The Think Tank Marketing

'Trendfear' and how it's impacting upon communications

2012-02-01T20:51:00.002Z

There was a great article on the BBC website earlier this week by Tom de Castella looking at ‘Trendfear’ – the nagging anxiety at the back of your mind that you are missing out on something.

While marketers traditionally referred to such groups as early adopters, in the digital world where many of us find ourselves now living and working, just keeping up with what’s going new is often a challenge; there is a potential for information overload, and conversely for only sharing information within or between specific groups.

Tom cites the circumstance of finding yourself baffled by the rise of ‘dual screening’ – ie watching television and posting instant reactions on Twitter. However, for ardent fans (or critics) of a programme it's probably just the outlet they have been looking for. What if you do feel left behind when you read a story in the newspaper when you could have been watching it unfold through digital media?

In communications terms it adds a layer of complexity to how we, as professionals, need to approach media strategies. But as consumers we also becoming more aware that trends, like some products we may have experienced, can fail to live up to the hype?

For example, we’re keeping a watching brief on Pinterest* here at the Think Tank, and we think it will be great for sharing design ideas and inspirations. We’ll keep you updated.

*an online pinboard where you can post images and inspiration (already in the top 10 social networks in the USA). Find out more here.

The latest installment in the VW saga - 'The Dog Strikes Back'

2012-02-01T19:57:00.002Z

We feel that we are posting a lot of VW items but anyway, here is the latest installment of the VW saga - keep watching at the end!

360 degree view from the top of the Shard, London

2012-01-31T18:34:00.002Z

Will Pearson has taken an amazing 360 image from the top of the Shard, London Bridge, 310m above London, on the night of the student protests in November 2010.

Will says 'You can see the police helicopters hovering over London above the demonstration. Technically this was a very difficult shoot, I was on the crane at the top of the Shard, and I had to wave at Andy the crane driver so he knew when he could rotate 45 degrees between the exposures.

The temperatures were well below freezing and if you look in the distance behind Canary Wharf you will see the snow on the hills. Technically this image is not perfect but I find it fascinating nonetheless.'

Find out more and see the 360 image here.

Getting ready for a crisis

2012-01-31T18:21:00.008Z

We recently ran a crisis preparedness workshop for one of our clients which sparked lots of interesting debate.

One outcome was the development of a ‘crisis manual’, one that is comprehensive but also succinct, avoiding the danger of becoming so ‘big’ that no one will read it when it should be a useful, easy reference tool.

For multi-site locations, the development of a common core element of company best practice can easily be supplemented with pertinent local information, added into each site-specific manual. Any organisation operating internationally should also ensure that appropriate ‘early warning systems’ and international information networks are in place that operate across borders.

Another key outcome was the importance of your organisation being the principal trusted source of information for your own affairs, i.e. ensuring ‘ownership’ of your stakeholders through provision of information. This is increasingly a challenge in today’s networked world, with social media and ‘citizen journalists’, meaning there is little time before an issue becomes live and spreads across networks, potentially out of control.

Lots to consider, and thanks to Magnus Carter of Mentor Ltd for all his input into the day too.

Volkswagen takes to the skies for parking

2012-01-31T18:13:00.005Z

This amazing feat of engineering is Volkswagen's temporary vertical parking lot at their production facility in Wolfsburg, Germany.

16 storeys high, the silos are composed of glass and galvanized steel and are illuminated by night. A conveyor belt system transports finished cars directly from the adjacent manufacturing plant to the towers' basement and then lifts them into position via mechanical arms that rotate and run along a central beam.

Each silo can hold up to 400 cars at a time and deliver, with fitted number plates, around 600 vehicles to customers each day as well as acting as part of VW's Autostadt visitor attraction.

Find out more on DesignBoom

Olly and Molly reward your social interactions

2012-01-28T17:38:00.005Z

Olly is a scent-based system rewarding social media activity designed by Foundry, a small research team at Mint Digital. They call it a "web-connected smelly robot."

Linking to web-based social applications, Olly emits a fragrance when you receive emails, retweets, instant messages and various other pings across social channels.

Joining Olly is Molly, a robot that dispenses
sweets in a similar way. They are both available on Kickstarter for $50 each.

Great fun and nice to be treated occasionally!

Molly - turns your retweets into sweets from Olly Factory on Vimeo.

The Singing Ringing Tree

2012-01-28T17:09:00.004Z

The Singing Ringing Tree, by Tonkin Liu, may not be a new sculpture but we have just come across it and think it's fantastic.

Constructed of stacked pipes of varying lengths, each layer differs from the next by 15 degrees to respond to the changing wind directions. As the wind passes through different pipe lengths in different layers it plays different chords. Each time you sit under the tree you apparently hear a different song.

It's situated on a hill overlooking Burnley, Lancashire - we will definitely keep a look out for it next time we are in that part of the UK.

See a video of the sculpture below and turn the volume up.

singing ringing tree | tonkin liu from tonkin liu on Vimeo.

Amazing YouTube stats in an animated video

2012-01-28T16:48:00.007Z

Google data arts and digital production company Punk & Butler have taken some pretty incredible stats and turned them into an animated film demonstrating the volume of video being uploaded onto YouTube. Apparently one hour of video is uploaded every second.

A bit of fun but some interesting stats.

George Seurat's Bathers at Asnières recreated at Olympic Park

2012-01-28T16:32:00.002Z

Neville Gabie, the Olympic Park's artist in residence, has created a reimagined version of George Seurat's famous 1884 painting Bathers at Asnières with builders from the Olympic site.

Set on the River Lea in East Stratford it is a far cry from the original stting on the banks of the Seine in Paris. The photographic portrait is called Freeze Frame and Mr Gabie said he was struck by the similarities in Seurat’s painting and the visualisation he was shown before work began on the Olympic Park.

‘There is an obvious and surprising physical connection between the two landscapes, but the concept for the work explores the more striking similarities between the social and political contexts of the two,’ he told Metro. ‘Now, in the east end of London, we’ve reimagined a post-industrial landscape using sports

Read more on Metro

Cadbury Dairy Milk launches latest 2012 Olympics video

2012-01-28T14:40:00.005Z

Cadbury Dairy Milk has launched its latest online music video in its Keep Singing, Keep Team GB Pumped campaign, the most motivating arm of Cadbury’s London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games sponsorship - ‘Danger Zone’.

The music video sees some of the UK’s biggest fans going to extreme lengths in a bid to get up close and personal with 10 unsuspecting racquet sport athletes.

Below you can get a glimpse of it in the making as well as the video itself - what lengths some fans will go to!

Bus stops come to life in London

2012-01-22T19:31:00.004Z

From now until September bus stops all over London will be brought to life with digital art and inspiring messages, but you will only be able to see them if you are on the top deck of a bus.

Bus-Tops is an interactive art project, one of 12 around the UK commissioned for Artists Taking the Lead - an initiative set up by the Cultural Olympiad 2012 and Arts Council England to showcase the nation's creativity to the world.

The concept is to make London bus journeys more engaging and inspiring by installing LED screens on top of 30 bus shelters. The screens are being fitted with red and black LED lights and show designs from professional artists and members of the public.

Find out more about this project and where you can find the installations by clicking here.

Get your own 'They Might be Giants' pink hearse

2012-01-22T19:04:00.003Z

Last week we published a post about the shortlist for the Design of the Year Awards 2012 which featured a giant pink hearse from a 'They Might be Giants' video.

Well now you can get one of your own. Download and make your own by clicking here or watch the video of how they made the original one below:

'The Bark Side' by VW

2012-01-21T20:43:00.005Z

And the dogs have it. This new ad for VW, called The Bark Side, is a trailer for their forthcoming Super Bowl spot. It follows the brand's success with the Force ad last year that featured a child as Darth Vader.

It has received more than eight million views on YouTube in just a few days so seems to be having the right impact.

Great viewing.

Clap for your photos

2012-01-21T20:23:00.005Z

Here is a great new mini digial camera called Clap. Small in size and it has a retro feel (without an LCD screen). It's ideal for popping in your pocket or handbag for all those special occasions.

It apparently records up to 30 seconds of video, has storage of between 2GB and 16GB and also acts as a USB drive.

It has been available through Amazon, however they are a bit short on supply at the moment so if you want one you will have to keep hunting.

BMW uses interactive experience to promote 1 Series

2012-01-21T19:59:00.004Z

BMW has been running an experiential promotion across South Africa marketing its 1 Series.

The events ran in the evening across major cities with consumers invited to join in an interactive race game that was projected onto buildings and scaffolding in high traffic areas.

Using smart phones, iPhones and iPads gamers logged on to Facebook and competed against each other using their devices. The winners were immediately posted to the Facebook page and a league of the fastest gamers publicised.

There were 810 campaign Facebook posts, so with a Facebook user having an average of 130 friends, it is estimated that more than 105,000 users were exposed to the campaign through Facebook alone.

It looks like great fun was had by all, with consumers engaging with the brand and new technology. See a video of the event below:

Augmented reality brings ceramics to life

2012-01-17T21:28:00.002Z

This is just beautiful. Andrew Tanner Design is about to show the first augmented reality ceramics at the London Home Fair.

Combining beautifully painted ceramic plates, called English Hedgerow, with augmented reality the creatures featured are brought to life on your iPhone or smartphone.

See the video of the animation below:
,

How the Chinese build a 30-story hotel in 15 days

2012-01-16T20:49:00.004Z

This is how pre-fabrication is done in China or 'How the Chinese build a 30-story, five-star hotel in only 15 days.'

Built by the Broad Group, it used prefab construction techniques for ninety-three percent of the high-rise. The 17,000 square meter hotel is known as T30, is located in the Lin Gang Industrial Zone in Xiangyin County and comprises of over 350 rooms, a restaurant, bar, gym, swimming pool on the top floor, underground parking and a helicopter pad.

Interesting viewing.

See your world turn upside down with Google Maps

2012-01-16T20:14:00.005Z

This is a great video produced by Venables Bell & Partners to promote Google and its host of mapping services by creating an oversized labyrinth game as a handcrafted, real life version of Google Maps.

This was built by VB&P and 1st Ave Machine and the video shows players navigating around a complex city scape - dropping into burger joints, barbers and other palces along the route.

This is very clever and a must see.

Plus, if you like this then also take a look at the previewed Google maps game which lets you play the labyrinth game online.

