Buzzbean

The Willem Dafoe show.

2011-04-22T16:15:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDL5yXIWs28

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Hotter than Hot Wheels?

2011-02-23T18:44:00.001-06:00

http://www.automoblox.com/automoblox-originals.html#

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Google art.

2011-02-01T17:46:00.001-06:00

Google's latest project shows that mapping interior public spaces can be just as useful as mapping streets. How about zoos and theme parks next?

http://www.googleartproject.com/

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Wrist Nano.

2011-01-31T10:39:00.001-06:00

I dropped the daily habit of wearing a watch a long time ago, when I picked up a mobile phone. However, this mashup idea of a wrist computer might change that behavior some day – but that device will need to get closer to a junior version of the iPhone on a wristband first. For now though, looks might just be enough.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/magazine/30FOB-Consumed-t.html?_r=1&ref...

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Ralph Lauren's "garage".

2011-01-11T18:31:00.001-06:00

Furthering the case that Lauren is not a designer, but rather a masterful curator.

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The Sartorialist from the other side of the camera.

2011-01-07T10:21:00.001-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5NgG5koPZU&feature=player_embedded

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This should be an ad for something, right?

2010-12-22T11:23:00.001-06:00

For more airborne poetry in motion, check out: http://vimeo.com/17439665

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Not for everyone.

2010-11-15T09:56:00.001-06:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/15/technology/15photo.html?_r=1&ref=techno...

A social, or "personal" network that focuses on real friends? Start-up venture Path is (for now) all about sharing photos with a limited network of 50 friends. I like where this is headed in terms of quality. Is this a true challenger to mass market social networking? (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) At last, there may be a truly selective approach to creating a meaningful network without all the noise of the Facebook and Twitter universe. This is a little idea with huge implications. Is it the gated community version of the socialsphere? Who are your fifty?

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The social media bubble question.

2010-03-24T12:03:00.001-05:00

http://whatconsumesme.com/2010/posts-ive-written/responding-to-the-social-media-bubble/

This is a refreshing and richly considered look at two perspectives on social media's value and effects on our culture, friendships, and business environment. I'm digging the thoughtful critical discussion in contrast to the daily din of knee-jerk evangelizing of social media. A lesson learned.

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Couldn't resist: new Gorillaz album streaming

2010-03-16T14:37:00.001-05:00

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/mar/01/gorillaz-plastic-beach

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Brilliant new animator from the Netherlands.

2010-03-12T10:50:00.001-06:00

<p>showreel 2009 from Lois van Baarle on Vimeo.</p>

Somebody put this girl to work.

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Target launches mobile couponing.

2010-03-12T10:12:00.001-06:00

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/target-debuts-first-nationwide-mobile-bar-code-coupon-program/

Target makes a bold move to start leading digital innovation in U.S. retail. It's a nationwide roll-out. Bold move. I'm in. What's next?

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Going green in 3.2 seconds.

2010-03-08T11:59:00.001-06:00

http://www.fastcompany.com/pics/fastest-hybrids-geneva-auto-show#1

It's interesting to me that the gentle concept of eco-friendly cars doesn't need to manifest in slow or timid looking design.
Sure, the Prius is the consumer image of green cars today, but as these car designs show, being energy-aware is mostly
a feature kept under the hood. Power and agressive design is likely to be further inspired by new sources of power in
automobiles.

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Nifty interactive radio station app allows you to drive and stay informed.

2010-02-24T14:50:00.001-06:00

Looks like someone is taking an initial baby step in helping people stay online without taking their eyes off the road. Aha Radio lets you create interactive on-demand radio stations so you can listen to Facebook friends’ status updates, Twitter feeds, podcasts, traffic and stuff while you're driving. And you can customize for nearby traffic reports, and restaurants in your locale. Not a bad start.

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Augmented Reality Maps at TED

2010-02-15T16:44:00.001-06:00

http://blog.ted.com/2010/02/augmentedrealit.php

Towards the end of Blaise Aguera y Arcas' demo, check out the video and sky features. Also, flickr is integrated to show flickr users' photography overlayed on the maps images.

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The one man annual report.

2010-02-11T07:07:00.001-06:00

http://feltron.com/

Beautifully designed and cleverly written by Nicholas Felton.
Thanks to my friend Dan Hassenplug for tipping me off to
this nutty and thought-provoking work.

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Olympians beautifully photographed in flight.

2010-02-09T15:04:00.001-06:00

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/olympics/2010/highfliers/index.html?ref=magazine

The Highfliers. A portfolio of 2010 Winter Olympians by Ryan McGinley.

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Impressive movie title screen shot collection.

2010-02-02T14:52:00.001-06:00

http://www.annyas.com/screenshots/

Mostly a study in restraint. Some tell a bit of the story.
Others just sit there. It's all art to me.

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J.D. Salinger R.I.P.

