Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra

Super nice execution of a nice concept.

Advertising Agency: Piramit, Istanbul, Turkey, Creative Director: Metin Aroyo, Art Director: Emrah Meshur, Copywriter: Mustafa Oral, Photographer: Sitki Kösemen.

That's Right,

HMK

5 Important Steps

A bit of advice and reflection (with the slight tinge of gripe) this morning. 

If you're lucky, you'll have some lead time before you make that big entreprenurial leap. And if you're not so lucky, consider yourself blessed.

Either way, keep in mind that this is the "Next Time" you've been waiting for.

Do yourself a favor and consider these five pieces of advice, especially the second part of step one.

Step 1: Do Something You Love and Do It With Someone You Trust.

Step 2: Do Something You Understand.

Step 3: Start With The End In Mind.

Step 4: Protect Your Ideas, Invest In An Expert.

Step 5: Be Ready For The Unexpected.

It's been 9 months since February 14th, the day I was let go by the advertising agency that bought out our small 5 person design studio to serve as their creative department. Since then I've been officially and happily on my own working as an independent designer and branding consultant.

Initially, getting canned was as scary as it was exhilarating. The creative director I lobbied to bring on board had been threatening to fire me since October when he hired his former partner. (who's first day just happened to be my birthday). Anything but the perfect environment for creativity.

Nice. Thanks man.

As Oscar Wilde once said: Beware of people who know the price of everything and the value nothing.

Thankfully, the above learning experience brought to mind all of my good fortune I've had over the past 17+ years as a creative professional. I've been both blessed and lucky to be surrounded by people I like, trust and respect. And now, back in the world of truth, honesty and true friends I really couldn't be happier!

Sadly, yet predictably, on the downer side - over the course of the past few months everyone from our former studio, TG&O, was also let go.

Thus, fulfilling the vision and master plan of the charming and friendly creative director. That's right - Mr. Personality, the brilliant, award winning, always accessible creative genius, the man who never ceases to remind us all that he is, as it says on his 80's era business card, (the one with the inverted "i" in the logo that makes an exclamation point - genius!), he's not only your boss, he's the creative director, Your Creative Director!

Anyway...

The great news is that everyone that was fired is now in a better place - both physically and mentally. Thanks to our temporarily undervalued talents and skills, we've all landed on our feet and are busy working other gigs and continue to work with each other thanks to one thing - the one big thing that the egocentric NTAC wannabes that deem all their hired help as disposable and expendable will never understand, and that's the true value and importance of: Relationships.

That's Right - Relationships.

HMK

Nice Card Idea

Yeah, I know, I'm breaking my own rule about no Christmas posts until after Thanksgiving...so sue me, these are sweet.

You can get your very own over at The Breeding Ground.

That's Right,

HMK

The Love Life of the Octopus

Dig the trippy The Love Life of the Octopus off of Yo La Tengo's The Sounds of the Sounds of Science. And hey, while you're listening, you might as well check out this awesome collection of Octopus Covers!

Enjoy!

That's Right,

HMK

Dr. Rathenow Orthodontist

Agency: Leo Burnett, Frankfurt
Executive Creative Director: Andreas Pauli
Creative Directors: Andreas Heinzel/Peter Steger
Copywriter: Florian Kroeber
Art Director: Claudia Boeckler

Orthodontist Dr. Rathenow specializes in early diagnosis and correction of children’s defective jaws and teeth.

To promote this service, specially designed pacifiers were handed out to parents of small children. The pacifiers gave the parents a funny, but very remarkable impression of how their kids could look with uncorrected teeth.

The doctor’s business card was attached to the pacifiers. Headline business card (front): Take your kids for a check-up of their jaws and teeth before it’s too late.

I like!

That's Right,

HMK

That's Right.

That's Right,

HMK

Thanks to Swiss Miss and Eyebeam.

Meow! Set Your Clock Back!

Have a great Saturday Night, and remember: There's only 8 more Saturday Nights until 2008 so do something memorable!

If you're into going back in time, music and good clean fun you're gonna love this!.

That's Right,

HMK

The R.Bird Is The Word

Poppa U Mow Wow! I love this stuff!

PROCEDE® is the R.BIRD method for exploring creative strategies and greater possibilities.

Its principles are drawn from more than a quarter century of experience and, not, merely invented for the sake of marketing.

Work at R.BIRD respects their Procede principles on every project.

Live it. Learn it. Know it.

