gracefultaylor

Online addiction #4 - Paper Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:56:00 +0000

This time it's love! The Graceful Taylor has found her match: the most exquisite paper objects, to adore and to use, that you will ever see in the whole wide world. A joyous lesson in the possibilities of that most basic of materials, paper. A new Australian online concept store that will woo you with its grace and beauty and simplicity. Sigh.

www.uponafold.com.au

www.uponafold.com.au/blog

The pure joy of creating

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:38:00 +0000

Remed.
badass graff artist
doing his own thing
exploding colour on any available surface
no deep message - no way!
just clever use of style, typography and...
did I mention colour?
aka Guilo, dude who paints bearded men, Moroccan-style
the artist and the grafitti-ist
the pure joy of creating
http://remed.es

"Take life as seriously as a game." A design Legend Bruno Munari

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:34:00 +0000

So said Bruno Munari, the brilliant, groundbreaking enfant terrible of Italian art and design.

Picasso called him 'the new Leonardo"; we call him a genius.

Why is he such an influence on us? Because he understands that less is more. The simplicity of a square, a triangle and a circle in primary colours becomes exquisite poetry in his hands through his choice of placement in space, or through the lilt he gives to a curved line.

And because anyone who makes Useless Machines which wag the tail of lazy dogs or which predict dawn is someone whose creative imagination must be explored!

To be uplifted and inspired, to learn from a master, click here

For more info on Bruno Munari, including books about and by him, click here

Images above with thanks from here

A picture tells a thousand words - photo shoot behind the scenes

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 10:35:00 +0000

Yeah, yeah, we've all heard that before. But do you know how?

We've been working with Molmic Furniture for a while now. This family company makes GREAT lounges, the sort that make you want to bring back the siesta (after breakfast...after lunch...arvo tea...you get the idea). And as much as a lounge is about comfort, it's also an expression of its owner's personality. My leather chesterfield is not your velvet-cushioned day-bed. Buying a couch is an emotional decision!

So when we designed Molmic's latest photo shoot (for magazine ads and product brochures) we wanted to express the personality of each lounge. With careful attention to composition, each photo guides the viewer's gaze to the lounge, while the styling around and on the lounge suggests its personality. And there's something for everyone.

Now, after you've checked out the images below, why don't you go and have a little lie down...

Shoot team: Creative concept & Art Direction: Grace Camobreco, Styling Clair Wayman, Photographer Lisa Cohen

Above: Pre-shoot planing, composition and styling mood boards. There is much more to shooting product than just taking pretty pics, the styling needs to enhance & compliment, but not overpower - shot compositions are carefully crafted to lead the eye to the product. Styling needs to be carefully considered to suit the target market - not one's own personal taste.

Below: the final shots

Is crowd-sourced branding the way of the future?

