Thursday, May 21, 2009
Bernard Pras
"French artist Bernard Pras takes everyday objects, combining them into a puzzle that makes sense only under one particular angle of view. He's a postmodern and pop Arcimboldo." via www.bedifferent.it
"Our earth is but a small star in a great universe. Yet of it we can make, if we choose, a planet unvexxed by war, untroubled by hunger or fear, undivided by senseless distinctions of race, color or theory." -Stephen Vincent Benet
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Thieves suck
My car got broken into this weekend in Remuera, here are a few thoughts.
1. Sadly New Zealand’s not what it used to be. Nothing is safe, don’t expect it to be.
2. A password on your smart phone, although an annoying delay is a necessity to protect your personal information.
3. Police should ask for your mobile numbers and trace them, it’s not “a violation of the privacy act” if the cell phone has been stolen and/or have the owner’s consent. Both our Blackberry and iPhone have GPS how hard can it be?
4. Thieves if you need something, a better approach is to ask. I’m more than happy to help anyone. In this case I pray you are brought to justice.
Summary: Theft is a horrific violation of order. I’m painfully reminded that, peace, love, hope and harmony are the ideals I live by. To the criminals involved, this act is disgraceful – I say this because you are capable of great good. Please read my bible that you stole (the irony) – may it clarify your confusion.
1. Sadly New Zealand’s not what it used to be. Nothing is safe, don’t expect it to be.
2. A password on your smart phone, although an annoying delay is a necessity to protect your personal information.
3. Police should ask for your mobile numbers and trace them, it’s not “a violation of the privacy act” if the cell phone has been stolen and/or have the owner’s consent. Both our Blackberry and iPhone have GPS how hard can it be?
4. Thieves if you need something, a better approach is to ask. I’m more than happy to help anyone. In this case I pray you are brought to justice.
Summary: Theft is a horrific violation of order. I’m painfully reminded that, peace, love, hope and harmony are the ideals I live by. To the criminals involved, this act is disgraceful – I say this because you are capable of great good. Please read my bible that you stole (the irony) – may it clarify your confusion.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Design on the bottom line
The fundamentals of design are not aesthetics, functionality or branding yes these are large subsections of design (and all they teach in design school) but essentially design is about sales.
The bottom line is, does "(insert layout)" FUNNEL the viewer to make a purchasing decision.
Here's two great examples:
mint.com/
barackobama.com
Within seconds you know what they're about and where to click to take the next step.
Sure rules are open for interpretation and execution of will vary - for instance the following flash design firm wefail.com/ the funnel is subtle if not non-existent but the animation inspires the curiosity to make the next click.
In short don't design - sell.
The bottom line is, does "(insert layout)" FUNNEL the viewer to make a purchasing decision.
Here's two great examples:
mint.com/
barackobama.com
Within seconds you know what they're about and where to click to take the next step.
Sure rules are open for interpretation and execution of will vary - for instance the following flash design firm wefail.com/ the funnel is subtle if not non-existent but the animation inspires the curiosity to make the next click.
In short don't design - sell.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Stop marketing now
I've grown to despise the word marketing.
In today's business environment when a new approach is needed, we also need new words to aid the shift.
For instance, if marketing is mentioned, a certain approach is automatically assumed.
----------------------------------------------------------
I propose a swift and orderly change to the word MESSAGING. Messaging communicates the heart of what 'marketing' is - helping the market understand a specific message.
Much of marketing over the years has lost its way to masquerade spending/re-investment as effective marketing. Most of which is/has been very clever, creative and just plain dead cool. But as Mark Stevens points out in "Your Marketing Sucks" it's still just spending masquerading as marketing/re-investment.
Insert branding here - marketing people have in recent times felt the need to invent a marketing method that attempts to streamline the messages across all departments, branches, people, mediums... why? Cause most marketing sucks. They've lost the essence of marketing which is - A message that sells.
On this note:
One of the single most important aspects of corporate MESSAGING is making sure all employee's are singing off the same song sheet. Making sure everyone understands the vision, values and virtues of the company.
For instance, how helpful is a cleverly worded, superbly crafted, expertly executed 'global MESSAGING campaign' when half the retail staff are unsure of or unaware of benefits and differences of the products or services the company has to offer, it's astonishing how often I want to make a purchasing decision and get turned off/away by incompetent retail staff.
Your company is the most important touch point your consumer has with your products and services. Make sure your MESSAGING starts at home!
The larger a company grows, the more difficult this becomes and surprisingly the more it is over looked.
