Monday 23 November 2009

Check out Zimoun, very meditational in an industrial kind of way ;)


Take a look at this Video, it's worth watching all of it....

Great advertising for International Vegetarian Union


Need I say more! Only that I fancy I nice juicy steak ;)

Friday 23 October 2009

How to stimulate creativity? Go live abroad

So that's why I moved to France!

Sunday 4 October 2009

Branding Trends for 2010 from Marketing Charts

10 Branding Trends for 2010:

Though US economists are cautiously predicting an uptick in consumer spending next year, the post-recession landscape will present brand marketers with new challenges, new engagement realities and new rules, and will increase pressure to prove how and why branded products deliver value, according to (pdf) Dr. Robert Passikoff, president of Brand Keys. Using what Passikoff calls “predictive loyalty metrics” gleaned from consumer data his firm collects, Brandkeys analyzed the likely consumer values, needs and expectations for the next 12-18 months and offered the following 10 trends:

Value is the new black: Consumer spending, even on sale items, will continue to be replaced by a reason-to-buy at all. This may spell trouble for brands with no authentic meaning, whether high-end or low.
Brands are increasingly a surrogate for value: What makes goods and services valuable will increasingly be what’s
wrapped up in the brand and what it stands for.

Brand differentiation is brand value: The unique meaning of a brand will increase in importance as generic features continue to propagate in the brand landscape. Awareness as a meaningful market force has long been obsolete, and differentiation will be critical for sales and profitability.

“Because I said so” is over: Brand values can be established as a brand identity, but they must believably exist in the mind of the consumer. A brand can’t just say it stands for something and make it so. The consumer will decide, making it more important than ever for a brand to have measures of authenticity that will aid in brand differentiation and consumer engagement.


Consumer expectations are growing:
Brands are barely keeping up with consumer expectations now. Every day consumers adopt and devour the latest technologies and innovations, and hunger for more. Smarter marketers will identify and capitalize on unmet expectations. Those brands that understand where the strongest expectations exist will be the brands that survive and prosper.


Old tricks don’t - and won’t - work anymore: Consumers are on to brands trying to play their emotions for profit. In the wake of the financial debacle of this past year, people are more aware then ever of the hollowness of bank ads that claim “we’re all in this together” when those same banks have rescinded their credit and turned their retirement plan into case studies. The same is true for insincere celebrity pairings - such as Seinfeld & Microsoft or Tiger Woods & Buick. Celebrity values and brand values instead need to be in concert.

Consumers won’t need to know a brand to love it: As the buying space becomes even more online-driven and international (and uncontrolled by brands and corporations), front-end awareness will become less important. A brand with the right street credibility can go viral in days, with awareness following - not leading - the conversation.

It’s not just buzz: Conversation and community is increasingly important, and if consumers trust the community, they will extend trust to the brand. This means not just word of mouth, but the right word of mouth within the community. This has significant implications for future of customer service.
Consumers talk with each other before talking with brands: Social networking and exchange of information outside of the brand space will increase. This - at least in theory - will mean more opportunities for brands to get involved in these spaces and meet customers where they are.

Engagement is not a fad; It’s the way today’s consumers do business: Marketers will come to accept that there are four engagement methods: The platform (TV; online), the context (program; webpage), the message (ad or communication), and the experience (store/event). At the same time, they also will realize that brand engagement will become impossible using out-dated attitudinal models.

Thanks for these

Tuesday 8 September 2009

Eco friendly advertising...


If you're looking for some interesting ideas on how to advertise your eco-friendly products of services...here are some interesting examples...

Tuesday 25 August 2009

What do you think about Farm-washing...?


Here's an interesting article about not just the way our foods today are processed, but the way they are packaged and branded...can we still keep on branding foods like they come from the farm...or do we need to industrialise the imagery used...would anyone buy butter or goats cheese if it showed a picture of a large computerised industrial churner making the cheese?

With the results of a recent survey in the UK press showing that organic foods have no more benefits than ordinary goods...who's washing who?

What do you think? Are you working on food branding right now? What imagery are you using to portray these foods and why?
Here's the link to the feature on Brandchannel
http://twit.ac/EA-U.html

Tuesday 11 August 2009

Participation culture, creativity, and social change

Inspiring presentation by David Gauntlett, University of Westminter...so get out there and make something!

Thursday 25 June 2009

Tuesday 23 June 2009

Ah Ha


One of my favourite writers on creativity, Arthur Koestler, has a unique way of describing three kinds of creativity:

ARTISTIC: Ahhhhhhhh!
SCIENTIFIC: Ah-Ha!
COMIC: Ha-Ha!

In The Act of Creation, Arthur Koestler lists three types of creative individual - the Artist, the Sage and the Jester - which are you?

