Leo Burnett’s Short, Sweet Guide To Creative Satisfaction (And Making Money)

Via Co.Design

 

“When you spend more time trying to make money and less time making advertising… when you begin to compromise your integrity… when you lose your humility and become big shot wisenheimers too big for your boots.” 

That is when you take his name off the door. 

Quite the inspirational speech to achieving satisfaction, and even profit. As the Co.Design articles states, “HAVING GREAT IDEAS IS THE EASY PART. MAKING THEM GREAT IS WHAT’S HARD.”

This is what the advertising genius is trying to draw inspiration to. The process of making creative ideas work, because the actual work in making it happen may not be so glamourous behind the scenes. As mentioned before, most people will never understand this creative process.

I am still trying to understand it.

Making Street Art “A Little More Warm and Fuzzy”

Catching up with a month old edition of Modern Luxury | Houston, (so behind on my luxury magazine reading), I read a short article on Magda Sayeg and her new gift-friendly collection of crocheted yarn eyewear and iPhone cases that were out just before the holiday season.

Of course, I read more into Magda Sayeg and found out that she is an established artist who started the “knit graffiti” movement in Houston, Texas in 2005. Her group Knitta “are known for wrapping public architecture—e.g. lampposts, parking meters, telephone poles, and signage—with knitted or crocheted material. It has been called ‘knit graffiti’ and ‘yarnbombing.’ The mission is to make street art ‘a little more warm and fuzzy.'”

Graffiti as Art

What’s inspiring is that this group have taken such a beautiful and safe art concept of knitting and turned it to something that is commonly frowned upon – street art. Which, interestingly reminds me of a documentary I watched last year on the recent wheatpaste movement in Houston. Although different art, (for it is quite evident that most would distinguish the two as completely different art forms), both share the similar concept of “tagging” public spaces to convey a message – thus, categorizing both styles as “graffiti.”

However, it is nice to see that Sayeg has taken her art and applied it to consumer products. Genius idea.

In a Global World: How Do You Explain Yourself?

I came across an interesting thought through an engaging conversation last week:

In a global world, you have to explain more clearly who you are, what you do, and how you can help society. 

In other words, the world isn’t really interested in what we do for a living – what we have to offer freely and the power to make a difference will be more effective instead.

Exciting times we live in.

Entrepreneurs: Because It’s Cool.

“Because it’s cool” or “How cool would it be”?

The basic questions most successful entrepreneurs start with.

And probably the necessary questions to keep innovative ideas going.

Forbes Magazine recently featured an article called, Eight Reasons Startup Incubators Are Better Than Business School, and includes:

Adam Neary, moved into his mother-in-law’s house in Clinton, NJ to save money to launch Profitably, a company that sells web-based planning and financial analysis software to small businesses. That’s the kind of suffer-for-your-startup story that incubator types love.

Neary, husband of a Harvard Business School grad, puts it this way: “It’s a fact of life that in business school you’re surrounded by rich people, generally coming from banking and going into banking. When you’re surrounded by people living the good life and your six friends are flying off to Monaco with their badass signing bonuses, it becomes way harder to get into ‘ramen mode’.”

“That’s the kind of suffer-for-your-startup story that incubators/investors love.” 

Who doesn’t love these kinds of stories though? I read them all day. They are inspirational. They prove that hard work pays off greatly.

However, I usually find myself questioning, what about the people that don’t make it? What are their options afterwards? Any kind of financial security? Is it all a gamble in the end?

How exactly does government support this type of work and entrepreneur spirit? How does society as a whole view it? Tradition? Even cultures? As the excerpt above suggests, many of these entrepreneurs go without full pay for months, years even. Personally, I know this type of situation would be seriously questioned by my family and friends. And as the whole article itself presents, startup incubators may be more beneficial than traditional business school programs. How will this then change school programs in the future?

Maybe, I just need to look into this more…

Plus, maybe the stories of startup attempts should be highlighted more from different perspectives. This would really give a good overall picture of what’s really involved in starting a company, especially since it seems this trend of entrepreneurship is only continuing to rise.

However, for now, most stories that are highlighted in magazines seem to share the same values – humble beginnings to riches; nerdy to cool. What’s different? Will there be more differentiating factors for evaluating value in the future?

Marshall McLuhan: The Medium is the Message

Anyone who has ever considered technology and its relation to humanity has most likely heard the name Marshall McLuhan.

Who knew I was going to run into this most perfect, pocket-size book on technology, design, culture, messaging, and marketing? The gems I find when I visit Domy Books in Houston – an amazing bookstore I visit every now and then to look for books on sale and for any local zines that catch my interest.

