Us, Together

Last week, on our way out of Minneapolis, we swung by the Walker Art Center and took a quick walk around one of its most recent additions, “Walker on the Green: Artist-Designed Mini Golf.” Across the way from the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the outdoor course features a dozen or so miniature golf holes designed by artists - some revisiting classic mini golf cliches (like the larger-than-life Paul Bunyan hole), others giving the retro game an avant-garde spin (like an intimidating plastic bottle and rope gauntlet).  We liked the interactivity and playfulness of the ‘collection’; while kids and adult putt-putted their way around the art, they talked about which holes (pieces) they liked, which ones were tough, which ones were ‘neat’ - a completely hands-on, and unique, exchange between the art piece and its spectator.

“Walker on the Green” got us thinking about public art and its role in engaging and interacting with its viewers. Coincidentally, we came across an interesting post from Jason Fried at 37Signals’ Signal vs. Noise about the contrasting approaches to public art he witnessed in Seattle and his home, Chicago. Having visited Seattle’s new Olympic Sculpture Park on a recent trip, Jason was surprised and a bit put-off by the numerous signs surrounding the public sculptures that pleaded visitors, “PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH,” and that “even the lightest touch harms the art… help the art survive.” Jason compared this to Chicago’s public art, which includes (among others) an oversized face which spouts water on nearby visitors and Millenium Park’s Cloud Gate, an enormous reflective lima bean which is constantly surrounded by people of every age, touching and playing with it, walking through it and running around it. Jason reflected upon this different approach to public space art he saw in Seattle, and was left with a feeling of separation, disappointment:

Public art in a public outdoor space in the middle of public paths and public lawns yet you can’t touch it. The only interaction is visual. It’s standoffish. It feels like a missed opportunity.

After the mini-golf experience, we walked over to the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry centerpiece of the Sculpture Garden - a spoon resting on its back with a cherry on its tip. Naturally, the enormous piece was accompanied with a sign that read, “Please Do Not Climb” - doing so would be dangerous (and a liability). So we stood there and admired the fantastical sculpture from afar spout water from its cherry’s stem, sweating through our clothes on a hot summer’s day, imagining what it’d be like to climb across that big white spoon and feel the splash of its water-spouting cherry.

We’ve mentioned unique printing company Moo before. Now they’ve gone into business cards. Richard Moross’ 4 year old company is known for their fun, mini sized calling cards. Starting next week they’ll also be offering the larger, standard sized cards as well. Moo business cards will maintain most of the customizable features of the original and comes with 100 percent recycled and biodegradable eco-card option, for no extra charge.

[via Gigaom]

A new documentary entitled “Dust And Illusions” by Olivier Bonin, features an in-depth look a the history of Burning Man. After four years of research, filming and in-depth interviews with people involved in the Burning Man community, this film explores how the anarchic festival is coming to terms with it’s own popularization.

What started out as a small gathering on the beach of San Francisco has evolved into a fully functioning city in the Nevada Desert. And with nearly 50,000 attendees last year, many participants are concerned that the event’s mainstream appeal will jeopardize the festival’s utopia vision.

While the documentary is still in the post-production phase, it is set to be released in early 2009. However, there will be a special preview screening at CELLspace in San Francisco this Saturday, June 28th.

Check out the trailer below:

[via Laughing Squid]

Danah Boyd has compiled a massive list of known articles about social network sites. Lots of research into topics dealing with all aspects of social networking, web 2.0 and collaborative communities. Some titles include “Rhythms of Social Interaction: Messaging within a Massive Online Network”, “Hyperfriends and Beyond: Friendship and Social Norms on LiveJournal” and ” How Peer Photos Influence Member Participation in Online Communities”.

[via Portals and KM]

In his Greenormal blog, John Grant offers what he thinks will be the ‘heritage we leave behind’ that future generations might thank us for. A mix of optimism and caution, the list proposed by Grant (author of four books, the most recent being The Green Marketing Manifesto) is a glimpse of the ten things that make up our generation’s footprint, including “our music,” “women’s empowerment,” and a few other innovations that are a bit less obvious, like:

5. The social venture. Where corporations were, community hybrids (public-private) ie cooperative-style organisations will be. We may still see massive global franchises for proven formulae (and not reinventing the wheel) but with local and/or employee ownership.

6. Open source. Restrictive IP and the modern cult of the patent is from a broader perspective (Odum argued) a key block on development and flexibility. And most breakthrough ideas originate in science parks and universities, not corporations.

7. Know-how. The stock of knowledge we have developed in the fat times may support us through the lean times; from medicine to nutrition to design. I imagine a definitive ‘bible’ in every town library collecting a sum of useful know-how on everything from what to do in a cholera outbreak to servicing a computer server.

8. Permaculture Design. The more I read about this, the more I think this is probably the key set of ideas of our age. One of its founders David Holmgren was profoundly influenced by Odum too. Permaculture will likely revolutionise agriculture; including their calls for turning every garden into a home farm. But it may also revolutionise human systems design in general. For instance, we need to convert systems from optimum profit (lean, just-in-time efficiency) to optimum resilience (lots of built in redundancy, providing some slack in times of crisis).

9. The internet. I seriously doubt that current trivial uses will be affordable, but as an essential means to share good ideas, crowd-sourced innovation processes, support efficient markets and a global sense of belonging…

10. A cautionary tale. Our whole (from a future view) totally mad modern lifestyle will probably be taught as a negative example, to support the new culture. ‘Imagine a day when people used to throw things away’!

Grant adds that while it’s impossible to really know what tomorrow’s society will take and learn from today’s, he think that considering what our legacy is helps shape our present-day mentality:

We need to realise that the world will change. And hence the things you direct all your energies into today may simply not be relevant tomorrow. This way of thinking can redirect your life’s work.

