A STUDY IN DETAIL

May 17, ’12 10:05 AM

Recently, I attended a traveling exhibit of work from African artist El Anatsui. I have always felt El Anatsui was one of the most prolific artist of our generation. From the first time I read articles and saw pictures of his work, I found his story and works of art a very personal inspiration.

Until this visit, I had only experienced his art in pictures or publications.

I can say with certain, now, until you see El Anatsui’s work in person can you truly understand the impact of his work.

In pictures, you find yourself trying to understand the bigger picture of his concepts, really not putting all the pieces together. In person, you become captured by the detail of the experience he wants you to take. You truly become involved, connected. Not until now, have I truly understood the genius of his work. God truly is in the details, and god is truly in the work of El Anatsui.

I have put together a study of the textures and detail in El Anatsui’s work to hopefully help those who have never seen his genius up close and in person – the magnitude of his creativity.

We all have much to learn much, even in the smallest of details. As it is in the attention to these details that a story, a connection, a great concept is born.

This textural study of discarded objects touched by El Anatsui reflects (in most cases) only a 5% section of the entire piece. In this detail, you will hopefully see what I saw.

by Robert Shaw West Brand Futurist Commander in Chief The Republik Companies

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WANT TO BE CREATIVE? HAVE A BEER, THEN GET IN THE SHOWER.

Apr 23, ’12 6:42 PM

How come every other week someone there’s another study that says bring drunk makes us more creative? Or we get our best ideas when we’re sleepy? Or in the shower?

It’s your elementary school teacher’s fault. Mrs. Johnson pounded it into our heads to think logically to get the correct answer: When it rains, grab your umbrella. Two plus two equals four. Those with the correct answers get A’s. Those who don’t, gets D’s. Remember your class clown? They might not have been A students, but I guarantee you they were among the most creative.

Logic looks for correct answers, and builds on it, like this: “If A is correct, then B. If B is correct, then C. Therefore, C is the logical conclusion”. Trouble is, all 10,000 people taught by Mrs. Johnson will also come up with the same answer. Think like everybody else in this business, and it’s instant death for you. Being creative, on the other hand, is like this: “If A is correct, then strawberries explode when your cat meows.” Huh? Yes, this is a silly idea that makes no sense in this context, but it’s just to illustrate that the best creative people come up with dozens of crazy ideas, and use their logical mind only at the end, to decide which creative approach might solve the problem best.

That’s why we get our best ideas in the shower, while we’re drinking, or sleepy. The dusty ol’ regions of our brain can conjure up fresh thinking without getting shot down by the logical brain, which is busy thinking about scrubbing, or dozing off.

So, next time you’re looking for that big idea that’ll change the world, do what I do – head for the bathroom. It’s specially equipped with a dorm fridge and a water-proof pillow.

by Francis George Brand Futurist The Republik Commander Creative Ops

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WHAT SHOULD I READ TODAY?

Apr 13, ’12 3:32 PM

Between my social media feeds and my in box there is no shortage of options.

So here is my filter. What should I read today that may make me better at what I do? That may make me understand your point of view? Or that may just be interesting to me? I really don’t want your reading list any more than I want your grocery list. So before you retweet the same article as 50 others stop to consider the value you are adding. Chances are I already read it. And so did most others. If you have a point-of-view, let me here it. If an article supports it, tell me how. Be relevant. Reward me for my effort. Make my life better. And I will try to do the same. Now what should I read today? Over.

by Dwayne Fry Brand Futurist The Republik Commander Strategic Ops

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NOW THAT’S GOOD TV

Sep 2, ’11 12:25 PM

Ok, I’ll admit it: I was never a huge fan of the ABC reality show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. I would catch it from time to time, but my Sunday evenings used to revolve around Desperate Housewives and the Kardashians.