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:09:00 +0000

Coming up with a brand to represent a whole city is no easy task. Not only is city branding a complex and involved process, it is a PR minefield - just look at the <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/melbourne-city-council-spends-240000-on-new-logo/story-0-1225753536284">controversy</a> that surrounded the recent launch of the City of Melbourne's new visual identity. Critics lambasted the logo as not being representative or reflective of the city. When London invited pitches for the development of a city brand, to be used globally in the lead up to the Olympics, one agency sought to side step this possible resistance. In developing their pitch, <a href="http://www.movingbrands.com/">Moving Brands</a> took the unlikely step of inviting the public into the creative process.<o:p></o:p> The agency established a <a href="http://abrandforlondon.wordpress.com/">blog</a> and a <a href="http://twitter.com/we_are_london">Twitter</a> account and called not only for <a href="http://abrandforlondon.wordpress.com/2009/08/26/whats-the-story-so-far/">submissions</a> from the public, but for comment as they progressed through the design process. This type of two-way engagement is common in the social media world and is reflective of an overall shift in public expectations. While Moving Brands did not ultimately win the tender (that honour went to <a href="http://www.saffron-consultants.com/">Saffron Brand Consultants</a>) they did attract quite a lot of attention and support for their approach. This is a trend we're likely to see more of, and one we can all learn something from. Read the Moving Brands presentation <a href="http://abrandforlondon.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/our-pitch-is-now-available-to-you/">here</a>.Below: Submissions from the ‘<a href="http://abrandforlondon.wordpress.com/submit-your-design/">Submit your design</a>‘ section of the <a href="http://abrandforlondon.wordpress.com/">"A brand for London"</a> blog. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wNCfATpsI/AAAAAAAAAVk/dyoY3MR1IP0/s1600-h/london-sw.png"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wNCfATpsI/AAAAAAAAAVk/dyoY3MR1IP0/s400/london-sw.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434733186663032514" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 191px; " /></a>Concept above by Stephen Walker<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wOYmQ0sAI/AAAAAAAAAVs/Bin_kADMPAk/s1600-h/rotate-arrow-1.jpeg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wOYmQ0sAI/AAAAAAAAAVs/Bin_kADMPAk/s400/rotate-arrow-1.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434734666080104450" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px; " /></a>Concept above by Paul<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wO1bffaQI/AAAAAAAAAV0/8F94sCP9upc/s1600-h/love_london.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wO1bffaQI/AAAAAAAAAV0/8F94sCP9upc/s400/love_london.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434735161405040898" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 339px; " /></a>Concept above by Mark Allardice.<h2 id="post-502" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; ">Below: <a href="http://www.movingbrands.com/">Moving Brands</a> shared their conceptual exploration real time on the <a href="http://abrandforlondon.wordpress.com/">blog</a> & invited feedback from Londoners.</h2><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wQTmU3QyI/AAAAAAAAAV8/jz7eGPujn4A/s1600-h/03love_london.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wQTmU3QyI/AAAAAAAAAV8/jz7eGPujn4A/s400/03love_london.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434736779220960034" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wQT9kBq9I/AAAAAAAAAWE/XAcp6qfYufU/s1600-h/07love_only.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wQT9kBq9I/AAAAAAAAAWE/XAcp6qfYufU/s400/07love_only.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434736785458572242" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wQsuFExAI/AAAAAAAAAWU/gKmtvoCDQEo/s1600-h/building_on_tfl_combo_011.png"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wQsuFExAI/AAAAAAAAAWU/gKmtvoCDQEo/s400/building_on_tfl_combo_011.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434737210798949378" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 198px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wQsuFExAI/AAAAAAAAAWU/gKmtvoCDQEo/s1600-h/building_on_tfl_combo_011.png"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wQ-anRfGI/AAAAAAAAAWc/ARhZrZMRjD8/s1600-h/20090827_smile2.png"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S2wQ-anRfGI/AAAAAAAAAWc/ARhZrZMRjD8/s400/20090827_smile2.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434737514811325538" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px; " /></a> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9173242730590831160-5780597650475233128?l=www.gracefultaylor.com.au' alt='' /></div>

David Downton - A master craftsman

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:56:00 +0000

"In order to leave something out, first you have to put it in..."

You know those images that tell you everything, even though the artist has used the smallest amount of ink to convey it? An almost nonchalant line that suggests a face, a hip, a smile, a frown.

This man is a master: David Downton, UK fashion illustrator. If you've ever wanted to understand the concept of negative space, look at his breathtaking work in fashion and portraiture.

Ah, beauty is a wonderful thing!

Click here to view his website & full portfolio

3 DONTs For Mobile Site Development

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:53:00 +0000

Top tips from our resident guru Teresa Sperti of Digital Marketing Lab:

According to Morgan Stanley, the mobile internet is expected to be twice the size of the desktop internet within the next 5 years and all because of 5 major forces including 3G + social networking + video + VoIP + impressive mobile devices._In the local market mobile internet usage is growing fast. In fact according to the AIMIA general web browsing via a mobile is on the rise, with 21 per cent of respondents visiting websites from their mobile phones at least once a day._The level of usage has meant in many respects, that Australian companies are behind the times. Organisations are waiting for the year of the mobile, however with 1 in 5 users browsing daily the time has come to get serious about mobile strategy.