2010-01-28T16:26:00.001-06:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/29/books/29salinger.html?hp

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Photography by blind photographers.

2010-01-21T15:48:00.001-06:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8466714.stm

Discover a way of "seeing" that can be an inspiration to any artist.

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A terrific range of classic movie posters from around the world at Art/Film.

2010-01-20T13:54:00.001-06:00

http://www.filmartgallery.com/index.cfm

Search "Scorsese" for a look at a really menacing Japanese version of Raging Bull. Cool.
And they're all for sale, my collector friends.

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A thousand words speak a picture?

2010-01-18T14:36:00.001-06:00

Beautiful images using typography as medium...

http://blog.creativityden.com/the-beauty-of-typographic-portraits/

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Get smart about flexible display technology.

2010-01-15T11:01:00.001-06:00

http://flexdisplay.asu.edu/

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Searchable Vintage Ad Archive

2010-01-14T13:01:00.001-06:00

http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/search?q=monkey+drink

Fun way to scan the history of print ads. Search terms like "monkey drink" and see what you get.

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I am impressed with They Might Be Giants.

2010-01-12T18:06:00.001-06:00

<p>They Might Be Giants, "I'm Impressed" from Bent Image Lab on Vimeo.</p>

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Google "Let's" Users Store More

2010-01-12T17:13:00.001-06:00

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/google-lets-users-store-more-files-online/

It makes me laugh that this is positioned as a privilege. Of course it's nice of Google to offer the storage space,
but it's really just an enticement to capture our digital souls to be further tethered to Google. (Which I among millions
will gladly do.) What's the phrase...possession is nine tenths of the law? Google owns us.

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Google "Let's" Users Store More

2010-01-12T16:59:00.001-06:00

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/google-lets-users-store-more-files-online/

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Just cool? Transparent laptop screen at CES.

2010-01-07T10:53:00.001-06:00

http://mashable.com/2010/01/07/transparent-laptop-2/

Maybe this transparency feature isn't so useful for laptop usage, other than just looking cool, but on a large scale implementation, say a museum wall or a large surface in a public area like an airport or university, this could be an awesome kiosk application. Is this interactive from two and a half dimensions?

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Moleskine bridges the inspiration gap.

2010-01-06T11:17:00.001-06:00

Moleskine, the company behind the classic art doodle book, has created a nifty way
to transfer your brilliant digital ideas and images to your dog-eared notebook. And the
demo is cleverly, uniquely Moleskine, too.

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Apple in the ad business: buying mobile ad company Quattro.

2010-01-05T10:00:00.001-06:00

http://kara.allthingsd.com/20100104/exclusive-apple-to-buy-quattro-wireless-for-275-million/

Is this a rare misstep of Apple taking their eye off the ball? Or is the company setting up to evolve further as a content provider?
Apple as a media company. Interesting.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Navigation Design Trends Just Ahead

2010-01-04T15:07:00.001-06:00

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/04/showcase-of-modern-navigation-design-trends/

These examples are more about experience design than architecture, but still serve up a fresh perspective.

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Nick Knight never takes the same picture twice. How about you?

2009-12-21T15:51:00.001-06:00

http://www.nickknight.com/main.html

Nick Knight has been a celebrated fashion photographer for a while. If you're familiar with his work, you know he rarely if ever repeats
himself, and that's what can make his work so dynamic and memorable. He dares to fail. And in his pursuit of the next way of seeing, his innovative approach has placed him at the forefront of developments in 3-D scanning, digital sculpture, interactive film and a raft of other innovations. “When I’m producing a piece of work,” Knight says, “I’m looking for something I haven’t seen before, and once I’ve produced it, I’ll want to see something else.” If you as creative professional can apply some of this creative restlessness to your way of thinking and expressing your thinking via design, strategy, copy, concepts experiences or campaigns, there is an opportunity to constantly be discovering new aspects of your talents. Click.

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Some of Your Competition - 50 Web Dev Agency Sites

2009-12-16T11:34:00.001-06:00

Not a comprehensive list, by my standards, but an interesting overview of
how shops of various sizes are representing themselves on the web.
Thanks to SpeckyBoy Magazine.

http://speckyboy.com/2009/12/16/50-professional-web-design-agency-web-sites/

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All Time Most Appreciated Behance Portfolios

2009-12-11T15:49:00.001-06:00

http://www.behance.net/?category=projects&browse=appreciated&time=all

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Wicked and wonderful puppets make for thrilling still life images.

2009-12-09T19:01:00.001-06:00

You may have seen Chris Sickels' mischievously captivating work in any number of major publications, ad campaigns or art galleries. He's based in Indiana and has created a style of dimensional animation that is unlike anything I've seen in terms of style, insight and craft.

http://rednosestudio.com

http://rednosestudio.com/blog.html

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Design Miami '09 Wrap Up

2009-12-08T11:27:00.001-06:00

http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/miami-design-2009-the-wrap-up/?ref=design

Design Miami/ is a global design forum and event celebrating renowned designers, curators and critics from around the world. Basically, it's a show and communing of design culture and commerce, akin to Art Basel Miami Beach, but for design. If you've been, please let me know what you thought of the experience.