Have fun!

Design of the Year 2012 nominations announced

2012-01-13T09:05:00.004Z

The Design Museum has announced its nominations for the Designs of the Year 2012 exhibition with a range of exciting designs that appeared in 2011. The work featured includes digital, fashion, furniture, architecture, product, graphic and transport design and is drawn from a wide variety of projects.

All the nominations will be on show at the Designs of the Year exhibtion at the Design Museum, opening to the public on 8 February 2012 and category winners and the overall winner will be announced at the Awards Night at the Design Museum on 24 April.

The Design Museum will be issuing details of each nomination daily on their blog,

Work shown here: Comedy Carpet, Blackpool by Why Not Associates and Gordon Young

Life-Size Paper Monster Hearse by Paul Sahre

Newsweek publishes 1960's Mad Men issue

2012-01-13T08:35:00.006Z

Newsweek is planning to publish their March issue adopting its 1960's design throughout to mark the return of Mad Men to TV screens in the US.

Tina Brown, editor of Newsweek and The Daily Beast, commented, "Newsweek was very much on the cultural forefront at the time of the show, it covered the events that are so much of the background for the show's drama - the burgeoning civil rights movement, the women's rights movement, the Vietnam War. That was Newsweek's cutting-edge beat and its flourishing journalistic subject. So it seemed like a wonderful marriage in a sense to take that and apply it to the magazine, to make the magazine an homage to the period."

This is either a great marketing coup for the producers of Mad Men or a very clever promotional tool for Newsweek. Either way it will be an issue to keep.

Read more about this on AdAge.

Salesforce launches Social Media best practice website

2012-01-11T13:04:00.003Z

Salesforce has recently launched a Best Practice website called 'Social Success', covering Cloud Computing and Social Media.

There are some great case studies here as well as a free 25-page book looking at how Social Media is affecting Sales, Marketing and Customer Service.

Click here to see more

Red Bull announces Canimation winners

2012-01-10T20:16:00.003Z

If you have missed the publicity, Red Bull has been running a competition called 'Canimation' which searched for cutting edge animators to combine their imagination with the silver and blue can to produce some great short animated films.

The winners have just been announced and it is well worth having look at the great films. Below are just two of the winners.

Winner of Student CGI Category - Scott Waddington

Red Bull and the Featherless Chicken Canimation from Scott Waddington on Vimeo.

Winner of Open Drawn Category - Chloe Rodham

Skyhound (Red Bull Canimation) from Chloe Rodham on Vimeo.

See the rest of the fantastic winners here

Faces of British Architecture exhibition

2012-01-09T20:29:00.003Z

To celebrate British architects and engineers, Icopal has commissioned a series of portraits by Timothy Soar, with commentary by Isabel Allen. The series represents the UK’s leading experts, innovators and visionaries in architecture and engineering, responsible for many iconic buildings and landmark developments. The exhibition, curated by Lorna Soar, can be seen at The Building Centre in January and February 2012.

THE BUILDING CENTRE - LONDON 9th January - 29th February 2012

Image courtesy of Faces of British Architecture

Frustrated by online shopping baskets?

2012-01-09T20:02:00.004Z

Do you get frustrated with 'shopping baskets' when shopping online? Then you will find this humorous take on the infamous Shopping Basket by Oatmeal very funny.

It is essential reading for anyone operating in or thinking of entering the online retail space.

Please note: This does include profanity so please do not continue if you may be offended.

Click here to view in full

Great viral ad for LG

2012-01-09T19:47:00.003Z

This is a great viral ad for LG produced by Y&R Amsterdam. A very odd customer makes his way through an electrical store and finds himself running off down the street with a bit of a surpirise.

Very clever. Click below to view.

Are consumers getting excited about QR codes?

2012-01-02T14:05:00.002Z

Quick-response (QR) codes are being used everywhere these days, even footballers have got into the habit with Bromley FC shaving the back of their heads in the design as a promotional stunt.

But are consumers getting excited about QR codes? They are a great idea in theory, improving interactivity and offering a quick route through to online content, however in the States only 5% of Americans who own mobile phones have actually used a QR code, and surprisingly these tended to be young, affluent and male.

However, in the UK a recent survey of 794 mobile users by Simpson Carpenter showed that only a third knew what a QR code was but 11% had used one. Of these 20% did not find them at all useful.

So what is the future of QR codes? There will be growing awareness of the technology and, according to the above research, 70% of those that had used them found them useful and would use them again. As a tool for marketers they offer a simple and quick way for consumers to engage with online content and with the increase in smart phone usage it will be interesting to see how they develop.

We expect that there will be simpler technology along sooner rather than later that will supersede QR codes and offer more marketing opportunities so watch this space.

For more information on QR trends in the States see the AdAge article here

AdAge's Top 10 Viral Videos of 2011

2012-01-01T14:22:00.002Z

This is a very funny viral video for Doritos - 'no animals were hurt in the production of this advert' - well, at least the dog wasn't.

This ranked number 3 in AdAge's Top 10 viral videos for 2011. Some great videos here - some that you may recognise in the UK and others that you may not.

Check out the complete Top 10 here.

How to succeed as a marketer in 2012

2011-12-30T16:56:00.003Z

Joel Harrison, Editor of B2B Marketing Magazine has been taking a look at how to be a great marketer in 2012 and offers his top ten tips.

He comments, 'We’ve got to accept that economic indicators don’t look great, and it’s unlikely to be a boom year for many companies. But that doesn’t mean as marketers we have any excuses to rest on their laurels – far from it in fact; unless they are prepared to roll up our sleeves, take some tough decisions and generally get involved, marketers may find themselves in a spot of bother, as companies constantly re-evaluate their spend and personnel. In other words, to put it more succinctly, in the words of the old cliché: when the going gets tough, the tough get going.'

Joel lists 10 things that a marketer needs to be to succeed in 2012:

1. A polymath – in other words, good at many things. A jack of all trades (and probably a master of a couple of those). That includes so-called ‘traditional’ and digital marketing disciplines.

2. Pragmatic – willing and able to change, responding to changing needs and demands.

3. Engaging – they must be excellent communicators, with anyone and everyone, across the organisation. That includes everyone from the boardroom to the call centre.

4. Technologically adept – analytics, automation and social media monitoring must be your new best friends.

5. Passionate – really believe in what they are doing and why, and in their brand and the organisation that they work for. Lip service won’t do.

6. Convincing – able to sell ideas and concepts, and rally others to their cause.

7. Robust – they must be able to justify and prove their decisions and actions.

8. Collaborative – able to work with other key stakeholders in the organisation, such as sales, IT and finance, where necessary.

9. Dogged and determined – able to keep going in the face of adversity.

10. Inquisitive – interested in new tools, techniques, insights and ideas. Marketing will continue to change, and practitioners must change with it.

To find out more read the full article here

RIBA hunts for unique pews and perches

2011-12-30T16:29:00.002Z

RIBA has launched a competition inviting architecture students, recent graduates and emerging practices from across London to come up with unique ideas for public seating in association with London’s Pleasure Gardens.

The winners of Pews & Perches will receive funding to build their designs which will be showcased around the Royal Docks in East London in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.

The deadline for submissions is 30 January 2012.

Click here for more details

Ege introduces digital print carpets

2011-12-30T16:12:00.002Z

EgeCarpets has launched their “Out of Nature” digital print carpet collection with the aim of 'allowing the beauty of nature indoors, right into your interior design scheme'.

These great digital print designs are available in wall-to-wall or custom sizes and in stone, wood or tile effects.

An interesting statement piece for any home.

See more of these great designs here.

D&AD Celebrates 50 years with classic 1965 Hancock

2011-12-27T20:24:00.002Z

Marking its 50th birthday, D&AD has delved into its archive to highlight significant pieces of work that have featured in the awards. Creative Review will be publishing one a week.

This time, it's the turn of Mather & Crowther's 'Go to work on an egg' campaign which started in 1957 but was first awarded by D&AD in 1965. A classic Hancock.

See a celebration of 50 years of great design and advertising here

Not your run of the mill boat dock!

2011-12-27T20:07:00.003Z

If you're looking for inspiration when designing the dock for your next yacht or speed boat then this amazing piece of architecture may just be the answer.

Located on a bend in Lake Austin, across from the Canyonland Nature Preserve, the Shore Vista Boat Dock by Bercy Chen Studio has rounded edges that peel away to allow more of the landscape to be captured into the visual frame.

See more on Contemporist here
Photography by Paul Bardagjy and Ryan Michael

'What design means to me', original art for the Design Council

2011-12-27T19:45:00.002Z

Marking HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s contribution to the promotion of UK design, the Design Council has commissioned a one-off book, 'What Design Means to Me', of original artworks drawn by over forty of the Prizes’ previous winners, nominees and judges including Sir Terence Conran, Vivienne Westwood, Jeff Banks, Lord Norman Foster, Kenneth Grange and Sir Paul Smith.

See examples of the original artworks below:

What design means to me

View more presentations from Design Council

Most overused buzzwords and best ways to increase your profile on LinkedIn

2011-12-27T19:30:00.003Z

LinkedIn has been looking at some of the most overused terms and buzzwords of 2011, comparing them to 2010, and also suggest ways that professionals can increase the number of visitors to their profile.

In the 2010 study, buzzwords like “extensive experience,” “dynamic,” “motivated,” and “innovative” were the most overused buzzwords in various countries however LinkedIn says that since its global membership has grown from 85 million to more than 135 million members since 2010 the list has changed.

Here are the 2011 most used buzzwords:

1. Creative
2. Organizational
3. Effective
4. Extensive experience
5. Track record
6. Motivated
7. Innovative
8. Problem solving
9. Communication skills
10. Dynamic

LinkedIn has also suggested some tips professionals can act on to increase the number of people viewing their LinkedIn Profile.

Click here to find out more

The Think Tank appointed PR agency for B3 Designers

2011-12-14T13:56:00.003Z

The Think Tank is delighted to announce that it has been appointed to provide PR support for Shoreditch-based B3 Designers.
This award-winning interior design studio specializes in creating distinctive, fresh and contemporary designs for the interiors of hotels, bars, restaurants and for retail spaces.
The B3 Designers team has currently been working on a number of projects including some exciting new ‘eateries’ in the Selfridges store in Manchester… watch this space for more news.

