January: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

photo by dgermony

This is the first edition of my "monthly reflections" commitment, made as part of my 2009 New Year's resolutions.

I'll start with the "bad and the ugly", and finish off with what inspired me this month to leave a nice aftertaste. After all, why focus on the negative? Just learn from it and move on.

Not so cool

1. Sites that are slow to load. Yes yes, everyone hates slow connections. I get it. But what I am referring to are sites that make me sit through a huge flash (or otherwise) download without offering anything to chew on.
   
2. Unnecessary repetitive tasks. For example, copying & pasting my contacts into the Hallmark address book. Most e-mail and social applications provide APIs to import the contacts data.
3. When a new version of a site or product completely changes the location of navigation items. The upgrade of Microsoft Office to 2007 version always makes me feel stupid... looking for the basic buttons.
   
4. Being lost on a site. I like to always know which section of a website I am in, and if there is anything that requires my attention.
5. Colgate packaging. I hear it costs more to make the shiny package than the content inside. What?!! What am I paying for?
   

Now that the yackie stuff is out of the way, let's move on to...

Inspiring Stuff

1. Re-design of MyFonts.com website. I love this site, but I've always wondered when they would catch up with the times. The new version is great because it let's me interact with the fonts via sliders and dynamically updating controls, while still feeling familiar and friendly. One feature I really like is the loading of more search results as you scroll, so you don't have to use the pagination. Go ahead, give it a try by searching for script fonts.
   
   
   
   
   
2. It must be my recent trip to Switzerland, but I am fascinated with the clean and minimalistic Swiss and Scandinavian design. Here is a screenshot of Georg Jensen's website. Beautiful!
   
   
   
   
3. Designing for the flow is not a new concept, but it has recently been re-enforced for me after reading an article on AListApart (which I read daily) talking about exactly that. So I started to pay attention to which product designs put me "in the flow", and Wii Fit game is one of them. It makes me feel engaged, capable and gives me a sense of constant improvement. Facebook is another. I know we all love and rave about Facebook, but here I am referring specifically to its flow aspect of interaction and design.
   
   
   
   
4. Agile for design. Again, my faithful friend AListApart has provided food for inspiration and learning. Wikipedia has a thorough write up on agile methodology, but ALA has demonstrated the way it can be applied to design as well. Thank you ALA :)
5. Last, but not least, I am hugely moved by Hunter Valley wineries. Right now at the top of my wish list is a 3 day get-away in a cozy cottage, and grape picking!
   
   

Congratulations, my brave reader, you have gotten to the end of this month's sharing session :) I welcome you to participate in the conversation. After all, this is the era of social web.

Neuro linguistic programming

Social Politics in Studio Environment:
Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Body Language

Greatest achievements are born from people putting their minds together and working as a team. This is often the case at design studios, and it is absolutely crucial that team members are able to clearly communicate ideas to each other. However, communication goes beyond the spoken words. There are also many forms of non-verbal communication, including subtle, but powerful, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and body language.

As the name suggests, Neuro-Linguistic Programming is related to 1) brain, or nervous system, 2) linguistics, or language, and 3) programming, or computing. Hence, NLP can be defined as “software for the brain.” External stimuli encountered during the day enter the brain as information, and affect personal perceptions and judgements. As Derren Brown elegantly stated, “Our experience of the world reflects only how we represent it to ourselves, and it is not the same as the real thing” (Brown 2007, p. 174).

The term NLP was coined by linguist Dr. John Grinder and numerical scientist Richard Bandler in the 1970s. The official definition of NLP is stated by R. Bandler as follows: “Neuro-Linguistic Programming™ (NLP™) is defined as the study of the structure of subjective experience and what can be calculated from that and is predicated upon the belief that all behavior has structure” (www.neurolinguisticprogramming.com). Through years of observation and research, Grinder and Bandler identified behavioral patterns common to people. These patterns can be used to predict future behaviors of individuals, as well as for therapeutic purposes to aid people understand why certain events affect them the way they do. Another ways to define NLP is as a manual for experiencing the world in the most beneficial way.

