the main page will be updated, adding a link to the article to the top of the queue
3 archives will be updated (main archives, category archives, and date archives)
So by now, you should be able to see how much of a time saver a CMS can be. One important thing to note is that it's much easier and economical to build the site from the ground up with a content management system. Converting a site to function with a CMS is doing a lot of work over as new pages are made and the old content is loaded into the system. So, if you are thinking about establishing a presence on the web, or are overhauling your current site, give some serious thought to utilizing a CMS. It may cost more up front, but if you anticipate a need for constant updates and expansion, it will be more than worth it in time and effort saved.
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A healthy creative classtag:www.brc60.com,2008:/brcnew/pattern//21.7052008-08-07T18:30:57Z2008-11-06T16:41:11ZBY LINDA BRANDT : : THIS ARTICLE TALKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CREATIVE CLASS in developing thriving communities, and includes a discussion of what it takes to truly “connect” and retain young talent (YPs)...Bill Ronat
THE AUGUST 2008 ISSUE OF "SPACECOAST BUSINESS".)
“Now it is the intrinsically human ability to create new ideas, new technologies, new business models, new cultural forms, and whole new industries that really matters.”
-- Richard Florida.
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The truth is that “more people than ever before are getting to do creative work for a living.”
From architects and engineers, scientists and artists, writers and planners, analysts and designers, the creative class has been on the rise for many decades but dramatically so since 1980. Nationally, the creative sector of the economy (according to Richard Florida, in The Flight of the Creative Class: The New Global Competition for Talent,” 2007) accounts for more than 30% of employment and nearly half of total wages, roughly equal to the manufacturing and service sectors combined.
While some may dispute the exact percentages, no one can deny the power of the creative class. If you live on the Space Coast, you are probably saying to yourself, the figures must be even higher here.
That’s wonderful, but it’s also challenging, as there is evidence that capturing and retaining a thriving creative class (particularly knowledge workers and innovation leaders) is getting significantly more difficult.
Howard Lance, Harris Corporation’s CEO, has said we’re in “a war for talent.” Creative workers have choices. Creative workers are desired, competed for and attracted away. So it is not just the fight to secure desired contributors, it is a fight to keep them.
Any CEO of one of our major companies--and any owner of a small business, too--can tell you about the hard and soft costs that come with the loss of key employees. Some of that loss is very visible (orientation, training and recruitment costs, etc.) and some of that is less visible but devastating (loss of knowledge at critical junctures, loss of momentum or continuity on key projects, and destruction of motivation among other workers when people are leaving vs. desiring to stay).
There is general agreement that economic growth will emanate from creative or knowledge-based occupations. That’s why it’s important to acknowledge the contributions of the creative class and pay attention to not just what brings them here but what keeps them here—thriving, happy and connected.
It is that last word (connected) which Next Generation Consulting has told us is so critical, in a study conducted in 2005 for LEAD Brevard (with a grant from the Brevard Workforce Development Board). This study addresses what it takes to keep YPs (young professionals) in our area.
The Next Generation Consulting study revealed several things worth our consideration. One significant finding tells us that our YPs have a high need to contribute on the job and in the community.
They want to make connections and discover ways they can make a difference and help guide the future. They want to serve on non-profit boards, but many boards fail to see the considerable potential and value of the perspective gained by nurturing 20-somethings and 30-somethings as members.
The study tells us young professionals want and require significant ways to grow on the job, not be pigeonholed as new or too young, needing to wait in the wings, pay dues, etc. Business leaders should take note, because that simply isn’t going to cut it for our emerging talent base. If an organization has not yet made this shift in their culture, to proactively open doors at any age for those who desire and have earned it, the change is overdue.
Learning and development opportunities help bind talent to organizations, but in and of itself, it is not enough. The Next Generation Consulting study tells us young professionals wants to make connections within communities and become rooted. They want options where this can happen. They want green spaces and arts and meeting places. They want a wide variety of cultural offerings and places for casual arts, entertainment and conversation. And, they want where they live to be a place that welcomes cultural and people diversity.