As the site is core to any mobile strategy, this article explores the 6 DONT's to help you to deliver a successful and usable mobile site.

1. Don't just mirror your existing site: Building a mobile site is not just about replicating your mobile presence to be suitable for a mobile device. Users will of course be looking to perform core functions that they can do on your site via a desktop however planning a mobile site should begin with defining a user's needs on the move. By doing so organisations are more likely to provide consumers with a useful mobile experience that meets their audience's needs.

2. Don't just build for iPhone: Many marketers make the mistake of assuming that building a mobile site fit for iPhone is enough. Whilst mobile internet penetration is high on the iPhone, it is not the only device that your audience is potentially using.

3. Don't engage a traditional web development company: There are so many challenges with mobile; lots of different handsets, many operating systems, and numerous browser types, which makes the process of site development vary different to web design for PCs. Many web development companies are looking to expand into the mobile space, however they do not have enough knowledge of the complexities to be able to build an effective mobile site.

For more on tips on mobile site development & online marketing visit Digital Marketing Lab

Image above Mark Jenkin s street installation "Meaning is overrated"

Architecture envy...and admiration

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 23:29:00 +0000

We're often inspired by architecture and the way three-dimensional space can be transformed by creative minds. Here's three of our current faves. The Graceful Taylor would like to live in all of them! First, the Japanese modernist master: <a href="http://www.kisho.co.jp/">Kisho Kurokawa</a><a href="http://www.kisho.co.jp/page.php/209">Kurokawa Nakagin Capsule Hotel</a><o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p>Can you believe this is in danger from the wrecking ball? Built in 1972, this masterpiece is a stunning example of the Metabolist Movement, large-scale, flexible structures that could grow almost organically. Do you think we could put a pod in the back yard?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o1-gmFzjI/AAAAAAAAATM/MZg49oF95n8/s1600-h/nakagin-capsule-1.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o1-gmFzjI/AAAAAAAAATM/MZg49oF95n8/s400/nakagin-capsule-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429711648766414386" style="cursor: pointer; width: 391px; height: 400px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o1-0hIS_I/AAAAAAAAATU/JCimGTzxYOQ/s1600-h/nakagin-capsule-2.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o1-0hIS_I/AAAAAAAAATU/JCimGTzxYOQ/s400/nakagin-capsule-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429711654114315250" style="cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 400px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o1_ZAPp9I/AAAAAAAAATc/KsAb_pXNupU/s1600-h/nakagin-capsule-3.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o1_ZAPp9I/AAAAAAAAATc/KsAb_pXNupU/s400/nakagin-capsule-3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429711663908497362" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o1_z2w-KI/AAAAAAAAATk/NH_VncWPC1M/s1600-h/nakagin-capsule-4.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o1_z2w-KI/AAAAAAAAATk/NH_VncWPC1M/s400/nakagin-capsule-4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429711671116495010" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 399px; " /></a>Images and more info via <a href="http://grainedit.com/2009/12/02/kurokawa-nakagin-capsule-hotel/">grainedit</a>_ <o:p></o:p> <insert pics="" and="" hyperlink=""><o:p></o:p></insert> <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> Closer to home:<a href="http://www.kud.com.au/main/"> Billy Kavellaris' Perforated House</a> by <a href="http://www.kud.com.au/main/">Kavellaris Urban Design</a><o:p></o:p>The possibilities of modern materials sing in this award-nominated inner-city 'terrace house'. We love it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o5HQcvwoI/AAAAAAAAAUE/oA5bRnjSYL4/s1600-h/perforated-house-melbourne.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o5HQcvwoI/AAAAAAAAAUE/oA5bRnjSYL4/s400/perforated-house-melbourne.