Another Class Act In Football

Posted on July 30, 2011 by Carolyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know that the NFL is just starting to get its feet back under itself as they prepare to start a pre-season that is only weeks away. But it seems like some owners still haven’t figured out what the players were trying to do. Many of these players play football because it’s what they love, it’s what they dream of, and it’s what they’re good at. There will be many new players coming in to prove something to themselves and others. It’s probably the same for the veterans. And then there’s a veteran who has nothing to prove, and yet still amazes us. Continue reading →

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My Grand Purpose

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Carolyn

For those who are curious – this post was generated for a commenter whose name is Heather Smith. I need to thank her, because she allowed me to put into words my purpose for this blog.

When I started this blog, frankly, I had put little thought into what would come from it. I didn’t start this to get rich quick, because god knows that I don’t have the answer to that age old question that we all chase. I know that it seems to be on everyone’s mind when I see some of the types of comments that I receive: spam that seeks to find the quick plug and back link. Some of it has been shamelessly repetitive, some helpful, and some of it humorous. I do have to thank some of you spammers for at least allowing me to have a momentary chuckle (rings for manly parts, really?). As I keep saying, I actually read the comments and moderate them. I’ve given some of you a few moments of fame in my words, so that’s enough in my book. End of discussion.

But I got the most stupendous comment to date and had to share it just because of the length and the words. You can go to my “Embrace A Little Chaos” posting to see the actual missive (you can’t miss it) because it is impressive! It made me happy because it actually tried to start a conversation with me and others. Now that is what I’m talking about! Continue reading →

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Cars Just Want To Have Fun

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Carolyn

Car makers are notorious for having some clever ad campaigns. It’s the one industry that you can count on for finding ways to touch our little consumer hearts. And I love that they use fun art to do it! Here are a couple of new campaigns that caught my interest:

Kia’s Picanto:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A_TX-rlfvU&feature=player_embedded

Mini Coopers by Access:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

– and again, found through DesignTaxi, Fingernail Picanto and Inflatable Mini Coopers

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How’s This For Perspective?

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Carolyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Berlin-based artist, EVOL, has created a new exhibit for MS Dockville’s Kunstcamp, which will allow visitors to trample through the city blocks with a new perspective. How’s that for feeling like Alice in Wonderland or Godzilla? According to their flyer, The Kunstcamp or Art Camp represents “a common production and living space for open-air art” that will include guided tours to introduce the visitors to the many talented artists who will be there. There’s a festival in conjunction that will showcase 100 bands, performances, DJs, and art.

So, if you’re in the area of the Elbe River Island Wilhelmsburg by the Reiherstiegsknie in Hamburg, Germany at the end of July or the beginning of August, then you might want to stop and visit this experience. The Art Camp will go public from July 21 – August 7, 2011, and the festival will run from August 12-14, 2011. Have fun!

Note: For all of you artists, in case you missed the sign-up this year, there’s always next year because this event has been running since 2007.

-another find from DesignTaxi to MS Dockville’s site

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Collusion Firefox Addon Tracks Your Trackers

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Carolyn

I’m sure that most of you readers have realized that I’m more pro-humanity than I am pro-consumerism. I’m not naive enough to say that I’m not a consumer, because even I have physical needs that must be fulfilled. But what I do try to do is make legitimate decisions based upon a well-thought process of eliminations. When I go to large consumer brand name stores or even Amazon.com, do I take close look at the everything about the products that I select? How about those smaller, more personal selections? How about my collections?

  • Are they environmentally conscious? – they don’t have to be green, but at least have thought about it before creating the product.
  • Are they practical? If not, do I love them enough to get them?
  • Will I plan to keep it and use it forever, or near enough to it?
  • Did I make the right choice of sellers who deserve my purchase power?

You get the gist of my process – I want to be as responsible as I can be in my actions. There are certain places that I’ll never go to because their actions go against everything that I believe in.

Now that we’re smack in the middle of the digital age, we have to be aware that there are people who watch our movements. In the past, you would have to be worried about their bad intentions to harm you. But now, you have to worry that they are trying to tie you down to a pattern of behaviors. Google DoubleClick is one way that businesses are tracking their consumers online actions through HTTP cookies in order to provide them with “more personal services and products tailored to what you like”. Since many security software companies consider this to be spyware and malware activity, it’s not something that they let through by choosing to remove your cookies whenever you do a system virus sweep (hopefully that’s more often than not). Well now we might be able to fight back, or at least stay informed with Collusion Firefox Addon. Continue reading →

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Self Expression – from a Business???

