Six-Fingered Madness

Rarely do I ever peruse my spam folder but it just so happens today I had the "I know I emailed it to you!" so I decided to check. Well coincidently the email was not there and it was resent no harm, no foul. That being said, I skimmed over most of the nonsense, but one image took me by storm and still really makes no genuine sense to me. I started looking at this and I thought to myself 'here's where all the art institute kids come to die', that there's some big giant warehouse somewhere with a thousand lower cars in the parking lot, just beating these kids thoughtless to sell penis pills. Welcome to Graphic Design Hell.

Please note the über-creepie six fingers on the right.

Advertising, Art & Culture In Orlando?

Having recent read that famed advertising, marketing and cultural blog The Denver Egotist was seeking to franchise its reach to new cities I started to think 'where are we in Orlando?' I began to make a list, a couple of calls and before I knew it I felt pretty good about our backyard. Having been here for going on sixteen years (minus a few diversions) you get to know the local community we enough to forget how lucky you are to HAVE them.

A few caveats for those in the know:

• I'm happy to add you given that I inadvertently forgot you. hit me @ justice at bigblockstudios.com
• It's still my blog so if I don't think you apply you can hate me when I don't add you.
• This list is intended for the advertorial/marketing, design/illustrative, and web community not necessarily the "Fine Art" Community. Taking nothing from them, in fact that list would be uncontrollably longer given that I started there.
• Lastly, if you smoke cloves in front of Stardust Coffee and debate foreign films in third person, than I hate you, and you don't get on the list regardless.
• OH! And if you owe me money... you know who you are.

Agencies & Associations:

http://www.starmark.com
http://www.oaf.com
http://www.timbercreativegroup.com/
http://www.sayitloud.us
http://www.fhbnet.com
http://www.pushhere.com
http://www.engauge.com
http://www.ansonstoner.com
http://www.vibranium.com
http://www.ypartnership.com
http://www.ad2orlando.org
http://www.thinkcreativeinc.com
http://www.acropolisinc.com
http://www.evolvetoday.com
http://www.ideasorlando.com
http://www.evokad.com
http://www.fzkllc.com
http://www.justknight.com

Interactive Agencies:
http://www.intellavia.com
http://www.squarefactor.com
http://www.mojointeractive.com
http://www.aeonblu.com
http://www.mindcomet.com
http://www.izea.com
http://www.technetium.com
http://www.lightmaker.com
http://www.ontargetwebsolutions.com
http://www.commarketing.com
http://www.purplerockscissors.com/

Design Shops:
http://www.juicytemples.com
http://www.luredesigninc.com
http://www.ypartnership.com
http://www.siegeink.net
http://www.plosionbranding.com
http://www.kenedik.com
http://www.fctn.tv
http://www.wearemaven.com
http://www.mamas-sauce.com

Experimental Agency:
http://www.gmdstudios.com

Artist & Designers:
http://www.asmith3.com/blog
http://www.hydro74.com
http://www.eyenoise.net
http://www.spearlife.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dolla
http://www.davidhoskins.com
http://www.dres13.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottdonald
http://www.elus1v.com
http://www.johannahodonnell.com
http://www.yasly.com
http://www.iamaaronmartin.com/v4

Urban Retail Design:
http://www.theshadowconspiracy.com

Boutique Galleries:
http://neonforestgallery.com
http://www.lot1433.com
http://www.boldhype.net
http://www.latzero.com/site/

Illustrators:
http://www.itchyillustration.com
http://www.grapesodastudio.com/
http://www.larrymooreillustration.com
http://giant.victordavila.com/
http://www.oneswellillustrator.com
http://www.stainboyreinel.com
http://www.rifledesign.com
http://www.chucksdelux.com

Photography:
http://www.deebstudios.com
http://www.ericsuttonphoto.com
http://www.fieldsandfieldsofwheat.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/justicemitchell
http://www.dougscaletta.com/
http://www.juicytemples.com/shoot/
http://www.djn1111.com/

Museums & Related:
http://www.omart.org (to note: http://www.omart.org/programs/1st-thursdays)
http://www.morsemuseum.org
http://www.mennellomuseum.org
http://www.cityoforlando.net/arts/links.htm
http://www.rollins.edu/cfam/