Those possible future heritage items are ultimately my own list of the sorts of things I think of as worthwhile to focus on. I wouldn’t dream of suggesting it is the right list or one which any reader should share. Rather I’d suggest it’s well worth forming such a list of your own. What can you build now, which will be valued by our descendents?

Greenormal: Today’s Work, Tomorrow’s Heritage

Youth Mesh offers an interesting argument for the rise of a unified “global youth culture,” aided by increased travel and media penetration, social networking sites, cell phones, and all other technology making it easier for people to connect. Rather than these beliefs being “imposed from Western ideals, Youth Mesh argues, a global youth culture is emerging organically, in developing countries where instantaneous communication is becoming increasingly convenient and widespread. And, Youth Mesh argues, this culture goes beyond fashion and music:

There are the common styles of music (such as hip hop), styles of clothing, media interests, dance, material possessions and other practical and outward expressions of this culture. Deeper than this though I believe there is developing a common value system and view of life.

This has to do with things such as: distrust of authority and organisations, freedom of expression, authority is to be earned and not bestowed, access to knowledge and finances, relationships are everything, friends are more important than family, truth is what ever you believe it to be and many other values.

Technology and media are without a doubt changing the way youth are sharing and learning about each others’ ideas, opinions, and creative output. And while many of these rebellious values (questioning authority, finding more kinship with peers rather than family) have long been a universal part of youth mentality (much before the advent of the Internet and cell phones), technology is helping break down the cultural and geographical borders that have prevented their global confluence.

Youth Mesh: Global Youth Culture

We are very excited to have creative consultant, author, and PSFK friend, George Parker speaking at the upcoming PSFK Conference San Francisco. The last time George spoke at one of our conferences (this is his fourth appearance), he sat across from Missy Suicide and discussed how Suicide Girls has evolved into a well loved brand. This time, George will be moderating our “Using It” panel, which will include Adrian Ho, Mark Lewis (DDB), Lynn Casey (Team Noesis) and Rohit Bhargava (Ogilvy 360 Digital Influence) and discuss how companies and organizations can leverage social media to enhance consumer dialog, evolve product offering and improve sales.

First, who are you and what do you do?

I am an advertising creative consultant with more than thirty years experience working for agencies and clients in Europe and the US. Having experienced the insanities of the ad biz for so long, my profanity laden blog www.adscam.typepad.com is required reading for all those who share my view that much of the business is teetering on the edge of irrelevancy. Attacking BDA’s (Big Dumb Agencies) with relish, AdScam is one of the best read and most commented on Ad Blogs. After my last book, MadScam, I am now putting the finishing touches on my next opus, The Ubiquitous Persuaders, a fifty year update on Vance Packard’s classic, The Hidden persuaders. I guarantee it will be as full of opinionated piss and vinegar as my blog.

You’ll be speaking on our “Using It” panel. Can you sum up your views on how companies and organizations leverage social media to enhance consumer dialogue, evolve product offerings, and improve sales?

With all the hot air being expanded on the subject of “Social Media,” it’s time for us to burst the balloon and honestly face up to the fact that most companies and organizations don’t have a clue about using social media in an effective way.

Five websites that provide you with inspiration:

PSFK (Brownie points for that one!!!)
Suicide Girls (Best social network that makes money)
Adverganza (Cathy Taylor, best ad journalist around)
AdAge (Best trade mag for in-depth coverage)
Talent Imitates, Genius Steals (Best “Planner” in the Universe)

Thanks, George!

Like what George has to say? Why not come and hear him speak at the PSFK Conference San Francisco?

Hip hop artist Ludacris and reality TV producer Matt Apfel have started a new service called WeMix. It allows aspiring musicians to upload any kind of musical performance and get feedback from both peers and industry pros. The website features standard social networking features including profiles, video uploads and song rating. There’s also a toll free number to call where you can record your songs. If Ludacris or another of the sites celebrity mentors likes an artist, they’ll get flown to Los Angeles to record a polished version of the song in 48 hours for a WeMix video series.

Ludacris explains why he started the service:

“The old way of making records is a thing of the past,” Ludacris told Listening Post via phone. “A&R, marketers, the radio game, million dollar videos, predictable producers — this system makes it really tough for new blood or new ideas to rise to the top. Using WeMix allows new artists to get their voice heard.”

[via Wired Listening Post]

At the upcoming PSFK Conference San Francisco, Adrian Ho, founding partner of Zeus Jones, will be joining George Parker, Mark Lewis (DDB), Lynn Casey (Team Noesis) and Rohit Bhargava (Ogilvy 360 Digital Influence) on our “Using It” panel. The discussion will examine how companies can use social media to enhance consumer dialogue, evolve product offerings, and improve sales.

First, who are you and what do you do?

I am a founding partner at Zeus Jones. We’re a company that believe actions speak louder than words and are in business to help clients use their marketing to do things for people instead of saying things to them. We call this marketing as a service. I study the evolution in brands and branding along with developments in technology in order to develop marketing strategies and ideas for our clients.

You’ll be speaking on our “Using It” panel. Can you sum up your views on how companies and organizations leverage social media to enhance consumer dialogue, evolve product offerings, and improve sales?

Social media is changing very quickly, so I don’t think companies can “leverage” it but they definitely must participate. People are using social media to build online reputations and relationships that influence their physical reputations, relationships and behaviour very strongly. This isn’t happening overnight and companies who haven’t been participating along the way may find themselves facing an insurmountable deficit as these things start to solidify.

Five websites that provide you with inspiration:

FriendFeed

Techmeme

Mashable

ReadWriteWeb

PSFK

Thanks, Adrian!

Why not come and hear Adrian speak at the PSFK Conference San Francisco?