Below are two examples of practical applications of NLP. First example is a behavioral pattern called “modeling”. The process of “modeling” starts with identifying a person who has traits that the subject would like to learn. The model is asked a series of key questions, which expose this person’s inner processes. After receiving this information, the subject uses an imaginative process to start to “feel” as the model and to take on his or her skills. Second example describes the relationship between eye movement and the type of perceptions that the person is experiencing. The theory observes that when the subjects are engaged in visualization tasks, theirs eyes tend to move up. Auditory perceptions cause the eyes to move sideways, and kinesthetic ones generally bring the eyes down. However, this should not be taken as absolute truth, since people are unique, and some may have different reactions.

Another form of non-verbal communication is body language. When in a group environment, participants are conveying information by the way they hold their posture, move their arms and legs, and the amount of personal space allocated. It’s important to realize that body language varies between genders and cultures. For example, men tend to stretch their arms and legs, and take up more physical space, while women take less space, and keep arms and legs tucked in. Cultural differences are apparent when examining Western and Eastern societies. In the West looking people in the eye is a sign of respect and engagement. In the East, however, it is considered rude, and the appropriate behavior is look down while speaking.

In conclusion, knowing and applying intricacies of NLP and body language significantly improves efficiency of the teams. Remembering to observe oneself and adjusting behavior can be a difficult task, but it is very rewarding to see the results. NLP uncovers the complexities of human perceptions, and provides a road-map to application of these perceptions to achieve desired goals. Body language adds flavor to speech, and helps bring charisma and likeability to individual presence.

References:
18 Ways To Improve Your Body Language
Available: http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2006/10/27/18-ways-to-improve-your-body-language/

Body Language
Available: http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/2052/bodylang.html

Brown, D. 2007. Tricks Of The Mind, Great Britain

Fabbri, J. M. Cultural Differences and Multinational Business Finance
Available: http://www.fabbri.com.bo/archivos/cultural.pdf

What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming
Available: http://www.neurolinguisticprogramming.com/

Cartoon for a definite great mood

No matter what the day is like - the creative juices are flowing or missing that friendly pat on the back - there is a cartoon that is sure to put me in a great mood. Send it to someone you love and make them smile too :-)

This is one of my all-time favourite cartoons. Yes, it's in Russian, but the whole dialogue consists of
"Is that for me?"
"For you"
"For what?"
"Just because!"

It's completely hand-drawn (it was probably born about same time I was, hehe), and it's just oozing with love and kindness. I think kindness will save the worlds. Seriously.

Enjoy some of the screen shots of this beautiful cartoon.

Gutenberg pictorial essay body copy

View the visual part of this Pictorial essay in a separate post

The Essay
Johann Gutenberg was one of the greatest contributors to the development of typographic form of all time. He brought to life the invention of the printing press, and catapulted the spread of the written word around the world. Some say that the idea of the press came from China, but the important part is that Gutenberg actually implemented it. He did most of his work in Germany during the first half of fifteenth century. His path was long and difficult, and it took Gutenberg almost 20 years to produce first printed page. There is very little historical evidence about Gutenberg’s life and creative process, which makes it an intriguing subject to understand his motivations and his inventive journey.

Johann (or Johannes, the spelling varied) Gutenberg was born in Mainz, Germany. His exact birth date is unknown, and is agreed to be the year 1400. Even the well-known name Gutenberg was originally Gensfleisch (Gooseflesh). The family names of the time were taken after the place of residence, which makes “genealogical research in medieval Germany a nightmare”. Perhaps the name Gutenberg was not immediately adapted due to the mood of anti- Semitism in Mainz, since Gutenberg might have also been Judenberg or “Jewish Hill”.

Gutenberg was born into a wealthy family, one of about a hundred patrician families in Mainz. As a result, the importance of education was instilled into Johann from the early age. Gutenberg attended various schools, possibly including St. Christopher and St. Victor. His later studies were at Erfurt, where he obtained solid knowledge of Latin. While at Erfurt, Gutenberg earned his keep as a scribe, which meant that he gained full command of the scribe profession. This knowledge set the stage for his later work with the printing press.