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Design Miami 2009 Wrap Up

2009-12-08T11:24:00.001-06:00

http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/miami-design-2009-the-wrap-up/?ref=design

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How to lose yourself in a book. Amazing stop motion paper sculpture video.

2009-12-04T11:03:00.001-06:00

I love books...the page, the cover design, the voices of the characters in my head as the story comes to life. It's the perfect virtual user experience. This video captures that magical confluence of imagination and the written word. Courtesy of the New Zealand Book Council.

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Pixar's secret sauce, technically speaking, is RenderMan.

2009-12-02T14:45:00.001-06:00

https://renderman.pixar.com/products/index/renderman.html

Not that many people outside a major animation studio will be in a position to put this amazing 3D animation software to through its paces, but is sure is cool to learn how it works and what it's capable of. When the curtain is pulled back on today's visually stunning animated films – things just get more amazing. And check this out...RenderMan has been used on every Visual Effects Academy Award Winner of the past 15 years.

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michaelrivera.posterous.com
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buzzbean.blogspot.com
312.933.0412

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5 Big Changes In Facebook's Continuing Redesign...screenshots included

2009-11-30T19:06:00.001-06:00

http://mashable.com/2009/11/30/facebook-redesign-3/

It's really interesting that search will likely be getting serious prominence on the page. The whole experience seems to be getting...faster, which is cool. I'm somewhat suprised that chat hasn't been moved up the page. We'll see what actually launches.

Thanks to Ben Parr for the news.

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What object are you? A designer's identity quiz.

2009-11-25T10:16:00.001-06:00

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/objectified/which-object-are-you.html

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50 High Qual Free Icon Sets

2009-11-24T11:21:00.001-06:00

http://dzineblog.com/2009/11/50-fresh-beautiful-and-high-quality-free-icon-sets.html

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Tim Burton Exhibition at MOMA. Check out videos, printable art classes, and all things Jack Skellington.

2009-11-20T10:01:00.001-06:00

http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/313

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Fifteen Inventions Inspired By Science Fiction

2009-11-17T12:11:00.001-06:00

Innovation = Imagination = Innovation

http://www.satelliteinternet.com/news/15-inventions-inspired-by-science-fiction/

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A brand, a category, an item, and a web site that sews up fashion for Burberry.

2009-11-10T09:50:00.001-06:00

What's the icon for your brand? Are you giving it a stage and a voice? Are you innovating the ways in which people can experience it, share it, and help improve or reinterpret it?

http://artofthetrench.com/#/photo/10

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Illustration in a classic style with a modern vibe.

2009-11-09T12:47:00.001-06:00

Kevin Dart's work has a cool sophistication and 60's-era 007 meets Godzilla sensibility. I particularly dig his renditions in the movie poster format.
And it's really neat to see how this style can be used across such a broad range of subject matter and objectives.

http://www.kevindart.com/illustration.php

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Nanotech and the stretchable phone.

2009-11-06T09:57:00.001-06:00

A concept video for Nokia's development vision. It's called the Morph communications device. Some features are molecular in scale, there's transpart surfaces for an AR experience, a "grass" surface would harvest solar energy for power, and... it's stretchable. Thanks for the tip to Sarah Buschkamp at Maddock Douglas.

http://nds3.nokia.com/NOKIA_COM_1/About_Nokia/Research/Demos/Morph/video/morph_concept_small.mov

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Let the mystery and the mayhem begin. A two-player Sherlock Holmes super sleuth game, my dear Watson.

2009-11-04T18:46:00.001-06:00

http://www.221b.sh/

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Doodle much? Check out these fantastic Moleskine illustrations for a little inspiration.

2009-11-04T10:17:00.001-06:00

It's an old-ish article, but it's worth resurrecting if you haven't seen it. No one sits down to create a masterpiece in their notebook...it's a transitory environment for all ideas - good and bad. The important thing is to catch the idea before it's gone.
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/10/22/moleskine-art-beautiful-examples-and-talented-artists/

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Augmented Reality Apps - Biz Week's Best List

2009-11-03T10:33:00.001-06:00

What else could we find with an ARA? A police officer nearby? Or, conversely, speed traps on the interstate? The next gas station? Public toilets? High crime
rate areas to avoid? Planets and stars? Parks? Open parking spaces? Is it just me, or are we catching up with Minority Report? http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/11/1102_best_iphone_reality_apps/4.htm

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The top 50 brands on Twitter today.

2009-11-02T11:26:00.001-06:00

http://www.tweetedbrands.com/

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The word "boring" creates a Twitterstorm in England. Really? Really.

