Here is a little spot I created for EDF electricity with Fred & Eric Animations. One of those quick turn around, storyboard to animation, jobs. The concept was to keep things all centred around the customer.
Cleverbot does advertising.
After watching this I wondered how Cleverbot might fair at working in advertising. So, one lunch time break, I gave it a go. Cleverbot is often said to be one of the most advance forms of AI about, you can be the judge of that. You can give it a go yourself at cleverbot.com
'Big Data is the pollution of the web'
My read of the week. If you work in digital creativity it is definitely worth picking up. The book looks at the negative impact of the web. It is quite cutting and attacks how the internet is eroding our sense of past and future as we are driven to live in the present, the moment online.
The book describes itself as : "A sharp and witty book, from long-time Silicon Valley observer and author Andrew Keen that argues that, on balance, the Internet has had a disastrous impact on all our lives."
It raises some interesting points on business models, big data and how everyone no matter what industry will feel the impact of the digital revolution.
So if you're a digital advocate see the web from the other side.
This Wolf Mantra
Too often I see fantastic creative people that have let themselves slip into a world where they let others define what is and isn’t creative. Often it is work that seems to define what productive creative is, puts artificial limits on how we express ourselves. Sometimes that is defined by client or by budget but very often it is creative people limiting themselves.
We should never let our job limit anything we do, our careers should enhance us, make us feel empowered. We work in a fantastic time, the world is bubbling with ideas and now more than ever the ability to make those ideas happen.
So if you fine yourself limited then step back and reconnect with what you define as creative. Then find the role that allows you to be that.
The art of the old school.
My Polaroid Land Camera - 330 model.
Since beginning my career I've always been fascinated by life before digital. Even though digital is a huge part of what I do, I find it is key to understand what creatives and makers had to do to achieve what we can do with ease these days on a computer.
For me it is learning the craft and time it takes to create. It gives a better appreciation of what people make and have made.
A big part of that for me is photography. I shoot digitally for work and client projects but you can always find an old 35mm or Instant camera in my kit bag. I love experimenting with the film, lighting and knowing that you can't fix anything that's not captured correctly in post.
It is part art and part science. You have to focus on the image, the core of what you aim to capture and not rely on the visual alone to tell your story.
As a creative I've often told my team to break an idea down to what I call "The pub line" .If you can go to a stranger in a bar and tell them the idea without having to whip out visuals or explain it for hours and hours, then you know you've got a solid idea to build on.
Videos, campaigns, imagery they stimulate the mind but what we all remember if the core of the idea.
So I constantly train myself to think about the core and everything else on top is the enhancement to what I'm saying. A good website will help build a brand but a good idea will help it become loved.