Artist

The Artist looks for beauty, elegance of form and solution. It is probably the role closest to the common perception of creativity. For the Artist things have to fit and feel right - this role is about synthesis, poetry and intuition. When the Artist knows something is right this is the "Aahh" moment.
Sage

The Sage is the problem solver, using tools of analysis to dissect the challenge into its component parts and see how they work. This is a role for the intellect fired by flashes of inspiration - the scientist, inventor and crossword puzzle solver. When the Sage discovers something this is the "Ah ha!" moment.
Jester

The Jester is an often undervalued role, especially in business. The Jester pokes fun at things and plays with them, taking them to pieces and rearranging them in unusual ways. The Jester often produces ludicrous results - the "Ha ha" moment - but very often this is what is needed to break out of a conceptual rut. Like the court Jester of old, the creative Jester can think the unthinkable - and say it.

How creative can you be on the back of a business card?




I liked these by www.gapingvoid.com

Tuesday 9 June 2009

Bubble-us helps you brainstorm on-line...


Try it out...it's easy and it might help you to be more creative!

http://bubbl.us/edit.php

Wednesday 29 April 2009

Objectified trailer

A new documentary film by Gary Hustwit,director of Helvetica coming to a screen near you soon!

Monday 23 February 2009

Trend Report: Green, Co-mingling Perspectives

An really interesting presentation about "green" trends and where we go next...

Sunday 22 February 2009

Understand Innovation in 5 Minutes

This presentation explains the difference between innovation and invention...and why innovation is so important. Take a look and think about it...

More Warm up Exercises


"Do you know me?"

Each person is given a nametag and an index card. The name tag has the name of another person in the group on it. Everyone is told to circulate, meet, mix and mingle to gather information, insights or stories about the person on their tag from group members. The opening line "Do you know me?" is used to help generate clues and conversation. The index card is to be used to write down the information collected. At the end of a designated time - about 15 minutes, each participant introduces their "name tag" and its person to the group.



A brand called me!

Each person is given a blank name tag. Explain to the group that corporations are recognized by a specific logo or symbol. (McDonalds arches, Apple Computer's Apple, etc.) They are given 2 minutes to draw their personal logo. This logo should reflect their personality, their interests, major or any thing they would like other people to know about them. Then give the group time to mingle and see what each others logo looks like. When it looks like the entire group has mixed, instruct everybody with a similar logo to form a small group. You may be surprised at how many similarities there are in your group.

Color Jacuzzi:

The object of this small group exercise is to get the group to quickly meet the other members. The facilitator calls out a color of the rainbow: - for example RED:

Red typically is the stop/turn- off color - so each member of the group quickly tells what is the one thing (that they can disclose in public) that is really a turn off to them .

Orange: is the motivation color - what motivates them

Yellow: is the inspiration or creativity color - what was the best idea they've had

Green: is the money color - what they plan to do for money, or the dumbest thing they ever did for money.

Blue: is the sky's the limit color - what is your favorite fantasy about your future

Indigo: is an odd, or different color - what is the most daring thing they ever did.

Purple: is the color of royalty - if you were ruler of the universe for a day - what is the first thing you would do?

Sunday 15 February 2009

The 10 rules of effective language


I liked this, Dr Luntz has just written a book about this subject Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, it's What People Hear by Dr Frank Luntz (£15.99, Hyperion)

This is from www.psychologies.co.uk

From 'Words That Work' by Dr Frank Luntz

1. Simplicity: use small words. The more simply an idea is presented, the easier it is to understand – and, therefore, the more credible it will be.

2. Brevity: use short sentences. This is less about self-restraint than it is a matter of finding exactly the right piece of the language jigsaw puzzle to fit the precise space you’re trying to fill.

3. Credibility is as important as philosophy. If your words lack sincerity, if they contradict accepted facts, circumstances or perceptions, they will lack impact. Tell people who you are or what you do. Then be that person, and do what you have said you would do.

4. Consistency matters. Repetition. Repetition. Repetition. Remember, you may be making yourself sick by saying the same exact thing for the umpteenth time, but many in your audience will be hearing it for the first time.
5But offer something new. If something doesn’t shock us or bores us, we move on to something else. If what you say generates an ‘I didn’t know that’ response, you have succeeded.

6. Sound and texture matter. The sounds and textures of words should be just as memorable as the words themselves. The rhythm of language is in itself musical.

7. Speak aspirationally. Messages need to say what people want to hear, to touch people at the most fundamental, primal level, by speaking to their deepest hopes, fears and dreams. The best speeches make idealists of us all.

8. Visualise. Paint a vivid picture. Take M&M’s: ‘Melts in your mouth, not in your hand’. The slogans we remember for a lifetime almost always have a strong visual component, something we can see and almost feel.

9. Ask a question. A customer complaining to the shop manager that her meat has too much fat in it is less effective than if she asked: ‘Does this look lean to you?’. Similarly, asking ‘What would you do if you were in my shoes?’, puts direct pressure on the recipient of your complaint to see things your way. Making a statement in the form of a rhetorical question makes the reaction personal.