The need for these welcoming “third places”—the third component of a three legged stool (home, work and third places to gather and connect)—supports integration into a community and has been well documented. This puts into focus the need to encourage:
> the development of the Eau Gallie Arts District,
>Main Street programs,
>the revitalization of downtown Titusville,
>enhancements to Riverfront Park in Cocoa Village,
>private/public partnerships—such as between Florida Tech and the City of Melbourne—to consider the rejuvenation of the old Strawbridge High School (next door to Henegar Center)
>as well as other ideas to enrich spaces for a variety of social and cultural gatherings.
Paying attention to the needs of our emerging workforce—making sure we have proactively in place that which makes us competitive as a set of communities—is even more significant here on the Space Coast, with an aging, retiring workforce in key arenas. The need to assure we have what it takes to attract—and then keep—new contributors, new blood, new talents will become more keenly understood as we all work together to fill the gap created by shifts in NASA’s programs and tumultuous budgeting realities.
As our economic development professionals, agencies and organizations (state and local) work together to uncover new and interested participants in our economy, fit new needs to existing and changing workforce, and move to solve the challenges we face here, we will have unusual and unusually exciting opportunities.
Will we be ready? Will we stack up against other areas in providing the kind of quality of life emerging (or experienced) talent wants? Will we have looked at our area, not with a blind eye, but with a realistic one, and at least have in the pipeline here the kinds of critical efforts, developing the social and cultural offerings that are required? Will we be ready to help new people get integrated—truly connected—so we can keep them and engage them as part of the solution, growing roots here? Or will we be playing catch-up to other areas who understand the nuances of what a community must strive to be?
Taking a job, deciding to come here to Brevard, is never just the wages, never just the job, never just the cost of living; it is a series of decisions and factors that fall into place. Staying here, on the other hand, is very much about PLACE. Is it where I want to live? Does it provide the stimulation and options I need? Can I see myself here in 15 years?
As we proceed and make choices as a community, as a county, it is critical that we are not short-sighted. We should listen to those who are studying the movements of creative class workers and make sure we have prioritized those factors that make us a textured, vibrant, vital, stimulating place to be.
A Giant, a Fairey and Obama walk into a bar…tag:www.brc60.com,2008:/brcnew/pattern//21.7042008-08-01T23:01:36Z2008-08-14T16:29:12ZBY JENISE OSANI : : ACCORDING TO A POST ON WWW.DESIGNOBSERVER.COM, BARACK OBAMA DID NOT ORIGINALLY LIKE HIS LOGO—a sun rising over a field in the shape of an O, symbolizing hope and opportunity—because he...Bill Ronat
WWW.DESIGNOBSERVER.COM, BARACK OBAMA DID NOT ORIGINALLY LIKE HIS LOGO—a sun rising over a field in the shape of an O, symbolizing hope and opportunity—because he thought it looked too polished and corporate. Not to worry, Obama, there is an underground Fairey spreading HOPE and keeping things real.]]>
The Giant and Fairey Walked in First.
Known for underground propaganda design, Shepard Fairey has been a force in the design and art scene since the late 1980s. His career started with the now famous “André the Giant Has a Posse” street art campaign that was initially distributed by members of the skate culture. Eventually, under pressure from a potential lawsuit with Titan Sports, Inc., Fairey changed the campaign to an abstracted image of the Giant’s face with the words “OBEY.” It has virally grown to be seen, well, everywhere. From street signs to an episode of the Family Guy (where in an effort to help with restoration, Peter repaints the Sistine Chapel ceiling with the image of the Giant), the “OBEY” campaign is the epitome of guerilla marketing.
According to Fairey’s manifesto, the original purpose of the OBEY campaign was to, "stimulate curiosity and bring people to question both the campaign and their relationship with their surroundings— because people are not used to seeing advertisements or propaganda for which the motive is not obvious."
One of his most recent projects is stimulating a lot of talk and questioning, but, this time, his motive is clear.
They saved a seat for Obama.
Fairey states in an interview with Jeff Peer for Creativity magazine, “I think I'm a pretty good judge of character, and my feeling about Barack is he stuck his neck out by being against the war. He always seems to speak his mind whether it's the popular position or not, and he just seems like he follows what he believes in, which impresses me. So I decided I'd support him and put up my own money to do so. Some people asked me why I don't wait until he's got the Democratic nomination, but if you want a candidate to win, why not try your best to ensure he actually gets the nomination?”
