Idealog
- Business Magazine of the Year MPA Awards 2007, 2008 & 2009 Business Website of the Year MPA Awards 2009
July-August 2008
Interact
14
The world, differently
Colin Murdoch was a true Kiwi hero: the inventor of the disposable syringe, childproof cap and the tranquilliser gun. Like many inventors, he never got the fame and reward he deserved—but he has the undying admiration of
17
Right semi-sphere
This year’s Semi-Permanent design festival (‘conference’ is too dull a word to describe the gathering of hundreds of designers) is lining up to be the biggest yet. Plus: win Semi-big
Now
18
The art of the archetype
Nick Konings mixes photography, speech, psychology, software and art to create a new definition of the portrait
22
Good weed
A Canterbury marketer goes back to the farm to brew cordial from the weedy nuisance of elderflowers
24
Bottom of the pecking order
Despite the success of Al Gore, Morgan Spurlock and Michael Moore, two Kiwi documentary makers don’t expect riches from their efforts any time soon
28
Drive! Drive! Drive!
Brent Shaw set out to make a boat. Somehow he ended up with a portable submarine
30
Out of the light
Steve Maharey says he’ll relish swapping cabinet for the campus as he heads back to run Massey University. But just what can a politician do for a university?
Features
34
Amie's baby
Amie Nilsson’s Merino Kids business is growing faster than her own brood. She tells about ambition, innovation, sleepless nights and the cut-throat world of design for the under-fives
40
The road to Rubber Monkey
Nigel Stanford tried his hand at music and design but made his fortune on the web, creating social sites and running Trade Me when Sam Morgan left town. Now he’s moving into movies with his own studio. tracks his strange journey. Plus Trade Me’s fab four and trading places
50
Innovation lessons from Pixar
Brad Bird met Walter Disney’s master animators when he was 11. Now he’s heading a new age of animation at Pixar, but he’s still inspired by the attitude of those old originals: they were never satisfied. Bird shares his lessons on talent, failure and challenging success
58
Little Kiwi battler
Kevin Roberts; is he God or just a good talker? talks to the world’s most irrepressible optimist and New Zealand’s biggest booster about love and rugby, blue as the new green, snail porridge and the new simplicity. Plus the Eagle vs Shark quiz
62
Taking care of business
Most Kiwis aren’t desperate to get rich. Even our entrepreneurs are happy with a boat, a bach and a beamer. Rejoice in their happiness: Mike Booker discovers our small business shouldn’t be bullied into growing, and James Hurman thinks growth is the wrong target anyway. Plus: will our SMEs save us?
Workshop
84
Dancing with elephants
Technology: A cautionary tale of one of our most promising Web 2.0 startups
86
Growing our own
Art: In a country failing to invest in talent, one solution can be found on K Road
88
Hopelessly devoted to everyone
Marketing: Brands that follow you round like a puppy are just waiting to be kicked
92
Gain insight
How to: Want to know what’s special about your brand? Here’s how to innovate from that insight. Plus insight vs fact and five ideas to get more ideas
94
Build authentic brands
How to: Lord of the Rings brought Kiwis together. Mothers give Edmonds Cookbook to children leaving home, and Buzzy Bee is a Kiwi birthright. Why are these brands so enduring? The secret is authenticity—a rare realness in a world of global brands. Authentic brands do seven things well
96
Parting shot
Big promises and big problems
Plus
33
Idealgear
Twenty-four pages of designer bling
Idealog #16
July-August 2008
Audi designer Wolfgang Egger brings the A5 Sportback to life right in front of our eyes. It’s all about three lines, apparently, but those three lines have been obsessed over. Enjoy the autospeak: the rear comes complete with both accent and elbow.
Latest issue: Under the sea
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It's got to be good for online retailers selling to the US. They will be able to offer a better multi-media experience.
Fantastic! Finally some vision in establishing a key infrastructure to support New Zealand's future prosperity and commercial competitiveness. Good work Rod, Sam and Steve - your country thanks you for your patriotism! …
Unfortunately it is not just red tape - it is also the laid back kiwi attitude, compounded by educators who think achieving national standards is a bad thing.
The target of higher GDP per capita is all wrong. Aiming for it encourages more production and consumption, often at the expense of quality of life. We need to construct a Genuine Progress Index (GPI) to guide policy. Fr …
"You got caught up in events at EMI.." and yet shes STILL with EMI - their local branch is distributing her new album. Wonder why?
I blogged some more of Hollies comments on the details behind the fallout …
Brilliant, insightful article, VH.
This situation has principally arisen because - simplistically - the world no longer wants what we are intrinsically advantaged in supplying.
And yeah, it doesn't look like our co …