VUE

O ne of the biggest challenges of leadership, and life, is to navigate the dangerous wave of complacency. It's easy to feel satisfied when a job is complete, sometimes oblivious to the world around you. I've always described insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Now, perhaps more than ever, it's important to rethink the world around us. The phrase "think different" is synonymous with Steve Jobs and Apple. It's impossible to google search those two words without a mention of Apple. The irony is that Steve Jobs was dead set against any sort of change, and it was his team that convinced him to think differently. I recently read the story of BlackBerry and their ultimate fall from the top. I'm willing to guess you, like me, at one point had a BlackBerry as your primary phone, as they had half of the U.S. smartphone market. However, they became complacent and rested on their laurels. They were unwilling to change and evolve with the times, in essence trapped in an overconfident cycle. Legend has it that when a group of engineers and designers pitched turning the iPod into a phone, Jobs snapped "that is the dumbest idea I've ever heard." Thankfully the team continued their work and research, and six months later were able to convince Jobs and make him curious enough to green-light the project. From there, the iPhone was born. I write this as we take very seriously our roles to share compelling and thought-provoking stories. Especially in a rapidly changing world, where ideas and trends can change like the direction of the wind. Curiosity is our fuel, and constant questioning and rethinking keep us from getting complacent. With that in mind, we are pleased to present our Fall issue, which has a focus on home, design, and architecture. Gracing our cover is the powerhouse team of MODE Architects, Daniel and Jason. We were blown away by their portfolio of work, and we've chosen some of our favorite projects to showcase to you. We were also very inspired by their story and passion, and what keeps them inspired to continuously evolve their work. We take a deep dive into the New Orleans architecture scene, which has some of our favorite sights, sounds, and cuisine in the country. Let this be your ultimate guide if you've never been and one day plan to visit. We also highlight some of our favorite projects with top designers here in New Jersey. Read our experience driving the new Ferrari Portofino M (spoiler: wow), the new electric bike from Rad Power Bikes, and the immersive sound from Focal Naim for the ultimate home surround sound system. In search of the perfect housewarming gift? No sweat, as we present our first-ever Housewarming Gift Guide. We truly hope you enjoy reading this as much as we enjoyed putting it together! A Note From the Co-Founder Brian Kovener Co-Founder Brian@vuenj.com V U E N J .C O M 26

• Cover