2009-11-02T11:13:00.001-06:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/technology/02twitter.html?_r=1&ref=technology

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Rory Sutherland simplifies the psychology of persuasion and power of perception.

2009-10-29T10:50:00.001-05:00

A true 360 degree thinker with the knack for making it seem easy to think brilliant thoughts.
I love how he uses examples from history to teach lessons relevant to our digital present.

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Google's Eric Schmidt on the Web 2014.

2009-10-28T11:46:00.001-05:00

Start learning Chinese. And get a seat belt for that desk chair. Props to Marshall Kirkpatrick at ReadWriteWeb for the article.

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/google_web_in_five_years.php

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Slide over, TED. Charlie Rose digs deeper with big thinkers, and doers.

2009-10-28T11:33:00.001-05:00

Charlie delivers an always newsworthy and oftentimes sweeping take on current events in technology, culture and ideas at his little round table. I like the conversational approach as a change up from the performance style of TED (which does rock, too). His show is the setting for some of the biggest conversations of the day. And the wide variety of his guests and their perspectives is a true creative inspiration. Check out the latest from Joel and Ethan Coen, SamAltman/Loopt, Quentin Tarantino, and Chris Anderson/Wired.

http://www.charlierose.com/

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The Secret Half Pipe no longer a secret.

2009-10-27T12:31:00.001-05:00

Red Bull + Shaun White = super-tweaky virtual boarding experience.
Apparently, this is where SW has been workshopping his newest latest
airborne shenanigans. Get some vicarious air.

http://www.shaunwhite.com/projectx/?fbid=uBnBKgbi5C7

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The power of visual poetry. Razor sharp idea, simply, elegantly rendered. Unforgettable.

2009-10-26T10:50:00.001-05:00

Simplicity is a word thrown around a lot in creative industry. But it's often in the service
of "cleaning up" an already cluttered execution – you know, making it "better". That's not good
enough,if the goal is to truly change minds, habits and perspectives.Simplicity, when used as
a non-negotiable foundation sets the course to ideas that have the potential to stop people in their
tracks. (see poster above). I've seen the tree – lung visual metaphor before, but never executed
with such artful and thought-provoking impact. In this case, the Amazon rain forest = air = breathing =
life. Or, death. Simple right?
courtesy of:
http://www.studio8design.co.uk/

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Even if you just love the idea of beautiful design at 100mph, on two wheels.

2009-10-23T13:15:00.001-05:00

http://www.bikeexif.com/

I don't ride. Something about the "brain bucket" keeps me auto-bound.
Nevertheless, I find great inspiration in the endless reinterpretation
of machines. In the case of the bikes on this superb blog, it can be
poetry in design – or as some one once said, "Making new things familiar
and familiar things new".

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Cell Phone Refusniks. The modern day Bigfoot? Imagine what life would be like. I agree with this article...it would be a luxury to be unreachable.

2009-10-23T11:14:00.001-05:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/technology/23cell.html?_r=1&ref=technology

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51 Web Apps, A Million Solutions

2009-10-22T09:55:00.002-05:00

I'm sure there are many more left off the list, but this is a pretty tight rundown of the workhorses and some neat tools that are making web design faster and more interesting. If you're a CD, this is a good-to-know. If you're a designer, it's probably a "I already know" – but you never know. I'm particularly intrigued with Typetester for testing fonts, iPlotz for wireframing, and Launch Splash is a neato quick splash page solution.

New from Adobe Labs, Content-Aware Fill alters my reality.

2009-10-21T10:44:00.001-05:00

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=540977923979

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Sellers becoming makers.

2009-10-20T09:26:00.002-05:00

Amazon sells books. Barnes & Noble sells books. Amazon introduced the Kindle. And now Barnes & Noble is introducing it's electronic reader device, the Nook. (Noble + book?) What's so cool about this development is not necessarily that there's now another challenger in the e-reader category, but rather that there's a trend developing where retailers are developing products where they see an opportunity in their customer's lives. The lines continue to blur and the consumer continues to benefit. What if grocery store chains developed a shopping app, or a nutrition label reader? Does it make sense for Walgreens to develop a smart medicine cabinet? The possibilities are really exciting to consider. Or am I just reading too much into this?

They could've had an app for that.

2009-09-18T11:58:00.004-05:00

It's endlessly fascinating to witness the brilliance and banality of the constantly emerging iPhone apps being created every week...day...hour. In fact there's a website devoted to hourly updates on newly accepted apps. But, how about the raging failures? The apps that didn't make it to The App Store. They're a nutty and sad lot of near misses, and near genius. Without many of these rejections, many of today's popular and accepted apps may have never come to be. These failures inspired, challenged and empowered their developers to keep creating with abandon and passion. In a world bent on the next neat and tidy "solution", it's easy to forget that true innovation may just depend more on failure and its lessons than on success. Check out the Top Twenty Rejected iPhone Apps. Go forth. And dare to fail. You just might succeed.

