September 2010
3 posts
1 tag
4 tags
Inspirational Healthcare Inspiration from PSFK →
PSFK has compiled an analysis of healthcare trends from around the world for UNICEF, with concepts contributed by leading ad and design agencies. What’s great about the report is that they’ve made it available for download in the hope that it will inspire others to discover and create better healthcare experiences around the world.
We like what we like →
Study from the Journal of Personality shows that people tend to like similar genres across media. Genres were broken down as: Consumer, aesthetics, dark, thrilling and cerebral. Odd categories, but nice step towards unifying media research.
August 2010
1 post
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Creativity is not styling
Dave Trott has a series of videos up on APGs Vimeo on the Art of Persuasion. In his first video he explains how true creativity is done before briefs are written, or media bought. True creativity happens in the overlap of Planning, Accounts and Creative teams. This is where you solve true business problems.
Via Northern Planner
July 2010
3 posts
6 tags
Getting to know your users: how mobile diaries...
There are multiple ways to approach user research, each with it’s own advantages and pitfalls. As technologies evolve, we are presented with more tools to help us understand the world of our users. If there’s no budget, we can use platforms such as Foursquare as part of a simple diary study. Online surveys reduce barriers faced through offline, and so on.
Peggy Hagen and Natalie...
4 tags
OMG what happened? Free E-book about the digital...
For anyone who was taken by surprise by the digital revolution, and even for those who think they know it all, check out OMG What Happened and What Should I Do? In the spirit of the digital age, Leif Abraham and Christian Behrendt have made the E-book available for free. Well, almost free. All you have to do is share on twitter, then you can download your own copy.
PSFK presents Skills Of The Rockstar Planner:... →
PSFK put together five videos which, with the help of some of the best planning talent out there, summarizes what skills are necessary to be a rockstar planner.
I particularly liked one of the points made in episode 4: Understanding the Human Condition. Lee Maicon from 360i points to the very unmodern consequence of new technology, in that its effect has been a a shift from mass to individual....
June 2010
2 posts
3 tags
Your brain on the internet: Are you affected? →
I wrote a quick post over on the TAXI blog. If you have a chance, take the tests linked to from the article and send in your scores via post comment. If I get enough results it could be interesting to see how those related to advertising/my circle match up.
4 tags
Learning from game design →
Just add points? What UX can (and cannot) learn from games
Great post from Sebastian Deterding on what UX can learn from game design. Hint: it’s more than just adding points to the interface.
April 2010
3 posts
4 tags
Stop making crap
I doubt many CEO’s would be this honest with each other. But why not? If we could all just be a little more open and share what we really believe, things could be better. Caveat: this doesn’t mean an open invitation to criticize for the hell of it. Be constructive.
3 tags
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March 2010
1 post
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WatchInspiring TED Talk from Jane McGonigal about the power of gaming and how it can change the world. It’s so common to hear how gaming is a waste of time and makes us less social. It’s also very easy to be negative about gaming. Jane takes the road less traveled and views gaming as a positive force in the world with huge potential.
January 2010
2 posts
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December 2009
2 posts
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Engaged brand Twebinar with Edward Boches →
Great talk from Edward Boches from Mullen. Covers a spectrum of trends and tips, but my favourite take-away: In 1 or 2 years we won’t be using the word Social Media, everything will be Social.
So true. It’s time to stop thinking in terms of media and start thinking in social terms.
October 2009
1 post
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September 2009
1 post
1 tag
Information Visualization Manifesto by Manuel Lima
Interesting post by Manuel Lima regarding the growing trend in information visualization. Are we heading towards a split between Information Visualization and Information Art? At what point does Information Visualization hinder rather than help? Lima proposes 10 guidelines for Information Visualization projects.
via Visual Complexity
August 2009
3 posts
2 tags
1 tag
I doubt Shakespeare watched Baby Einstein
I’m not a parent. I do not pretend to understand how daunting and stressful the job of raising children can be. Nor do I claim to be an expert on teaching. I have never taken any classes in education – the closest I have ever come is tutoring high school science. Is this why I don’t understand the Baby Einstein phenomenon? Am I too far removed to appreciate these videos? If the results of a...
What if we idolized thinkers like we do athletes? →
July 2009
8 posts
1 tag
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The happily unemployed
The Huffington Post recently pointed to the painful fact that 15 U.S. states have reached the 10% unemplyment rate, and the Federal reservce predicts the national rate will top 9.5% by the end of the year. We’re doing a little better here in Canada, with a rate of 8.6% as of June according to Stats Can. While this is still a high and unfortunate rate, the rise in unemployment has slowed in...
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Stay tuned for a message from our sponsor
Harris Interactive recently released the results of a poll that asked Americans what media they found most helpful in guiding their purchase decisions. I take the numbers with a grain of salt, but one particular result got me thinking. “Almost half of Americans (46%) say they tend to ignore Internet banner ads. Much further down the list are Internet search engine ads (17% of people ignore),...
4 tags
Why does Mars find Venus beautiful?
While flipping through SEED magazine I was drawn to an excerpt titled Does gender change our appreciation of beauty? According to this excerpt, it appears so. Scientists found that both sexes showed activity in the parietal lobes when shown beautiful objects, however only women showed activity on both sides of the brain; mens’ activity was restricted to the right brain. This indicates that...
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Flying the unfriendly skies
There are many avenues to YouTube stardom. You could tell a story about cats, film your child after a trip to the dentist, or capture some other novel moment from your life. Or you could share a song you wrote, one that connects with people at an emotional level. David Carroll chose to follow the song path to stardom. He created a series of songs based on something that millions of people can...