8apixel Blog

Hipsterrr

2010-09-15T18:12:00.000+10:00

Hipster, youth, fashion and dreamy la la land. Alriiiiight! It's what life and all fashion ads these days are about.

To be honest I had zero idea what the feck was going on when people started buying 'vintage' clothes and then out of no where they started bringing the whole era back including the music styles, haircuts and mindset. *omg the CANNON* I'm not dissing it. I actually thought it just added another texture into this already eclectic cultural fabric. It's very Bohemian-like... but.. this video just compiles all the little thoughts that crosses our minds from time to time into A SONG! - yeah...

Buzz Report Tips

2010-09-08T18:52:00.001+10:00

I hate powerpoint. It's against nature...

While doing these reports, collecting and analysing comments, threads, tweets and discussion boards on Boostcrusing (yea, I know it's a forum dedicated entirely to cars = zero interest) I realised not only do people talk alot, but they talk alot of crap. This is part of my job. Yeah that's right all the tweets and comments where you felt your one cent input will justify all reasons once and for all. I read. Yes, there are times where I want to kill someone because the comments seem endless. But amongst crap I find the most honest opinions that no field surveys can ever extract. It just puts a spring in my step, it does.

The tool I use is a piece of shit, and I'm not going to hold back on this one. I end up doing alot of waiting, manual crawling and manual graphing, literally defeats the purpose of buying it in the first place. I've trialed most of the monitoring tools that are available within the Australian market. There are no perfect tools. Although I have a good idea of what it should encompass (that's for another blog post). I do however, have opinions on 'social media buzz reports'. Here are a few tips:

Structure your query of keywords carefully: my tip is that you should always be able to say it in a sentence with a singular purpose
Always think from the consumers' perspective: how do they talk? What is their mentality? How might they refer to a brand's service, name or product? because that is what your query should consist of, also target high search spelling errors (get that off Google AdWords)
Online audience IS NOT everyone: people on forums or blogs etc. are savvy, usually adopters and opinion leaders but they don't represent majority. What you need to be aware of is how 'searchable' is their opinion and how much influence could it have? e.g. Is their comment visible on the first page of Google search?
Be thorough: check source, content and author, ensure they're not spammers or robots
Never rely on automated sentiment: no matter what tool (Radian 6, Buzz Metrics, Sentiment Metrics, Buzz Numbers etc.) none of them have the human languages down to a tee. It's best to find a tool that can give you an approximate but also ability to manually categorise comments so the graphical display is a guarantee 70-85% accurate
Sample size matters: 5 comments is not enough but 20 - 50 gives a pretty good indication. My reports for a brand, I source and manually analyse anywhere between 2000 to 8000 comments per report, so give or take.

There are more, but my brain is fried today.

Social Media Fresh Meat

2010-06-11T14:22:00.001+10:00

As much it is the hype and norm around the world, Australian companies and brands are still flirting with social media like an awkward 14 year old prepubescent boy. This behaviour has got us labelled 'fresh meat'. International ‘social media and viral’ agencies are flocking in from UK and US selling ‘seeding’ capabilities dressed up with ‘relationship with bloggers, twitterers, youtubers and internet influencers’ and 'guaranteed eyeballs' in a bid to get more business.

I know for a fact, the real influencers would never sell their credibility like what these guys are saying unless they are Kim Kardashian or truly believe a brand and have a connection with them. Online cred is EVERYTHING. We have an opportunity to do something fresh but I'm afraid time is running out as as agencies buy into these 'viral specialist' services. Sometimes, these appear to be value-adding the possible reality is that a brand just looks like a wannabe when their content is disseminated this way (bought placement). There are many contributing factors to why they might employ these services - crap content, actually, that's it, crap content.

True 'viral'has no other formula than AWESOME! (content). Brands that invest heavily into 'seeding' services should just invest heavily into creating emotional, creative and fun ideas. Aim to do something no one has ever seen before rather than making mediocre crap and paying loads of cash to make sure it is spammed out like herpes. I'm certinly not saying disregard these services completely, rather just use them when you need to such as when launching it in the first 2 weeks but not rely on it or make it the centre piece for your strategy.

P.S. I saw this video, and it just reminds me how my profession is currently being perceived... It makes me sad because I just love everything digital and will do anything to protect user experience (that's probably why we get rejected all the time). I'm not blaming anyone because at the end of the day everyone has to somehow make a living, but it just reflects what careless 'eyeball' driven social media tactics or 'apparent' strategy can do to both brands and socail media strategists.