Interactive Reality

2009-07-17T13:43:00.002-05:00

Consider the social potential of interactivity away from your screen. Y'know, in the real world. Life-sized.

If it's engaging enough, like this "Cultural Window" at La Vitrine in Montreal, you
just might have a viral experience in the making. If someone hasn't named it yet,
you heard it here first. (;-) It's interactivity on a human scale, talked about face-to-face, blogged about, photo-shared, podcasted, PR'ed, mobilized, tweeted, and tagged.

Is the idea of a viral video is starting to seem quaint, or is it just me?

Props to Moment Factory for developing the interactive system and content. And Photonic Dreams for creating the original video wall at La Vitrine.

Tweet From The Street

2009-06-22T10:47:00.007-05:00

First, let me say it's good to be back. Apologies to those of you who've been asking "what's up with the blog?" I've been ramping up my consulting engagements, which has been a distracting challenge that I've been digging in a big way. But, now that I've got that in order and chugging along, Buzzbean must get back up to speed as well. So, here we go...

Stweet. It's the street Tweet. The lovechild of a Google Street View and Twitter mashup. And it shows you where people are posting Tweets from...literally – the city and the street...with a view.

For example, I'm on my way to visit a friend's office. That friend can see where I'm Tweeting from, and give me visual directions...like"you're almost here...we're next to the Caribou Coffee..."

Stweet combines the coordinates from a mobile Twitter app like Twitterfon, with the location function turned on, with Google maps to provide a general location in Google Street View. The Tweet is a visual layer on top of the street view, and blammo – the visual Tweet.

The marketing potential of a tool like this is something to think about. Consider... Stweet a free concert, Stweet an in-store product giveaway or demo, Stweet a new store location. It's not perfect, because the map stuff is not real-time. But, providing a visual location along with a compelling event or happening, can add a sense of proximity and urgency. We won't know until someone tries it. And I'm sure you've got a few ideas off the top of your head just while reading this. (Let me know if you make it work!)

I think the most thought-provoking aspect of Stweet for me, is the convergence aspect. As marketers and users of interactive technology, we have to push ourselves to think of how each communication tool (digital and offline) can work together. When we think in terms of convergence we'll be creating marketing engagements that behave like the people we're trying to speak to – in motion, agnostic, and with a great premium on utility and experience.

Stweet you later.

Success By Design

2009-04-21T09:01:00.003-05:00

It's often said that you're only as good as your clients. So, how do you do awesome work if you don't have brave brands like Nike, Apple or Coke to light the fires of inspiration and stoke your enthusiasm with big budge and a legacy of marketing greatness?

Change your perspective, radically.

Look beyond what is "known" about your client's brand. Look beyond the brand history (know it, but look past it). Approach the assignment as if the brand has all the potential in the world to be remarkable to people. David Ogilvy famously said, "stagnation [is] our death knell...". That statement is truer now than it was in the sharkskin suit and skinny tie days when he said it.

I say break the mold. Every time. Try to see the brand, the product or service, and the customer in a new, fresh, brutally honest way every time you're engaged with a new problem to solve. Aim to create a sensation as your first objective, or get comfortable being told "we're going in a different direction" by your soon–to–be–ex clients on a regular basis.

Consumers, users, buyers, targets...people, whatever you want to call the spenders that ultimately make your client's brand famous, are expecting the unexpected. People know crap. And they forget it or ridicule it like a bad joke. But if you can somehow manage to surprise the public, you're on your way to creating the next BK, Apple, Coke or whatever you deem an awesome brand.

It's a matter of having faith in the power of creativity and design to drive the business end of brands. In effect, you have the power to design your own success by pushing yourself and your team to honestly pursue something great rather than something that's just good.

Check out this brilliant, provocative talk by iconoclastic designer Jacek Utko who is single–handedly breathing life and profitability into what may be the most anemic product today – the daily newspaper. His creative approach to design is transforming not only the user's experience, but is also managing to increase sales by double, and even triple digits.

When all is said and done, creativity and design continue to gain momentum as potentially the most powerful marketing tools available to any CMO.

If you believe in your talent, you don't need a legendary client to do awesome work, you just need an awesome outlook.

20-20-20 Vision

2009-04-06T13:37:00.005-05:00

A recent Ad Age article written by Alex Bogusky trumpets the critical and undeniable role "small shops" are playing and will continue to play in the future of the economy and our industry. The "agency" model is morphing and reshaping itself faster than a six–legged powerplant cooling pond frog. And it's a good thing. A forced evolution if you will. And not just for the sake of those upstarts and budding iconoclasts gunning for a piece of the big boys, but because there is truly a fresh focus on the value of the idea within client offices as well as inside agency brainstorms.

