We’re looking forward to having Maria Vranchnos (Peep Insights) share her ideas at PSFK Conference NYC 2009. Maria will be on a panel with moderator Gill Linton (The Joneses), Doug Jaeger (thehappycorp/Art Directors Club), Paul M Taylor (Diageo), and Paul Worthington (Wolff Olins) discussing the “brand new rules” needed to govern the behavior of brands in a world increasingly defined by changing social, cultural, technological and economic forces.
First, who are you and what do you do (in 150 words or less)?
I’m a socio-cultural researcher that loves to get beneath the surface and really understand what motivates people. I’ve always [...]

Barcelona’s Vaho Works create furniture out of items like shopping carts and oil drums and bags out of banner advertisements and tires. Vaho’s professional-looking and high-quality work (”Trashion”)  have even become part of promotional campaigns, with clients such as ADG-FAD ( a Spanish Graphic Designer and Art Director’s Association), Institut Barcelona Esports, and Grupo Mahou – San Miguel (a brewing company). Like many repurposed products, the items aren’t always cheap. Considering the craftsmanship and ethical benifits, though, Vaho’s products are within reach (about €30 for a small bag or €265 for a chair) and can be purchased through their online [...]

We’re looking forward to having Ben Malbon, Managing Partner at BBH Labs, join us at PSFK Conference New York on April 2. On a panel with Bart Haney (fuseproject), Carl Johnson (Anomaly), Robbie Vitrano (Trumpet), and moderator Danielle Sacks (Fast Company), Ben will be discussing the pursuit of intellectual property and how it’s changing the way agencies and new businesses operate.
First, who are you and what do you do?
I am one of a small team of people who run BBH Labs. Labs is an innovation and experimental unit focused on ensuring BBH is as smart as possible when it comes [...]

According to Autoblog, the state of California is proposing legislation to reduce carbon emissions by banning black cars. The California Air Resources Board’s rational is that dark colored cars absorb more light, which results in the owner using their climate control systems more. This theory sounds far-fetched, but existing building legislation with a similar ban has proven successful at reducing energy consumption in skyscrapers. Under the proposition for cars, windshields, backlights and sunroofs will be required to receive new reflective coatings by 2012. Companies that make auto paint are currently attempting to create a paint that conforms to the proposed [...]

Pepsi will be debuting the first eco-friendly soda machines this month in Washington D.C. The vending machines are also the first to use carbon dioxide instead of HFCs as a coolant and will release 12 % less greenhouse gasses than the previous models.
Currently, PepsiCo is testing machines that use alternative refrigerants, such as isobutane and propane. The company is also eliminating HFCs from the insulating foam found in vending machines, coolers, and fountain equipment.
[via Brand Freak]

In an alarming but not all too shocking article, the New York Times revealed that the average American adult is exposed to screens (TVs, cell phones, G.P.S.s) for about 8.5 hours a day. In addition, they are subject to 61 minutes of TV ads and promotions a day. Although most of this exposure is from television, computer usage has usurped radio as the second most common medium.
The fact that the number of minutes spent with media is about equal across age groups (with the exception of 45 to 54 year olds, who spend an hour more than others) is a [...]

We’re looking forward to having Carl Johnson, partner at Anomaly, join us at PSFK Conference New York on April 2. Carl will be part of our panel discussion about the pursuit of intellectual property and how it’s changing the way agencies and new businesses operate. He will be joined in discussion by Bart Haney (fuseproject), Robbie Vitrano (Trumpet), Ben Malbon (BBH Labs), and moderator Danielle Sacks (Fast Company).
First, who are you and what do you do?
Carl Johnson.
Partner at Anomaly.
I’m trying, with my Partners, to create a company that doesn’t look like one that has existed before…that has no boundaries…that is [...]

We’re excited to hear what Florian Peter, founder of CScout, will share with us at PSFK Conference NYC 2009. He will be speaking on our “Open To Change” panel, along with Scott Heiferman (Meetup), John Geraci (Outside.In), Avner Ronen (boxee) and Domenico Vitale (PI&C), where the group will discuss how creators and the community openly come together to develop new thinking and make ideas happen.
Who are you and what do you do?
I am the founder of the trend agency CScout. I’m an entrepreneurial trend consultant and speaker with a flair for spotting and interpreting emerging business trends. Launched in [...]