10. Provide context. You have to give people the ‘why’ of a message before you tell them the ‘therefore’ and the ‘so that’. Some people call this framing. I prefer the word context, because it better explains why a particular message matters.

Sunday 8 February 2009

Do you like optical illusions? Then you'll love these...


Michael Bach is a specialist in visual illusion and he has developed a web site with over 80 optical illusions.

So take a look here

Business and Generosity...Generation G


I just picked up this really interesting post on a friend's blog

It's about GENERATION G (a new "recessionary" trend from trendwatching.com)

GENERATION G | "Captures the growing importance of 'generosity' as a leading societal and business mindset. As consumers are disgusted with greed and its current dire consequences for the economy—and while that same upheaval has them longing more than ever for institutions that care—the need for more generosity beautifully coincides with the ongoing (and pre-recession) emergence of an online-fueled culture of individuals who share, give, engage, create and collaborate in large numbers.

In fact, for many, sharing a passion and receiving recognition have replaced 'taking' as the new status symbol. Businesses should follow this societal/behavioral shift, however much it may oppose their decades-old devotion to me, myself and I.”

You can see the whole article http://trendwatching.com/briefing/

Need help with naming your business?...


Then this is the place to go..."The Fantabulous Breadline Design"

As there are going to be so many freelancers out there now with the new "auto-entrepreneur" scheme, this handy little web-site could be just what you need to help you think of names for your business...

Take a look... "flyingweasel.com" is memorable, non?

Saturday 3 January 2009

The Swankiest Homeless Shelter in the World...






"Klaus Weigelt sat on a red leather sofa beneath a sun-yellow, gold framed oil painting and watched the smoke from his cigarette as it floated towards the chandelier above his head.

"Not long ago, I was down and out in Berlin," said the former electrician. "Now I'm sitting in the lap of luxury."

Weigelt, 57, is a resident in Haus Schöneweide in a suburb of south-east Berlin, a refuge for homeless men which, following a €100,000 (£98,000) refit, has been dubbed the swankiest homeless shelter in the world.

Before its revamp, the shelter, which was tiled in blue from top to bottom, resembled the cold interior of a butcher's shop. But Berlin-based concept artist Miriam Kilali took it on herself to rip out the scruffy and less than inspiring decor, and lobbied politicians, furniture shops, designers and friends for materials and funds.

Now Italian wallpapers, gold trimmings, parquet flooring, red carpeting and crystal chandeliers have replaced the tiles, lino flooring and strip lighting that previously defined the face of the three-storey house. The overall effect is of a chic boutique hotel with Mediterranean undertones that would not be out of place in a trendy Berlin quarter.

The finished work of art, which Kilali said resembles a "living painting", is called Reichtum 2.

"It means wealth," she said. "It's a symbol, an attempt to give the 21 men who live here a sense of self-worth and a decent place where they might find dignity and respect - wealth of sorts after all they've been through."

The smell of stale alcohol and tobacco lingers in the air, a reminder that the residents are chronic alcoholics, most of whom suffer from mental disorders and none of whom are likely to recover. "Nobody really has time for alcoholics," said Kilali. "Children and animals yes, but not ageing alcoholic men.

"When we were trying to raise the funds there was a lot of tension over spending such a lot of money and questions as to why these men in particular should benefit. After all, what had they contributed to society?"

Even the residents themselves were sceptical. "They don't tend to like change, because they've generally had too much change in their lives," said Christoph Brenneis, deputy manager of the home. "But we put together a prototype room and gradually they started to come round to the idea - and even helped with the refurbishment and choosing the decor."

The Guardian, 30 December 2008

Friday 2 January 2009

Indian Highway at the Serpentine, London...



I loved this image taken from the Indian Highway Exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery, London. It's The Nemesis of Nations by Bharti Kher, one of the many artworks from Indian artists on display.

Née en 1969 à Londres, Bharti Kher vit à New Delhi depuis les années 1990. Tout comme son mari, Subodh Gupta, elle fait partie de la génération montante des artistes indiens qui mènent aujourd'hui une carrière internationale. Bharti conçoit de spectaculaires environnements d'esprit surréaliste ou fantastique, peuplés de figures hybrides. Séduisantes au premier abord, ces créatures, allégories de la violence ou de la mort, sont en réalité cruelles ou effrayantes, révélant le malaise et le chaos de l'époque.

Born in 1969 in London. Lives and works in New Delhi.
Bharti Kher’s work collects a wide range of images culled from her daily life and surroundings, and
traces the contours of her urban and immigrant experience. The artist questions our notions of race,
identity and origin, and addresses a number of issues such as class, consumerism and feminism, as
well as the relationships between tradition and contemporaneity. Kher is also known for her resin-cast
animals, life-size sculptures of deer, elephants and hyenas, often covered in bindi, the tiny decoration
applied in India to women’s foreheads.



You can see more of her work here

and find out more about the exhibition here