year, we’re excited to pick up the pace in 2025. We’re truly grateful to have such an engaged and inspiring group, sharing fascinating stories from across the world and web.
Last week we launched our latest collaborative project called Ten Times (more on that below) and really looking forward to all the exciting projects ahead. Can’t wait to share more with you!
Another year in the books
An interesting and beautiful one, with lots of expected and some unexpected changes. With familiar and unfamiliar challenges and destinations. And most happiness to be found in being with the right people. Old and new friends and collaborators. At the right time and place. In all aspects of our lives. (Thank you all!!!) It marked the end of our time in-house creative directing Atelier Munro and the beginning of our independent consultancy practice. It also turned out to be a year in which a lot has been written about what we’ve felt for some years now: how sameness is killing the distinctive quality of our (creative) culture. And how we have to keep on pushing newness even if people don’t think they need it (they are very wrong!).
Kyle Chayka’s excellent ‘Filterworld’ was among the first major observations to stir up this discussion, when the book was released in the third week of the year, and in the 11 months that followed a myriad of reflections, essays, podcasts and research dossiers were released that dealt with the same issue. Our digital world is more and more designed to feel frictionless. So, with every year that passes, going against that stream, trying to create new waves, is less and less rewarded (literally). Why aim to compete with what “works”, right? It will drown any way, right?
But without friction, one hardly feels anything. And we like to put feeling in what we create. We like you to feel something too. And we hate floating ourselves. Despite its apparent convenience. It is also deeply boring when the water isn’t moving in unexpected ways. We’ll be convenient laying down six feet under. So, all we can really do is to keep on swimming. Even when the stream continues to push back harder progressively, as has been the case for some years now. We’ll continue to become better swimmers. And maybe even find different waters to do what we aspire to.
The ecosystem of sameness, that is orchestrated by endless algorithmic “filters” —hence Chayka coining the term Filterworld— increasingly influences not just what culture we consume, but also what (increasingly repetitive) culture is being produced. In his remarkable book, Chayka poses: What happens when shareability supersedes messiness, innovation, and creativity—the qualities that make us human? What does it mean to make a choice when the options have been so carefully arranged for us? Is personal freedom possible on the Internet?
To the last question, ‘Filterworld’ argues yes—but to escape the sea of sameness, and even transcend it, we must first understand it. Continue to study it, to actually be able to do something new, stand out and have the convincing power to show others to do the same. Keep on pushing.
Once again, we enter the new year with an open visor. Although in many ways it is more urgent than ever to do so. At least to keep doing what we like doing most. And we know that the answers can only be found by touching grass and seeing people in the eyes. Rather than surfing the filters themselves, trying to see what they are about. Find ways on the outside, to have clear perspectives what’s going on inside. If you are looking for the same things, feel free to tag along at any moment. You know where to find us.
In 2025, we’ll be out there as much as we can, finding the answers that we need to continue to make waves that are our own—or we’ll start working on the bottom of the ocean, that’s an option too…
Our first wave is about looking back at three years Atelier Munro, together with an artist we’ve been admiring for years and finally found a good reason to collaborate with—coming to you in February.
Ten Times
As mentioned in the last newsletter, we’re thrilled to share a new Together& project with you — a collaborative creation by
Jorn Bartlema, Jordi Carles & me (Joachim), fueld by Willem van Roosmalen — making it a true Together& collaboration.
The idea for this project came to life during a two-day hike I took with Willem. He kept asking me all sorts of random questions, from my favorite socks to my favorite children’s books, and beyond. That sparked a thought: what if we asked more people these kinds of questions? As a parent, you might want to know the best recipes for kids, bedtime books, or clothes. Or, if you’re like me, you just want to know the best of everything—haha!
With Willem on sabbatical, he encouraged us to take the idea forward, and together with Jorn and Jordi, we developed it further into what we’re calling Ten Times.
The concept is simple yet meaningful: it’s an open invitation to celebrate and share your favorites—the things that inspire you and fuel your creativity. Whether it’s books, music, movies, people, toys, or anything else that sparks joy, we want to create a space for everyone to share what matters to them and, in turn, inspire others.
Or, in Jorn’s words: Fluid and flexible, with porous skins and morphing cores, ideas are ever-evolving, emerging through relational processes.
No ends, no beginnings, no boundaries, no time — they are continually shaped by, and shaping, their environment.
Tentimes is an invitation to share sparks of inspiration, igniting new ideas, stirring thoughts and feelings, finding homes in resonant minds and bodies, touching old memories, new contexts, familiar frequencies and amplify their power times ten.
You can fill them all out yourself or pass them along to friends as an invitation for them to share theirs. And if you’ve used them all, don’t worry—we’ve got plenty more in stock (and they’re available here too if you think of anyone who would be interested to buy a pack: another.supply)!
We really hope you’ll like this idea and share your favourite books/music/movies/people/toys/parks/sneakers/cities/shops/games/apps/plants/ animals/recepies/tools/artists/podcasts/websites/whatever inspires your soul — to light the flame in others.
Can’t wait to see them on tentim.es
Happy new year!
Stay frictious!
🙏🏻
—
Hope you enjoyed this one - And as always, let’s get Together soon on Slack & IRL!
Joachim, Jordi & Chris
PS. There are enough bots and ghosts in our lives. We’ve always seen Together&, human and alive, so please enjoy, participate, share and forward this. And we'd love to see you in Slack to discuss things often. If you know people who should join, let us know!