Fairey’s recent self-release of “HOPE” posters in support of Obama sold out in minutes and created a wave of support showing up on hoodies, t-shirts, buttons and walls. Diverse musicians like rapper LL Cool J and Scott Ian of the metal band Anthrax have been seen wearing the t-shirt. One of Fairey’s limited edition “HOPE” prints recently sold on eBay for $2,000, with 10% of the proceeds going to Obama’s campaign.
Of course, this has spawned a wave of spoofs too. Also on eBay are “NOPE” stickers as well as other spoofs like those seen below.
So, what did the bartender say? The medium is the message.
Fairey’s “HOPE” campaign has become another excellent example of guerilla marketing where the art and the message are passed along from one person to another, with the effects of compounding exposure. And not so coincidentally, isn’t that one of the main parts of Obama’s platform—coming together in a different way for change? Obama’s message has found a perfect medium which is not always seen in typical political campaigning.
People are inspired by the art and the candidate to the point that they are creating their own spin-offs and passing them along, spreading the message in a way that all the advertising dollars in the world could not buy. This is when design and advertising are at their best--when the message and the medium gel for the greatest possible outcome.
Aside from Fairey’s “HOPE” posters, Obama’s campaign is one of the most sophisticated and well-crafted brands ever in political history, and the first that truly embraces guerilla and viral marketing techniques. In fact, there is a new spinoff to his website that allows people to slightly alter his logo for personal use. The site reads: “That’s what Obama is representing... someone who wants all of us to participate in changing the world. And together, we can make this change, one logo at a time.” (See for yourself www.logobama.com.)
So, it looks like Obama’s logo has grown on him…maybe it just took a Giant and Fairey to help him see the way.
]]>
Deconstructing contractor adstag:www.brc60.com,2008:/brcnew/pattern//21.7002008-07-28T22:39:56Z2008-07-28T22:48:48ZBY LK HANSEN : : EVERY NOW AND THEN, I LIKE TO PRETEND THAT I'M NOT IN THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY, AND SEE WHAT TYPES OF MARKETING WORKS FOR ME. Recently, life provided me with the...Lisa
BY LK HANSEN : : EVERY NOW AND THEN, I LIKE TO PRETEND THAT I'M NOT IN THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY, AND SEE WHAT TYPES OF MARKETING WORKS FOR ME.
Recently, life provided me with the perfect opportunity to do just this, as I am remodeling two bathrooms in my house. I always receive the requisite ad flyers in my mailbox daily, and I decided to break them open for a change, and take a look.
It was my lucky day—the junk mail fairy had been generous, and I had not one, not two, but three advertising circulars. Now, I have to admit, these advertisers have an uphill battle. Not everyone out there is like me, pouring over every page looking for bathroom contractors. However, they deliver these things consistently. Consistency is the holy grail of direct mail, so they have a high chance of reaching an individual like me on the exact day I am looking for a particular service. I couldn’t decide if it was my lucky day or their lucky day. Either way, I was appreciative that I didn’t have scour the Yellow Pages for phone numbers, or beat up my friends for referrals.
After flipping through each and every page—and convincing my husband that I had not gone off the deep end—I ended up with 11 general contractor advertisements related to my remodeling project. I decided to lay them all out on the kitchen table to see what was the most engaging.
My background as a graphic designer seriously skewed my first observation. I was simply drawn to the ones where the information was clearly presented. Since I had 11 ads, any one that wasn’t crammed to the gills with text immediately stood out. I could read it, and read it I did. I set aside 9 of the 11 ads which passed the ‘easy to read’ test.
The next criteria—does the ad generate enough interest for me to take action? I found that ads which used actual pictures made a huge impact on my decisions. The two ads that contained little design and photography got tossed. “These can’t possibly help me…how can I tell they know what they are doing?” I asked myself.
Another bonus was insurance and contractor IDs. As much as I used to fight placing these items on collateral I would personally design, the value suddenly became crystal clear. (I make a mental note to not fight this request at my job in the future.) Just as my clients said…their inclusion does made the ads feel more credible. I don’t particularly know what to do with these two little numbers, or how they can prevent my contractor from blowing up my plumbing, but they feel reassuring. I pitched all ads which didn’t contain these golden nuggets. I’m down to 5.
