Mike showed me Newsmap - it's a visual display overlay on Google's news feed. You can customize the display to focus on topics and countries of interest. Most interestingly is the varying size of the topic display - the larger the display box size, the more the news item is being featured.
A neat way to see not just what's going on, but the news media's weight of focus.
Mike and I've been working on developing a collection of inspiration//tools to help young folks create their own life//work paths. One feature we've been discussing is peer-to-peer mentoring that would come with the kit - you pay for the books/articles/stuff and also get 30 minutes to talk to a "Young Stunner" in that field.
Andrew Zolli's created this intelligence briefing, FirstWord -- which is also a curated 'box o' stuff' that's designed to inform, inspire and connect. Zolli's pushed past the traditional trends and insights subscription services: Pay $2995/yr & you get books and articles, video interviews with thought leaders, their contact information, a CD with links, articles, and access to a 'thought leader' conference call.
While the web and technology make access to information easy ... I think curated information and services like this will find great success as people become increasingly overwhelmed by infinite resources and seek out expertise//advice//direction. The task then will be discerning WHO we actually trust to share expertise and advice.
There are a ton of cool, well-designed 'kits' out there - below is Elizabeth Dilk's Writer's Block Kit ... great design, great idea. I'm excited to jump off this little project!
If you're interested in working on the Stunner Starter Kit - doing interviews or researching interesting careers, please reach out!
image of FirstWord from Andrew Zolli's Z+ Partners website
image of Elizabeth Dilk's Writer's Block Kit via Notcot
Faris has been tawn bout strategy & creative work as continuous processes - not flights and limited campaigns. It kind of reminds me of Miguel Luciano's characterization of social change work as "The Forever Project" ... there's no 'end' to either business or social problems (well, there won't be until Sweet Minty comes and takes us up to play Draw4 with Moses); success in business and social endeavors = consistent effort and constant, incremental progress ... it's a hard reality for type-A problem solvers who like instant gratification and want to put an end to whackness (like yours truly), but the truth nonetheless.
So...I'm still on this "give people creative tools" idea & was thinking this morning... the next level of Picturetown would be so very cool. Why not give more and more people the opportunity to experiment with a creative tool and experience the D40 in real life? Why not turn the campaign into a mission? Why not continuously find more and more small groups of people to document and engage with?
IfIRanIt, I would give a D40 to...
PictureCrew: The Voguers
PictureMuse: Chris Mann & Nikki Jean Leary
PictureSchool: The High School for Innovation in Advertising and Media
PicturePark: The Highline Development
PictureBiz: Tom Szaky & Terracycle
Image via Rocco Kasby on Flickr
I
used to spend hours in high school making stuff -- signs, posters, decorating styrafoam cups. I would troll through Michael's Crafts Store and just go buck wild. It was so therapeutic, I can't believe I stopped. This little Flickr project by "Pink Sushi" involves sending "swap" gifts to folks around the world. The contents of the swap are a smorgasbord of items that are all the same color -- they're visually stunning - I bet even more so in person.
This is a fun alternative to snail mail or emails. Think about how dope it would be to make and receive this...A creative activity that gives someone else not just a warm fuzzy because one of their boos spent an afternoon caring about them but also it's a whole bunch of fun things to play around with.
Alright, boo boo kittys, anyone want to do a swap with me? Or with Pink Sushi?
I
I was trolling Flickr via compfight and came across this photostream by Lanuiop.
All I can gather from the 400 or so pics from the site is that this stunner's probably a freshman in college, from the Northwest (somewhere like Portland or Seattle) & his "muse" just happens to be his little sister.
...there's something very captivating and revealing about them.
They make me nostalgic for high school when I'd spend hours in the art or dance studios just messing around and being creative. The images illustrate perfectly - without the intention, it seems - that aspirational age when you want to be just a little bit older than your braces allow.
At the same time, his subjects seem perfectly self aware and comfortable in their own skin.
Not to get too VH1 Save the Music on it...but think every kid out there should have a camera or a camcorder...giving young people the tools to fully express their ideas, culture and perspective should be a people's priority.
This is one of my favorite sayings from my PIC, Mike R.
MO is the "Show Me State" -- so when he hollers that, I know it's time for me to put my money where my mouth is and start doing something.
In 2009, my living in a perpetual "state" of Missouri means...
...I'll only say 'yes' to people and projects when I know I can deliver without making myself crazy
...Staying up late & waking up early to 'deliver' have to be par for the course
...I'll stop myself from getting excited and over promising to friends, family, and colleagues
...Finding a singular place to put down my ideas
...I'll become more committed to executing against one goal at a time
...Using that ACTION PAD more often
...Spending more time cultivating existing relationships
So. What's your Missouri?
image from Wikipedia
Wow, it's been 14 months since I've posted here. TRIFE. LIFE. But even a year or so later, some of the stuff I was writing about is still swirling around in my head...so I think it's time to just pick this thang right back on up and get stepping in '09.
So, as I'm trying to write more for IfWeRanIt, The McCann blog OffTopic, and trying to jump start projects and products that are going to help the kids, this place will be where I sort through ideas and hopefully where peeps can come to chat/give feedback/holler back.
When the NYE Ball drops in Times Square on December 31st, I'm going to be wishing on a star and making a resolution to be more committed to writing - and that's TRILL.
image: urbandispute via Flickr
A lot of people in advertising and
marketing make a living by knowing what's popping. The cultural
anthropology part of that is cool to me...
Think about David
LaChapelle's documentary Rize (a story about the creation of Clowning and Krumping) and compare to MTV's Dances from tha Hood (a show that teaches viewers all the newest street dances).
Big business exploits culture - or takes culture, waters it down and
serves it up to the masses without giving anything back (MTV wants to get mad at YouTube, but is it paying any licensing fees to the people who created these dances?)...
There's a Nas lyric in Kanye's "We Major":
And it hurts to see these companies be stealing the life
And I love to give my blood sweat and tears to the mic
It's frustrating to see people's lives turned into a fad...their passions used to increase profit margins. At the same time, these sponsorships & partnerships help creative people continue to pursue their passions.
How can we make sure that corporations invest in creative cultures and partner with artists/movements/endeavors instead of hijacking and exploiting them?