This new small breed of creative solutions provider isn't charging for hours, or blended rates, or any other commodity metric. They're charging for the value of the idea. It's been called a "20-20-20" fee structure. And it's pretty cool...not to mention smart. Clients get three broad directions for $20k, specific executions across all relevant media for another $20k, and a 20% commission on production. Win-win, folks. Although I'd take it one step further and incorporate a commission for success metrics (purchases online, traffic, sales within the time of the campaign launch. Twitter mentions and searches...etc.)

Many clients of these upstart small shops are getting more comfortable and much more savvy about buying ideas and not agency infrastructures. And the question, "What's the solution?" is becomming CMO parlance for "what's the idea?" Everyone's finally getting smart about what's at stake here. Whether you're in a big shop or small.

Be careful what you wish for, my creative compatriots, the spotlight and the bottom line, is yours now more than ever.

What's The Big Idea?

2009-02-13T15:50:00.003-06:00

Big ideas don't start big. They start small. Fine. Focused and thoughtful. Big ideas grow from little insights and keen observation of human behavior, habits and needs. For example, the creators of Twitter observed that it's human nature for people to wonder and ask friends and family, "What are you doing?" Nike and Apple partnered and capitalized on the insight that runners feed off of the support of other runners. The result was Nike+, the ultimate runner's coach, community and support group rolled into one. Think deeply about the quirky interests, small gestures and personal behaviors of the person you want to resonate with, vibe with, connect with. That personal knowledge of the consumer is power. Work with your entire team to look for the little things. And when you find one that makes you feel like someone just told you a secret, you're on to something. Build your ideas around that secret and watch that little idea grow up, in a big way.

Drawing The Line

2009-02-09T12:23:00.006-06:00

I recently had lunch with a longtime friend and fellow creative director, and as we were seated I placed my iPhone on the table as is custom these days. Then, much to my surprise, my buddy unpocketed a Blackberry and placed it on the table. There was an uncomfortable moment of silence. "What's with the crackberry?"

This guy's a Mac nut. Now he's sporting the icon of PC mobile devices? It just didn't add up. Did he transfer to the accounting department? I couldn't make it make sense. My buddy just grinned and said, "it's for work". Now, given that "it's for work" was my rock-solid rationalization for getting the pricey iPhone, I was dumbfounded.

My friend went on to explain that he got the Blackberry so that he could make it his only point of contact with his agency and work life during the week, while turning it (and work) off on weekends. Which left his iPhone as his mobile device for personal use on weekends and all other personal time. No work email. No work calls. He drew the line. And he bought himself not just another tech device, but freedom to think and refocus. The freedom to engage in life, family and friends without the constant distraction of The Job of being creative.

I'm not suggesting that you need two phones to pull free from the routine and process of work. But it is important for anyone who makes their living with ideas to occasionally turn off work and give yourself the freedom to be a part of the world you're so often tasked with influencing, understanding and engaging. So, draw the line. And live a little.

Words Of Creative Wisdom

2009-02-03T16:16:00.004-06:00

“A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.”
- Frank Capra

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.”
- Steven Wright

“It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.”
- Albert Einstein

“Technical skill is mastery of complexity while creativity is mastery of simplicity.”
- E. Christopher Zeeman

"Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today."
- Abraham Lincoln

“Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it's done right.”
- Walt Disney

“I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones.”
- John Cage

Sell Sell Sell

2009-01-28T10:47:00.003-06:00

How many times have you heard the phrase "we gotta ring the cash registers"? But before you answer that, when's the last time you actually heard a cash register ring? Whatever. The point is, more than ever before, we need to show our clients we can help them make money. Plain and simple. But not so easy.

If we're going to provide the kind of value that creativity can provide in times of uncertainty and reluctance, we need to think about selling more seriously. Here are a few thought-starters for how you can apply your creativity to have a real affect on your client's fortunes:

1. Think brand. I know this seems a bit contradictory to the workmanlike ethos of "sell, sell, sell", but before you can sell beer, cheese, printers, bicycles, whatever it is – a consumer has to feel confident about the brand they're considering. Does this brand get me? Do I trust this brand? Do I feel better about buying this brand? Does this brand say something about me? If the interactive experience you're creating is designed to elicit "yes" answers to those questions, you're not only close to closing a sale, you're also closer to creating a brand advocate. And we all know how powerful a sales tool one or a thousand of those can be.

2. Think retail. How does your website, online media campaign, micro site or social strategy drive to retail? And dont' forget, that's retail online and off-line. Interactive can push both. Close the loop with the purchase environment. Now is not the time to leave it up to the customer to "discover" how to buy. Interactive creativity is inherently response-oriented. Build your ideas around that fact. In fact, embrace it.

3. Share the problem. Involve all disciplines within your agency to look at your client's goals and issues from every angle possible. That little app that someone in tech blithely suggested could be the golden ticket to the next killer sales tool. IA could uncover a broader view of the user's experience that leads to an awesome consumer insight. You get the picture, we're all in this together. And that's a good thing.