Looking at things in a different way

2011-12-13T19:17:00.002Z

Lenticular images can be a great way to get a message across. We recently used this technique in a direct mail piece for a client, taking the recipient on a journey from illustration to final design.

Applied to a rippled surface in a certain way, a lenticular image shifts in and out of focus depending on the angle you view it from, sometimes producing an animated effect.

WebUrbanist has put together a great selection of graffiti, billboards, art and even children's toys that use lenticular images to great effect.

Click here to see some great designs.

Google's office interior is a walk in the park

2011-12-13T18:49:00.004Z

If you're sitting in your uninspiring office looking forward to escaping at lunch then take a look at Google's new decor. With the purchase of other social channels, such as YouTube, Google has been bringing together its businesses into one building in London and the interior is as different as you would expect.

Including deck chairs, a Routemaster bus and a bath tub for a table this certainly is an interior to inspire creativity.

See more here on WIDN

The Christmas Party 'Walk of Shame'

2011-12-13T09:42:00.001Z

Keeping the festive theme going is this ad for Harvey Nichols Womenswear by DDB London.

Quite humorous and I am sure we all have similar memories, either personal or third hand. It finishes by asking viewers to share their 'Walk of shame' moments.

Definitely worth 60 seconds viewing.

Twitter launches Brand Pages

2011-12-13T09:19:00.000Z

Twitter has announced that it is launching 'Brand Pages' to meet the growing demand from advertisers to be able to promote their products more prominently than at present.

The pages have two key elements, both of which are free. Ad Age tells us 'They can be customized with large header images that advertisers can use to display their logo and tagline more prominently than under the standard format, where branded elements of the page design are often partially covered by the time line of tweets. Brands can also choose to keep a particular tweet at the top of their time line, and that top tweet also auto-expands to reveal an embedded photo or video from Flickr, YouTube or other sources, without requiring the user to take action.'

Ad Age interviewed Twitter's Chief Revenue Officer Adam Bain to find out more about their plans. The launch will initially include brand pages for 21 marketers including American Express, Best Buy, Bing, Chevrolet, Coca-Cola, Dell , Disney, General Electric, Hewlett-Packard, Intel and McDonald's who are all deemed strategic partners.

To read the full article please click here or to find out more about how to enhance your page click here.

Twitter reviews the last year - what have we been searching for?

2011-12-07T21:50:00.002Z

Twitter's latest instalment of a year in review shows what we’ve all been searching for and hastagging over the last 12 months.

It does have a bias towards US trends however this series of lists, blog commentary and well presented overviews should be essential reading for anyone with an interest in social media.

Click here to view the latest installment

Which social media tools are B2B marketers using?

2011-12-07T21:38:00.002Z

Pardot Marketing Automation has been looking at the most popular social networks amongst B2B marketers.

They found some interesting facts and created an infographic to show some of the key results. Twitter was deemed to be the most popular social network among B2B marketers however LinkedIn was found to create the most leads.

See the infographic here to find out more of the interesting results.

social-infographic-pardot.pdf (169 kb)

The Art of Dancing - A festive advent calendar

2011-12-06T14:34:00.004Z

Looking for a bit of light relief this December then check out The Art of Dancing, an advent calendar of dance that will knock your socks off, or at least give you a laugh. A new dance every day up to Christmas - will they keep going?

Click here to see their moves

Nokia goes bizarre

2011-12-05T20:48:00.002Z

This has got to be one of the most bizarre but entertaining ads we have seen for a while. Created by Fallon for Nokia, it is being shown in the Philippines, India and Nigeria. Just great.

See one version below and if you like it take a look at Creative Review's blog for another great version as well as some other interesting ads.

Foster + Partners vision of Thames Hub

2011-12-05T20:22:00.002Z

The Thames Hub continues to make progress since Foster + Partners revealed the proposal in November. This £50bn project includes a £20bn high-speed Orbital Rail line around London, a new £6bn Thames Barrier and crossing and a £20bn international Estuary Airport, with annual capacity for 150 million passengers.

To see and read more click here to view on ArchDaily

Images © Foster and Partners

'Spotting the rot' - Permasense featured in the Economist

2011-12-05T19:36:00.002Z

As part of a global PR strategy The Think Tank has been promoting a new wireless corrosion monitoring system for the oil and gas sector developed by technology company, Permasense. This new system is being welcomed worldwide, improving safety in oil refineries through continual monitoring of pipe corrosion in inhospitable environments.

As a part of this activity we have broadened our reach to great effect, culminating in an article published in the Economist this week.

The article comments, 'Oil men, then, should welcome an invention by Peter Cawley and his colleagues in the non-destructive testing research group at Imperial College, London. They have devised, and just finished testing at some of BP’s refineries, an automatic way of keeping an eye on the integrity of pipelines—and have helped set up a company called Permasense, to commercialise it.'

To read the full article please click here

Building cities on the ocean

2011-12-05T19:22:00.002Z

In a recent article the Economist looked at Seasteading or building floating cities.

The discussion features modern libertarians, such as Peter Thiel, one of the founders of PayPal, who have the dream of setting sail to found colonies of like-minded souls and to do so they have decided that they must build new cities on the high seas, known as seasteads.

The Economist says, 'It is not a completely crazy idea: large maritime structures that resemble seasteads already exist, after all. Giant cruise liners host thousands of guests on lengthy voyages in luxurious surroundings. Offshore oil platforms provide floating accommodation for hundreds of workers amid harsh weather and high waves. Then there is the Principality of Sealand, a concrete sea fort constructed off Britain’s coast during the second world war. It is now occupied by a family who have fought various lawsuits to try to get it recognised as a sovereign state.'

To read the full article please click here

The Little Printer

2011-12-01T20:48:00.002Z

Design studio Berg has introduced a great new product called the Little Printer, available from 2012.

According to Berg, the Little Printer "lives in your front room and scours the web on your behalf, assembling the content you care about into designed deliveries a couple of times a day".

Take a look at the video below or click here to find out more. Its a great little gadget!

Martini gets attitude

2011-12-01T20:28:00.002Z

Take a look at this new French ad for Martini, 'Luck is an attitude'.

A cool, retro look and feel that uses a split screen to demonstrate how choice can change or make your day, especially if you 'choose Martini'.

Great to watch and very engaging.

See the video below.

Interactive experience uses wine to build a masterpiece

2011-12-01T20:14:00.004Z

Wine producer Navarro Correas has built a 13 x 8.2 foot interactive structure in Bogota, Colombia with 1000 acrylic cells that are filled by an automated robotic mechanism with 6 different shades of wine.

The concept was for members of the public to interact with the structure, choosing a cell via a text message to be filled.

The end result was the recreation of Van Gogh’s self portrait and an interesting interactive experience but what a waste of good wine!

See the video below

Another successful night at the B2B Marketing Awards 2011

2011-11-29T09:06:00.005Z

The B2B Marketing Awards 2011 were a great success last Thursday, 24th November.

For the fifth year The Think Tank managed the awards event on behalf of B2B Marketing Magazine and it all went very well. The theme this year combined a 60's lounge atmosphere with the glitter of Las Vegas, setting the scene for a fun and enjoyable night.

Jack Whitehall took the stage to entertain the audience and present the awards and after a great dinner and 'refreshment' many headed off to the after-show party until the early hours.

Well done to all the winners and a big thanks to all The Think Tank team for running another successful event.

Dezeen's Temporium pop-up shop is back for Christmas

2011-11-26T09:50:00.002Z

The Temporium, Dezeen's unique pop-up design store, returns to central London this Christmas with over 20 designers and brands selling their products direct to the public from 1-24 December.

Situated in Monmouth Street, Seven Dialsthe store will offer a wide range of gifts, jewellery, watches, books, home wares and much more by some of Europe’s most exciting designers and brands.

Click here for more details

David Lynch delves into interior design

2011-11-26T09:26:00.002Z

David Lynch, filmaker and artist, has applied his creativity to designing a Paris nightclub, Silencio.Opening last September it is inspired by the identically named Club Silencio, which is a key location in his critically acclaimed film noir from 2001, Mulholland Drive.

This follows his exploration into music last year when he released his first vocal single, Good Day Today, but designing a nightclub is a complete departure for the 65-year old.

To see and read more visit Blueprint

Unloved, thrown out and abandoned creations

2011-11-26T09:11:00.002Z

Using orphaned & unloved antique plates Beat Up Creations has transformed these and many other throw away items, breathing new life into them in interesting and creative ways.
Great for Christmas presents?

See more here

FedEx delivers the dominoes

2011-11-26T08:26:00.002Z

FedEx has created its own spin on the classic chain effect message using its delivery boxes as dominoes to deliver an important package to a lovable puppy!

A soft execution of this common metaphor but a clever one all the same. What do you think?

Faber Castell viral is quite revealing

2011-11-26T08:06:00.004Z

Faber Castell has created a really interesting viral video that demonstrates their markers to great effect. Very simple but very clever.

How the Italians do it

2011-11-26T07:47:00.003Z

You should never be surprised at what the Italians get away with in their advertising and the new ad for the Fiat 500 Abarth is no exception.

Taking innuendo to another level this is just not something you find on a British TV during Coronation Street!

Love it or hate it, it certainly engages the audience. What do you think?

Click below to see the video

World's tallest LEGO Christmas tree unveiled at St Pancras

2011-11-23T09:50:00.002Z

Built and installed by the UK’s only LEGO Certified Professional, Duncan Titmarsh of Bright Bricks, the tree stands at 10 metres high and is made entirely out of LEGO bricks making it the tallest LEGO tree ever made. This imposing Christmas tree is made with 600,000 LEGO bricks and 172 LEGO branches.

Of course, no Christmas tree is complete without Christmas baubles and LEGO sought the help of children from Edith Neville Primary School, Camden, and Copenhagen Primary School, Islington, as well as the Harpenden Explorer Scouts Unit to make the 1,200 LEGO baubles that will adorn the tree.

The tree is being built on the lower concorse next to the champagne bar, but is so tall, standing at 12m high that it stretches right up through and above the upper level of the station where the platforms are located. The tree branches were built by a team of Bright Bricks builders off-site and are being assembled with the trunk at the Station. Due to the location of the tree the build can only be done at night. Progress started on Wednesday the 9th November and it is expected to be completed by the 24th November.