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Carolyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frankly if I were Big Business, I would be taking note of the hopeful message behind creative trends instead of fighting it. Gone are those days of political correctness and conformance – it’ll be sounding its death throes soon (I hope), though it’s not going without a fight. Now, we’re finally experiencing a new start with self expression and social responsibility. If we can get past the ME and focus on the WE.

Sharpies, those classic markers that are a staple in all offices, are about to go digital. A new advertising campaign has been launched and is clearly aimed at a new generation of creatives in the making. As a matter of fact, many are already becoming well-known and they’re very influential in a world that is all about the visual. Go to the Sharpie Blog to read more about these amazing artists and their connection with Sharpies.

I have a feeling that the business world is about to be completely turned on its head, and society is soon (hopefully) going to have to follow. Now there’s a new generation that’s asking, “What are you going to start?” So, what’s your answer going to be? Continue reading →

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Now This Would Be A Place To Work

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Carolyn
Now THIS would be the perfect place to work, don’t you think?

Although this is actually a tree play house built for Japanese kindergarteners, it’s an ideal design for work places that truly value the worker’s emotional and physical well-being.

Windows are ok, but they can’t replace something like this. Throw in some portable power generators and bean bag chairs, then just flow with the breeze. I can feel the inspiration surrounding me already. Now THIS is co-existing with nature! Ok, so I forgot about the bugs (am I the only one who can’t even look at spiders?). Well, maybe there’s a few kinks that need to be worked out, but hey, there is mosquito netting.

What do you think?

– thought started by DesignTaxi post
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Tweet A Doodle

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Carolyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, those 140 characters of prose have you stumped for the right words? Well, for all of you Picassos out in the ether, there’s an answer: Doodle.ly. It’s currently web-based, but expect apps for iPhone and iPad in the near future.

Just draw anything that your heart desires on their handy pad, title, and publish your Doodle Tweet. No more word jockeying. Just simple line art for when 140 characters can’t express what you want. Hey, I’m a writer so you knew there’d be words (and they’re legible)…

 

– another great find forwarded by DesignTaxi

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SEO Speak – A Gray Black Hole With A Foreign Language

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Carolyn

Another technical posting generated by exasperation, but with a purpose…

Since I started this blog, I’ve been so happy to see that I’m connecting with people who like the content here. As I keep admitting to you, it’s easy to write because this isn’t just content to me. It’s about creation, freedom, and inspiration for my beloved style of writing. Typically, you can’t stop me from finding something to write about as this world is huge and full of things to marvel at. But I’m still really looking forward to other reader’s suggestions for more creative inspirations, so that I can go out there, experience it for myself, and share my thoughts with all of you. After all, it’s why this blog exists: to share the creative journey that inspires us all. It’s my personal diary of things that fascinate me and inspire my own thought chain that will hopefully generate conversations and maybe even new ideas from others. Creativity is so beautiful, and all creations are as unique as their creators. I don’t ever want to see it stop or be controlled.

But there’s one thing that I do not marvel at, and that is SEO speak. While part of my profession is technical communications, I’ve still had a tough time getting involved with SEO. I understand its economic value, but I just can’t seem to bring myself to the point of actually caring about it for my own personal site. It’s like winning an award but being the only contestant that counts (or worse, faking the entry), which doesn’t seem fair. I’ve seen so much of it coming through the comments that it truly boggles my mind to think of the size of this industry. Because this really is a thriving business whose sole purpose is to find ever new and infuriating marketing gimmicks that will trick the omnipotent search bot and web crawlers from all those search engines that we use. These search bots go out incessantly and do their honest little journeys across the net to find new content to link with. And search engines are what makes our lives so easy, as they are the white pages of the Net, so these bots are our friends. Continue reading →

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Thinking Outside the Box

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Carolyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

Konstantin Datz, a German graphic and product designer, has redesigned the classic mind game, Rubik’s Cube, so that now the sight-challenged can play it. Instead of the classic color scheme that we all know and steam over, this cube has the color names printed in Braille so that the user will know that spot’s color designation. No more colors by sight. Now, it’s colors by touch. Pretty great when we think outside of the box. The world of the Rubik’s Cube has once again expanded by the actions of one man! And he’s also designed a wristband for the hearing impaired.

Take a look around his portfolio. He’s got quite the elegant mind.

 

another post courtesy of DesignTaxi -> Konstantin Datz’s site.

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