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429715097585959554" style="cursor: pointer; width: 370px; height: 400px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o5HQcvwoI/AAAAAAAAAUE/oA5bRnjSYL4/s1600-h/perforated-house-melbourne.jpg"></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o5G5pAmzI/AAAAAAAAAT8/J9rLwYCyc_8/s1600-h/perforated-house-melbourne-2.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o5G5pAmzI/AAAAAAAAAT8/J9rLwYCyc_8/s400/perforated-house-melbourne-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429715091463379762" style="cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 400px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o5G5pAmzI/AAAAAAAAAT8/J9rLwYCyc_8/s1600-h/perforated-house-melbourne-2.jpg"></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o5GTTfw5I/AAAAAAAAAT0/gwuj4n6XU6k/s1600-h/beechhouse.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o5GTTfw5I/AAAAAAAAAT0/gwuj4n6XU6k/s400/beechhouse.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429715081172599698" style="cursor: pointer; width: 349px; height: 400px; " /></a>_And for a bit of fun: <a href="http://www.wilhelmson.se/">Wilhelmson Arkitekter</a><o:p></o:p>Oh, that new apartment blocks in Melbourne could be designed with the same sense of whimsy!Imagine looking at something like this from your train window in the mornings... <o:p></o:p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o6WsJdoOI/AAAAAAAAAUk/jHV-ZLEBYvk/s1600-h/housing-project-in-helsingborg-by-wilhelmson-arkitekter-06.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o6WsJdoOI/AAAAAAAAAUk/jHV-ZLEBYvk/s400/housing-project-in-helsingborg-by-wilhelmson-arkitekter-06.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429716462230937826" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o6WsJdoOI/AAAAAAAAAUk/jHV-ZLEBYvk/s1600-h/housing-project-in-helsingborg-by-wilhelmson-arkitekter-06.jpg"></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o6WMudY1I/AAAAAAAAAUc/2XL63_EZEco/s1600-h/housing-project-in-helsingborg-sweden-04.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o6WMudY1I/AAAAAAAAAUc/2XL63_EZEco/s400/housing-project-in-helsingborg-sweden-04.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429716453796176722" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 324px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o6WMudY1I/AAAAAAAAAUc/2XL63_EZEco/s1600-h/housing-project-in-helsingborg-sweden-04.jpg"></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o6V1cmujI/AAAAAAAAAUU/RG-GvYNHq_o/s1600-h/housing-project-in-helsingborg-sweden-01.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o6V1cmujI/AAAAAAAAAUU/RG-GvYNHq_o/s400/housing-project-in-helsingborg-sweden-01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429716447547275826" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o6V1cmujI/AAAAAAAAAUU/RG-GvYNHq_o/s1600-h/housing-project-in-helsingborg-sweden-01.jpg"></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o6Vh8U_JI/AAAAAAAAAUM/k9vWGMStuOk/s1600-h/housing-project-in-helsingborg-sweden-02.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Y7TKjdyL5kE/S1o6Vh8U_JI/AAAAAAAAAUM/k9vWGMStuOk/s400/housing-project-in-helsingborg-sweden-02.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429716442311621778" style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 205px; " /></a> <o:p></o:p> <insert pics="" and="" hyperlink=""><o:p></o:p></insert> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9173242730590831160-1594953778928549159?l=www.gracefultaylor.com.au' alt='' /></div>

Why I love Iris Barrel Apfel

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:53:00 +0000

It could be her outrageousness:

It could be her shoes:

Or it could be her philosophy:

"...I look at a piece of fabric and listen to the threads.
It tells me a story. It sings me a song."

How can you resist such panache? She's turned a lifelong love of fashion into an artform, a business (Old World Weavers - makers of antique textile reproductions) and way of life. A true pioneer who's influenced a generation, Iris wore a pair of boy's jeans in the 40s before jeans were even made for women! But wait till you see the rest of her wardrobe... Go Iris - here's to an authentic, passionate life!

For more about Iris click here.

A collection of her outfits are on display at the Peabody Essex Museum from 17 October through 7 February, 2010.

Images above, with thanks from here

Images above, with thanks from here

Happy new year!