On the 24th a celebrity will be on hand to switch on the lights and officially complete the tree model. The tree will remain at the station until the 2nd of January.

To see more about the LEGO Christmas tree visit Demotix or the St Pancras website.

Choice should include offering the chance to say no thanks

2011-11-22T11:02:00.002Z

Something that is increasingly occupying the minds of marketers recently is choice. Demanding customers want to consume what they want, when they want and how they want. The consumption of marketing communications is no different - consumers want to feel that they have some control.

The television industry has recognised this with ITV mulling a new ad format on its demand service ITV Player. The new format allows viewers to skip ads if they correctly answer questions based on the brand or product on the spot. Channel 4 is one of several broadcasters trialing an ad format that allows viewers to choose which ad they want to watch from multiple brands ahead of video-on-demand content. They will still have to watch the ads - broadcasters and brands need to make a living - but consumers who are offered choice feel empowered and more readily willing to engage with the advertiser offering the option.

Direct marketers have fewer options so are unable to replicate their counterparts from other channels. They can, however, make some efforts to offer consumers a choice of what they receive and when. Indeed, there is already a movement in that direction. The Green Preference Service, launched in June and attracting noteworthy interest, offers consumers a choice of whether they want to receive DM by physical or electronic mail.

DIrect marketing is continually dogged by accusations that it is unscrupulous in its approach - carpet bombing consumers with junk mail and spam email with little or no regard for those they are actually "targeting". One way of tackling this is offering choice. Not only how they receive DM but whether they receive it. Opt out should be proactively offered by brands in a very deliberate visible fashion. As counter-intuitive as that might seem, customers that do not take up a brands' offer of opting out will be more receptive.

To read the full article please visit Marketing Week.

The Think Tank heads off to Russia

2011-11-22T11:01:00.002Z

Jana Pavelkova from The Think Tank's PR team is in Moscow this week to provide PR support and meeting journalists with Formica Group at the ZOW furniture show.

This prestigious show that is held in Russia, Germany and Turkey showcases products and services supplied to the furniture industry. The first ZOW Moscow show was held in 2004 and each year usually receives around 15,000 visitors.

Formica Group is exhibiting vibrant colourways, intriguing textures and unique designs from the TopLine and Doorline collections, which bring a complete offering to the kitchen and furniture segment. Delegates can visit stand D3, Pavilion 7, Hall 2 from 21st - 25th November 2011 can discover how the Formica Group continues to evolve.

Please click here to see more about the new collections.

New Old Spice Advert tells men to "Smell Better Than Yourself"

2011-11-22T10:32:00.002Z

Old Spice is back with another unique advertisement. This time the scents of Old Spice turn embarrassingly normal guys into face model champions who smell like adventure and fine cutlery, encouraging men across the world to "Smell Better Than Yourself." See the video below or click here.

Can discounting serve to bring back consumer trust after a crisis?

2011-11-22T08:50:00.002Z

The Marketing Society Forum, published in Marketing Week and Campaign Live, has looked at the theme “Can discounting serve to bring back consumer trust after a crisis?”, referencing airline Qantas’s offer of free travel to passengers affected by its recent industrial dispute which grounded its entire fleet. And that got the Think Tank’s PR team revisiting discussions about issue management.

It’s a fascinating theme in that it runs right to the heart of brand experience and corporate reputation. In terms of PR, how you handle an issue makes all the difference, and ultimately as one of the commentators in the Forum points out; “we all mess up sometimes… apologizing and accepting responsibility for [one’s] failings often diffuses the situation”.

How you attract people back is another matter. Discounting or offering a free replacement of some sort is often the accepted short-term response to help ameliorate the immediate frustration that your customers have felt. But the tone of that communication is also key, as is the way your employees/staff handle the situation. If the whole process is felt to have been handled swiftly, in a straightforward and fair way, then most people will give you the benefit of the doubt.

Ultimately though, as the Forum respondents agree, this activity also needs to be part of a broader series of responses too to re-establish trust in a brand and ultimately as part of more regular, strategic reputation and risk management planning that the Board or senior management need to undertake.

See the full article here

Benetton's controversial UNHATE campaign

2011-11-18T10:07:00.002Z

A new campaign from Benetton is recalling the brand's controversial heyday. A series of posters features world leaders with lips locked to launch the UNHATE project.

Benetton, says the accompanying press material, is inviting "the leaders and citizens of the world to combat the 'culture of hatred'". The UNHATE campaign is the first initiative from a new Benetton foundation of the same name, launched by Alessandro Benetton, executive deputy chairman of the Benetton Group.

The posters, created by Benetton's 'research communication centre' Fabrica in cooperation with 72andSunny, feature political and spiritual leaders kissing. According to Benetton "These are symbolic images of reconciliation - with a touch of ironic hope and constructive provocation - to stimulate reflection on how politics, faith and ideas, even when they are divergent and mutually opposed, must still lead to dialogue and mediation."

The campaign also includes social media activity in the name of the Kiss Wall, where users can upload images of themselves kissing.

Following outrage and pressure from the Vatican, Benetton has reportedly withdrawn the poster featuring the Pope kissing Ahmed Mohamed el-Tayeb. Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi has been quoted in various sources criticising the company for exploiting the Pope's image.

To read more visit Creative Review.

Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain

2011-11-17T10:25:00.002Z

German artists Heike Mutter and Ulrich Genth have completed designs for “Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain” in Duisburg, Germany.

The walkable, large outdoor sculpture Tiger & Turtle – Magic Mountain is currently in construction on the Heinrich Hildebrand Höhe in Duisburg Wanheim (D). It overtops the plateau with the artificially heaped-up mountain by 21 metres so the visitor can rise by more than 45metres above the level of the landscape and enjoy an impressive view over the Rhine.

The curved flight of stairs inscribes like a signature on the landscape and plays upon the iconic nimbus of the classical roller coaster. Visitors climb the roller-coaster-sculpture on foot via differently steep steps. So the sculpture subtly and ironically plays with the feelings of promise and disappointment, mobility and standstill, just like a real roller coaster. Visitors happen to briefly meet with oncoming visitors on the steep 1 metre wide corridors. LED-lights are integrated in the handrails and highlight the flight of stairs so the sculpture is accessible at night, too.

To read more visit Contemporist. Photography by Eichental.

Tesco launch augmented reality programme

2011-11-17T10:00:00.002Z

British retailer Tesco is launching an ambitious augmented reality programme today that will let consumers see 3D images of more than 40 products online.

The technology requires a browser plugin then, after that consumers have to use a “marker” like a Tesco catalog or club card to active the augmented reality (AR). Users can then hold up images from the catalogue to their computer’s webcam to see a floating 3D version of the product.

For instance, an image of a TV set in the catalogue can be expanded onscreen so you can see its actual size and what it looks like on the back. The AR also lets you play with onscreen LEGO sets. Tesco worked with British tech firm Kishino on the project.

Tesco’s foray into AR comes as the technology recently made some serious inroads in the U.S. In one of the most high-profile AR pushes yet, Starbucks launched a Christmas programme this month that uses an iOS-based app to make its red holiday coffee cups project images of animated characters.

To use the programme click here, or to read more visit Mashable.

Photography in abundance

2011-11-16T09:58:00.002Z

Dutch artist Erik Kessels has printed out and placed one million photographs from Flickr in a room for his unusual installation Photography in Abundance.

He created the mountain of pictures to illustrate how many we share over the internet in only 24 hours.The million uploads are a mere drop in the ocean compared to the estimated total of 6billion images on Flickr, which is the same suspected number added to Facebook every two months.

‘We’re exposed to an overload of images nowadays," The Dutchman explained. "This glut is in large part the result of image-sharing sites like Flickr, networking sites like Facebook and picture-based search engines. Their content mingles public and private, with the very personal being openly and not self-consciously displayed. By printing all the images uploaded in a 24-hour period, I visualise the feeling of drowning in representations of other people’s experiences."

The Photography In Abundance installation is part of the What’s Next display at Foam Amsterdam throughout November 2011.

To read more about Kessels Installation or to see more of the Foam photography visit Metro Online or Foam.

Behind the Tweets: New Twitter Site Reveals Users’ Stories

2011-11-15T16:42:00.003Z

Last week Twitter unveiled a collection of Twitter Stories designed to remind users “of the humanity behind Tweets that make the world smaller.” There are currently just under 20 short vignettes gathered at stories.twitter.com. And these vignettes are indeed short: between 100 and 150 words in most cases, fitting for a service known for imposing a 140-character limit on all posts.

There are some truly heart warming tales, from the man who saved his mother’s bookstore to movie critic Roger Ebert’s creative use of the service after he lost his voice. Visitors to the site can even read the first Tweet send from space. The tales demonstrate the power of social media and just how life-chaging it can be. At just 140 characters they are definitely worth a read!

To read more visit Twitter Stories.

Interview: Clet Abraham

2011-11-15T09:19:00.003Z

British born Frenchman Clet Abraham is a plastic artistic who is transforming the traffic signs across the world with a political, religious and philosophic understanding. Flo'N the GO found out some more about Abraham and his work - to read the full interview click here.

When did you begin to do this kind of art?
One year ago. I was crossing the city driving my car and started to think how stupid and primitive were the traffic signs that were ruling me. They told us: you can’t go there, you must turn left or right and nothing more. I decided to give them another meaning, a reading grade was what they lacked.

Where around the world is your work visable today?
Florence, Torino, London and Valencia. Next year, I expect to work in more European countries.

What was the first sign you 'adapted'?
The Jesus Christ, but it was stolen from the Piazza Michelangelo and I did the other about Virgin Mary and Maria Madalena.

Where do you draw your influences from?
I was influenced by Classicism and Surrealism. Maybe the artist that most influenced me was Pieter Buegel. Besides he didn’t have a perfect manual capacity, his work told something to people.

What is your opinion on urban art?
I think that general rules are wrong, we shouldn’t say that all is forbidden but that some things are and others not. Urban art always there was and always there will be. Also the David sculpture, of Michelangelo, is urban art.

To read the full article visit Flo'N the Go.

Young Designers Competition - Conceptual Experiential Structure

2011-11-14T11:48:00.002Z

To tie in with their arrival to the North West and to build on their continued support of Salford University, Whitecircle are announcing a student design competition. More information about the will be posted on Whitecircle's Facebook and Twitter pages in the coming weeks.