That all changed a couple of months ago when I got a chance to get a firsthand look at the making of the show. How? Extreme Makeover: Home Edition came to Fayetteville, and I was lucky enough to head up the media team on behalf of our client, the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. I got to see for myself what goes on behind-the-scenes to produce a 60-minute show that airs on primetime television. We’re talking about months and months of advance planning, lots of which has to take place under a veil of secrecy before the show even announces it’s coming to town. Then, once the official announcement is made, there’s lots more work to be done before the recipient family is announced: volunteer coordination, special event planning, sponsor and donor coordination, marketing and promotions, fundraising, and media outreach of course. If you think things calm down once the family is announced, you’re wrong: that’s when things really get cranked up to full speed. The week of the build is a whirlwind of 24-hour-a-day activity on every front you can imagine. And don’t forget temperatures in Fayetteville hovered around 100 degrees during that entire week!

You would think a grueling schedule and tough conditions like this would all get to be a bit much for the cast and crew of the show. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Everyone on the Extreme team had a permanent smile on their face. They almost always had a minute to speak to an adoring fan or a member of the media. And when they talked about Barbara Marshall and the Jubilee House, the recipients of the new house, it was obvious that they do what they do because they love it. Their passion and dedication drives them to work faster, longer and harder than most people probably dream of doing. It drives them to not mind that they haven’t showered in days and to not remember that they haven’t had on a clean set of clothes in days. It drives them to view what they do on a daily basis as far more than just a job.

The Extreme team truly is changing lives and communities one home at a time. I’m honored that I had the chance to play a small part in that for a brief time this summer.

So now, come Sunday night, you better believe I’ll be curled up on my couch watching my new favorite reality show.

by Leah Knepper Brand Futurist Rubberneck Propaganda Specialist

Photo Credit: Charles Howard via Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

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DEAR MARKETERS: TRY HARDER, PLEASE

Aug 4, ’11 1:41 PM

Stop the press. Hold the elevator.

No one move. I just read an article about how marketers could best connect with my generation this summer, and, wait for it…, “social media” was only mentioned once. No, really, only once.

In an AdAge article last month, Charlie Horsey, President-CEO of MKTG, ventures to describe a method for engaging Gen-Yers in ways other than following a company on Twitter or “liking” them on Facebook. Sorry, Mark. And I, for one, am elated that someone finally gets it. I assure you, not all of us spend our days connected to Facebook like paparazzi to Lady Gaga (what’s left of her, at least).

At more than 60 million strong, we’ve earned the reputation for wanting to discover products ourselves and to make buying decisions on our own, which Horsey purports is marketers’ biggest challenge to overcome. However, a connection with my generation can be made, and once a brand is on our radar, we’ll be loyal to it for some time to come.

Read the article to find out exactly which four ways are recommended for making the critical connection to the Gen Y consumer.

by Chris Barbee Brand Futurist The Republik Corporal Strategic Ops

Photo Credit: © Facebook

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ONE FOR ONE

Jul 2, ’11 12:22 PM

I love shoes. So, naturally, if there’s a way for me to indulge my passion for footwear while also changing the world for the better, sign me up! And that’s exactly what TOMS is all about.

With every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a child in need. It’s called One for One. And they’re not stopping with shoes anymore. One for One has been expanded to include sunglasses, too. With every pair of shades purchased, TOMS gives the gift of sight to a person in need through medical treatment, prescription eyeglasses, and/or sight-saving surgery.

What’s so amazing – and unusual – about the TOMS’ movement is that it’s more than lip-service. It’s way more than just a clever marketing ploy. It’s the very foundation of the company, whose unwavering mission is, “…Work[ing] to establish shoe-giving partnerships with humanitarian organizations worldwide that have…a long-term presence in the countries and communities they serve.” In fact, TOMS gave its one-millionth pair of new shoes to a child in need in September 2010. So much for a PR stunt!

TOMS sees itself not as a shoe or a sunglass company but rather as a One for One company. TOMS’ founder believes it’s the company’s obligation to try to improve as many lives around the world as possible by addressing as many different needs as possible. TOMS’ website tells the full story of the One for One movement and where it’s heading in the future.

The more I read, the more I’m convinced that TOMS is changing the world. Sounds like one more reason to go shoe shopping, if you ask me!

Talk about life changing.

by Leah Knepper Brand Futurist Rubberneck Propaganda Specialist

Photo Credit: © TOMS

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