When A Brand Grows Balls

2010-06-10T16:46:00.001+10:00

I guess this has set standard for commercial projections for brands in the future.

Everyone knows that creative agencies didn't come up with the idea of 'building projections'... it's the guerilla street artists. It always kind of bothers me that a medium such as this is used commercially. Knowing that in the first place it's all about making a statement and sticking the finger up in the air. I hope brands that use this medium will take on a bit of that rebellious DNA - edgey, brave, design to raise eyebrows and entertain.

This projection has certainly carry some of that spirit through. No judgement, I'm just a bit impressed

On a separate note, a brand that is usually associated with prestige, too out of reach and somewhat a bit of a wank… has just repositioned itself to appeal and ‘fun’. It’s a 180 for a bulky brand with an engraved image. This is the thing, kudos to BMW for having the balls to try something different to ‘traditional’ (let’s go nuts with slapping our logo and photos on every printable surface possible). And look at this video I just embedded, somewhat this great idea has disseminated with little effort… damn! Love it.

Logorama - Movie made of Logos

2010-05-26T15:19:00.002+10:00

Logorama from Marc Altshuler - Human Music on Vimeo.

For some reason I'm being pointed towards everything branding, logo design and print today. It's making me depressed.

Heart then Pocket - When Advertising holds your Emotion Hostage

2010-05-07T13:07:00.001+10:00

I've been contemplating why I post TV ads up and not print, or outdoor? Then, I stumble upon this ad and I realised, nothing can ever replace TV ads and this is one of the reasons why. (Don't get me wrong, there are some print ads I like, I'll post them later).

Nothing can tell a story better than motion pictures - the speed of which the camera moves and zoom to focus; the clever transition; the music setting the mood; the furniture describing an era and the short period of time that we get to spend with the character commands our attention and hooks in our intrigue. The one minute and 30 seconds of footage of a lifetime behaves just like the way we see the everyday - in movements, rhythm and objects that subtly connects us with a familiar moment and subsequently a set of emotions.

We know that when humans are emotionally influenced, our memory either solidifies the experience into an inescapable reminder or completely fails and blanks out. In this case they've got us where they want us, emotionally wrenched. The result is...

Mumbrella: Created by UK agency Adam & Eve for department store John Lewis, the retailer says that the ad – which features a reworking of Billy Joel’s Always A Woman To Me soundtracking a woman’s life story – has resulted in an astonishing 39.7% leap in sales.

Get their hearts then their pockets. (haha)

Putting that aside, you know I only post good stuff on here. This ad worth sharing simply because of its beauty, heartfelt storytelling and where it transports the viewer. A life we've never lived yet it is so familiar. We all grow up, live, love, and grow old - a fact that no one can escape from. An ad with something that half of the population can relate to and executed well.

The quote that comes to mind when I watch is 'life is flicker between two great silences' - ahh citing this always puts me into an urgent rush to get things done, cherish the tiniest details and appreciate every breath. Who knew advertising can get so zen.

Anyway, enjoy this find. Until next time.

Richard St. John's 8 Secrets of Success

2010-05-06T13:37:00.000+10:00

Ahhh too true. I love TED. A little lunch break inspiration never hurt nobody.

Nashville Flooding

2010-05-04T09:34:00.001+10:00

It's amazing how something so graceful can be on an event that so disasterous. If you're reading this and would like to help, please go to: http://www.nashvilleredcross.org

Alot people complain about the video camera shaking, personally, I think it added to the realism of the situation.

Inspiration for the Day

2010-05-03T00:17:00.000+10:00

by Carlos Lascano

Advertising that Inspires

2010-04-29T18:53:00.002+10:00

I just got brain damaged from one of those ‘buy now!’, ‘sale sale sale!’ ads. I swear if I see another tacky 3D animal animation talking to a real person about magical broadband speed or ugly typography I might quit TV. I’m craving some good, perhaps inspirational ads.

Advertising and inspiration don’t appear in the same sentence often, actually, it’s more of a once-in-a –blue-moon type things. Rarely do I find an ad that’s going to ‘inspire’ me to buy that washing powder, take up that health insurance policy or skull that vodka while keeping in mind the brand rather than writing off my urge that is second nature.