Now, what about coupons? Bathroom remodeling costs add up fast, so I’m up for all the help I can get. (Although, I fight wondering if they just mark up their original prices to magically equal the amount of the coupon. I let the thought pass.) All of my remaining ads have coupons. Hmmm. A wash. However, four of the ads used a simple technique of ‘highlighting’ their best benefits. They also had ‘free estimate’ highlighted. I love the fact that someone took the time to make the best information easy to find. Save.
Ok, now it’s time to get picky. Some of the ads made better use of their 4-color printing than others. Several used similar colors, which I found confusing. I wondered if they were the same company. I wondered if they were related companies. The contractors which stuck to a unique color scheme ended up being my two top choices. And it was apparent that they were aware of what the competition was using. There was no question in my mind that my top two choices were independent companies. And, being a designer, I was a total sucker for their good logos. The lesson here: Make sure you don’t look like your competition unless you want to be lumped together with them!
So, I ended up with two top choices and one backup…based purely on ad design. This probably isn’t the safest way to hire a bathroom contractor, but with my busy schedule, it will have to do. And, after my hour spent reviewing ads, I’m feeling pretty good about my options. The ad design definitely set my top three ads apart. From using a good logo to appropriate photography, from consistent messaging to on-target offers…they all added up to help them rise above the clutter. And if the contractor secures my bathroom job, the dollars they spent to create a good ad will pay off.
FREE - Earl, from the NBC tv hit "My Name is Earl", attempts to right some wrongs he has made in his life in order to realign his karma. Make your own list this year and check off items as you go—it will provide a good laugh and a trip down memory lane. You can download your own tags here.
$5-10 - Get a custom tutu for every little girl in your life. If you decide to make them yourself, you'll have plenty to do in front of the TV for the next few weeks between holiday gatherings and wrapping gifts. Buy one here, or get directions for making your own here.
$8.95 - Can you find the monkey? An exciting new version of the classic sleight-of-hand game! Practice deceptive tricks for more fun.
3 for $9.95 - With witty lines, beautifully letterpressed on recycled paper, popptags will make an impression at your next get-together. Just sign the back of the tag, slip the attached ribbon around the neck of the wine bottle and you're good to go.
$9.95 - Get a grip on this handy Monkey peeler. He is easy to handle and peels with ease. Swivel the blade to the side and it becomes a potato eye romover. Dishwasher safe.
$9.95 - Mug shots of 244 cats behaving badly, reeking havoc, and sporting bad attitudes fill this book with demented fun. After reading Bad Cat, you’ll think twice about dressing Chester in oversized sunglasses (he may be using them as a disguise to whack your neighbor’s cockatoo).
$19.99 for 100 - This holiday, make MiniCards with a photo of each person you’re giving a gift to. Use them as a gift tag, and we bet they’ll be treasured almost as much as the present itself! No photos? Make Text MiniCards with everyone’s name.
$39.95 - At Build-A-Bear Workshops, you can make your own stuffed animal. And now you can enjoy the same experience in your own kitchen, using your favorite cake batter. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive, this cake pan bakes a three-dimensional bear cake in two halves that can be joined and decorated with icing.
$75-$100 - Target has created a GiftCard that doubles as a digital camera (and yes, it really works!). Choose your amount and use the GiftCard for merchandise at any Target Store or on Target.com.
$100 - Bruno Limberger (1934-1994) was a devoted architect, artist, and host. Throughout his entire life, he was in constant pursuit of the ideal daily-use product. This quest lead to the development of many fine products, including the Coin Piggy Bank.
$750 - This limited-edition jigsaw puzzle features a pattern-on-pattern photograph of model Meghan Collison as a tatooed pin-up. Each custom-made cloth box is signed and numbered by Steven Meisel. Edition of 1000, signed and numbered.]]>
Sources: Diesel; Target; Trendhunter.com
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© 2008 Google
I started off enthusiastically. Page by page I gave my best shot to understand what was being illustrated for me.
Page by page I realized how lucky the world is that I’m not an engineer.
(And that I’m not an engineer at Google.)