To find about other projects Whitecircle are involved in or to learn more about their solutions, services and exhibitions visit www.whitecircleltd.com.

Starbucks Christmas Augmented Reality App

2011-11-14T09:04:00.001Z

Starbucks is launching its first major augmented reality app this Chrsitmas that will let customers animate their coffee cups with their smartphones.

Starbucks Cup Magic launches for iPhone and Android devices in the US next Tuesday and it is hoped if successful the app will be made available in the UK. As demonstrated in the video, the app works by pointing your phone’s camera at the company’s red festive coffee cups and 47 additional objects, such as bags of coffee, on display at Starbucks retail locations.

Doing so will produce animations involving five characters — an ice skater, a squirrel, a boy and a dog sledding and a fox — on your screen. You can also interact with the characters. For instance, if you tap the boy on the sled he does a somersault. Those who activate all five characters can qualify to win an as-yet-unnamed prize.

Cup Magic, created by Blast Radius, caps off a year of successful mobile implementations by Starbucks. The brand launched a mobile payment app in January that has been used in more than 20 million transactions and a QR code program designed, like Starbucks Cup Magic, to enhance the in-store brand experience.

To see more please visit Mashable.

So what are Google+ Pages all about?

2011-11-12T17:14:00.007Z

Google+ has recently launched 'company' and 'brand' pages, expanding its infant social networking platform designed to challenge Facebook. This is all very new and it is difficult to gauge how it will develop however if anyone is going to challenge Facebook then Google certainly has the online presence and profile to do so.

To understand what it is all about and how it is going to work The Think Tank has been looking at Google+ Pages and testing out their viability for network and social marketing. The system is certainly in its infancy and we assume that many features are to be added however below we summarise some of the pros and cons we have found so far:

Google+ Page

The 'Plus' Points

1. Simple to Set Up
Google+ Pages are quick and easy to set up but somewhat limited at present in certain areas which we cover below.

2. Circles of Influence
Google+ is based upon creating a network of contacts which you add to 'Circles'. These can be friends, colleagues, clients, acquaintances, media or any other category that you wish to create. The great thing is that you can select who to share your content with so that if you only want to share with one or many of your circles you can or you alternatively you can share publicly.

Google+ Circles

This is great for sharing with customers, staff or specific groups that you may be marketing to and engaging with. It is simple and quick to add to your circles when searching within the network.

This organisation of contacts is a significant benefit over Facebook and offers many opportunities to businesses looking to engage with a range of stakeholders.

3. Tracking your Impact

Google+ Ripples

Google+ had introduced 'Ripples'. This is a very graphical way of demonstrating the impact of one of your posts as the community share it across the network. In a simple to understand format you can instantly see who has shared your content, how many people they have shared it with and whether they in turn have passed it on.

If shared publicly you can see biogs of those that share and add them to your circles. You can also view other stats including influencers, chain lengths and languages.

4. Spreading the Word
Sharing content is simple, fast and not limited by the number of characters, as far as we can tell. You can add images, video, links, locations and graphics such as animated gifs that can certainly enhance your message.

These can be shared publically or just to the circles that you choose.

5. Get Face to Face
A very useful tool is the 'Hangout'. This is simple video conferencing between your circles.

Hangouts can be created quickly and you can invite those in your circles, individually or in groups to join in a video conference as long as they are online.

This is going to be a great tool for getting face to face with contacts and just think of the opportunities it offers in marketing terms.

6. Google+ Direct
This is an added function that will allow those using Google to add the + sign after a search term, taking users directly to the Google+ page for the brand they are looking for.

Apparently this is going to be based upon 'algorithms' so we will have to wait and see what is required for your page to start to work with Google+ Direct.

Now for some of the not so great bits:

The 'Negative' Bits

1. Limited Function
The integration of Google+ does not seem to be quite there when compared to Facebook and other platforms. We are sure that this functionality will come however at the moment there are certain areas that are lacking.

2. Set Up
You would expect Google+ to link and import directly from your YouTube and Picasa streams for video and images but at present you have to load all of your content individually, one image or video at a time. It would be much more useful if you could link to your YouTube channel and pull across your videos.

Profiles are also limited in content that you can add and link to and offer minimal functionality and flexibility.

3. Monitoring, Moderating and Notifications
There is little functionality for the above at present. Firstly you cannot restrict people posting comments on your public posts and secondly there is no email notification to warn you that they have done so. This means that you have to constantly check online to ensure that your stream is not being attacked or having a negative impact. Privacy settings are very limited.

4. Building your Circles
There is limited integration with email clients at present. For example, if you want to add your Outlook contacts to your circles you have to firstly export them to a .csv file and then upload into Google+. Inviting these individuals to join your circles is equally laborious. Oh, and by the way, there is currently no way of inviting people to join your page, as far as we could see, only for an individual's profile.

5. Monitoring Activity
There currently appears to be a couple of glitches with viewing Circles and those that add your page. When in Circles you can select to see all your contact or those that have 'Added' you however when you select to filter it does not work, you are left with the same list of all contacts.

Also, as far as we can see you can be notified by email if someone interacts with your personal page however notifications are not sent for people interacting with your company page - you have to keep checking back to see if there is any activity.

6. Showing your Circles
Finally, and really only of interest to those starting out, you can decide to show or not show your circles publically. This is great when you are starting out and only have a few followers as you do not want the world to know that you are not that popular. However, the downside is that if you decide to hide your circles your profile tells the world that you have '0' people in your circles - GREAT!

We are sure that this is just a first stage in the introduction of Pages in Google+ and that in due course many of the points above will be addressed. It is going to be interesting to see whether Google can challenge Facebook and whether those that are comfortable with Facebook will want to switch over and start building their networks again. What Google has in its favour is its reach and influence online. We wait with baited breath.

If you have found this interesting give us a thumbs up and +1 our Google+ Page. Click here to view or get started.

‘From Off to On’ Installation

2011-11-11T10:51:00.002Z

holdUp have shared their latest installation, ‘FROM OFF TO ON’, exhibited at the international KOBE ART BIENNALE in Japan during the ART IN A CONTAINER exhibition. Selected among 289 proposals, ‘FROM OFF TO ON’ received the honorable mention by the jury. In this interactive artwork, visitors are transformed in to explorers observing their environment, chasing marvels of unknown lands: nothing is taken for granted, everything is extraordinary.

Like a blank canvas, the container embodies a receptacle for artists and art amateurs’ creativity as they print their emotions on a surprising table settled inside. Trapped in the dark and with a UV pen for only equipment, the visitor is expected to feel his way along. He eventually notices the presence of a massive volume settled in the center of the space. When he approaches that mass, he notices that UV-lights are progressively switching on, reaching their maximum intensity when he touches it. Getting eyesight back, he is eventually able to tell the volume is a large drawing table.

The visitor is assimilated to a speleologist discovering a primitive cave with prehistoric drawings painted on the rock, except that drawings are not relics from past ages. Simply put, the whole space is dark until he draws on the table. Drawing is the only way to be involved and visualize the self-made exhibition: to see you must do!

To read more please visit ArchDaily.

Visit Norway on your daily commute

2011-11-11T10:33:00.002Z

Visitnorway.com has come up with a way to make the daily commute more interesting with a fantastic ad idea. Using in-tunnel advertising, visitnorway.com presents Norway’s landscape as an alternative to riding the underground subway. In-tunnel advertising is an innovative outdoor medium, where multiple LED screens mounted on tunnel walls create an animation that is perfectly aligned to each passenger window. A simple sticker on the train delivers a message that reaches out to millions of passengers daily.

Watch the video below or visit adgoodness to read more.

Paper v. Digital PR - An Article for RIBA Insight

2011-11-11T09:07:00.004Z

The Think Tank was recently asked to comment upon the importance of the use of paper v. digital media in PR by RIBA Insight as part of the regular advice and guidance that RIBA CPD Providers Network provides to its customers.

Liam Bateman, Director at The Think Tank, commented, “Both paper and digital are still equally important however within certain markets there is a more emphasised move towards digital.
Traditional PR, which would have included securing articles in publications and raising brand awareness through events and activities, has rapidly been expanded into the digital arena, firstly, through publishers taking their magazines online, then through e-direct marketing and latterly social media."

Click the on the link to see the full article.

Paper v. Digital Article.pdf (467 kb)

Article originally published by RIBA Insight

Opinion: the 2012 Olympics artists posters

2011-11-10T12:37:00.002Z

Art and design critics have questioned whether the posters unveiled last week to celebrate next year’s London Olympics truly represent the best of British creativity.

Mark Hudson of The Telegraph says that “overall, there are more hits than misses” among the posters by twelve leading British artists. He points to Fiona Banner’s work as the standout example, claiming its typographic combination of evocative phrases “feels appropriate to these challenging times.”

The Guardian‘s Jonathan Glancey also praises Banner’s design, describing it as “the most introspective, serious and moving of all these posters,” while questioning whether some of the designs are “aimed at art fans or athletics fans.” Patrick Burgoyne of UK visual communication magazine Creative Review reports that members of the graphic design community were disappointed not to be given the chance to participate in the design process but is unconvinced that the results would have been much better given such an open brief. The BBC‘s arts editor Will Gompertz says that the abstract nature of the posters means they lack context, adding “with this collection, you wouldn’t know where the games are being held. Maybe that in itself is a statement.”

Since their release the posters have received much more negative press and than positive. This doesn't bode well on top of widespread disappointment over the logo, typeface and mascots, followed by the dreary ticketing advertising campaign. Instead of providing a vehicle to celebrate Britain's creative industries, there is a very real danger that the 2012 Games will forever be remembered by the visual communications community as a missed opportunity of truly Olympian proportions.

To read more or to see opinions and comments about the posters visit Dezeen or Creative Review.

My Blackberry is not working!

2011-11-09T14:11:00.003Z

This classic Two Ronnies sketch made us laugh all over again when we heard about Blackberry’s ongoing technical problems a few weeks ago. Users of the Smartphone brand were furious after a three day global service outage back in October. Since the problems a poll has revealed one in five Blackberry users are now considering switching to another Smartphone manufacturer with most stating Apple as their preferred choice.

It would seem that the Two Ronnie’s were right on the money with their sketch and perhaps Blackberry customers can take heart in the comedy of the situation. That is as long as you’re not trying to view this on your phone...

To see more like this click here.