Inspirational ads do exist. They entertain us, bring perspective and ever so subtly introduce an idea, splashing a bit of colour into our mundane average lives. I never give too much thought to the brand, not until the end. But always without fail, I find myself admiring their creative agency’s capacity to weave a story and bring to life the saying ‘accentuate the positive’. These stories play on our emotions, dreams, curiosity, identity, moral values, pride, child-like innocence and most of all possibility to be greater that what and who we are.

As an ad enthusiast, I love it when I stumble upon such gems. It gives me faith that creativity and aesthetics has once again prevailed over sales objectives. Ads that makes me feel good about a brand? Ads that I watch like episodes of Gossip Girl? Bring it on!.

Johnnie Walker

Simple and full of flavour. What is it accentuating? History. Johnnie Walker is timeless, it just is. It makes me want to grab that bottle and drink down all the pride, reinvention and drive. I love Robert Carlyle's accent and delivery. In other movies he often came across as a bit icky (Trainspotting) but he cleaned up nicely for this TVC.

Optus Whale

I have to say this is a beautiful ad. I love the music and whale sounds. The idea of communicating to whale is way awesome (like Dory from Finding Nemo but with more grace). If you haven't had the chance to visit their website definitely check it out. I go there to relax. Hope they never take down the site. It made it on the Favourite Website Award (FWA) too!

XBox 360

I remember the first time I saw this ad nearly three years ago. My friends and I immediately put the story to practice. Like careless children we ran around the uni campus shooting at each other. It was fun. It made me want to buy an Xbox360 and let me tell you not many ads have that effect on me.

These are some ads I found crawling through my Youtube 'favourited' videos. I'm sure there are many more out there that I’ve missed, if anyone has suggestions post it and let me know

Get Inspired

2010-03-29T15:15:00.003+10:00

This is really great! I love the 'idea' in it's simplest form. Brilliant! This is how PR, advertising, experiencial and social media come together. No divide between agencies or 'areas of expertise' just pure effort to bring the idea to life.

Heineken İtaly Activation from Kreatif360 on Vimeo.

Go Font Urself

2010-03-17T23:36:00.000+10:00

‘Go Font Urself’- was pretty awesome. My inner typography addict was completely satisfied. I took some pics which I’ve compiled here for keep sake and to share on tumblr.

The immediate above is my favourite work out of all the ones I saw tonight. White on white (reminds me of Mondrian), typographically stunning, with meticulous attention to detail and pressure. Also it is quirky. Unfortunately in my state of appreciation I forgot to take down artist names and for that I apologise. Hope you guys enjoyed this compilation.

Knock On My Head

2010-03-17T13:46:00.000+10:00

That's right, pay attention!

1. START TELLING THE TRUTH
To each other. To our clients. About our brands.

2. STOP THE BLOODY POLITICS
Because we're an industry run by bankers, it is the conniving crowd pleasers rather than the cream that tend to rise to the top. A general rule: in most agencies, those with vision who 'get-it' are bullied and undermined at every turn by those with no vision, who don't.

3. START HAVING FUN AGAIN
We used to be the envy of the salary-man. Why have we let it become so serious and dull? The greatest work ever done in our industry, has always come from places where people like each other and enjoy...really enjoy... playing and partying together as a team.

4. STOP OVER-THINKING EVERYTHING
What we make doesn't really matter. If we accept this, we get somewhere immediately! It is also true that what we make matters less when we over-analyse it in order to appeal to lowest common denominators.

5. START DOING SOMETHING!
Instead of taking 8 months to do 1 thing...we need to be doing 8 things in 1 month. Many of these things may fail. Allow. Today, one in ten meetings are necessary, one in ten people at those meetings actually get it, one in ten jobs get made, and one in a hundred are any good.

6. STOP THE INCESSANT RESEARCH
Put ten industry professionals who know what they are doing into a room, ten people who know what makes people tick, and who understand a good piece of communication from a bad; and whatever comes out of that room, can and should go straight into the media. We absolutely do not need to waste time obtaining prior validation from a postman, a bus-driver or a housewife.

7. START DOING GOOD
We need to bring our clients to CSR programmes...all of them...not just the cigarette boys, the oil companies and the huge conglomerates who make sugary, cheesy comestibles...all of them...doing it cos they want to, not cos they feel they have to.

8. STOP BANGING ON ABOUT "DIGITAL"
There's no such thing. We are all one and the same now and have been since the start of this century. Agencies need to start walking the talk because right now, clients are leaving.

