Yes, this is another Steve Jobs memorial post. But I dare you to contest why it’s necessary. We see individuals posting heartfelt responses on Twitter, a blackened homepage at wired.com, Apple Stores strewn with flowers, and a statement from the President of the United States of America himself. In the end, those who knew, didn’t know, and hated Steve Jobs must all agree that we have just lost one of the most inspirational, unconventional and influential figures of the 21st century.

True to the words of “Think Different,” we quoted him, disagreed with him, glorified him and vilified him. To some, Jobs was a steel-hard salesman. His patents were unapologetic. His control issues, at times, megalomaniacal. And for that, we could never ignore him. His work unbound and democratized every creative industry – from music to photography to advertising. From the outset, he reframed the daunting Orwellian fears that marked the dawn of the technological age. Macs made computers friendly. Easy. Accessible and thus emotionally powerful. iPods and iTunes changed the relationship of musician to labels, giving them new avenues of mass distribution. His iPhone flipped the bird at the narrow vision of carriers and cell phone producers. He blew up what a phone could do, pushed, and made room for a truly “mobile” age. iPads mark a new challenge to the publishing industry, changing vertical to horizontal formats. Taunting access. Prompting interactivity.

In so doing, he compromised more than a few business models and pissed off more than a few people. But since when was innovation concerned with preserving existing corporate interests? Where most people struggle with a 5-year plan, Steve Jobs had a plan that will surely extend far beyond his death. In the million hands of the Apple generation.

We can’t understand what the era of creative technology will be like without Steve Jobs. So we cast a furtive look around, trying to determine who the next one will be. Who will step out from behind the monolith that was the Steve Jobs name. Who will brave the scrutiny and continue to buck the status quo?

It may be that we wait a long while; such is the reality of Jobs’ peculiar vision. But perhaps there’s another, comforting answer. And that answer is us. When Apple and TBWA talked about the “round pegs in the square holes,” the ones who create, inspire and “look at an empty canvas and see art,” they were stomping out their manifesto on the world stage. They fearlessly declared themselves the toolmakers of the future. Arguably, they netted out in a far greater place. They actually birthed a generation of people who may never have thought they could be round pegs in square holes, but suddenly had the technology and inspiration to dare to try. From unknown musicians using iPhones to play on the New York Subway to eight-year olds using Macs to change the typography on their projects. Steve Jobs not only exploded the creative industry. He exploded what creativity even means.

The greatest testament to his memory today will be to use an Apple product to “Think Different.” Fact is, you probably would have already.

As of September, Big Orange Slide has entered its terrible twos. To celebrate, we oscillated between smacking kitchen pots with wooden spoons for 3 hours, or allowing our readership to revisit some of this month’s best articles.

Lucky for you, we landed on the latter. And we were spoiled for choice.

Fear and goading on the midway – by Leilah Ambrose
Are Carnies merely the stuff of Lynch films and nightmares? Or do they, in fact, have valuable lessons to teach us about marketing? Both?

Getting schooled on school – by Julia Morra
The future advertisers of tomorrow would do well to read Miss Morra’s treatise on how to get the most from your advertising program.

Luke Sullivan on self-publishing – by Luke Sullivan
Best-selling author Luke Sullivan’s latest work is entirely self-promoted and self-published. He shares some of his strategies in the Slide’s first guest post.

Comment of the month:

“If they can begin to offer new experiences, especially in the mobile space, then they can make some big gains. I believe incorporating “hangouts” (which, BTW, is an awful name for the service) into outside services (eBay? Amazon Customer Service? Education?) would be a real game changer. Their ability to ingrain G+ into the fabric of the Internet (much like Facebook has done with connect) will define the networks success.” – John Maden

In response to: Is Google+ a contender?