Reputation Management: Social Media Mistakes to Avoid

2011-11-09T10:15:00.003Z

The numbers are trending nicely for social media. A new piece of research out this week estimates the global social network advertising spend will top nearly £5 billion next year and approach £6.3 billion the year after. There’s another social media figure on the rise too: despite the increased investment in social, companies are getting blindsided by the social media-fueled PR crisis, as recent research into this shows. Here are a few important tips to consider for integrating social media into your crisis communications plan. They are the most repeated mistakes and misconceptions that lead big brands into trouble with the public.

Underestimating influence/impact of your social media critics at your peril.
Kryptonite is the business school case study here, but loads of brands since – from Target telling the blogosphere they don’t rate Nestle telling off eco Facebook protesters – have failed to understand that bloggers/Tweeters and Facebook protesters may not be The Guardian or The Times, but they do hold plenty of weight.

Giving the online community flashy marketing message when they just want simple, straightforward detail.
These days, companies can get into big trouble for issuing fictitious glowing reviews or trotting out seemingly genuine testimonials by paid actors. Even before these consumer protections were put into place, L’Oreal paid a higher price – it got burned by vigilant bloggers.

Facebook is not just a forum for fans and “Likes.”
Burger King, Nestle, and BP, to name just a few have seen their Facebook pages overwhelmed by critics who want to expose dodgy company practice. Greenpeace has had great success mobilising its followers in a series of corporate Facebook pressure campaigns. BK quickly caved to the demands to cheers. Nestle, on the other hand, shouted back, inviting more opposition.

Culture of unresponsive/uncaring customer service fuels recurring gripes, becomes a PR headache.
Dell learned the hard way that Jeff Jarvis’ customer service gripes were not an isolated issue; a massive backlash was brewing. It just took one well-connected critic to put his finger on it and the avalanche ensued.

For all the fresh money pouring into social media, we would expect the number of errors to rise before companies really get the message that social media investment means more than crafting a just a slick campaign. It means two-way dialogue, transparency and, ultimately, learning from your mistakes.

To read more visit SocialMediaInfluence.com

IFAC 2012 - The International Festival of Art & Construction

2011-11-08T12:14:00.002Z

IFAC (International Festival of Art & Construction) is organizing the festival of art and construction IFAC 2012 for next summer in Spain. Here's some information as to what the IFAC is all about:

- It is an initiative of the nonprofit association “self-sufficent movement” which seeks to promote the philosophy of self-sufficiency in society, invest aggressive consumer trends, encourage and disseminate self-sufficient practices, investigate and explore ways to self-sufficiency.

- I.F.A.C. is a project focused on 200 young artists and architects from across Europe to live together 10 days in a space of creation and integration of different arts, the result will be creations , publishing, construction and various designs in any field of art.

- I.F.A.C. will be located in a rural setting, to provide a fun work environment where a festive atmosphere will be the framework for debates and discussions about contemporary concerns.

IFAC is developing a preliminary contest in order to select and reward the future Tutors of the IFAC Workshop, the competition seeks a diversity and richness of workshops, to express and work around current issues in art and construction. Registration is free, you may submit projects to the workshop on 5th December 2011.

The awards are 10 prizes of € 100 for each workshop or the chance to lead your project and be published or the free assistance of a tutor to I.F.A.C.

Visit www.IFAC2012.com for more information on how to enter or go to plusmood to read the full article.

National Museum of Scotland is beautifully redeveloped by Gareth Hoskins Architects

2011-11-08T12:03:00.002Z

The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh has just completed its most significant redevelopment in over a century, breathing new life into one of the finest Victorian buildings in Britain. 16 new galleries, home to over 8,000 objects, take visitors on an inspirational journey through the wonders of nature, the cultures of the world and the excitement of science and discovery.

Working with the Museum, award-winning practice Gareth Hoskins Architects has opened up and expanded the Museum’s public space, restoring and revitalizing the grandeur of the Victorian Grade A listed building. Ralph Appelbaum Associates, international interpretive planners and designers, were responsible for creating dramatic new exhibitions for visitors.

Spectacular stone-vaulted spaces on Chambers Street, which were originally used for storage and hidden from public view, have been carefully excavated and sensitively developed to form an impressive new Entrance Hall.

From here visitors enter the breathtaking and light-filled Grand Gallery. This beautiful ‘birdcage’ structure, with its delicate cast-iron balconies and soaring glass roof, was opened in 1866. Designed by the Royal Engineer Captain Francis Fowke, architect of the Albert Hall, it was inspired by London’s Crystal Palace. It offers one of the most memorable architectural experiences in the UK.

The Grand Gallery has been reinstated as a dramatic focal point of the Museum’s displays, with its impressive feature the ‘Window on the World’. Spanning the four stories of the majestic Grand Gallery space, this spectacular vertical installation rises over 20 metres and showcases extraordinary objects from across the collections of National Museums Scotland.

The redevelopment is the centerpiece of a visionary Masterplan to realize a 21st century museum which will stimulate and inspire people for generations.

Photography by Andrew Lee

To read more visit ArchDaily.

Jean Nouvel Jewelbox Houses Historic Carousel in NYC

2011-11-07T11:57:00.002Z

Since it’s opening on September 16th, the Jean Nouvel acrylic encasement and historic Jane’s Carousel has become a landmark in the heart of Brooklyn Bridge Park for families. The welcoming public pavilion offers spectacular views of the East River, the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, and the Manhattan skyline.

The transparent jewel box centers Jane’s Carousel within a 72’ x 72’ x 27’ volume, directly beneath a circular skylight of equal diameter. The North and South facades consist of eighteen steel and acrylic operable doors that fold open from the center, framing the view of the North and South portions of the river. The roof is made up of insulated glass units supported by a cable and steel structure, mimicking the structural characteristics of the carousel.

A simple interior of grey concrete flooring, 3″ polished aluminum ceiling strips and a curved tempered low iron glass guardrail focuses the attention onto the colorful details of the carousel. Delicately placed, wood furniture matches the carousel’s platform and reinforces its playful spirit. At sunset, four recessed screens blanket the facades, transforming the pavilion into a lantern that projects a lightshow of distorted shadows. Jean Nouvel’s desires have been met, as the pavilion has become a “fragile little monument in the city.”

To read more visit archdaily.

What can we learn from Shippams Paste Twitter prank?

2011-11-07T11:39:00.004Z

The @ShippamsPaste Twitter feed which recently took the online world by storm may have been a fake, but it can teach us plenty about how social-media marketing should be.

Over the last few weeks, Twitter has been agog at the rise and fall of @ShippamsPaste, supposedly written by ‘Ben’, an ‘executive social media intern’ at Shippams.

Through the feed, ‘Ben’ shared events from his life at Shippams, his dealings with colleagues and his search for a girlfriend, all played for laughs. He also encouraged followers to ‘engage’ with the Shippams brand by inviting interaction, devising hashtags (‘#paste’), jumping on trending topics and so on. Once word got out, @ShippamsPaste went viral, rocketing to 8000 followers in three weeks. Then Twitter suspended the account for passing itself off as the real thing, restoring it briefly on the condition it admitted to being fake. Its creator, Ed Jefferson (@edjeff), then went public with a Guardian article explaining his motives.

The fake account parodied the lame way in which some brands use social media, working their way through an established playbook of tactics that utterly fail to engage people. As Jefferson explained, ‘faking a spectacularly inept attempt to "do Twitter" just seemed funny – as did picking a real, but nearly forgotten, brand to do it.’ And it was funny. Very funny. @ShippamsPaste showed exactly what brands should be doing by mocking what they are doing. Using Shippams’ products as a jumping-off point rather than the finish line, the feed took the brand into completely uncharted waters and unlocked a previously unsuspected area of potential appeal.

The @ShippamsPaste account was interruptive rather than engaging, and broadcast rather than interactive. It was more like a traditional TV ad than a modern social-media campaign. As a result, it achieved what respected creative Steve Harrison calls ‘relevant abruption’, grabbing audience attention and pulling it towards a product.

In a world where audience attention is increasingly fragmented, the wise brands may be those who learn to ride waves of publicity – even if they haven’t made those waves themselves.

To read more visit econsultancy.com.

Your Rainbow Panorama by Olafur Eliasson

2011-11-04T11:00:00.002Z

Constructed on the roof of the ARoS museum in Aarhus, Denmark Olafur Eliasson’s, “Your rainbow panorama,” is a circular, panoramic walkway, in all the colours of the rainbow.

The 150 meter long, circular panoramic walkway, measuring 52 metres in diameter, is supported by 12 columns resting on the weight-bearing steel construction beneath the terrace deck. During the hours of darkness, "Your rainbow panorama" is illuminated by means of lamps in the floor.

The idea of the project was to use the city and the light as a part of the visual experience, as Eliasson describes, “Think of ‘Your rainbow panorama’ as an expectation machine. Even before entering ARoS and ascending to the work, you may look upon the city as if through coloured glass. Your expected gaze. What you know from the street then emerges from above as strangely real, in a continuous interplay of colour saturation and desaturation. Suspended between the city and the sky, this viewing platform insists on your sensory engagement. You feel the view. Perhaps your memory of the art collections below, through which you just made your way, infiltrate your experience.”

Images by Ole Hein Pedersen. 2006 - 2011 Olafur Eliasson

To read more about Your Rainbow Panorama visit 2modern or arc space.

Inside World of Interiors Festival Winners

2011-11-03T11:05:00.002Z

Dezeen Magazine have been following the progress of the Inside 'world of interiors' Festival in Barcelona this week, which runs from 2nd to 4th November, and have been announcing the winners on their blog. Designers and Exhibitions from the United Kingdom were shortlisted in five of the nine categories and managed to scoop two awards in the Display category and Retail category.

The Ceramics Study Galleries at the Victoria & Albert museum in London by OPERA Amsterdam won the Display category at the inaugural awards in Barcelona as judges said the project exhibited “one strong idea and executed it really well – from material, function and lighting.”

The ‘Ceramic Galleries’ at the Victoria & Albert Museum were designed as a visible storage showcase as part of the reinstallation of the ceramic galleries phase II. The visible study collection contains 26,000 objects that are displayed with the idea that they are – on demand – available to curators, specialists and the general public.

