New Idea Agencies

 

At PSFK Conference NYC, Danielle Sacks (Fast Company) led a thought-provoking discussion about the rise of the “New Idea Agencies” - companies that are thinking outside of the traditional client-agency model and creating their own products, brands, and intellectual property to launch direct to market. The panel, featuring Robbie Vitrano (Trumpet), Carl Johnson (Anomaly), Bart Haney (fuseproject), and Ben Malbon (BBH Labs), explained how their companies’ unique business models evolved and the struggles (and benefits) of agencies becoming their own clients.

Developing IP rather than just messaging is clearly an attractive idea. Why build brands that, ultimately, you have no stake in, when you can create your own products and services, under your own supervision and creative direction instead? Agencies like Anomaly and BBH Zag have created their own brands (Avec Eric and Ila, respectively) and are inventing new ways to partner with (or in some cases supercede) clients to create new, truly collaboratively-built brands.

Great panel + a ton of great information and insight. Watch >

CLEAR is the NEW GREEN

Clear Magazine (based in Royal Oak, MI) has announced the publication of its first tree-less, 100 percent recyclable magazine. Printed on YUPO® synthetic papers, Clear’s latest issue, themed “fame underground,” premiered at December’s Design Miami/Basel festival, where Clear was also a media partner. This environmentally friendly publication is the brainchild of Clear founder and creative director Emin Kadi. [watch video of Emin showcasing “fame underground”]

“Our goal is to provide readers with stunning presentations of the world’s most interesting and creative artists and events. Our new partnership with Yupo allows us to do so in an environmentally responsible, respectful way. Design Miami/Basel is the perfect occasion to share our green accomplishment,” says publisher Emin Kadi.

Clear’s unique, limited edition “green” solution closes the gap on source reduction and recycling. YUPO® is completely waterproof, stain resistant and very durable. YUPO® papers’ light weight allows significant fuel reduction in shipping and a lower overall carbon footprint. Should one wish to dispose of the issue, it may be placed in a recycling bin with any other plastic items, and it will be fully recycled.

It’s great to see such an amazing innovation in the magazine/publishing industry coming from right here in Royal Oak. Congratulations to the Clear Team! Also be sure to check out the newly relaunched ClearMag.com for the latest issue(s), blog, videos, etc.

takashi murakami - flower ball gigantic stuffed animal

 

Spotted @ DesignBoom >

kaikai kiki will be participated in design miami for the first time this year. the studio will present a number of decorative and functional object designed by takashi murakami. the works are based on murakami’s art and present his vision of a ‘superflat’ world, in which there is no distinction between high and low cultures. among the items on show are gigantic plush flowerball cushions, carpets, wallpaper, a sofa, and fine jewelry based on murakami’s signature flower motif. rings and charms will also feature the flowers and other well-known kaikai kiki imagery, like the dokuro skull with flower eyes and the kinoko multi-eyed mushroom.

On view @ DesignMiami 12.03.08 - 12.06-08

Visit > kaikai kiki

Tim Brown: The powerful link between creativity + play

 

Another great video from TED! 

At the 2008 Serious Play conference, designer Tim Brown talks 28 minutes about the powerful relationship between creative thinking and play.
Tim Brown, President and CEO of the multidisciplinary design firm IDEO, tells how we can learn the most from our shortest creators. Kids can inform our outlook on creativity by looking at exploration, building and role playing, as he explained, “forgetting the adult behaviors that are getting in the way our ideas.”

Watch it HERE.

Source > Osocio

Tribes - Seth Godin

 

Another Classsic!

A tribe is any group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea. For millions of years, humans have been seeking out tribes, be they religious, ethnic, economic, political, or even musical (think of the Deadheads). It’s our nature.

Now the Internet has eliminated the barriers of geography, cost, and time. All those blogs and social networking sites are helping existing tribes get bigger…. read more.

You can purchase the book here.

Or download the audiobook here for FREE!

Next 5,000 Days on the Internet


Kevin Kelly says that if we told people 5,000 days ago what the web was going to offer they would say it was impossible so now we have to expect the impossible for the next 5,000 days. His suggests that we’re constructing a single, global machine and that our handhelds and computers are just windows to that machine. Everything will be connected to the machine and this machine will be the most perfect machine we will have ever made. Must watch this!

Via -PSFK

For more videos from TED visit > TED

November 10, 2008 | Filed Under People, Video

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(likemind) X New York Times

(likemind) made the New York Times Style section last friday! Me and Eric Cedo have been running (likemind) here in Detroit for about a year and half now. Detroit is just one of the 55+ cities around the world that meet every third friday of the month for coffee + conversation. We like to think of (likemind) as a anti-networking event. Don’t get us wrong,. you still meet new + interesting people. There’s just something about meeting early in the morning that makes it feel less like ”networking” event and more like hanging out with good friends. Read excerpt from article >

Likemind caters to young professionals in advertising, media and design who are products of the age of personal blogs, warts-and-all YouTube videos and viral marketing. For them, the best pitch is the disguised pitch. Nothing, participants said, is more uncool than the hard-sell of traditional networking (which may explain why likemind is not capitalized).

So if you like meeting new people,.. but hate going to networking events,.. then I really suggest you come hang out with us @ (likemind)Detroit + bring a friend, or two, or three. The next (likemind) is December 5th (the last one for 2008) We’re having it @ a new location this time (Mercury Bar) Me + Eric will be there around 8.30am. Feel free to come anytime though.  We will be grabbing lunch @ Slow’s BBQ around noon.

If you need more info or have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me > nev [at] idunited [dot] com

Via > New York Times

PS - Congrats to Piers + Noah [!]

October 27, 2008 | Filed Under Articles, Events, Life

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Project 10 to the 100

 

Google is setting out to change the world again,.. this time with your ideas >

If you have an idea that you believe would help somebody, we want to hear about it. We’re looking for ideas that help as many people as possible, in any way, and we’re committing the funding ($10million) to launch these projects.

The deadline for idea entries is October 20th, 2008. The rules of the contest are few.  However, Google asks that you put your idea into one of the eight categories  and consider the evaluation criteria set forth. Watch the video below + get all the details and info over @ Project 10 to the 100

Good luck!

October 7, 2008 | Filed Under Awareness, Companies, Contest

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Carbon Neutral Island

 Check out the Danish island of Samso. This island of roughly 4,000 residents has completely wiped away its carbon footprint by using a combination of wind & solar power and biofuel. This all started back in 1998 when the island set out on a project to produce 100% of their energy from renewable energy sources. That’s a big undertaking that some scoffed would take much longer than 10 years, yet they were able to achieve this 10 year goal in 5 years.

Read the entire article HERE.

Via > Greenupgrader

September 29, 2008 | Filed Under Life, Sustainability

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The Wall - Get Over It

 

I saw this image over @Kathy Sierra’s blog a few days ago and it stuck with me.  

Overall,.. I think any business, project, etc. worth pursuing will always involve some sort of wall or “obstacle”

Read more

September 9, 2008 | Filed Under Life, People

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