We’re looking forward to having John Geraci, the brains behind DIYcity and co-founder of Outside.in, join us this Thursday at PSFK Conference NYC 2009. John will be participating in our “Open to Change” panel along with Domenico Vitale (People Ideas & Culture), Scott Heiferman (Meetup), Florian Peter (CScout) and Avner Ronen (boxee), where he will discuss the potential of leveraging open communities to develop new products, services and experiences for the benefit of everybody concerned.
First, who are you and what do you do?
John Geraci, creator of DIYcity and co-founder of Outside.in.
I find ways to make cities and neighborhoods work better [...]

Dodgeball.com founder Dennis Crowley will be sharing his latest venture at PSFK Conference New York:  foursquare, a service that mixes social, locative, gaming elements to encourage people to explore the cities in which they live. We’re looking forward to hearing about foursquare a special Show and Tell presentation on April 2.
Who are you and what do you do?
Hi, my name is Dennis. I try to build things that make cities easier to use. I’m currently working on a project called foursquare that experiments with turning nightlife into a social game. I spend the rest of [...]

We’re looking forward to hearing what Scott Heiferman, co-founder and CEO of Meetup, will share with us at PSFK Conference NYC 2009. On our “Open to Change” panel along with Domenico Vitale (People Ideas & Culture), John Geraci (Outside.In), Florian Peter (CScout) and Avner Ronen (boxee), Scott will discuss how to leverage open communities to develop new products, services and experiences for the benefit of everybody concerned.
First, who are you and what do you do?
I help people organize local community groups (Meetup Groups) that make their lives better.
You’ll be sharing your ideas on our “Open To Change” panel. [...]

We’re excited to have Paul M. Taylor, Consumer Planning Director at Diageo, join us at PSFK Conference NYC 2009. He will be speaking on our “Brand New Rules” panel where he will discuss the new rules needed to govern the behavior of brands in a world increasingly defined by changing social, cultural, technological and economic forces. He will be joined on the panel by Doug Jaeger (thehappycorp), Maria Vranchnos (Peep Insights), and Paul Worthington (Wolff Olins).
First, who are you and what do you do?
I’m Paul Taylor and I’m a Consumer Planning Director at Diageo. I’m currently working on our vodka [...]

We’re excited to have Simon Collins, Dean of Fashion at Parsons, join us at our upcoming PSFK Conference NYC 2009. Simon will discuss how sustainable, economic and socially conscious issues are driving the design of new products and services on a panel moderated by Dave Pinter (PSFK, GRID2) with Ryan Jacoby (IDEO), Matthew Lusk (Hecho, Inc) and Sarah Beatty (Green Depot).
First, who are you and what do you do?
Dean. School of Fashion. Parsons the New School for Design.
I provide direction for the Fashion School’s 1300 students and 200 faculty, am Parsons’ ambassador to the fashion industry and press and represent [...]

Matt W. Moore, founder of MWM Graphics and one of PSFK’s favorite artists, will be discussing his iconic work in a Show and Tell at PSFK Conference New York on April 2. A multi-disciplinary and ever-evolving artist, Matt will offer insight into his design discipline and what inspires him.
First, who are you and what do you do?
My name is Matt W. Moore and I run a studio called MWM Graphics in Portland, Maine. I work across the spectrum of art and design disciplines. Everything from vector illustration to logos, textile designs, canvas paintings, murals, tee graphics, and traditional graphic design. [...]

We’re excited to hear what Domenico Vitale, Chief Idea Architect at People Ideas & Culture, will share with us at PSFK Conference NYC 2009. He will be joining our “Open To Change” panel, and with Scott Heiferman (Meetup), John Geraci (Outside.In), Florian Peter (CScout) and Avner Ronen (boxee), he will explain how to leverage open communities to develop new products, services and experiences for the benefit of everybody concerned.
First, who are you and what do you do?
I am a Roman who is now a New Yorker with a lot a lot of love for what we do at PI&C. [...]