Hostem by JamesPlumb was announced as the winner of the Retail category yesterday in Barcelona. The boutique in east London features an antique church pew, hessian panels and linen curtains plus reclaimed lighting and rails. The judges “love the handcrafted nature of the project and “great attention to detail throughout.” The judges also admired the way “they felt out their designs while constructing” so that “brand, space and clothes feel unified.”

To see the full list of winners and to read interviews with the designers visit Dezeen Magazine online.

Unusual and Interactive Business Cards

2011-11-03T09:54:00.002Z

Even the most creative business card design cannot guarantee your business success, however as they say, you never get a second chance to make a first impressions, so you shouldn’t miss an opportunity to show your best qualities. Here are some of the quirkiest, original and funny business card ideas we've seen in a long time. To see the whole collection click here.

Image shown: Business Card For Fitness Trainer

Junk mail crackdown to see launch of website

2011-11-02T09:46:00.002Z

According to a BBC Report yesterday, ministers say it will be easier for people to stop junk mail being put through letterboxes under new plans.

The public will be able to opt out from receiving unsolicited flyers by contacting a single website rather than three different services at the moment. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said this would give people across the UK "more control" over what they get. It has already been agreed that all adverts will be fully recyclable in the future as part of an initiative with the direct marketing industry. However, the voluntary decision only applies to members of the Direct Marketing Association - generally larger firms - and is unlikely to stop small, local companies such as restaurants and decorators from carrying out their mail shots. The average UK household receives more than 370 items of unsolicited paper mail a year, the majority of it unaddressed.

The Direct Marketing Association said its goal was to "eliminate" unwanted mail entirely. It said it would seek to persuade more firms to use "suppression lists" - which follow people's opt-out requests - and stop mail being delivered to addresses once inhabitants have moved or died. "We know that many types of advertising mail are welcomed by customers such as supermarket discount offers," Mike Lordan, the organisation's chief of operations, said. "Of course, untargeted and irrelevant advertising mail is not welcome. We are keen to ensure people are able to make an informed choice about whether or not they want to receive advertising mail.

To read the full article visit BBC News or to find out more about the initiative see the DMA website.

Cadbury Goes Swimming With Rebecca Adlington

2011-11-02T09:04:00.004Z

Cadbury are fast becoming known as the brand that makes crazy normal and their latest project doesn't fail to deliver. Cadbury Dairy Milk have recorded an anthemic underwater version of Tina Turner's classic hit Simply the Best. All to motivate British swimmer Rebecca Adlington who is training for next year's Olympics. Created by HyperNaked, all sorts of people hang out at the bottom of Rebecca's training pool belting out the 80's classic. There is no denying it's pretty strange but it is also charmingly funny. Click here to view the video.

Google to charge businesses for Google Maps APIs

2011-11-01T10:03:00.002Z

It was announced yesterday that Google will begin charging app developers and businesses who host Google Maps APIs on their website if they exceed 25,000 visits a day. In its blog post announcing the changes, Google said no site exceeding the limits will stop working immediately but it does offer three firm solutions: reduce usage limits, pay for the excess or upgrade and buy a Maps API Premier license.

The excess usage charges, reported in the media to be around $4 per 1000 users, will be enforced in early 2012. Thor Mitchell, product manager of Google Maps API said in his blog post, “We understand that the introduction of these limits may be concerning. However with the continued growth in adoption of the Maps API we need to secure its long term future by ensuring that even when used by the highest volume for-profit sites, the service remains viable. By introducing these limits we are ensuring that Google can continue to offer the Maps API for free to the vast majority of developers for many years to come.”

It is thought that the fees will only impact around 0.35 per cent of user accounts. To read Thor Mitchell's full blog post click here, or visit the B2B Marketing website.

I Make Rotterdam

2011-11-01T09:43:00.002Z

The 5th International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam and architecture firm ZUS launched the first project of ‘I Make Rotterdam’ a few weeks ago with a view to restore Rotterdam to it's former glory whilst modernising it's functionality.

'To ensure our cities remain habitable in the future, we must conceive, design and manage them differently'. That is the message of the 5th International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR): Making City. It is in this context that architecture firm ZUS is first tackling Rotterdam’s Central District. This is the area between the Central Station, Weena and Pompenburg. Under the motto ‘I Make Rotterdam‘, ZUS is calling on all Rotterdammers to contribute to the development of their city. During a well-attended IABR lecture on Tuesday 11 October, ZUS launched the first project of ‘I Make Rotterdam‘: de Luchtsingel, a temporary pedestrian bridge between the Central and North districts. This includes the bridge over Hofplein.

The area around Hofplein was once a bustling city centre but is now dominated by emptiness and speeding cars. ZUS hopes to turn this back into a lively pedestrian area within a few months. In times of crisis, however, a new method of financing is needed – crowd-funding in this case. Both inhabitants and businesses in Rotterdam can help to build this project by buying planks for the bridge. The bridge is one of the initiatives planned by ZUS to transform the Central District into a high-quality destination in a low-budget manner. ‘I Make Rotterdam‘ does not end when the 5th IABR event ends, as the project is set to continue until 2014 and hopes to make a real difference to the city.

With this huge project ZUS is exploring new possibilities to actively involve citizens in making the city. The way in which citizens exercise influence is changing rapidly owing to the emergence of digital applications in spatial planning. ‘I Make Rotterdam‘ takes advantage of this by offering a platform for private initiatives and crowd-funding. ZUS wants to boost the city in a way that everybody can participate in — by starting a shop, organising a concert, opening a restaurant, or building a house. The key question of the 5e IABR is then ultimately 'How can we make the city better?'

To follow the project visit the I Make Rotterdam website or to read more visit Plusmood online.

Sir Peter Cook’s 75th Birthday Art Auction and Exhibition

2011-10-31T10:39:00.002Z

Sir Peter Cook is 75 and to celebrate the iconic British architect and Archigram co-founder’s birthday, 75 established and emerging international artists have produced a portrait of Sir Peter to auction for charity Architecture for Humanity aiding post disaster relief in Haiti and Japan. Both the auction and exhibition started on October 26th and runs until November 9th. The online art auction can be found at The Adam and Eve Projects while the exhibition is up at Space, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Australia. The image shown here is by WIll Scobie. To see more images visit ArchDaily.

2011 Zombie Safe House Competition

2011-10-31T10:22:00.003Z

For the second year in a row, Architects Southwest has inspired 200 applicants from 12 countries to design imaginative zombie-proof architecture that will save thousands of lives during the inevitable zombie apocalypse. The goal of the competition is to “design a haven that can withstand a full-on zombie assault on civilization as we know it.” These creative designs may one day save you from the dead, therefore voting is important. Here's an insight into some of the top competitors.

The Oil Silo Home. This reuses abandoned Oil Silos to create a self-sufficient, zombie proof multi-family complex.

The Zombie Ranch. Safely houses residents in a zombie-powered vertical farm.

The Eiffel Tower. Adapted to provide all basic human needs with a wind turbine, rain water collection, vertical farming, and electric legs forbidding any zombie to climb the tower.

The Submersible Z House. This allows tenants to live a luxurious life uninterrupted, with a built-in greenhouse, fish farm, tidal powered turbines constructed of razor blades, and a fully-armed luxurious escape pod for backup.

To browse through the entries and give thumbs up to your favorite designs visit the competition website or to read more visit Archdaily. Voting ends today on Halloween, October 31st, 2011.

Written Word Speaks Volumes for the Brand

2011-10-28T10:55:00.002+01:00

New research suggests that ’likes’ and clicking links online are not enough to ensure long-term sales. Brands need to get people typing comments and more involved with content if they are to turn them into actual customers.The consumers who most actively use branded social media content are the ones most likely to maintain a relationship with those brands in future, claims new research for Marketing Week.

Seventy-eight per cent of people visiting and interacting with a brand’s Facebook page are likely to continue the relationship by visiting its website or considering it for purchase. Just thirty-four per cent of the people who say they are unlikely to interact with a brand’s social media presence on Facebook are likely to do the same.With the role of social media under question, Starcom MediaVest Group’s strategic development director Jim Kite explains: “The deeper the interaction with social media, the greater the likelihood of moving the consumer from enquiry to brand preference.”

The research draws on a study using a representative sample of 6,000 regular Facebook, YouTube and Twitter users in June. They were asked to spend several minutes interacting with content on brands’ Facebook and YouTube pages in product categories where they had already registered an interest. Respondents were asked to participate in activities requiring a range of involvement, from watching videos, posting comments, playing games and following brands on Twitter or tweeting about them.

The study claims that it is not just being aware of brands on social media platforms that leads people to continue that relationship or buy goods. It is the level of interaction or “doing something” with branded content that has a bearing.

To read the full article visit Marketing Week.

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama by BFLS

2011-10-27T12:49:00.002+01:00

BFLS - the award-winning international architectural practice, have designed the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Wales. A description from the leading architect describes the building, its functionality and its beauty:

"The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is Wales’ national conservatoire. The winning design of an international design competition, the project includes three performance and rehearsal spaces, teaching rooms, studios and library facilities and is set in a Grade I listed Royal Park.

The design focuses on the core needs of the school community, namely an acoustically magnificent collection of performance and learning spaces which encourage and motivate the buildings’ occupants. Designed from the outside in, each performance space is conceived as a separate building. The drama building forms a new façade and the recital hall sits amongst the woods adjacent to the existing building. These elements are unified by a single floating roof. The new entrance to the college opens out on to stunning views over Bute Park and an arcade forms a new spine linking the whole functioning as exhibition space for the Design & Costume Department, whilst doubling as the ‘lungs’ for the scheme as its natural stack effect ventilates the public spaces.

The building will achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ by incorporating sustainable solutions; a green roof, natural ventilation and ground source heating and cooling."

To read more about the project and to see alternative images please visit Contemporist.

Liquid Space at Lumiere UK 2011

2011-10-27T12:31:00.003+01:00

‘Lumiere‘ is an exhibition which will illuminate Durham’s historical buildings, streets and bridges for four nights in November; including a special exhibition of the interactive light artwork ‘Liquid Space‘.

LIQUID SPACE 6.0 is an interactive space that becomes physically bigger, smaller, and brighter in relation to human behavior. As an organic fusion of mechanisms, embedded electronics, sound, and LEDs, the artwork creates a playful dialogue with its visitors.