After working through a few self-bouts of depression and wishing I had been a better math student (the characters in this book are SMART!), I came to this hugely deep appreciation for what they have created. And I realized what I was holding in my hands could serve as a valuable road map for me here at work.
You see, we strive to engage our clients with our ‘analytical creative’ process. And when we meet with prospective clients, we illustrate what it’s like to work with us via process-based case studies (which is a fancy way of saying we’ve solved problems just like yours before).
A great group of people here at br + c work together to take hugely complex client projects and efficiently boil the summary down to just a few pages, which can quickly be presented to our potential clients. Having an example like Google Chrome’s comic book for reference will prove to be a helpful tool when brainstorming new and better ways to clearly present our ideas.
After all, our case studies illustrate that we practice what we preach—the best communication is often driven by the simplest solution. Maybe the Google engineers of the world aren’t actually that different from me—we’re all working to design elegant solutions to complex problems. Problems that we solve to make our clients lives better. Problems that I know we are good at solving.
Come to think of it, the world is lucky that I’m not an engineer at Google. The world is lucky that I’m a designer at brandt ronat + company.
]]>
Known for underground propaganda design, Shepard Fairey has been a force in the design and art scene since the late 1980s. His career started with the now famous “André the Giant Has a Posse” street art campaign that was initially distributed by members of the skate culture. Eventually, under pressure from a potential lawsuit with Titan Sports, Inc., Fairey changed the campaign to an abstracted image of the Giant’s face with the words “OBEY.” It has virally grown to be seen, well, everywhere. From street signs to an episode of the Family Guy (where in an effort to help with restoration, Peter repaints the Sistine Chapel ceiling with the image of the Giant), the “OBEY” campaign is the epitome of guerilla marketing.
According to Fairey’s manifesto, the original purpose of the OBEY campaign was to, "stimulate curiosity and bring people to question both the campaign and their relationship with their surroundings— because people are not used to seeing advertisements or propaganda for which the motive is not obvious."
One of his most recent projects is stimulating a lot of talk and questioning, but, this time, his motive is clear.
They saved a seat for Obama.
Fairey states in an interview with Jeff Peer for Creativity magazine, “I think I'm a pretty good judge of character, and my feeling about Barack is he stuck his neck out by being against the war. He always seems to speak his mind whether it's the popular position or not, and he just seems like he follows what he believes in, which impresses me. So I decided I'd support him and put up my own money to do so. Some people asked me why I don't wait until he's got the Democratic nomination, but if you want a candidate to win, why not try your best to ensure he actually gets the nomination?”
Fairey’s recent self-release of “HOPE” posters in support of Obama sold out in minutes and created a wave of support showing up on hoodies, t-shirts, buttons and walls. Diverse musicians like rapper LL Cool J and Scott Ian of the metal band Anthrax have been seen wearing the t-shirt. One of Fairey’s limited edition “HOPE” prints recently sold on eBay for $2,000, with 10% of the proceeds going to Obama’s campaign.
Of course, this has spawned a wave of spoofs too. Also on eBay are “NOPE” stickers as well as other spoofs like those seen below.
So, what did the bartender say? The medium is the message.
Fairey’s “HOPE” campaign has become another excellent example of guerilla marketing where the art and the message are passed along from one person to another, with the effects of compounding exposure. And not so coincidentally, isn’t that one of the main parts of Obama’s platform—coming together in a different way for change? Obama’s message has found a perfect medium which is not always seen in typical political campaigning.
People are inspired by the art and the candidate to the point that they are creating their own spin-offs and passing them along, spreading the message in a way that all the advertising dollars in the world could not buy. This is when design and advertising are at their best--when the message and the medium gel for the greatest possible outcome.
Aside from Fairey’s “HOPE” posters, Obama’s campaign is one of the most sophisticated and well-crafted brands ever in political history, and the first that truly embraces guerilla and viral marketing techniques. In fact, there is a new spinoff to his website that allows people to slightly alter his logo for personal use. The site reads: “That’s what Obama is representing... someone who wants all of us to participate in changing the world. And together, we can make this change, one logo at a time.” (See for yourself www.logobama.com.)
So, it looks like Obama’s logo has grown on him…maybe it just took a Giant and Fairey to help him see the way.
]]>