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We design trash. That’s not say say that we don’t create awesome looking stuff, it’s just the reality of what happens to it.
Magazines, newspapers, direct mail, coupons, web banners, emails, videos, etc are all consumable and all end up in the trash. Read the rest of this entry »
I just presented a lecture to the Idaho Falls Advertising Federation entitled, “We design trash: extending the shelf life of your marketing through aesthetic triggers” (check out my prezi on this) Read the rest of this entry »
So I’ve recently gotten into pinterest. If you’ve ever been on there, you might wonder what interest I have in diets, wedding dresses, dog sweaters or Ryan Gossling… Well, before you question my orientation, I’d like to mention a little know side to pinterest. Artistic inspiration.
Check out my “illustration” board for example. I’ve been able to come across artists, illustrators, designers, etc that I never would’ve otherwise. I love it. I’ll be honest, it’s better than Facebook and twitter by far (if you follow the right boards) and it’s not blocked at work (like DeviantArt is:/ )
I find myself on there a couple of times a day to take a break from my own stuff and get a fresh perspective. So if you’re looking for artistic inspiration, check it out. You can follow me on there for a start.
Lynda.com might be the best $25 a month you ever spend. Lynda is basically a series of very well thought out tutorials for how to do just about anything on almost all of the major software platforms. You want to get better at photoshop or learn photography or teach yourself CSS? Lynda has hours of video to help you sharpen your skills.
They also have an iPhone app that streams all of the content to wherever you are. So instead of your normal commute nap to work, you can learn how to apply a mask in illustrator cs5. Fair warning, these are videos about software… so if you’re in a warm room and didn’t get a full night’s sleep, they may put you to sleep. 
I’m thinking of doing a series of articles called, “Lessons from Mad Men” or something like that.
Anywho, I just watched an episode where Don Draper was speaking with a researcher and made this comment:
“A new idea is something they don’t know yet, so of course it’s not going to come up as an option. Put my campaign on TV for a year then hold your group again, maybe it’ll show up… You can’t tell how people are going to behave based on how they have behaved.”
This is a classic Gut Instinct vs. Research discussion. Personally, I tend to agree that research will only tell you what has happened, not what will happen. It definitely has its place. It is very useful to read case studies and customer research data to get an idea of what the landscape is. Speaking with your target demo is invaluable to get their voice in your head. Ultimately though, I think there comes a time when you have to cross that line and transition from what has been done already to what you are about to create: The New Idea.
