Over at the fantastic TED site, there's a great video from Sir Ken Robinson who points out the many ways our schools are failing to recognize -- much less cultivate -- the talents of many brilliant people.
"We are educating people out of their creativity,"
It's pretty long at 20mins, but well worth it.
Just had this sent to me by a mate (thank you JB) and thought it amazing. Can't tell you anymore about it, (who, why when etc) but if any of you can do share
Otherwise enjoy
I don't know much about Nine Inch Nails. I know I don't like their music. I know I love their marketing skills.
To launch their new album, Year Zero, they included URL clues on their tour t-shirts which lead fans to websites that described an apocalyptic vision of the US. Memory sticks were found in toilets with tracks on them. Samples of tracks were played on radio stations unannounced in the wee small hours. Telephone numbers appeared on fan sites. All very clandestine, all very brilliant. All very I love Bees.
I wish I'd done it.
Everybody has been talking about this video, so what's the point me sticking it up here too? Well, I've also come across an interview with Michael Wesch, the video's maker, which you can read here.
Advertising creatives have an odd rule when it comes to plagiarism. I think it says a lot about the ingrained arrogance of the industry that you can copy any film, art or photographic style, comedian's routine, in fact anyone or anything, as long as you don't copy an ad.
I have heard it said countless of times, 'Great ad, pity it's been done', usually followed by the agency name and year of creation, as the all-knowing CD goes over to his D&AD annuals and finds it for you. Proof, as if proof were needed of his greatness when it comes to the history of ads.
The t-shirt industry obviously don't share this obsession.
Howies original
Mr Cloud's T-shirt Emporium rip-off
Seeing this made me angry. I now don't like Mr Cloud. Why? Because they're lazy and stupid and spend all their time surfing other t-shirt sites looking for the easy way to a good idea.
But the thing is I actually don't know who was first, I based my assumption on the fact Howies is an old friend (known for it's integrity), while Mr Cloud is a new acquaintance, regardless of whether I'm right or wrong. In fact I'd probably take this position even if I found this t-shirt design on some kid's MySpace page.
Okay, what I know of Howies and what I can gleam from Mr Cloud's website would suggest I'm probably right, but I don't know for sure, maybe Howies just improved on the design.
In a world where we are all now meant to be creating content and posting and uploading and plagiarising and inspiring one another, this is going to create a whole new level of problems for brands and their agencies.
Following on from my earlier post on Wii and it's build-in viralability, I have been pointed in the direction of this flickr set, by Russell. As, the man says, create something great and the marketing will be done for you.
There's a great post over at Noisy Decent Graphics that talks about the love of being a designer. You don't have to be a designer to appreciate and recognise what he's saying, just someone who is passionate about what you do.
So if you don't recognise yourself in this, shouldn't you be looking for another job?
After all, if you find a job you truly love, you'll never have to work again.
I know it's been featured on several blogs but in case you haven't seen this yet, do find the time to watch it. It's Jeffre jackson talking about interestingness. And he touches upon something I was talking about recently and explains it well. He says at the end, Is it worth thinking about after the communication? As good a way of judging your work as any I've heard.
He also mentions Howard Gossage, a hero of mine too, someone who would of loved the new world of engagemnent communications
This is a great book all about his work which unfortunately is out of print, but a few second-hand copies do pop up from time to time. It's nothing short of brilliance. I read and re-read it constantly.
How many agencies today would attract such talent?
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