9. START UPS AGAIN, PLEASE
Go out there and do your thing. Don't suffer it...change it. Make it better. You've learned how not to do things...now put that learning into practice. Be ethical. Be creative. Be nice to other people. Protect and care for your staff. Be the next Clow or Hegarty or Chiat. Be brilliant.

10. STOP USING ANIMALS IN COMMERCIALS
Ads with chimps, dalmatians, koalas, ostriches, mooseseses, rhinos, warthogs, water buffalo, lizards, clydesdales, horses that aren't clydesdales, dolphins, the list goes on. These are today's equivalent of Two C's in a K. And we really can do better folks.

Thanks to Campaign Brief and Wassim Kanaan for dropping this on my head.

The GFC Explained

2010-03-04T08:57:00.002+10:00

Very neat video.

Short Film? Ad? No..?

2009-09-16T13:55:00.006+10:00

Watch this!

Following the success of Underbelly, Victoria Tourism thought it might hit the iron while it’s hot and indulge on the fantasy of the Australian public, let’s lead a ‘double life’ it said. Ok, maybe not entirely, but that was my immediate connection in my search for meaning with this particular spot, and yes, I know, gangland warfare? Of all things Katie! *Sigh

Upon first viewing this ad I was torn in all directions, searching for the ‘right’ emotion to feel and cue of my next ‘action’ that is supposably the aim of any ad. But I was left stranded with the infectious A cappella tune echoing between my ears. ‘What double life?’ my brain squealed as the sexily soaked Isabel Lucas stared into the depth of my soul. Word ‘Daylesford’ fades into clarity. What the hell?

Beautifully shot, this ad had the hallmark of the indie, artsy and sultry signature of elegant Melbourne art direction. As a short film, it is most intriguing. Stalking the character as she switches between personas and engage in behaviours that might suggest she hosts a split personality or have bipolar. (Ah ha! there’s the ‘double life’ line finally clicking.)

What was mind-boggling to me was the juxtaposed scenarios. One flash she is an innocent village girl wondering through the dusty old road, golden fields and luscious woods. Then like Gretel having an acid trip, the girl turn into the child of Cruella De Vil and Angelina Jolie soaked in mysterious seduction. Off we go on the adventure where she digs her nails into a mini mountain of blueberries, hooks up with a guy and ends up at the bottom of the lake…(signifying spa)

I don’t know how effective this ad will be. All I can say is that it is an art in its own right and indeed, very Postmodern. Yes, the eternal debate. What makes an ad, an ad? And to where do we draw the line when it is no longer an ad but a mysterious short film that has alienated too many audiences with its ‘art-ness’ to maintain general appeal.

Com’on Victoria! We’ve gone through ‘Loose Yourself’ and ‘Lead a Double Life’, why can’t we just visit your state lucid? Don't get me wrong I am a fan of the two campaigns.

I have gone and Tweeted this ad as well as send it to a couple of people for feedback, here are some interesting ones:

Wiebe (Netherlands): Only Caucasian people in Victoria? In Netherlands you always see different races in promos.

Ella (Australia): I don’t know if it communicates tourism, but it makes me want to have sex in a pool.

Michelle (Australia): I found it beautiful and easy to appreciate artistically, but it was very disjointed somehow.

Tourism campaigns have always had two key components ‘unique, breathtaking scenery’ and ‘large audience appeal’… yep, that’s it. The fill-ins in between can range from using an internationally iconic character (Crocodile Dundee/ Paul Hogan) or very clever marketing strategy relating to distribution, pricing or partnered package deals. There is no doubt the recent success of ‘Best Job in the World’ has got every tourism-reliant state or country gunning to replicate the same scale of impact. Unfortunately, I think it was just a one hit wonder.

What we need to have our eyes on more than ever is how people consume communication material. What matters to them now? What makes them want to pass on your message?

The repetition of the same formula with different images slotted in, is getting stale. One thing I’ve noticed is that people like grappling on to anything that is weird, quirky and totally relative to them, in a secret way that no one knows. Stealth campaign perhaps? Poke fun at the everyday Joe who turns out to be extraordinary. Exploring how to sub-consciously affect their next holiday destination decision? You never know. Just don’t use any invasive pop-up, roll-over or ‘you have no choice but to sit through this crap while I use up your bandwidth’ ad, because I might just cross the state line and make the double life happen while I loose myself.