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:42:00 +0000

Another year, another opportunity to build your brand. So to get your creative synapses singing, here's a cute and clever outdoor billboard campaign from Saatchi and Saatchi Indonesia showing that even nose hair can be funny. Yep, nose hair. Check out the images: that's real electrical cable, on the streets of Indonesia. Eew! Makes us want to buy a pair of those nose hair trimmers and chop them off on the spot!
Thanks to Toxel for the images.

2010 Australian Digital Marketing Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 04:01:00 +0000

Digital marketing trends from our resident guru Teresa Sperti of Digital Marketing Lab:

As 2009 begins to draw to a close marketers are starting to look ahead to 2010. So what will 2010 bring for Australian digital? With a big gap between the have and the have not's - this article identifies the key tactics that will be leveraged by the market leaders;

Mobile Strategy Maturity & Integration; 2009 was definitely the year of mobile internet take up by Australians - with 1 In 2010 organisations will look to leverage the channel in a more sophisticated way. Mobile analytics will mature, offering a new depth of insight for marketers to support decision making and assit organisations to build upon their core mobile site offering. Organisations will also look to leverage mobile as a tool to bring the online and offline space closer together.

Social Search: With search engines losing eye-balls to social media, we will see Search Engines build upon integration efforts with social networks to provide users with a richer / real time experience.

Engagement - The next big thing: The Government has done it (for Brand Australia), Telstra has started it and Kraft fudged it. A few Australian brands have toyed with concepts to co-create the brand experience with consumers however such activity will increase significantly in 2010. Tactics such as crowd-sourcing will be key, as will spending time in the community on social platforms to gather feedback from consumers and participate in meaningful conversations.

Click here for the full article

Image credit - "walking through light" by GILLES ET DADA

Street art...literally

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:48:00 +0000

The human imagination is a wondrous thing, and we never tire of finding people whose imaginations are just...beyond imagining!

These extraordinary images come from Parisian photographer and street artist JR, who converts entire cities into his own personal (and often illegal) gallery. Borrowing from the idea of the street poster plastered to a building façade, JR makes enormous, building-sized images of the people who live there, creating an effect both stunningly intimate and surprisingly integrated with the street. The people become the place.

In this project from the slums of Rio de Janiero, the women who hold the community together are literally woven into the fabric of the buildings. Beautiful and moving.

More here

Online addiction #3 - Christmas pressie ideas for art lovers

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:44:00 +0000

On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Two fantastic websites full of eclectic, fabulous, affordable art.

(Note to reader: please don't try to sing this as it doesn't fit the tune and you may upset the person next to you, or the cat.)

If you're still pressie shopping (or shopping for self as permitted under Rule 5.1 of Christmas Shopping Etiquette), check out these two sites and give the people you love some original art this Christmas.

Bakers Dozen, selling work by artists/makers from around the world in limited editions of 13 (exclusive to their online shop) Works above are part of a limited edition of 13, all prices are less than $60AU per piece! www.bakersdozen.bigcartel.com

Print Society, an open and transparent global marketplace for printed artwork. www.printsociety.com

Pieces shown above are priced between $50 - $400AU per piece!

Two brands can be better than one

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:24:00 +0000

Your next and most powerful brand building activity may be staring you in the face. It may not be a multiplatform advertising blitz, nor a gimmicky strap line -but another brand.

Think about it. Other businesses and organisations go through the same process of identifying and targeting audiences. Identifying and forming partnerships with other brands not only widens your own exposure, it reinforces your own position.

High profile examples such as the Paul Smith designed Evian Water bottle reinforce the message and position of both brands by leveraging the prestige of each other. As well as utilising each of their existing brand channels the partnership opens up other avenues, like the dedicated website

Other, functional examples include the Stella McCartney designed clothing range for Adidas The apparel giant partnered with the high-end fashion designer to produce a range of stylish sportswear. The ensuing range opened up both brands to new customer bases.

Behind the wheel of a taxi

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:32:00 +0000

The Graceful Taylor spoke to author Rachael Guthridge about her recent and revealing publication, Taxi - the inside story.

Here's four reasons to sit in the front of the taxi.