So amazing is this establishment, that I actually ended up walking out with two books. One was a book on the Spanish painter, Joan Miro – these kind of books are always a great investment and are the perfect late-night light reads.

Plus, I also bought Everyman’s McLuhan by W. Terrence Gordon and Eri Hamaji & Jacob Albert.

I have yet to browse the book on Miro, but the book on McLuhan is incredible! The only background information I previously knew of Marshall Mcluhan was that he coined the term “the medium is the message,” but, I honestly did not know much beyond that.

“McLuhan was right.” the Reporter, June 1976

You thought “Global Village” referred to the internet?
You thought “The Medium is the Message” referred to MySpace, or Google?
You’re mistaken.

Coining both the phrases “The Medium is the Message” and “Global Village,” he is said to have predicted the World Wide Web as we know it, decades before it existed. However, what the book stresses is that although his message can be interpreted literally, even McLuhan himself “rephrased the medium is the message in different ways at different times for different audiences.”

As the encompassing main idea of the book, I think this is key to understanding that the medium is indeed the message. In its most literal sense, McLuhan defines medium in the broadest terms and makes examples of everything from cell phones (extensions of our ears) to safety pins (extensions of our fingers) – to him, they are all media.

However, what is most valuable is that McLuhan’s prose style is intended to jumpstart reader response by provoking, cajoling, even irritating his audience – he craved response to his ideas. This is important in understanding media, advertising, art, design, and the effective communication of it.

Design, Typography, Photography, and Printing

Highlighting his multiple meanings behind his famous phrase, every page in this book is packed with captivating content, using familiar consumer products and powerful typography and images.

Through such format, the most powerful points the book makes are the ten ideas that summarize his work, Understanding the Media, including:

• A medium or technology can be any extension of the human being
• Media are powerful agents of change in how we experience the world, how we interact with each other, and how we use our physical senses
• The contrast between “hot” and “cold” media

Even as I am listing these bullet points, the ideas sound rather obvious, but McLuhan’s gift to really dig into these concepts is impressive. It is evident that for Gordon, Hamaji, and Albert, this is the purpose of the book: to illustrate McLuhan’s ideas and theories and how they still stand relevant today in a captivating and colorful book – a most creative medium.

However, good luck trying reading his actual text. This book does well to summarize his main concepts in a way that is refreshing, intelligent, and engaging.

Billboards. Not Just for Marketing Anymore. It’s Art.

How cool would it be to drive in to work and see an art show via billboards as you are driving?

Ok. So you wont have time to pause and admire. And, it might be a slightly hazardous drive. But, what The Billboard Art Project presents is not a series of ongoing art billboards among a highway for distraction. Nor is it advertising. One of their goals is to actually give the audience a break from the usual advertising that is the original purpose of billboards.

Instead, The Billboard Art Project presents “larger-than-life art in glowing colors.” Different types of art representations submitted by different artists in different cities.

Convenient. You don’t have to go out of your way to see innovative art in its most essential form.

Here are a couple of my favorite:

I definitely recommend connecting with this group. I reached out them via Facebook recently and they are responsive and seem pretty open to different art suggestions. So go ahead and pitch your city to have digital LED billboards illustrate good art instead of the common billboard ads. Might be something your city needs…a collective conversation about something. Think about your city as a whole and analyze what defines it. Just doing this will be good for you and where you’re from, I guarantee it.

I just might have to create something and submit soon. Wish me luck.

Marketing is Urbanism

Why have I not thought about this correlation sooner? Seriously.

The integration between both concepts is beyond effective – it is powerful. We see it all around us. However, to see both concepts closely defined together, well, it gives me a sense of excitement.

Having recently discovered my new favorite blog, I have spent most of the weekend reading every single post. The Pop Up City, a blog based out of Amsterdam, is a fine example of “new trends and ideas that shape a city for the future.” With fresh content on new sustainable projects, art installations, architecture, technology, and design, The Pop Up City is a sure favorite, and will most likely be frequently referenced in this blog now.

Their blog article titled, Marketing is Urbanism, was actually part of a list of trends for the year 2011 – last year now. Personally, I love reading and seeing creative ideas being implemented in cities that promote positive urban living and good behavior. The fact that this can be achieved through interactive art and design is simple and beautiful. If implemented well, it is not imposing and it is memorable. Both are necessary requirements for good marketing as well.

Not only does this apply to innovative projects such as the following:

Swings in Bustops

Trashbin Basketball

Piano Stairs in Stockholm

Slides Instead of Stairs

But, it also applies to associating brands with projects and city initiatives, such as naming metro stations and bike programs after big labels. I think this is genius. It helps market big companies by associating them and creating greater interaction with the public, plus it also eases funding for creative city projects.