Dig it: Principles of PROCEDE® #4

There are no wrong answers. It’s better to consider an option than to presume an objection.

That's Right,

HMK

Speeding. No One Thinks Big Of You.

Wow. Genius concept, casting, music and execution!

Dig this awesome spot from the New South Wales Roads & Traffic Authority in Australia.

I give this one a big thumb up!

The guy that drives the silver Mustang with the Glass-Packs down E Lullwood every morning and night needs to see this...

That's Right,

HMK

Eegah!

Happy Halloween!

Do yourself a favor, if you've never seen Eegah!, stop and drop what ever it is you're doing and check out one of my favorite and most bitchinest monster movies ever, the awesome Eagah!

Thanks to B Movies.com!

That's Right,

HMK

Ten Habits of Incompetent Managers

How do you identify the members of your team that could sink it?

Thanks to Margaret Heffernan and Fast Company here's an expert's tips on some of the signs you should look for.

One of my favorite warning signs, which seems like a no-brianer but makes perfect sense, is also something one should seriously consider whether you're looking to work for or hiring an agency.

Inability to hire former employees: I hired a head of sales once with (apparently) a luminous reputation. But, as we staffed up, he never attracted any candidates from his old company. He’d worked in sales for twenty years -- hadn’t he mentored anyone who’d want to work with him again? Every good manager has alumni, eager to join the team again; if they don’t, smell a rat.

To me, it's really all about relationships. One of the things I'm most proud of is the fact that I'm still working on various projects with folks I've known and trusted for over twenty years.

Check out the whole article over at
Fast Company.

That's Right,

HMK

Compared To What?

Whenever I hear "That's great!" or "Very nice." whether in regard to a band, glass of wine, a movie, song, grilled cheese sandwich or a logo, my initial thought is this:

Compared to what?

In order to truly appreciate the result, value or execution of almost any endeavor, effort, task or product, one must have an understanding of it's origin and all things preceeding.

Think about it.

Let's say your only experience with coffee was from Denny's or random gas stations. (Poor you!) Then, by chance, someone with an elevated palet treats you to a Starbucks at the airport before your first plane ride.

Now we've got something to talk about!

ReBrand™ is a forum for case studies and programs focused on effective rebrands and showcases a nice Before and After addressing all of the above.

(Not the best example but hey, I'm still working on my first cup this morning - HEB's Taste of San Antonio spiked with some freshly ground dark Columbian beans.)

Anyway...

Along with the Center for Design & Business at Rhode Island School of Design and partners, they organized ReBrand 100®, the first and only global awards to recognize the world’s most effective rebrands: the repositioning, revitalizing, or redesign of existing brand assets to meet strategic goals.

Grab yourself a fresh cup of your favorite, get comfortable and check out the showcased rebrands from around the world at ReBrand™ - it'll jump start your crit skills!

That's Right,

HMK

Lying with (Advertising) Statistics

The smart folks over at Graphpaper conducted a study on the subway this Monday morning. They examined 50 people’s faces to see if they looked happy or sad. 15 looked happy, and 35 looked sad.

Can they say, then, that 30% of the commuters in the study were happy? Sure. But only if you trust their judgement in reading people’s faces. The numbers are a smokescreen — the real insight, the real magic, is occurring in their personal examinations of people’s faces.

Graphpaper's opinion is the linchpin of the whole “study”. If that one part of the process is unreliable — and you have no way of trusting that it isn’t — then the final numbers are also worthless.

Awesome lunchtime read: Lying With Statistics.

That's Right,

HMK

A Message From George Carlin

A Message from George Carlin, who's wife recently passed away:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?

George Carlin

That's Right.

thanks George.

HMK

Go Trinity! Go Sox!

The Rockies are going to need their own Rocky Mountain miracle tonight to pull off something as miraculous as this unbelievable last play of SCAC title game between Trinity University and Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi on Saturday, October 27, 2007.

Play began with 0:02 remaining in the game ... Trinity players used a total of 14 laterals to take the ball 61 yards for the game-winning TD.

Amazing.

That's Right,

HMK

Judith Mountain Cabin

Dig architect Jeff Sheldon's tiny off-grid two-story cabin located somewhere in Montana. I totally love the tower look and feel of this sweet little place.

To find out exactly where in Montana, go here: More Cabin Info.

That's Right,

HMK

Let's Go Red Sox!

SOX VS ROX ON FOX! Saturday, October 27th, 2007

That's Right!