Gutenberg’s developmental years were spent under the influence of the Church. He showed talents for singing; he had a steady hand of a scribe, and was pushed to become a priest. However his personal passions were for works of science and handcraft. Gutenberg could not join the Mainz guilds due to his family’s patrician status. Instead, in 1428 he left Mainz to travel around Europe and to learn the skills of metalworkers and goldsmiths. After six years of travels in 1434 Gutenberg settled in the city of Strassburg, where he established numerous enterprises, including manufacturing mirrors for Aachen pilgrimage planned for 1440. These mirrors were made of lead-tin alloy, which signifies that at this time Gutenberg already possessed the knowledge of metal casting, and he experimented with different alloy formulas. Gutenberg contemplated the idea of the printing press for many years, watching craftsmen during his travels. It is likely that one of the most influential inspirations came from observing the workings of a wine press.

Johann Gutenberg was a deeply religious man, however, to him the Bible did not have the conventional meaning taught by the Church. He observed inefficiencies in the lives of ordinary people, and he aspired to ease their labor by means of science. He also thought that the teachings of God and literacy should be accessible to every one, hence his fist printing effort of Donatus, Latin grammar book. Gutenberg’s later ambition to reproduce the Bible was to print “The Book” without the usual errors that scribes let in. He “sought to correct such error – in metal, books should read as God intended”.

Around 1448 Gutenberg returned to Mainz, where he spent the next seven years refining the printing process. It is likely that Gutenberg began his experiments with printing while at Strassburg, but he kept his work under a strict secret for fear of someone stealing it. Gutenberg realized the enormous profit potential of the printing press, and he did not want anyone beating him to it. In 1448 he borrowed 800 gulden from Johann Fust without interest, with printing equipment as security for the loan. This money Gutenberg used to finally set up his print shop and commence dedicated work on the printing press. By 1450s Gutenberg was advanced enough in his process to print indulgences and calendars for the Church. However, the work was laborious and slow to progress, and in 1452 he had to borrow another 800 gulden from Fust.

Gutenberg tried various combinations of lead, tin and antimony to produce type that did not break or bend (the formula he developed is still used today almost unaltered). He also experimented with ink, so it didn’t roll off the metal type, yet didn’t cling to it in clumps. In addition, Gutenberg accepted nothing short of perfection when it came to typesetting the pages. His 42-line Bible was printed in two columns with impeccable alignment of the edges, and he pioneered the process of double-sided printing. It is no surprise that in 1455 the Bible was not finished, and Fust took Gutenberg to court demanding return of the funds. After loosing the legal battle, Gutenberg was forced out of his print shop. His accomplishments, however, were acknowledged by the bishop of Mainz. He was made a courtier, and he spent his last years in financial security, receiving food, wine and clothing from the city.

Johann Gutenberg died on February 3rd 1468 in Mainz, but his name and invention live on to this day. By the end of fifteenth century more than 110 towns in Europe were operating printing presses and about 15 million copies of books were printed. One example of the impact of printing is the story of Martin Luther. His “95 Theses”, which sparked the Protestant Reformation, spread so rapidly due to the existence of printing. It is unlikely that the Protestant Reformation would have happened, had the “95 Theses” been written by hand. This abundance of printed material and the power of written word started a new era in the development of humanity, and shifted people from the Middle Ages to modern times.

Buy Nothing Day proposal body copy

This is the text of the final proposal to Adbusters for creating a cross-track poster, advertising Buy Nothing Day. The brief and research were included in my earlier post.

View the visual version of the proposal and crosstrack design!


Give Products a Voice!

Introduction
Hello, my name is… well, it’s not important. You see me every day, multiple times a day; in fact you probably see me every few minutes and don’t even notice me. I sit on shelves, hang on racks, and sometimes I just stand on the floor. People mindlessly grab me, own me, and after a short time discard me into a dumpster. Sad story, I know.

I am a Product, and my only hope is Buy Nothing Day. I dream of a day, when people will treat me with respect; when they will stop and think before taking me home. My friends at Adbusters are making this dream a reality through their Buy Nothing Day campaign. Now a team of passionate designers from Tops Creative is here to join them to create a cross-track poster, so the young Sydney residents will notice me as well.

History
This glorious path to liberation started in Vancouver in the early 1990s, when a brilliant designer decided to put a stop to mindless buying, and organized Buy Noting Day. To me, it’s better than a Birthday! For 24 hours people just don’t buy. They go about their lives enjoying various activities that don’t involve destruction of my kind.

Now Buy Nothing Day is celebrated in more than 65 countries. It makes my heart sing. Additionally, every year Buy Nothing Day falls on the day after Thanksgiving in North America, which is the busiest shopping day of the year due to approaching Holidays. This year Buy Nothing Day will be observed on November 28th in North America, and on November 29th internationally.