All hands on deck can turn the boat around.

5 Ways To Thrive

2009-01-05T14:24:00.002-06:00

1. Relax. You're in the business of creating ideas. This is no time for writer's block, or designer's block. Resist the knee-jerk reaction to get all choked up over what the future might or might not hold for you. The economy is what it is. But you can control the quality of your next idea. Enjoy the challenges and have some fun. As a professional creative, you're entitled. If you stay loose, the ideas will flow and so will your future.

2. Focus. Your ideas, your clients and your creative partners are what will matter most in determining your value to the industry and to your agency. Keep them in your sights and serve their needs as pro–actively as possible.

3. Initiate risk. Now is not the time for formulaic thinking. In lean times, the competition for a consumer's attention (and loyalty) is not unlike a tank full of hungry sharks vying for a lone tuna steak. You're going to have to push it to get the attention your clients seek for their brands. If what you're doing feels familiar, improve upon it, give it your unique twist. Or blow it up and start fresh. Nobody wants status quo now. Who can afford it? Everyone's looking for a better way, a new way, an answer. That's where creativity, and you, come in.

4. Innovate. Find the new paradigms and modes. The old ways will no longer serve the future. Be a part of building a new way as you see it.

5. Be positive. You have your talent. You are in a position to participate in the dynamic re-imagining or refining of your client's brands. And you get to work in jeans.

Getting It All

2008-12-02T10:41:00.011-06:00

You're the kind of person who sits and dangles your feet over the edge of innovation. You're regularly showing your clients the future of brand communication, immersive experiences, interactivity, and brand utility. Plus, your agency's work rocks, and the client really digs the team. So why isn't your great creative leading to the whole enchilada – your client's brand campaign. Think about it.

Thought: When you say "user" does your client hear "customer"? Probably not. And that's a problem. Clients say, "the web guys are here...", and sit in presentations with you, ready to be dazzled by the latest tech innovation. Customers buy things – like brands and products. Users interface with a device that delivers messaging, utility and content. It's no wonder interactive shops are often seen as one part of a bigger brand picture (painted principally by the traditional agency partner). Speak the client's language, and apply your creativity to delivering innovation in the customer's interest. Think about expanding your expression of the brand beyond the digital. It's going there anyway, why not own it?

Thought: Define the brand truth (for example: safety at no expense, permission to play, affordable performance). Whatever it is, make all your work accountable to it. The brand's core idea is the lynch pin to the campaign and the account.

Thought: Production is not an idea, it's a process. Focus your creativity on the brand truth, the idea that makes the brand unique, relevant, entertaining and useful. Empower your production process to deliver the most amazingly crafted and remarkable experience possible. But, always be prepared to justify the wizardry with a connection to what the brand is about at it's core. If you can make those arguments, you're on your way to earning the whole account.

Thought: Be strategic in your creativity. What is the key insight you're leveraging to get into the consumer's head? What is it you want the consumer to say after interacting with the brand experience you've created? If your work doesn't answer that question mightily, you've lost your way. Sit down with your planner and restart.

Thought: Traditional agencies and interactive agencies really aren't all that different. But the differences that do exist, make all the difference. Think about how you can learn from the broader strategic approach of the traditional shops and apply that to your interactive work. As a creative professional, you'll become a leader in your current agency, and double your career prospects in the rapidly morphing agency world.

Try going beyond thinking like an interactive creative and approach your next assignment, pitch or project like a brand creative. You just might get what you deserve.

Creativity (can) = Utility

2008-11-20T11:10:00.024-06:00

Consider the display ad. What once captured the eye with bold branding, curt, concise messaging, and a dazzling dose of rich media, has now become wallpaper in most instances.

It's time for a bigger idea in media, right?. Well, check this out. What if while you're concepting, creating and challenging yourself and your brand to be brave interactivists, you think about utility. What is your ad empowering the user to do? Watching a cool video or a web only version of a spot may be entertaining (which is cool), but is it empowering?

Ad units can become guerrilla versions of websites in a fresh and robust way if you consider true utility. Try enabling users to search, customize products, purchase and socialize choices. Sure, there are some very clever examples of ad placements that target the user, but how many target the user's needs? That's where you, creative innovator, come in.

Why shouldn't an ad allow people to shop? Explore product options? Purchase? Compare? Socialize? That's utility, baby. And I'm sure that's only scratching the surface of what's possible given any number of multi-faceted brands.

By the way, all the same rules of creativity still apply. Dynamic branding, engaging design and a strong concept are still the price of entry.

(In full disclosure, the agency I work for has developed some pretty nifty high utility ad units for the Nike Store and eBay Motors. However, there are a growing number of other good examples out there every day, and many sure to come.)

