January 23, 2012
I’ve been thinking more and more about how technology helps or hinders us. I’ve been fascinated by the subject since ready a book called “High Tech High Touch” by … in university. As ‘social media’ took hold and the once unshakable economy system showed signs of disrepair, I began thinking more about how good (or bad) technology is. I’m often amazed how quickly new ‘apps’ or products take hold without a conscious thought as to how it will effect the social ecosystem in which is lives. Who would have thought that one day there would be something as real as facebook addiction?  So every so often I come across something in the realm of consumption of good that gets me excited, or at the very least hopeful that businesses and the innovative minds behind them are not strictly in it to cash in and cash out.  Ergo the Copenhagen Wheel Project. bit.ly/97sWFD Part of the ongoing trend of tracking our every move … for good. http://nyti.ms/aOGlLS 

I’ve been thinking more and more about how technology helps or hinders us. I’ve been fascinated by the subject since ready a book called “High Tech High Touch” by … in university. As ‘social media’ took hold and the once unshakable economy system showed signs of disrepair, I began thinking more about how good (or bad) technology is. I’m often amazed how quickly new ‘apps’ or products take hold without a conscious thought as to how it will effect the social ecosystem in which is lives. Who would have thought that one day there would be something as real as facebook addiction? 

So every so often I come across something in the realm of consumption of good that gets me excited, or at the very least hopeful that businesses and the innovative minds behind them are not strictly in it to cash in and cash out. 

Ergo the Copenhagen Wheel Project. 

Part of the ongoing trend of tracking our every move … for good. http://nyti.ms/aOGlLS 


11:08pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZgekOyFH2D6F
April 5, 2011
Do you you say … say what you mean? As those interesteding in the motivations of consumers it’s always important to remember that we’re humans - and make decisions based on emotions … first and foremost. We’re predisposed to be lazy, pragmatic, wishful, hedonistic, sacred - and we post-rationalize our choices until we feel better about ourselves. Remind yourself when you’re crafting your next brief that the laundry list of rational ‘benefits’ can always be translated into in something more emotional and compelling.  http://www.psfk.com/2011/04/why-drives-us-to-buy.html

Do you you say … say what you mean? As those interesteding in the motivations of consumers it’s always important to remember that we’re humans - and make decisions based on emotions … first and foremost. We’re predisposed to be lazy, pragmatic, wishful, hedonistic, sacred - and we post-rationalize our choices until we feel better about ourselves. Remind yourself when you’re crafting your next brief that the laundry list of rational ‘benefits’ can always be translated into in something more emotional and compelling.  http://www.psfk.com/2011/04/why-drives-us-to-buy.html

1:17pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZgekOy44O3UI
January 15, 2011
In the last couple years there has been a lot of talk about cultural movements and their implications on brands. Strawberry Frog has been one of those agencies touting the role that brands can play in playing it forward, advancing a cause or creating awareness and activism for idea or issue.  And its not about simply injecting a brand into the existing cultural landscape. It’s more about community engagement, using a brand a conduit, or curator for change. And to be relevant & spark interest in today’s cultural context, technology and innovation needs to be part of plan - if not the platform itself. And that means that a brand needs to be brave. Brave to be authentic. Brave to be open to ideas that create excitement or Hoopla. Brave to stand-up to the neysayers that tell them that it shouldn’t or can’t be done. And as agencies we need to back them and up & give them everything they need to build their case.

In the last couple years there has been a lot of talk about cultural movements and their implications on brands.

Strawberry Frog has been one of those agencies touting the role that brands can play in playing it forward, advancing a cause or creating awareness and activism for idea or issue.  And its not about simply injecting a brand into the existing cultural landscape. It’s more about community engagement, using a brand a conduit, or curator for change.

And to be relevant & spark interest in today’s cultural context, technology and innovation needs to be part of plan - if not the platform itself.

And that means that a brand needs to be brave. Brave to be authentic. Brave to be open to ideas that create excitement or Hoopla. Brave to stand-up to the neysayers that tell them that it shouldn’t or can’t be done. And as agencies we need to back them and up & give them everything they need to build their case.