Audience and Target Market
You might be asking who will be looking at the cross-track. In case you didn’t know, cross-track, as the name implies, is a large poster, positioned across the train tracks. Times have changed, and now railroads penetrate our land far and wide. They allow people to travel to their work and entertainment destinations at almost any time of the day. In the morning a cheerful pack of students is traveling to their schools, and at night the party owls crowd the platforms, awaiting the late train.

What a perfect opportunity to tell them about me! The pals from Tops Creative will put their cross-tracks throughout the CBD, where hundreds of youngsters ages 18 to 25 will notice me, and my message for Buy Nothing Day.

Kalle Lasn from Adbusters defined the target audience of Buy Nothing Day as “the 20 percent who consume 80 percent of the goodies in the global marketplace.” This is the young and working population with large disposable incomes. I would place them at 25 to 35 years old, but my question is, why wait so long? I want the younger people to realize that as a Product, I am more than just another “thing” they consume. I require a choice, when deciding whether to take me off the shelf. Am I really necessary? How long will I be used for?

To back up our approach, the designers from Tops Creative and myself went out and asked 18 to 25 year olds what they think about the Buy Nothing Day idea. Many of the people surveyed acknowledged that there is a problem of overconsumption in our society. Yet, they didn’t feel that one day can change anything. “I would just buy stuff the next day,” said Jason McFall. And we say that if enough people participate, it will reach a critical mass that will change people’s shopping habits, and consequently improve my life!

Survey Quotes (in their own words)
Jack Ukleja: I would probably do it, but it doesn’t matter. I buy nothing on many days. What I want is to “bring down the Man.” We need re-education. People who need this the most are the least aware of these issues.

Stuart Cam: I like the overall idea. Less consumerism means lower interest rates (smile).

Competitors and Their Ads
Adbusters is not alone in their aim to change people’s behavior through a one-day event. White Ribbon Day is a campaign against violence towards women. It’s been very successful at attracting attention of many people. In 2006 for instance, White Ribbon Activists distributed 300,000 white ribbons.

People participate in White Ribbon Day by purchasing and wearing white ribbons, and people like buying stuff. On the contrary, Buy Nothing Day asks individuals to not shop, which could be difficult to promote. Additionally, White Ribbon Day is only three days before Buy Nothing Day, and they may attract the same audience.

In their 2007 advertising campaign, White Ribbon Day organization captured people’s attention by using images of famous people. However, they did have noticeable problems with text hierarchy within the ads, and a large amount of copy to read. The headings didn’t explain the point of White Ribbon Day well enough after seeing a dominant picture. Understanding the ads required excessive effort from the viewer.

We will learn from the successes and pitfalls of White Ribbon Day campaign to produce an effective cross-track poster, and give me and my fellow Products a voice!

Existing Advertising and Our Proposition
Buy Nothing Day’s prior advertising has employed humor, as well as a more serious tone, to portray the current state of the world. It is difficult to gauge the effectiveness of Buy Nothing Day campaigns, since participation is on individual level, and no ribbons or tokens are sold to count the participants. It is also a global multi-national event, which makes reporting of data somewhat vague.

However, from our research young people do recognize the problems of consumerism in our Western society. They are ready to listen, and I am here to capture their minds with my charming character. Once my cute icon grabs youngster’s attention, the text of the ad will convey the importance of consuming less, and urge them to participate in Buy Nothing Day.

Conclusion
The approach of giving Products a voice is rather controversial, and it hasn’t been done before. The main idea behind the campaign is that Products are not just cold mindless things with barcodes on them. They cannot be used and thrown away without a thought, but need to be respected and valued.

The above proposal, as well as the proposed cross-track, is written from the perspective of a Product, which will help younger people associate with its character and realize the personality behind anything they buy.

More hand-made gifts

Keeping up with the holiday spirit, I spent the last couple weeks of the year making gifts. This year I decided to make the gifts myself, so as to help the planet by not shopping, and to give something with meaning.

Here are four paintings I did using acrylic paints. They are based on Australian aboriginal Dreaming culture, with each piece representing a Dream journey.





There is also Molly, a gift for one of my very close friends.



And a little turtle Jacky.


Happy January :)!