Information and strategy overview of this campaign can be found here: Click

7 & an 8th Thing(s). Two Days. My life.

2009-07-20T01:13:00.014+10:00

1. Searched For Inspiration: Creative Depart & Vince Frost Blog.

oh man... A typography room?!! That's sheets, pillows, painting on the wall... everything. I could die in there :)

2. Brainstorming & Mind-mapping on my closet: Working on something really really great with a bunch of aspiring young marketers. Job-hunting is going to hell for us so it's time to just do what we love.

3. Found a New YouTube Channel to watch: Check it here...

4. Learning jQuery: I want to kick butt at this.

5. Building the Travaganza Website: I'm loving every second of it <3

6. Celebrated Keely's 21st Birthday: Yes... that is me in a dress. Stoned bartender who made me extra strong mojito.

7. Seek.com: Job-hunting. I'm staying optimistic :) Immune to rejection, not taking anything personally. It's tough out there, I know.

8. Looking Forward to...: An awesome week to kick start the business plan (which I have put off for way too long), hopefully getting that lucky call, finishing the website and find new topic to post on here.

My parents are making their way here to Australia for my graduation in 4 days. They're making a big deal about it, but I really just want to get it over an done with. I have to clean the house to the 'I want to be able to eat off this floor' standard. Anyway... Graduating! Woohoo!

Classic, Self-Expressive Asian Ladies

2009-07-10T14:17:00.000+10:00

Talking to a friend the other day, and for some reason, this classic ad for Yellowpages popped into my head... and I just started laughing by myself, same thing happen this morning in the shower. So I hunted it down and replayed it over and over. That's my attempt to cure my spontaneous laughing fits that seems to occur for no apparent reason, to others anyway.

It's old I know, but oh so good. I mean who can top 'Thai Harder'?

What I like about it, is that it tells a story, there is a progression and as audiences we're given characters to get to know. I love that. The two ladies are played to the stereotypical, self-expressive and over-the-top Asian ladies that bring about this memorable moment...

I'll take this opportunity to salute all self-expressing and 'take no shit from no one' cute Asian ladies. You've got to give them credit for having the guts to do what we often hesitate to do when reacting to injustice or situations of extreme, personal urgency.

Stereotypes unfortunately are, at most time, true. I mean, the 'rage' is totally relative to my mum when she's yelling at my dad cuz he is hungover. Don't worry, my family is normal like that, it's how we roll... ha.

Mixed Bag: Internet, Digital Economy... Marketing?

2009-06-03T09:17:00.005+10:00

Businesses today are trying to grasp an understanding of the internet and what it can do to help them reach their potential. Like the little nerd that I am, I went to a talk this week held by the federal government broadband initiative, about 'future of the digital economy'. There were business people there trying to see what they can milk out of this presentation, but I don't think anyone got much out of it, including me. I expected ideas for eCommerce, show and tell of the companies that are leading the digital economy and little 'crystal ball' moments regarding customer service revolution via the W's. However, it plateaued after he started talking about linking systems, measuring broadband quality and hit rock bottom when the topic sank into measuring traffic conditions and controlling cars... what the heck?

It wasn't all bad though, I got the gist of what they future holds for the internet, but digital economy? not so much. Other than 'internet is going to be in our lives forever and we better get use to it'. Highlighted in this talk were the urgent and 'must-have' for the building of Australia's broadband network, with a hint of KRudd propaganda (I didn't mind it, but some people walked out). Also, emerging trend of cloud computing, RFID Tags, and mobile content and applications. He also raised concerns over usability and user interface (UI) of future systems, in my minded I uttered, 'Market Research and Design!...is the answer'. There's no doubt transition into a digital economy is the logical next step for Australian businesses but the challenge would be convincing companies to throw in a few million dollars to get on the band wagon. Doubts are born from time and money spent on integrating systems and onotology... long way to go it seems.

But I had stuff I wanted to find out!..more marketing related, even though this was a tech talk, I got inspired nevertheless. So I went looking for it when I got home and I thought I'd share it. It's not so much about the 'digital economy' but something that businesses should pay attention to, in terms of communicating with a growing, internet-bound society. The integration between life and virtual presence, community and online interaction, we can't ignore either identities. Whole new social codes are beginning emerge, and adaptation is inevitable. Understanding even just a fraction, would help transition into an eBusiness model, at the centre of course, is customers. Know them.