The first version of LIQUID SPACE 6.0 premiered in Japan as a commission for the Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media. The project’s behavior evolves in relation to its visitors, creating a sensual coexistence. It can now be enjoyed across the city of Durham over four spectacular days.

Lumiere 2011 Artichoke, 17-20 November, Durham UK. To find out more about the exhibition, including a programme of events as well as places to stay please visit www.lumieredurham.co.uk or plusMOOD.

Image courtesy of Daan Roosegaarde

Mini poster sites for a mini series

2011-10-27T09:52:00.002+01:00

To promote Channel 4's new series 'Seven Dwarves' twenty miniature billboards were placed in various locations around London. Complete with working lights each was a perfect scale model of a 48-sheet poster site.

The sites announced the launch of the new series however they appear to have been very popular as all 'disappeared' very quickly, but what a great idea!

Concept and design by 4Creative
Photographer Gary Salter

Three Classic Social Media Campaigns

2011-10-26T21:13:00.006+01:00

Having challenged the office to think of some classic social media and viral campaigns we have chosen three that have their made their mark over the past few years and made us laugh. What do you think?

1. Evian - 'Roller Babies'
A classic integrated campaign that featured babies break dancing and roller skating to Rapper's Delight. Now with almost 50million views of YouTube and several other spin off videos including interviews - a global success story. Oh, and very funny!

Click here to view

2. Old Spice - 'Smell Like a Man, Man'
Isaiah Mustafa had already become popular in the Old Spice TV ads but this was extended when a campaign was created that allowed him to interact with the audience, responding to questions via online videos and Twitter. The campaign quickly spread around the world creating a new life for the Old Spice brand proving that customer interaction is key to successful social media campaigns.

Click here to view

3. Office Max - 'Elf Yourself'
This US office supply retailer has been 'elfing' people around the world for five years. Transforming customer's faces into dancing elves. The result of the first campaign was 122 million elves and great brand awareness. And they have continued the tradition each year since. Great fun and created a spin off business, Jib Jab. Get ready for 2011 Season.

Click here to view

Heineken asks young designers for nightclub of the future

2011-10-24T12:12:00.002+01:00

What will the nightclub of the future look like? That's the question posed by Dutch beer company Heineken, which has selected 19 of the world's most promising young designers and briefed them to come up with their dream club, the best of which will go on show as a 'pop-up' nightclub at next years Milan Furniture Fair.

Launched earlier this year, Heineken Open Design Explorations Edition 1: The Club auditioned hundreds of promising designers, eventually selecting the best 19 from four countries - Japan, Brazil, USA and Italy. The chosen designers have now been put into groups, each of which will a present a design for a new nightclub concept.

The nineteen selected designers, who come from motion deign, graphic design, product design and interior design backgrounds, all demonstrated a love of nightlife and an exceptional level of creativity. Yukihiro Shoda, a motion designer from Tokyo, shared his enthusiasm at being selected saying, 'The project has given me an exciting opportunity to work with designers from across the world and from other disciplines. The collaboration element will allow each of us to really explore our potential, and the input from consumers is something that will help inspire me to push my ideas to new levels.' Graphic designer Sandra Garcia Pagola from of New York City said, 'To present the conclusions of our journey during Milan's famous design week is an unbelievable opportunity for any designer. I feel really lucky that Heineken has created this opportunity and selected me alongside the other designers to showcase our work on such a revered global stage.'

To follow the designers and read the full article visit The Interior Design Blog.

Future Memory Pavilion

2011-10-24T12:11:00.002+01:00

A new installation by Asif Khan and Pernilla Ohrstedt was unveiled last week as the platform for promotion of British architects and designers, culminates. The Future Memory Pavilion comprises of two cones stretching up to eight meters high and 20 meters in diameter. Made of ice and sand, the cones are formed using concentric ropes, that taper the structure. Typically for Khan and on par with the Future Memory programme the form is designed to morph with passing time, as the ice melts and trickling water erodes the sand structure. Visitors are also encouraged to interact to represent the human impact on the environment. Ultimately both cones melt away. The manner in which the cones disappear is intended to provoke visitors to reflect on issues of climate and urban development. The Pavilion’s creators, Khan and Ohrstedt, drew their inspiration from Singapore’s history.

The Future Memory was created by Royal Academy of Arts and British Council. To read more about The Future Memory Programme please go to Blueprint online.

Michelle at Work - TTT goes to Paris

2011-10-21T10:44:00.009+01:00

Submitted by Michelle Plett, Account Executive, PR at The Think Tank

On October 6-7th I had the privilege of attending Architect@Work, Paris, one in a series of eponymous architecture fairs throughout Europe.

The Architect@Work (A@W) concept travels through Germany, France, The Netherlands and Belgium. Unlike typical trade fairs A@W focuses on creating opportunity for building business relationships in a less commercial environment, without bright lights, big stands and music filling the halls.

When I first walked in it was apparent that this fair was purpose built, darker than normal, the atmosphere screamed serious design. Located in one large hall visitors immediately came across the curated exhibition "Made in Light." Hosted by Innovatheque, the exhibition explored the use of innovative materials and how they are lit.

Below the exhibit delegates could attend a series of lectures on everything from materials to lighting. I chose one entitled "lumieres and luminaires; architectural lighting". It was fascinating, even though it was all in French, and the seats were comfortable too!

To the right and left were two hallways flanked by high black curtains. Nestled in groups of four company stands faced each other, triangular in shape, sharing a desk in the middle with only room enough to have a look at the product and then ideally, be taken off stand for a chat.

Note: I became incredibly adept at saying "Sorry, I am in PR and I'm here to view new products. I'm not looking for anything" in French...

The model behind A@W is to spark interest through your stand and then take the potential client out to the halls where food and drink are provided throughout the day. Here a chat and refreshments allowed companies to dig deeper into client needs without distracting new visitors on stand.

The atmosphere was great; professional and focused. The delegates were right on target and my clients came out with great results. I would recommend this fair to anyone interested in reaching the European market.

Thanks Architect@Work for bringing it back to business.

The Bloomsbury Festival

2011-10-20T10:08:00.003+01:00

Store Street's South Crescent - home to NLA and The Building Centre - will be transformed this weekend into a hive of creative activity as part of the Bloomsbury Festival.

On offer will be family-friendly, free workshops in which visitors can draw, build, sculpt and photograph Bloomsbury. They can help build a giant 3D masterplan and capture views of the area with a super-sized pinhole camera pod, while listening to vinyl classics from a mobile 'disco trike' built from recycled scrap materials.

WORKSHOPS AND ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE SAT 22 AND SUN 23 OCTOBER, 12NOON - 5.00PM

Re-Drawing Bloomsbury (Saturday only)
Participate in an interactive drawing workshop which re-interprets Bloomsbury from a bird's eye perspective, forming part of a collaborative and temporary installation on the windows of The Building Centre on Store Street, run by Mobile Studio (Art + Architecture) and students from The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL.

Making Masterplans (Saturday only)
Collaborate with Mobile Studio (Art + Architecture) and students from The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL on a giant 3D model which will re-build Bloomsbury as an alternative and temporary masterplan in the centre of the South Crescent.

Pinhole Picture Pod (Sunday only)
Make like Vermeer and Canaletto and use the Pinhole Picture Pod - a 21st Century camera obscura designed by students from the Architectural Association - to view a live 'photograph' of Bloomsbury and perfect your own sketching skills. Climb inside the pod to sketch your own view of Bloomsbury and then work up your drawing with the help of architectural students, or help use the device to take a giant permanent photograph of the scene unfolding outside.

Other workshops include ‘Faces of Bloomsbury’ in which guests can create a photographic installation with images of locals, a ‘Lower Carbon Drive Talk’ from Andrew Scoones, Director at The Building Centre and the ‘Contemporary Architecture Walk’ led by Peter Murray, Chairman of NLA. There is also ‘Make your own Jewellery and Storage Solutions’ where artists Isabelle Bricknall, Stacy Darling and Lydia Smith-Aouane will be hosting a workshop creating fun storage solutions from discarded cardboard boxes donated by The Co-Operative Food.

The Bloomsbury Festival is an entirely free cultural Festival, taking place across the whole of this wonderful part of central London. There are over one hundred local organizations involved in making the Festival happen.

For more information visit www.bloomsburyfestival.org.uk or to read more about the festival and the NLA visit www.newlondonarchitecture.org

Terry Farrell: Postmodernism and its Legacy

2011-10-19T10:46:00.002+01:00

“Postmodernism was all-encompassing, not a style but an era, and as a phenomenon it was about holistic connectivity, the broadening of all viewpoints.” Terry Farrell, 2011.

Coinciding with the Victoria and Albert Museum’s major Postmodernism exhibition will be a discussion at the RIBA about the legacy of postmodernism; amongst the speakers representing some of the movement’s protagonists will be architect Terry Farrell. But, has enough time lapsed since the end of the movement to assess or even appreciate its legacy? Some of its greatest examples in architecture are still considered controversial. Many postmodernist buildings – even the most well-known – are not protected, and the consequences can be currently witnessed in Camden where the Hawley Crescent façade of the former TV-am studios, designed by Farrell in the early 1980s, is being torn down. A model of its façade forms part of the V&A’s exhibition, one exhibit amongst many that together analyses the wide spectrum of material and cultural outputs of postmodernism, including: architecture, music, cinema, fashion and dance.

The upcoming talk, ‘The Legacy of Postmodernism’, will see Sir Terry Farrell, Nigel Coates, Piers Gough, Sean Griffiths, Kester Rattenbury and Jane Pavitt discuss the legacy of the movement on architecture and design in the UK. 6.30pm – 8pm, 25 October 2011.

To book tickets or to find out more visit RIBA Blogs

Photograph: Alban Gate, 125 London Wall, City of London (© Kathy de Witt / RIBA Library Photographs Collection)

Visiting the Venice Biennale

2011-10-19T10:20:00.002+01:00

A few weeks ago it was the contemporary art world’s ultimate exhibition, La Biennale, which takes place in Venice every two years (hence the name). Foscarini, the Italian lighting company, and a sponsor of the festival, hosted the 30 permanent national pavilions in the city’s Giardini (public gardens) as well as a the “ILLUMInations” exhibit in the Venetian Arsenal. The exhibition featured 83 artists from around the world. Read more at Design Milk.

Photograph of installation by Monica Bonvicini (Born in Italy; works in Germany)