lifefilter: 2009

Monday, June 29, 2009

Hiatus

By all observations those of you who might visit this page occasionally have probably noticed my posting has dropped off. Quite dramatically. This is for a number of reasons, the largest being that after years of relentless posting my creative outlets have felt a bit forced. Fatigue is a petty, yet honestly true factor in why this space is less of an daily inspiration source. My work is engaging my creative juices in ways that dont leave much free time anymore. This space isn't disappearing yet; but i'm taking some time to figure how to rejuvenate it. or evolve it. Whatever it might be.

If you really want to keep up with me the best place is on twitter, http://twitter.com/Lifefilter . Its my simple 2-cents, raw and uncensored. Much easier than posting links and formulating thoughts.

Tweet Tweet

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Citizen's Arrest on Advertising

Things keep living. That means media too. Messages take on their own meaning once people recognize and respond to content.

Well what happens to what's delivering your message? The speakerphone, the portal or speaker?

Meet the Public Ad Campaign.

Their mission "
OUR MISSION

Public Ad Campaign acts on the assumption that public space and the public's interaction with that space is a vital component of our city's health. By visually altering and physically interacting with the public environment, residents become psychologically invested in their community.

Outdoor advertising is the primary obstacle to open public communications. By commodifying public space, outdoor advertising has monopolized the surfaces that shape our shared space. Private property laws protect the communications made by outdoor advertising while systematically preventing public usage of that space.

In an effort to illuminate these issues, Public Ad Campaign chronicles the activities of artists intent on challenging these relationships, as well as other contemporary issues in outdoor advertising and public space.

Through bold acts of civil disobedience we hope to air our grievances in the court of public opinion and witness our communities regain control of the space they occupy."

Pretty interesting, but nothing novel. Culture jammers have been around for decades.

Brain Rafferty of the site's blog says it best.

"One man’s vandalism is another’s political art. Just ask Poster Boy, the Matisse of subway-ad mash-ups."

Beautiful stuff. I appreciate someone taking a media and giving it a gust of wind. No matter the direction. Check out the site's maestros here

Ojo

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Jamie Oliver's Recipease

Uber-packaging site Dieline has gotten their paws on Jamie Oliver's latest attempt to make british food edible. JK brits.

The more official release states "Recipease, a new concept in UK retail, is a chain of food stores where shoppers can prepare meals in store under the guidance of professional chefs. Like many of his television shows, the stores are designed to inspire more people to take an interest in food and cooking."

Jamie's new food and kitchen shop aims to help anyone learn to cook and make food. Its also quite on trend as far as convenient pre-made / ready-to-assemble food, with a twist of its own in stand-alone retail location. JO is quite popular in the UK and US, interesting to see how this shakes out.

Will G Ramsey or other celebu-chefs follow suit? Touche Bobby Flay!

Recipease

Friday, March 20, 2009

Levels of Conversations- Twitter Addiction

So ive been absent on here, as ive fallen completely head over heels into the world of twitter. Its a different scope of communication, but one that has superseded this blog (sorry). Twitter is a more instantaneous, rapid way of conversing. Much of what prevents me from posting on here is the actual time to collect and organize my thoughts. Lame to say but tougher than one might think after a full day of doing so.

Twitter is a more instant brain dump so of course im taking the easier way out and migrating there. This year for the superbowl, more folks were conversing on twitter vs live-blogging bc/ its more conversational. That was really my original aim for starting my blog. Dont worry, still lots of goodie content to come on LF but you can reach me in my day-to-day mode there.

Follow Me

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Microsoft's Vision of the Future

Sometimes to create the future you need to take a mental leap and work backwards. This highly edited and slick production from Microsoft gives us some hope that the software giant is well-suited to lead us to a grander place.

IstartedSomething

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Disruption - Creating Relevant Conversations

In the era of Quick N Easy Content, a few interesting things are happening. One is that a voice can come from anywhere. Another is that any voice can be relevant. Voices can create relevancy, by opening a dialogue or striking the right chord in a present conversation. In a traditional media world, much of the conversation was out of the consumers hands. These days people contribute where they see fit. And i think we are all benefiting.