I found this great video, and it makes clear a few things.

(This was written out of impulse, courtesy of an array of influences that's pounded me this week. Hope it gets better now uni is nearly over, and that I've finally had some sleep)

Advertising. Scrabble, making a comeback.

2009-05-31T21:22:00.005+10:00

I should not be doing any kind of blogging at the moment but seriously... interesting links have been coming to me from 360 and I can't fend them off. Ha. But you know I've got something interesting when I post on here, and today, it's my favourite... Advertising!

Scrabble, like chess and many other board games are seen as outdated and almost ancient in the world of xboxes, Wii, and WOW. Obviously, refusing to say 'die' it's fighting back! The campaign strategy by Ogilvy & Mather, Paris, is attempting to capture attention of the internet savvy, the YouTube-oogling generation, who are struggling to spell correctly as texting shorthand and spell checker takes over.

This campaign is viral and dynamic, reinforced with indie/electro/ pop music accompanied by witty and clever lyrics and powered by provocative and raw, hand doodle animation. It was love at first sight. Very clever. Try and catch the words, follow it if you can. Hope you guys enjoy it.

Title: THE BEAUTIFUL WORD

Title: YOGA

Title: SUMO

Advertiser/Client: MATTEL
Product/Service: SCRABBLE
Agency: OGILVY & MATHER, Paris
Chris Garbutt Executive: Creative Director Ogilvy and Mather
Arnaud Vanhelle: Copy Writer Ogilvy and Mather
Benjamin Bregeault: Copy Writer Ogilvy and Mather
Mihnea Gheorghiu: Copy Writer
Antoaneta Metchanova: Art Director Ogilvy and Mather
Alex Daff: Art Director
Najin Ha: Art Director Ogilvy and Mather
Benoit de Fleurian: Managing Director Ogilvy and Mather
Marie-Charlotte Lafront: Group Director Ogilvy and Mather
Herve Parizot: President Mattel
Arnaud Roland Gosselin: Marketing Director Mattel

I'm so excited!

2009-05-30T01:42:00.003+10:00

The world will never be the same again from today... I will write on this later but one word, "Google" and the wave that will revolutionalise work productivity and communications is about to hit, and I'm super excited! Watch if you want to know more!

Follow Me

2009-05-24T09:33:00.001+10:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin´

Just signed up with bloglovin' to make life easier

'Creative', We've killed it.

2009-05-23T09:54:00.006+10:00

Haven't had the time as usual to plan my blogs, still trying to find a management style that suites me. As usual I'm still very fascinated by everything except chemistry. In all this time, I've been gathering and bookmarking interesting websites and articles, waiting for the chance to discuss them on here when Uni work comes to a final conclusion.

I've recent developed a uncontrollable mind vomit in reaction to the word 'creative'... weird right? It's nauseating! You would think as a designer I should wear this badge proudly, but right now I can't. I'm risking looking like the try-hard, facade-wearing and 'have no idea what's happening' people that's out there. To be honest, I'm even sure if I'm creative, maybe I'm one of them.

What is creative? Putting together the old and the new ? Being so postmodern to the point no one understand your logic? Keeping up with the fashion and trends? Accepting and digesting what is deemed as 'new', fed to you by the media? Being yourself? or.. Just saying the word?

Creativity is so precious. But for marketing and self-promoting purposes, brands, companies, agencies and even educational institutions have tarnished the magic and the genius that makes the word what it is. Hiding behind their advertising campaigns, sits boardrooms full of suits who are as conservative as ever. And other times, it is managers and directors who have simply lost touch with the ever changing social structure and culture that have emerged from globalisation and technology. This word is now soulless, just an empty shell, a tag dangling off some brand. The true original thinkers are powerless to rescue and restore the word to its true and magnificent self.

It's time to think of another word to replace 'creative' because we've just killed it.

Anyway, that was just a depressing thought, now for something to cheer us up! I've recent read three inspiring books.

1. 'Loosing my Virginity' by Richard Branson.
2. 'It's not how good you are, it's how good you want to be' by Paul Arden (Thanks to Camile for giving me the book).
3. 'Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind' by Al Ries and Jack Trout.

