Design is not just for Designers

I came across a very interesting article on how art generally and design specifically helps in one’s daily life. This goes for people who don’t deal with art on a daily basis too.

A few pointers caught my attention. Enumerating them as follows:

1. Any package, brouchure or website which had some design thoughts on it never comes across as a ‘designed accident’. Even if the content inside does not interest you, the overall design stimulates your brain.

2. Learn to doodle, draw or paint. Learn how to talk when you are producing this art. Helps a lot in whiteboard presentations.

3. Learn to take good photos. Understand what makes one photo better than another one.

4. Watch TED videos related to design and creativity.

5. Take walks alone in the nature or or in your neighbourhood when traffic is not at its peak. Helps not to have your phone with you when you do this.

6. Take walks alone with your phone along (better in the airline mode) and record your thoughts on the way. Put it up online either in your blog or as a “not for public” entry. This could be a seperate blog or a tumblr account.

After all there is design in everything we do. Do we not design strategies or financial projections?

Coca Cola and happiness ambassadors

Coca Cola is about to dispatch a set of “happiness ambassadors” across the globe to find out what makes people happy! This project is called the ‘Expedition 206′ and the results should be a must watch for.

Coke has been one of the biggest adopters of social media and internet in general. The entire idea of culture and pop that goes with the soft drink company has been intact for a few decades now. This initiative should also see a lot of internet action. Lets see how this looks like post 2010.

Come to think of it, I wouldn’t mind buying some online coke merchandise in the form of Beanbags or sling bags which are available only online (ebay). Does that really make me happy? I don’t really know!

On Twitter results appearing on Google Search

Tweets would start appearing in your search results from now on – so says Google.

This certainly is a huge score for Google, considering the no-follow tag Twitter was holding so close to them. Or thinking about the greater good of caring to share the inside information, this could be for the social good.

Waiting to see who else removes the no-follow tag

The Farmer’s mobile phone

Mobile handset sales in India is up 6.7% in the last 12 months (this is June 2009)

All of these are low end mobile phones hovering around a maximum of Rs.1500/-. Even I lost my Nokia N73 and went for a phone which is pretty basic – not much addicted to the phone these days

Beside that point, it is refreshing to see the farmer with a mobile on him. Hope they get to utilize it well!

On CIOs and Social Media Ban

A lot of companies (read CIOs) ban the use of Social Media sites as a part of their Internet policy.

Few factors such as fear of negative reputation, employee productivity, wastage of time etc. forces such moves. Check out this study on social media behaviour in companies for deeper insight.

Good to know that almost 10% of the companies are open to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube usages inside firms. High time companies redefine their “cultures” of Freedom and Respect!

Viral from C2W – fail to impress

Just stumbled on a new ‘viral’ from contest to win. They call it the ShineShah aimed at promoting retirement plans from IDBI.

Do check it here (if you really want to that is). Very losely connected script and making fun of a cult character from the past leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Guess its time we see something fresh!

But the fact that I clicked on an ad from facebook to reach this viral should be good from a numbers point of view. I am not convinced about IDBI though.

What is keeping my ‘net-head’ running

Mighty trip at home without the use of internet was good. But, the ‘net-head’ in me is rearing its head back again.

Social Media – can’t stop tripping on the possibilities. Squidoo has come up with some brands which has taken this medium very seriously . Thinking of ideas by which brands around us can gain in a major way by use of good old Youtube, Flickr, Facebook, Tweets and such.

The really awesome idea of user generated stuff going has proven to be as cool as Karl Marx’s theories (sorry, it doesn’t really work), but activating curiosities and ‘hey this is nice’ comments from them sure can help in brand recalls (hope so, maybe, keep fingers crossed).

Reminding myself again and again – content is king! Running around and bumping into content providers; read movie makers, photographers, artists, cool random people, you and me!

If you were guessing Weltan Butterfly got trapped in a spider…….

On changes

On crossroads – keeping quiet and stuff!

Heavy Metal blues

Reached Bombay. Is quite different from the silence back home.

Listened to Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin on my old CD Walkman and the CD collection. Got back the rechargeable batteries too. Heavy Metal works even in 2009. Was fearing I might grow over those Audio CDs.

Just a cool pic of Ozzy.

Two month vacation from internet is good

I kept away from internet and work and all such jazz for two months – was grounded in a way (at home that too).

Had some nice time sleeping, eating and watching the sky in the evenings. Nearing one year of not earning money. Taking it as a sign for lots to money to come – optimism never cost a rupee!

Planning to hit Bombay on 16th of September. Got a train ticket for a train that goes through the Konkan. Have heard of huge bridges and tunnels on that route. Mad excited about that. Also was talking to a photographer I met on the way for some social media work. He offered me assistant-ship. That is something really awesome.

Keep a lookout for photography related posts too.
Weltan Butterfly still lives!