A new PSA directed by acclaimed filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen for ThisIsReality.org, was created with the aim of debunking "clean coal" industry propaganda. It was produced in partnership with Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection. Clean Coal is one of the biggest misnomers out there. Its also a huge opportunity for us to shut down CC, and move onto Nuclear or sustainable power sources. Yet lobbyists have had such an impact, you will find mentions of clean coal in the last few decades of the President's state of the union address. Nice to see those with the clout and ability to make a conversation relevant like the Cohen's contribute in the right way.

BoingBoing

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Power Brands Change Culture

Nintendo creates better humans than the real thing?

In Japan, apprently so in Kanagawa. Nintendo means so much to culture it creates it. Its content is more relevant to everyone than on a recognition level than they might be. Kinda scary but thats what can happen when media brands are a lifestyle.

Kanagawa

Monday, February 23, 2009

Wikipedia Band Names - A Social Viral observation

So everywhere i go i hear about the social virtues of media and how cool it is to do viral work. Personally i hate the term viral. Its beyond contrived, its just a bad misnomer. Its not some replication bit we cant control, its something humans pass onto each other. Sort like being social....Humans are social, media isnt.

Lesson done. I saw this funny social experiment on Buzzfeed. It states a rather humorous and interesting method to create a new band name and create an album cover.

Go to “Wikipedia.” Hit “random” and the first article you get is the name of your band. Then go to “Random Quotations” and the last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album. Then, go to Flickr and click on “Explore the Last Seven Days” and the third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

Gwyther Irwin was my name, pretty badass no doubt. Ive always had a thing for the origin of band names, and while this takes the symbolics out of it, it adds some much needed hilarity.

NameYourBand

Thursday, January 29, 2009

My New Favorite Site: The Dieline

ive really been getting excited about packaging lately. Maybe its because i have been working on CPG goods more so lately, but part of it could be a rise in my consciousness towards product lifecycle and waste.

There arent many good aggregrate sites or that approach packaging with a non-industrial perspective. These guys really know what they are talking about, and have a modern sensibility and practicality to their descriptive approaches. Check out these gorgeous pack shots.

TheDieline

Monday, January 26, 2009

More Play Please

"Researchers reported on Monday that a growing trend of curbing free time at school may lead to unruly classrooms and rob youngsters of needed exercise and an important chance to socialize."

I live near two schools and school behavior fascinates me as it infiltrates our neighborhood. From the hangout corner tribes, to the not exactly awkward-free process for entering school entrance everyday. What i do see is a complete lack emphasis on exercise and socializing. Kids will prolong entering to have that social period into the first bell's ring. Given how far and competitive academics are progressing, its no wonder it take longer.

Energy and Creativity are probably the two biggest benefits of physical activity and the socio-psycho inputs of social situations.

Why cant our schools foster innovation? Some do. But why do we restrict this?

And I wonder if this is applicable to adults as well? Few labor positions are built around socializing and physical activity. Maybe the modern agency? But how could we do better

Recess

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Stories Move Us

Look familiar?

Nike has always been open to focusing on the little things. That means bringing to human side of life to light. Human interest is what really captivates and moves us, not just technology, perceived value or other less than motivating product attributes that are commodities in today's day and age. These Nike dunks pay homage to Michael J Foxx who played as Scott Howard with the Beacon Town Basketball Team Beavers. Thats Teen Wolf for those youngsters or deep thinkers among us.

Sure there are time and places to be so literal, but this is brilliant acknowledgment of the cult classic movie Teen Wolf that will surely tug on nostalgic heart strings a bit. Nike's ability to take leaps in the name of culture create a curation-like role consumers crave. Dare i say few other brands can insert themselves into the saliency of culture with the tactfulness of Nike. Why dont more brands acknowledge pop history?

AirWolf

Thursday, January 15, 2009

This should never happen

Despite many brands viewing logos as disposable, I think this represents a reason as to why it matters. Brand wranglers, please wake up at the wheel and differentiate your logo. Give it some meaning...please

[ed. note - Added Obama logo after kind observation. thank you friend!]

Clearly this three stripes bit means something like we are predisposed to like three stripes...err. What could this mean?