I've found all three books to be so valuable for a buding marketer like me. Inspiring and practical to say the least. It is the spirit of an entrepreneur whose passion and optimism has kept me up at night and gripping on to his every word. The wise words of advice from Paul Arden, is applicable to life and advertising not to mention the beautiful typographic execution accompanied by giggle-evoking imagery. And the life-altering book of our times that highlights the importance to recognise human nature and thinking in marketing.

In a month, I have to say I've grown up a little more. Now to video of the day, good old Branson and Virgin. By the congrats to him and the launch of V Australia!

Back From Melbourne

2009-04-18T14:59:00.021+10:00

Mel. bou. rne. What a freak city...

St. Kilda apparently it is where all the rainbows come out and live, a point in the 'Pink Triangle'...should migrate here.

@ Docklands: Jelly fishes in the sea. Lots of AFL fans. Fat kids with ice cream. Buildings that is the brand = IMC anyone?

Camouflage for a Restaurant?... I wonder if they'd ever get sick of people taking photos of their front door but not actually walk in and dine. That'd suck. *Hopes up... down again, false alarm! just a couple of artsy-fartsies.*

A couple of business guys standing in a back alley way, smoking, I promised them this won't be published, but look at it! ... They're so out of place right? The suit, smoking, graffiti and ethnic diversity, way too eclectic, they could be the pin-up boys of Melbourne's next tourism ad campaign - 'We are the U.N of everything. Everything? Everything.'

(North Melbourne+ playing with camera + that's Andy, who had to put up with me. ha! )

Yes, this crazy city is all it's cracked up to be. I loved it. I took lots of picture of street corners, for some reason I found them to be fascinating. In the period just short of a week, I've developed a habit of a Cappuccino by mid-morning, beer in the afternoon and another at dinner.

I'm sure many of you know Melbourne's tourism campaign slogan - 'Loose Yourself', all I can say is..you can TRY, because it is perfectly laid out. Unless you're map-illiterate then maybe the campaign will work on you. Who ever the city planner is, must had O.C.D with an obvious fascination with rectangles, you'd think a triangle may tip him over the edge.

May do a post about some art stuff next...

Human. Language.

2009-04-09T21:28:00.004+10:00

I was searching for something meaningful today, and I found two people. Two very different lives, so brave and honest.

Please have patience with this one, I promise you will be rewarded.

I loved how she wondered and interacted with her environment, it is so simple and so pure. Of course, we are ignorant. It got me wondering about my own language... what is it? I remember what it felt like the first time rain slapped-landed on my skin as tyres flicked and rustled against the wet road and the smell of a fresh-lit cigarette, its smoke so new. All I wanted was to inhale more, to figure it out, carve it into my memories, even though it was suffocating. To this day, these are the only reminance of a dear father to me. They are not words, not pictures but something entirely in a dimension of its own.

Recently, I have been paying alot of attention on how people learn, think and make sense of the world around them. I found thinking is never a stream of consciousness but leaps and exchanges between senses and fleeting images captured in our everyday. I also found that too often people seek salvation in established 'norms' and 'common sense' to avoid the strange looks of examination and criticism.We are ignoring the possibilities by accepting what is, as is. Without giving our own curiosities a chance, we extinguished it immediately. It seems so contridictory. In marketing and branding, all anyone ever wanted was 'individuality', 'uniqueness' and 'originality', when really they're terrified of its true experience. These words have been abused.

Click 'Play' please. I tried deciphering the hidden message, what I discovered was art beyond question of purpose. Enjoy.

...Human is not a condition but people are.

Looking for Geeky-Coolness in a Corporate World

2009-04-05T14:18:00.005+10:00

ok. So I have not had the time nor ideas to to continue my posts in the last 2 months. I admit that, and I apologize. The thing is I was failing to recognize what I wanted to cover most. It seems my life and the copious amount of media and information which I consume on a daily basis is a great starting point.

So... I will be reporting on that and also my strange life.

Today, I've been trolling through a few I.T blogs and websites such as TechCrunch, Filtered Media, AustralianIT and etc. in search of service- based organizations that have successfully used I.T to deliver their core and value-adding services. It's for a presentation and I am super curious anyway, so it's fun for me. (not many people can say that about their assignments)

I know there are numerous businesses out there where I.T is an integral part of their operation structure, but how many of them really and completely emerse themselves in it? Most it's just the usual - as long as files can be shared on FTP and emails can be sent, it's all good. But I'm on a mission to find the geeky service company that not only has their internal systems figured out, but also their ways of interaction and communication with customers and staff.