1. the drivers are really nice

2. they have great stories to tell about other passengers!

3. they have great stories to tell about their own lives

4. the drivers are really nice

Rachael Guthridge sat in the front seat of a taxi one day...next thing you know, she's the taxi driver pin-up girl! Taxi Project is a social marketing phenomenon, an exercise in how to improve public perception of a group in our community who, let's face it, often cop a lot of flak, despite doing a vital and potentially dangerous job for little financial reward.

Thanks to Rachael, we can now discover the human beings behind the wheel. Like the driver who had to round up a flock of sheep on his way to taking one of our elderly citizens to an appointment - not quite in the job description! Or the driver who's scared everytime he goes out to work because he's had to deal too many times with drunks, and people who get aggro and don't want to pay.

Taxi Project is a book, a website, a network, an exhibition and a fundraiser for Very Special Kids. So if you're interested in social marketing, check it out here: http://www.taxiproject.com/blog/

A stairway to viral marketing success

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:34:00 +0000

If a stairway was turned into a piano keyboard that actually played notes when you walked on it, would more people use it? Yes! In a novel social experiment in Sweden, 66% more people used the stairs instead of the escalator because it was more fun.

No, this is not a piece of public art, or social research. It's a very clever marketing campaign for Volkswagen. Yes - they sell cars. Please explain!

Viral/social/web marketing is hit and miss, right? Getting your video seen by millions on YouTube is harder than getting a camel to pass...you know the rest.

So VW's ad agency devised a social marketing campaign built around the concept that, if you make something fun, more people will do it. Turning a train station stairway into a piano that actually plays notes might seem a world away from VW's ultimate goal, but as a high-profile element of an integrated marketing strategy that includes other gags, a website called The Fun Theory and an anyone-can-enter competition, it drives brand recognition of Volkswagen as the company whose enviro-friendly cars will be more FUN to drive than anybody else's. It's genius.

For more on the piano stairs, and the whole campaign, go to "the fun theory"

photo above by kj.vogelius

Restaurant review: Gigibaba

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:55:00 +0000

Lamb cutlets with wild oregano and sea salt, smoky baba ganouj... a taste of what to expect from one of Smith Street's new gems - gigibaba.

Being a restaurateur and a lover of all things food, it can take me up to two hours to decide where to eat when I head out. In a group situation, the onus is invariably on me to sniff out the best or latest place.

Gigibaba is uber cool. A tiny shop front with the obligatory hanging bare globes, a mother of a marble bar, a Persian rug cleverly featured on the back wall and a couple of quirky tables and chairs... for the lucky ones.

They have menus I'm sure, but I've never seen one. Bruce the cool waiter intuitively steers me towards the sardines stuffed with pinenuts and fetta, tomato and walnut ezme and steamed prawns with capsicum butter. Plenty of good quality bread to mop it up and a half bottle of Barossa Valley rose for good measure. This place really lives up to the hype it attracts. You might struggle scoring a table on Fri or Sat nights so during the week is probably the go. This is truly one of Melbourne's best little bars / eateries. And it only took me half an hour to decide tonight! Gigibaba, 102 Smith St Fitzroy, Victoria

Mr Jones (Jason McLaren Jones) is a contributing food & lifestyle writer to the Graceful Taylor and runs a number of successful Melbourne cafes, Snow Pony Porgy + Mr Jones.

Photo source - click here

Things that floated our boat this month

noreply@blogger.com (Graceful Taylor) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:42:00 +0000

Eno Henze is a digital artist & art director who designed these exquisite custom printed wall paper prints - the image below was a commissioned piece for the Maxalot Gallery in Amsterdam.

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Autistic artist Stephen Wiltshire took a short helicopter ride over Manhattan. He then proceeded to sketch the skyline from memory. Every building was 100% correct and drawn to scale - astonishing! Click here for more

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Who designed the Chupa Chups logo in 1969? You guessed it...

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Coffee and interiors to die for at the fabulous Snowpony of Balwyn - 95 Whitehorse road