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11:07pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZgekOy2bC0N7
November 22, 2010
I was watching this indie Ted talk (http://www.tedxnewst.com) about the ‘Long now’ … and how marketers’ obsession with making launching new iterations of products  ‘cheaper, faster’ has created this disrupts for time … permanence so to speak. It’s pervasive in advertising too - concepts like campaign, 360, tactical plans … vocabulary about space, on a different plane than the concept of time. And if trust is a key indicator of brand success, and it takes time to build it … then why aren’t we not fostering longer-term projects (i.e. launch of new service model etc.) vs. tactical one offs? Is it agency laziness, irresponsibility, greed or all of the above? It was interesting, made me think a lot about long-term brand utility and brand experiences … the ones that are inherent, baked into a companies pysche - the way it operates inside & out… like Cirque du Soleil as it was described in the Book Conversational Capital by the folks at Sidlee. Good read. http://conversationalcapital.com/

I was watching this indie Ted talk (http://www.tedxnewst.com) about the ‘Long now’ … and how marketers’ obsession with making launching new iterations of products  ‘cheaper, faster’ has created this disrupts for time … permanence so to speak. It’s pervasive in advertising too - concepts like campaign, 360, tactical plans … vocabulary about space, on a different plane than the concept of time.

And if trust is a key indicator of brand success, and it takes time to build it … then why aren’t we not fostering longer-term projects (i.e. launch of new service model etc.) vs. tactical one offs? Is it agency laziness, irresponsibility, greed or all of the above?

It was interesting, made me think a lot about long-term brand utility and brand experiences … the ones that are inherent, baked into a companies pysche - the way it operates inside & out… like Cirque du Soleil as it was described in the Book Conversational Capital by the folks at Sidlee. Good read. http://conversationalcapital.com/

4:02pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZgekOy1YQ7ci
September 21, 2010
It seems between trying to stay creatively relevant but hiring top notch creative talent and re-organizing it self to equip themselves on the digital front, the big shops are having a tough go … and it likely will get worse. What to do … to what to do. Keep on hiring the the new hotshot until their greed evolves into apathy once they realize that the titanic can’t be steered right by their creative genius? http://adage.com/agencynews/article?article_id=145979

It seems between trying to stay creatively relevant but hiring top notch creative talent and re-organizing it self to equip themselves on the digital front, the big shops are having a tough go … and it likely will get worse. What to do … to what to do. Keep on hiring the the new hotshot until their greed evolves into apathy once they realize that the titanic can’t be steered right by their creative genius?

http://adage.com/agencynews/article?article_id=145979

10:30pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZgekOy1ZHVlF
September 21, 2010
Skills for Top Planners http://www.psfk.com/2010/09/5-key-skills-for-agency-planners.html

Skills for Top Planners

http://www.psfk.com/2010/09/5-key-skills-for-agency-planners.html

12:14am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZgekOy2bFzdr
September 10, 2010
Are you crap at something? Don’t dwell or learn how to do it better, practice … find a creative way around it … http://robcampbell.wordpress.com/2010/09/07/ive-got-all-the-right-words-i-just-cant-put-them-in-the-right-order/

Are you crap at something? Don’t dwell or learn how to do it better, practice … find a creative way around it …

http://robcampbell.wordpress.com/2010/09/07/ive-got-all-the-right-words-i-just-cant-put-them-in-the-right-order/

12:13am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZgekOy1xwM8S
August 8, 2010
Just because you care, are nice & people like you, doesn’t mean it’s good. When a company does good work, and encourages it from the top down, it shows. And yes, some clients may get pissed off when they don’t agree, but if you’re work is not effective, then they’ll eventually leave anyway … sooner or later. http://robcampbell.wordpress.com/2010/08/13/the-passion-paradox/

Just because you care, are nice & people like you, doesn’t mean it’s good. When a company does good work, and encourages it from the top down, it shows. And yes, some clients may get pissed off when they don’t agree, but if you’re work is not effective, then they’ll eventually leave anyway … sooner or later.

http://robcampbell.wordpress.com/2010/08/13/the-passion-paradox/

12:35am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZgekOy1xx3Cj
April 20, 2010
How to be a planner? There’s no direct route. Especially in smaller markets where the role is mostly delegated to account managers. But not surprisingly it’s about being well read … on marketing, advertising & pop culture …  interacting w/ other seasoned planners (or researchers) … and a healthy curiosity for life & learning. http://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/account_planning_school_of_the_web/index.html

How to be a planner? There’s no direct route. Especially in smaller markets where the role is mostly delegated to account managers. But not surprisingly it’s about being well read … on marketing, advertising & pop culture …  interacting w/ other seasoned planners (or researchers) … and a healthy curiosity for life & learning.

http://russelldavies.typepad.com/planning/account_planning_school_of_the_web/index.html

1:14am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZgekOy2bF_g4
March 16, 2010
Planners … the new creatives? http://www.psfk.com/2010/09/video-can-planners-be-the-new-creatives.html

Planners … the new creatives?

http://www.psfk.com/2010/09/video-can-planners-be-the-new-creatives.html

12:18am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZgekOy2bGBJT