Cultural Publications & Bloggers:
http://inprogressmag.wordpress.com
http://www.orlandoweekly.com
http://www.orlandoslice.com
http://streetartshow.wordpress.com/category/orlando
http://alarevenge.com
http://www.flightofideas.net/About/about.html
http://www.justicemitchell.com

Film Festivals & Events:
http://www.floridafilmfestival.com
http://www.antipopmusicfestival.com
http://www.orlandofringe.org
http://www.peacefilmfest.org/

Schools:
http://www.fullsail.edu (money making whores that they may be, they do pump out a lot of talent)

Neo-Immersion Video

I guess it should come as no surprise to me that 360º video technology would finally catch-up. With Google's "Street View" technology and pushing 360 images with higher and higher pixel ratios it was only a matter of time. But this morning when I was linked to Immersive Media's user guided panoramics of the devastation in Haiti it took the medium to a whole new level for me. It felt like a video game at first until I relies just how much more captivating it became for me as I controlled the POV.

I'm not quite sure how this technology will play out, but I'm sure this company and others will be pushing the boundaries of what it can do. I could see it replacing or enhancing the street view style mapping. I think this going to be a mandatory no-brainer for news channels trying to one up the competition; and sadly I'm sure they'll be a thousand military applications.

I could also see it being the next way we make travel choices. And having shot a million hotel rooms, pools, restaurants and patio bars I can tell you that the travel and entertainment industry should keep and eye on this for the future of falling within the consideration set.

The Story Is The Only Seed You Get To Give

I've preached storytelling for years. I've worked for firms that specialize in nothing but world-class storytelling. But what advertisers continue to forget is the power that comes from it. Watch TV for an hour. Of all the commercials you were berated with what compelled you to write down (or if your like a lot of us) or type in the URL? What made you laugh? What made you say "@*$&%, that ad is annoying!" and what made you talk beyond the seed that was given to you?

BMW Films, The NoLaf Institute (pure unrecognized brilliance), HBO Image and no surprise to me Honda's "Power of Dreams" campaign. Budding young mind and crotchety old bastards alike take the 10 minutes and digest the following clip:

• What do you remember?
• Would you be compelled to watch another one?
• Did it extend, enrich and grow the brand?
• What is completely self-serving?
• Would you talk, share or extend the brand?
• As a consumer did it make you trust the brand?
• Did it make the brand more or less elite?
• Besides the fact that you wish you had this budget for your current clients, did it compel you to engage in the social media extensions?
• Will it effect change in you external to its messaging?

If your not asking half of the list during the concept stage than your probably want to kill your creative director, throw a chair through a window and join a pack of wolves to kill something.

Addendum:

It's rare I add onto a post but I just found this amazing little story from the Pereira & O'Dell, Sharethrough Agency for Lego and the launch of their new website http://legoclick.com/

BRAVO!

Fortune Favors The Responsible Drinker

...plus it may not 'out you' to the world in this exquisite piece of film making.

"Stay Thristy My Friend"

Top 10 Things Zombies Don't Get About Social Media

1. Worth 1000You need to engage in online conversation, not just simple type "EAT YOU" – it gets old.
2. Professional zombies might have Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Linkedin and a blog; this mean little if you can't get into your office due to a crude assembly of poorly nailed boards.
3. When invited to a Tweetup, Flash Mob or associated 'social' event dress appropriately. Loss of limbs and the smell of rotting flesh are hard to get past your twitter handle.
4. Just because there are thousands (nay millions) of you in waiting, doesn't mean you have anything of substance to say.
5. During speaking engagements be sure that your messaging goals surpass one power-point slide of a clip art brain, and you simply trying to cast yourself into the audience.
6. We're tired of 'tweet pics' from farms, vacant towns, empty gas stations and a bunch of your buddies playing "I can't lift my arms."
7. Site your social links in your email signature; and enough with the punny' names like 789&UNext@gmail.com is just not cutting it.
8. Stop filling up my facebook with invitations to Zombie, Vampire and whatever other War you think you're currently "fighting." Funny, considering I can take you out with a shovel.
9. Replicated tired campaigns like "WE'RE COMING!" and "BRAAAAINS!" with poorly designed print pushing equally redundant tweets on your twitter account says little of your mission.
10. When starting a blog campaign research new alternate platforms like Tumblr, Posterous and others as they might be better for your target demographic and marketing directives. Make sure that you take them time to equally support your attention to all your social extensions or you'll just come across as some undead yahoo.