However, as exciting as this is, it is unfortunate to see most of these projects taking place in Europe. I think U.S. cities can do more to step up and take advantage of a lot of underground ideas for better city projects.

For example, I live in a city that is diverse and has a great underrated art scene. I think it can be a great platform for many similar projects, if only we can pursue to understand the benefits of public interaction, greater city urbanism participation, and the effective marketing of positive ideas.

Now, where to start?

Knowing the Game: Is it luck? Gut Instinct? Algorithms??

Maybe it was by some strange chance, but I met a new friend on New Year’s Eve. He is very good at numbers and analyzing your next sports win.

As he first explains the game of sports betting in full detail, he references the movie “Moneyball.” Of course, I have never heard of it and simply make a mental note to look into it.

I was more intrigued by his passion for knowing every possible game score – at all times. It was fascinating. We were in a bar, and he was watching multiple games in multiple screens, constantly checking scores on his phone, and still paying attention to my part of the conversation.

Talk about constant, real-time data. It’s interesting that all kinds of data is now accessible everywhere.

Websites dedicated to data

So, he liked data. And, I like data.

I work with data and only wish to continue working with data and analytics in the future. However, this was a completely different field that I knew nothing about. Yet, he is so phenomenal at it. Even more fascinating is, that he doesn’t discriminate. He will bet against favorite teams and players and bet on games and sports that he cares nothing about.

With so much data at hand, could wins and decisions actually be based on pure analysis of numbers and information? Of course, there is always the gut instinct that will usually always be right, but with so much accessible data, there has to be a new form of decision-making developing…right?

Well just yesterday, and maybe by strange chance again, I come across an article in the Wall Street Journal titled, So What is Your Algorithm? Basically it discusses the growth of big data, the greater need for analysis, and how its growing from mere stock trader information to having real-time information for practically everything. Thus, there is a change of how we are basing our decisions – on algorithms and analytics. And, it quotes:

This is playing ‘Moneyball’ at life.

I guess I now have to watch the movie soon.

Therefore, while he uses data for successful sports betting, I constantly research and work with data and hope to one day develop a creative project out of it.

So for now I ask, what are the chances of this new friend becoming a good friend this year? Who knows. I lack that kind of information right now. But, what are the chances of me watching “Moneyball” this weekend? Maybe about a 29% chance. I have a busy weekend.

A Creative Watch on Design

How you tell time can say a lot about you.

Are you classic? Modern? Bold? Are you a collector? Do you appreciate art? Or simply prefer well-engineered functionality?

Obviously, for me, functionality is not high on the list. One of my favorite everyday watches is the Ora Unica watch.

Beautifully designed by the Italian company, Nava Design…

 

…it is an accessory which makes fun of the time. It is for the lovers of design who make irony one of its most distinctive features. The design is clean and essential, and it finds its highest expression in the less conventional reading of time.

The Ora Unica watch is definitely a conversation starter. People always wonder if it actually tells time – which, it does. In the most curious way, the shorter end of the squiggly line shows the hour while the longer end of the squiggly line shows the minute. It’s an interesting concept.  At any point of the day, I see a different squiggly design. Although, truth be told, it does take me about an entire minute to interpret the correct time.

It makes one wonder, what was the design process? In trying to come up with an idea, did the designer Denis Guidone simply doodle squiggly lines in paper in hopes for a lightbulb idea? How did he come to see functionality such as time-telling in a graphic line? I find this most interesting and think about it every time I look at my watch. It’s a simple, but memorable concept.

Some wear technology on their wrist. So, why not wear a good design concept to reflect your outlook on how you see and create things? Luckily for me, this watch was a gift from a very cherished friend who knows I like to keep a mindful watch on design.

Globally Recognized Avatar

Globally Recognized Avatar. That is what “gravatar” stands for. My new word of the day.

As soon, as I created this blog and kind of had the slightest idea of what I want to focus this blog on, I knew exactly which gravatar I wanted to choose. Here is a little bit about it…

Chosen gravatar:

How cool, right?? If you follow Dezeen as much as I do, you’ll recognize it as part of a post back in December 2009.

This project was created by the Ministry of Design for the Leo Burnett office, a modern advertising company in Singapore. This design won Interior Design of the Year in International Design Awards in 2010. For now, I prefer a globally recognized idea and design for a gravatar.

Both are very interesting websites to check out and browse, so please do.

Personally, this image reminds me of when I first started noticing the important aspect of design and how my obsession to digest every design blog really started. I came across this image and the concept is forever with me now – I even used it as my Facebook profile for some time (got a lot of “likes” too).

It’s this kind of work that inspires me and I hope it inspires you to think outside the box…literally.