The days of creating ads to entice interaction by teasing the viewer with videos, views to more information, or with click-throughs to a site or microsite are not gone. There isn't always going to be a need or practical application of high utility ads for your brand. Sometimes it is all about the video, and rightly so. But the game is changing, and utility just might become entertaining. So start thinking about how your ads can literally work harder for your brand users, and you won't just serve an ad, you'll serve a need.

Motrin Hurts So Good

2008-11-17T14:35:00.008-06:00

Okay, so a Motrin ad made moms mad. (beat) Awesome. That should make Motrin's day, right? Any brand that can elicit a heartfelt response from consumers is a success in my book. Because, after all, this online thing, this interactive thing, it's a conversation, not a monologue. So...serve, and volley. Motrin's turn. And it better be good.

Motrin should and may already be doing some creative thinking and communicating with moms to make the pain go away and to make their brand more relevant than ever. If not, here are some idea starters:

1. Build the Motrin Mom's Advisory Board – a group of mom opinion leaders, including some from Motrin's own mom ranks...maybe doctors, scientists (non-marketers) to capture and act on what moms are thinking and feeling when it comes to pain management.

2. Own the idea of "mommy ergonomics". Post a guide for how to properly fit a sling, how to choose a stroller that best fits you, how to carry your baby without hurting your body in the process. Show moms how to avoid pain before Motrin becomes necessary.

3. Co-brand with a baby sling manufacturer and send out free, and branded, baby slings to all the offended twittermoms, with an invitation to join the Motrin Mom's Forum.

4. In hindsight: when the site was pulled down, there should have been a page simply saying: Ouch! We heard you, mom. We're working to make you feel better soon. (At the very least, it could have reverted to the site without the offending ad.)

I'm looking forward to seeing how this all plays out. If Motrin does the right thing (for moms and for their brand), this could be the best thing that's happened to them all year. Don't just say you're sorry. The door is open. Start the conversation. Thousands of moms now known by Motrin are asking for it. That's headache any brand would welcome.

The Physical Brand

2008-11-10T18:03:00.017-06:00

Grab it, move it, spin it and slide – brands are getting physical. If you haven't yet noticed, touch screen, or multi-touch interactive is poised to evolve to a full-on consumer brand channel. Hollywood first stoked the imagination and expectations of the public with images of highly reactive interfaces within the very non-brand world of futuristic crime fighting. In the real world, however, the fantasy is fast becoming a reality.

The iPhone, the Microsoft Surface and HP's new Touchsmart represent major brand products becoming touch tech brand experiences inherently. And, of course, there are those ubiquitous little kiosks every major airline uses for self-ticketing.

Accenture has brought multi-touch to public spaces at major airports, which tweaks the format into true branded utility – weather in Des Moines anyone? And let's not forget the election coverage, with seemingly every network posturing an interactive delegate map expert/finger painter.

This is picking up steam, right? Yeah. But it's been pretty much either a curiosity or a tool of pure functionality (ticketing kiosk). Can broader consumer exposure be far behind? How can it not?

So let's start thinking about how we can make branded experiences as engaging, useful, unique and relevant as possible in this fascinating interactive space.
Here are a few thoughts to consider, whether you're a designer, or a brand manager looking for an interactive advantage:

• How does your brand react to touch? For example, a Jaguar automotive multi-touch experience should make my heart race, while Friskies might make me chuckle.

• Less is more, and more. Work closely with your Information Architect or User Experience Designer to make the experience inviting to the user's first touch. People will need to feel confident about touching the screen and deciding what to touch first. There should be no guesswork, your design should make the user feel like Tom Cruise in Minority Report as they effortlessly whip around the screen.

• Make it worth the while. Whether it's a touch screen game, map, drawing tool, or calculator, design it with an elegance that allows for quick results or outcome. Nobody likes to stand around waiting...for anything. Especially not in public.

• Design for the box. Remember, multi-touch experiences can be on a wall, in myriad versions of a kiosk, or even a table. Keep the actual physical environment for the screen in mind. Are there branding opportunities available in color, texture, shape or placement of the touch screen "box"?

• Put the brand to work. Make your experience totally engaging, but also make it functional. If people forget, for even a moment, that they're standing in a public place interacting with an experience you created, you've succeeded mightily.

• Overshoot. Good luck keeping up with consumer expectations for a multi-touch experience, even though the format is not widely exposed yet. Whatever they've seen before your design, be it real or via Hollywood, that will be their baseline expectation. Push yourself and your team to innovate. If you surprise yourselves, you're off to a good start.

This is just a sketch of what is fast becoming a vivid interactive reality for creative brand thinkers everywhere. Keep that brand moving. As the tried and true maxim goes, in the world of interactive creativity, it's not about what a brand says, it's about what a brand does. So grab it, and go.

For some pretty cool examples of what's on the cutting edge in multi-touch tech today, check out this video.

To learn more from a technical perspective, check out Alex Horn's excellent brief history of multi-touch to see how it works, and Bill Buxton's comprehensive and geeky-cool multi-touch overview.