In today's business environment when a new approach is needed, we also need new words to aid the shift.
For instance, if marketing is mentioned, a certain approach is automatically assumed.
----------------------------------------------------------
I propose a swift and orderly change to the word MESSAGING. Messaging communicates the heart of what 'marketing' is - helping the market understand a specific message.
Much of marketing over the years has lost its way to masquerade spending/re-investment as effective marketing. Most of which is/has been very clever, creative and just plain dead cool. But as Mark Stevens points out in "Your Marketing Sucks" it's still just spending masquerading as marketing/re-investment.
Insert branding here - marketing people have in recent times felt the need to invent a marketing method that attempts to streamline the messages across all departments, branches, people, mediums... why? Cause most marketing sucks. They've lost the essence of marketing which is - A message that sells.
On this note:
One of the single most important aspects of corporate MESSAGING is making sure all employee's are singing off the same song sheet. Making sure everyone understands the vision, values and virtues of the company.
For instance, how helpful is a cleverly worded, superbly crafted, expertly executed 'global MESSAGING campaign' when half the retail staff are unsure of or unaware of benefits and differences of the products or services the company has to offer, it's astonishing how often I want to make a purchasing decision and get turned off/away by incompetent retail staff.
Your company is the most important touch point your consumer has with your products and services. Make sure your MESSAGING starts at home!
The larger a company grows, the more difficult this becomes and surprisingly the more it is over looked.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Where the web fails
Invariably when talking about technology there is ALWAYS a clash of opinions as to what technology will and wont do.
So let me weigh in as fair as the web is concerned.
Even if/when I can download the perfect Latte - I'd still rather go to my local cafe, talk to my barrister, smell the warm coffee, sit back in my favorite chair, feel my favorite book in my hands, watch other people, here the noise of the coffee machine...
In other words the web is only a tool. If it can adequately fix a problem (which more often than not it can very effectively) it will be adopted as mainstream. BUT, it will NEVER succeed in fulfilling the deep and complex needs and desires of people.
So for those of us in the industry:
1. When selling a concept, focus on the problem and how your proposal resolves the solution.
2. When designing/building, focus on the problem and how your concept resolves the solution.
3. When consulting, focus on the problem and how you can resolve a solution.
Keep it simple.
So let me weigh in as fair as the web is concerned.
Even if/when I can download the perfect Latte - I'd still rather go to my local cafe, talk to my barrister, smell the warm coffee, sit back in my favorite chair, feel my favorite book in my hands, watch other people, here the noise of the coffee machine...
In other words the web is only a tool. If it can adequately fix a problem (which more often than not it can very effectively) it will be adopted as mainstream. BUT, it will NEVER succeed in fulfilling the deep and complex needs and desires of people.
So for those of us in the industry:
1. When selling a concept, focus on the problem and how your proposal resolves the solution.
2. When designing/building, focus on the problem and how your concept resolves the solution.
3. When consulting, focus on the problem and how you can resolve a solution.
Keep it simple.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
I'm alive
I've finally surfaced from the depths of wedding planning!
Here's what's up:
-Been married for four months, flip time flies
-Moved into the Platina St hood
-I'm now obsessed with furniture.
-I'm launching worlds greatest creative agency APRIL 1st in a desperate bid to rid the world of S@#% design //stand by for more details.
-The next big thing Ben Young is mixing things up over at the NZ herald business blogs - have a look, read the comments (new school old school collide!! Glorious) send some love: http://tinyurl.com/d75vux
-Stay cool
Here's what's up:
-Been married for four months, flip time flies
-Moved into the Platina St hood
-I'm now obsessed with furniture.
-I'm launching worlds greatest creative agency APRIL 1st in a desperate bid to rid the world of S@#% design //stand by for more details.
-The next big thing Ben Young is mixing things up over at the NZ herald business blogs - have a look, read the comments (new school old school collide!! Glorious) send some love: http://tinyurl.com/d75vux
-Stay cool
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Fruit of the Spirit's
Integrity Spirits has just been birthed. Their first creation a spirit of LOVEJOY
A new spin on pure vodka
A new spin on pure vodka
Monday, September 22, 2008
The last laugh? Yeah right
I saw this over at RealEstate.co.nz
A satire of the current financial crisis from The South Bank Show
A satire of the current financial crisis from The South Bank Show
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Talk like a pirate day
September the 19th is International talk like a pirate day.
Suck I missed it again.
But it's in the diary for next year along with "Google pirate" check it out.
Suck I missed it again.
But it's in the diary for next year along with "Google pirate" check it out.
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