Humble Marvels of Design of the Week - The Boomerang

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2014: A modern day 1984?

How chilling is this look into the future by the Museum of Modern History?

The lines between the past and the future, the truth and conspiracy theories are all blurred in this fantastic video - much like the fantastic Channel 4 Film, "Death of a President".

There's so much talk nowadays about how, because of terrorism, people are giving up their own freedoms and privacy for the sake of feeling safe. Much like we're living in a modern day 1984 - with Big Brother watching everything we do. Yet the truth is, we've given up much more privacy through the internet.

I can't help but wonder whether the video's predictions really are that imaginative and far-fetched as some would like us to believe?

For if it is not deemed 'far-fetched' - than this video and 2014 is our generation's '1984'.

How appropriate that it spreads through the internet, no?

Design Marvel of the Week - The T-Shirt

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A Creative Director once told me, when judging the worth of an idea, "what would the t-shirt look like?"

Brilliant.

The Greatest Thing Since...

There are so many more inventions out there that are greater than sliced bread. Simple, ingenious, little marvels that have passed the tests of time and technology.

Every week I get a reminder of those simple marvels from a very good friend of mine - and so I've decided to bring you those very Marvels on this blog every Sunday (courtesy Ms. Candice Davidian)

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Pop in every Sunday for the week's new Marvel (click on the image to enlarge).

The Riff Heard Around the World

It's funny – I don't know if this is the case with all of you – but I've heard this song about a million times and yet this morning is the first time I actually listen to the lyrics. I don’t mean the chorus that we all sing along to – I mean the lyrics.

McJagger himself said he wrote the lyrics to 'Satisfaction' in "disgust with America, its advertising syndrome, the constant barrage" – his frustration with the hedonistic world we were living in.

The song is literally about how advertising just talks at consumers – about how "a man comes on the radio, and he's tellin' me more and more, about some useless information, supposed to drive my imagination".

Funnily enough – I think this is where a planner's role comes in. It's our job to make sure advertising doesn’t just talk at consumers with 'useless information'.

Yet more than 30 years after this riff was heard all around the world – consumers still can’t get no satisfaction.

For those who want to sing along:

I can't get no satisfaction,
I can't get no satisfaction.
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.I can't get no, I can't get no.

When I'm drivin' in my car
and that man comes on the radio
and he's tellin' me more and more
about some useless information
supposed to drive my imagination.
I can't get no, oh no no no.
Hey hey hey, that's what I say.

I can't get no satisfaction,
I can't get no satisfaction.
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.
I can't get no, I can't get no.

When I'm watchin' my TV
and a man comes on to tell me
how white my shirts can be.
Well he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke
the same cigarrettes as me.
I can't get no, oh no no no.
Hey hey hey, that's what I say.

I can't get no satisfaction,
I can't get no girl reaction.
'Cause I try and I try and I try and I try.
I can't get no, I can't get no.

When I'm ridin' round the world
and I'm doin' this and I'm signing that
and I'm tryin' to make some girl
who tells me baby better come back later next week
'cause you see I'm on losing streak.
I can't get no, oh no no no.
Hey hey hey, that's what I say.

I can't get no, I can't get no,
I can't get no satisfaction,
no satisfaction, no satisfaction, no satisfaction.

Power to the People

While large corporations and big media companies attempt to sue the likes of YouTube, some big names have started to embrace it.

OK that's not really big news to anyone - but I thought I'd share with you one very brave example from Al Jazeera English who has now opened its own channel providing 'YouTubers' content directly on the net.

Not only that, but Al Jazeera has posted this video - asking YouTubers to post their video responses and share feedback on what they think of the controversial station. A huge step for the brand that really opens it up to both positive and negative feedback they can't control.

With a move like this (which is typical of a station that has clawed its way to the top simply by showing no fear), I can't help but wonder what would happen if other brands followed their lead and opened up to live, uncontrollable feedback on the web?

What would happen if a brand that wanted to create REAL dialogue with its consumers pulled the same move? Would they be able to handle it? Would they collapse under huge pressure and negative feedback if they have customer service issues?

What most companies (who seem to be in denial that they no longer own their brands image) don't realize is that this could be the perfect opportunity to deal with problems, rumors, and negative connotations head on and very openly.

This is a chance to use dialogue to build trust...much like AL Jazeera has dared to do.

If you don't believe me - check out the few video responses they've gotten so far.

The Shame

How embarrassing. I started this blog as a personal project, put up a few posts and have disappeared off the blogosphere for months.

I've been told off by several friends after having promised to kick start this again and not doing it - so here I go one more time. I'm going to give it another shot.

Hope I haven't lost all of you already - please come back and check the blog again for regular updates and hopefully a few guest appearances. :)

Incognito