HMK

Muji: Brandless Quality Goods

This blackboard globe is just one of the super cool and affordable items from Muji, which finally makes it's US debut in New York this November.

New Yorkers, used to the egocentric Japanese personalities like Nobu and Masa, may assume that there is a man named Muji behind the Japanese brand that has already seduced design-conscious crowds at MoMA and is scheduled to arrive in New York City on Nov. 16 with its first American store, at 455 Broadway in SoHo. (And a 5,000-square-foot space in the new New York Times Building in January.)

But there is no Muji the man. New York shoppers who can read the characters in the Japanese label (無印良品) immediately get the inside joke. The first character, 無 (mu), means “without.” The second character, 印 (jirushi), means “brand.” “Muji” is simply short for “Mujirushi Ryōhin” or “brandless quality goods.” Muji started out in the early 1980s as a generic supermarket brand for Seiyu but has grown to encompass a huge array of goods including housewares, lighting and clothing.

Read More.

That's Right,

HMK

Wurstfest 2007!

Remember: WURSTFEST always starts on the Friday before the first Monday in November.

That's Right!

HMK

Beware Of Western Digital Hard Drives!

Long story short.

I bought a Western Digital My Book Pro 500GB drive 6 months ago as a backup drive. It worked great.

Two days ago I bought another Western Digital My Book Premium 320GB to backup the most crucial data on the WD 500GB.

As per Western Digital's web site, I downloaded the latest firmware upgrade from the WD site for both drives in an effort to daisy-chain the 2 NEW drives.

The 320 worked but when I plugged in the 500GB for only the second time since I bought it, the firmware upgrade failed and the drive is now dead!

Spent 3-4 hours trouble shooting and on the phone with Westen Digital and all they offer is a refurb replacement drive.

Data recovery for the 500GB drive starts at $400 just to look at it and up to $1,900!

I know that any and every drive has the potential to fail - my main beef is that Western Digital's firmware upgrade was aborted and made my 500GB drive unusable!

And here's 233 more comments about the fact that Western Digital is aware of this and other issues but really does not care: Western Digital Sucks!

That's Wrong!

HMK

Happy Birthday iPod!

Six years ago today, on October 23, 2001, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPod, a $399 hard drive-based MP3 player with a unique Scroll Wheel and bright white LCD interface, an amazingly pocketable size, and high-speed FireWire for synchronization and charging. The first-generation iPod actually shipped in mid-November, eventually selling 125,000 units by the end of 2001.

One hundred and twenty million units later, that iPod has evolved into the sixth iteration, the iPod classic, spawned other iPod models such as the mini, shuffle, nano, and touch, and seen its capacity increase 32 times, even while falling in price. It has also played a major part in Apple’s remarkable growth from a struggling computer company to a major consumer electronics manufacturer, inspiring the iPhone and helping boost sales of iMac and MacBook computers.

Check out this Steve Jobs Keynote introducing the first iPod.

That's Right,

HMK

Sir Ken Robinson: Do Schools Kill Creativity?

If you believe that we are all born artists as Picasso once said, and enjoy thinking while you laugh, you'll dig this.

Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining (and profoundly moving) case for creating an education system that nurtures creativity, rather than undermining it.

With ample anecdotes and witty asides, Robinson points out the many ways our schools fail to recognize -- much less cultivate -- the talents of many brilliant people. "We are educating people out of their creativity," Robinson says.

The universality of his message is evidenced by its rampant popularity online. A typical review: "If you have not yet seen Sir Ken Robinson's TED talk, please stop whatever you're doing and watch it now."

This runs almost 20 minutes and makes a perfect quick lunch companion.

That's Right,

HMK

Big thanks to TED

Nine More Days...

That's Right,

HMK

Look! Up In The Sky! It's The Airbus A380!

Now that's first class seating...

The presence in premium class of double beds, strewn for the debut with rose petals, prompted The New York Times to say that the Singapore Airlines A380 "sometimes resembles a luxury hotel rather than an airliner."

The A380 departs for Singapore on Tuesday and will enter service on a Singapore-Sydney route at the end of October.

Dig the slide show over at: CNET News.


That's Right,

HMK


Thanks to Pascal Parrot/Abacapress.com

Really Simplified Health Care

Dr. Wilson's Blue Pills for Blue People, 1901.

Dr. Coderre's Red Pills for Pale Women & Weak Women, 1897

Dr. Williams Pink Pills for Pale People, 1887.

It's just that simple.

that's Righth,

HMK

Thanks to Hal Morgan's Symbols of America.