The truth is, the markets are only going to get more competitive, fragemented and well-informed. Relationships are going to matter than ever. I want wikis, Facebook, forums and Twitter- savvy, geeky coolness that is not the typical google, yahoo etc. I'm thinking something along the lines of a KFC store somewhere in a city, twittering customers about the freshly fried chicken wings that just came out of the deep frier two minutes ago, so come get it... You know what I mean? I can only dream...

I found this:

As an 'ad-nut', I was amused. It's another implication brought on by information technology and how it empowers consumers. Consumers today are ever-changing, in opinion, buying behaviour, information search and totally relentless in unleashing their disatisfaction on every channel they could possibly find to ensure the business is punished. Danger I say.. danger for all.

Stimulate This!

2009-02-05T01:13:00.004+10:00

I spent the entire day with my ears tuned to the radio frequency broadcasting the live Senate hearing. At the centre of heated debates is the Rudd government’s $42 billion stimulus package (SP). The entire Labour party sang in tune, supporting the PM’s latest economic-crisis antidote and repeated their slogan of the week: ‘support jobs’ relentlessly. On the hand, the Coalition had a field day, deeming today as a perfect opportunity to show-off their sentence re-arrangement skills and threw tantrums like a bunch of five year-old kids during Question Time. One things for sure, what an eye-opener to Australian politics!

Despite the drama and metronome-like boom of ‘Order! Order! *insert name* please remain seated’, the two sides did have valid points. I’m here to summarise what one was able to retain and of course poke fun at the a few comments that were made.

Main Points

1. High emphasis on debt that will eventuate from the SP and repeatedly played the ‘think of the children’ card by Coalition.

Umm.. hello?! Would you rather [option A]: job losses, malnourished industry sectors and record-breaking cues at Centre Link claiming unemployment support. Thus putting enormous pressure on Government social security spending leading to low budget deficit in short term and no swinging punch when the crisis blows over. Then we can all dive into a deep, deep deficit. OR [option B] sustained employment and possibly job-creation, upgrade of education and nation infrastructure and risk running a deficit for the next two to five years and come out of crisis with at least an engine running?

2. A valid point was made (surprised? So was I!) — SP needs to consider injection into Health System and Government agencies in order to keep alive small business, which rely upon them. The late payments have resulted in lack of cash-flow, rendering whatever supporting Government incentive useless because zero dollars could be committed to take advantage of it.

3. Accusation filled with weak shots such as ‘Labour’s budget deficit’ were repeated constantly. The economic crisis was not a result of irresponsible Government behaviour but rather consequences of naughty finance and banking cowboys, majority in the US, EU and UK and domino collapses of once-solid institutions. The nation is taking hits from all over. The projected surplus evolving into a deficit should not be a surprise to the well-educated Senators that fill those big chairs because we are part of a connected global, free trade economy. If they are down then so are we!

Coalition need to accept they have run out crowd-pleasers and have sank to the level of pure politics and debating for the sake of showing Australia they have a fully-functioning mouth and voice box. I understand propositions need to be scrutinised but unless they have a better idea then we should just all get on with it.

Biff of the Day: was no doubt with Senator Coonan (Liberal, NSW). It was her mission to be as ‘wordy’ as she possibly could and just a pain. She has an impressive C.V. though. I was all :O

Links:
For a peak at the SP
A Fair Comment
Add K.Rudd on Twitter

Waking Up to Obama

2009-01-21T14:13:00.000+10:00

I was awake this morning at 3am listening to ABC Radio, to bare 'listener' to quite possibly the most important and monumental historical event of this century. The inauguration speech delivered by President Obama was nothing short of inspirational. Yes indeed, change has finally arrived. This day has definitely put all the other 'new' days to shame for me. Already, I feel the dramatic difference.

These are as follows:

- A sweet cocktail of hope, pride and excitement for the possibilities replaced the distasteful health-kick, veg & fruit, 'vomit-juice' I chug down every morning.

- The decision to stay angry at a certain someone, now seems childish and immature.

- New year resolution of being more adventurous is answered by a message sent by a fellow couchsurfer asking to crash on my couch for a few days.

AND...

- My obsession with American politics, culture and info-tainment has just exploded to new heights.

On a serious note though, I love Obama! Even though the road ahead makes Mt Everest look like a walk in the park, the installment of a new world leader with such brilliant caliber, gives me faith.