Idealog
- Business Magazine of the Year MPA Awards 2007, 2008 & 2009 Business Website of the Year MPA Awards 2009
Free: another word for nothing left to lose
Welcome to Idealog Weekly, the free email newsletter for New Zealand commercial creatives, entrepreneurs and anyone rich with ideas.
Free: another word for nothing left to lose
Malcolm Gladwell and John Gruber versus Chris Anderson and Seth Godin over Anderson’s new book, Free. Condé Nast writer against Condé Nast writer; Internet legend versus Internet legend: very readable stuff.
While I appreciate the abundance of information of all kinds being available to me for free over the Internet, I don’t think Anderson and Godin answer the question about how you and I will make a living out of it. Neither does Gladwell but, supported by Gruber, he does poke a hole in Anderson’s dream of Free.
Free depends on a massive cost-shifting process. Instead of paying for information delivered via newspapers, magazines, TV and radio, we pay for Internet connections. Instead of expensive printing presses, studios and distributors, there are costly data centres and global and national IP networks.
So, the information you get for “free” comes at a cost. How much exactly is harder to work out, but if you think it is Free as in No Cost, you’d be wrong. That’s something worth bearing in mind when you consider that business model for your startup. Then again, if you can make money by persuading people to go Free all over the place, why not?
The Wiggs way
We’d all like a licence to say what’s on our mind. Lance Wiggs has one—and he’s just the man for the job. I’ve heard Wiggs described as a ‘hired pagan’, paid to disagree with the corporate masters that pay him. “It turns out I’m quite a critical guy, and bad customer experiences always happen to me—so one uses that as an opportunity to help companies get better,” he tells Matt Cooney in the latest Idealog. “By holding their feet to the fire, we can help them.”
But while he’s a pro at skewering clueless corporates, there’s much more to the Wiggs story. He’s worked for McKinsey in the US, the world’s biggest miner in Australia, was Sam Morgan’s personal advisor when Trade Me was sold to Fairfax for all those millions, and now he’s back in Godzone excited at the potential of a new wave of Kiwi startups and keen to be involved. The story is in the current Idealog, in print and on our website.
Hothouse flowers
Hothouse, “a showcase of New Zealand’s hottest entrepreneurial ideas”, opened with a design-led celebration at TheNewDowse gallery this week. Created by award-winning designers Tim Wigmore and James Moire, Hothouse also features TheNewDowse’s first MP3 audio tour.
This is just the first of the magazine-style mix of stories and objects that the Hothouse has created. Every four months there will be ten new stories, revealing the creative process behind the greatest Kiwi products and processes. Aether oscillators, anyone?
Check it out at TheNewDowse on 45 Laings Road, Lower Hutt. Entry is free.
Barf 2.0
If you want to advertise a new web browser, how would you do it? In the case of Microsoft, with bucket loads of vomit and we’re … not sure that it makes us want to switch from Firefox or Chrome. Yes, really. Don’t watch the commercial if you don’t like that kind of stuff. It’s just one of a strange set of new ads Microsoft has produced for IE8. We suspect someone was told to produce a viral ad—and misunderstood.
Frogger FTW
The legends are all there! In Technolegocolourbeep! Excellent. (Via Buzzfeed)
That’s remarkably frank
No Kiwi likes Never Say Die. What’s with that? John Clarke shows how to make a quick sale.
Job of the Week
Creative Director - FMCG (P0512)
Our client is an established and prominent design company who specialise in branding and more specifically FMCG packaging design.
They have developed a fantastic team environment unlike any other and have some great 'personalities' amongst it. Their premises are fabulous and are centrally located on the city fringe.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a current Creative Director looking for a change of scene, or a very senior designer (8-10 years minimum) at the top of your game, who is looking to develop their skills in overseeing a team and the creative product coming out of a hot studio. They are looking for an inspirational, energetic and edgy person who has the passion and personality to drive and mentor a team of like-minded individuals.
You will need to be effective and comfortable in a client facing role and have a portfolio showing some strong work. It is essential this identifies your strengths in branding and profiles some of your exceptional FMCG packaging work. Your strategic skills will need to be well developed, you must be an amazing 'ideas' person, and you will be an effective communicator who is confident and shows the ability to inspire others to produce their best possible work.
Most importantly you'll have a wicked sense of humour and an outgoing personality.
If you are ready to really give it your all and would like to be leading a highly talented interactive team, then do contact at Portfolio Recruitment on 09 379-9303, or apply on our website.
Aurum leonis
Notta lotta people know this, but the July/August issue of Australian Campaign Brief includes the 2009 Creative Rankings. How does little Enzed compare against mighty Australia?
Never fear. The top three agencies are all Auckland based: Saatchi & Saatchi, Publicis Mojo and Colenso BBDO. The top Aussie agency is DDB at four, followed by Colenso’s Wellington office. Not a bad result for the Kiwis, then.
It’s a similar story in the talent charts. Auckland also has the top three creative directors in the region—Mike O’Sullivan at Saatchis, Nick Worthington at Colenso and Toby Talbot at DDB. Again, the best the Aussies can do is fourth.
Then there’s the Cannes Lions: this year, Saatchis Auckland took a Bronze Press Lion and Publicis Mojo Auckland a Gold Cyber one. Aim Proximity, Auckland, landed a Silver Direct Lion, and a Bronze one went to DDB Auckland.
OMD Auckland and TBWA\Whybin took home Bronze Media Lions and ALT Group a Silver kitty in the Corporate Identity Schemes. Continuing the award parade, Y&R Auckland netted a Gold Film Lion, and Colenso/BBDO a Silver Titanium and Integrated Lion.
All of which might explain why the Aussie ad industry is so keen on taking revenge. You may recall its plans.
Brain race is on
Times are tough, and we’re all suffering—but we have to be careful with the economising. The Neurological Foundation tells us that any one of the teams of neuroscientists working throughout New Zealand could be eliminated due to lack of funding.
Neuroscientists work on making inroads with diseases and illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, stroke and Parkinson’s, all of which require continued basic research to find new treatments. Ignoring such brain disorders leaves us open to serious public health threats.
That’s why the Neurological Foundation that last year gave out $1.9 million in grants, fellowships and scholarships, is holding its annual appeal. There will be the usual envelopes distributed to households, but you can also donate online or freephone: 0508 BRAINS.
Word. Camp
Right, the WordCampers have firmed up the schedule and other things ahead of the weekend meetup in Wellington on August 8 and 9. The High Overlord of Wordpress himself, Matt Muellenweg, is incoming, and there’s Dan Milward and Harley Alexander too. The organisers are also encouraging local presenters, so let them know if there’s something Wordpressy on your mind.
Idealog is pleased to support Wordcamp, and we hope Kiwi bloggers find it an inspiring weekend. Tickets are $75 each if you purchase soon, and there’s also a $140 Micro Sponsorship option if you’d like to help a worthy cause. Check it out.
Quote of the week
“That room of 80 people had everything you need: there were investors, creators, web developers. And the people in that room had all those networks around them to every level of government.”
—Justine Munro, the tyro founder of the Centre for Social Innovation, surveys the room at the first SI Camp in Wellington
More at Idealog online
Read more on our website: web exclusives, opinion, creative directory, Idealog TV, the Idealog blogs and the Idealog podcast. See you at idealog.co.nz.
Juha Saarinen
Ideologue, Weekly
{Poorly pleased} Previous
Next {Blade runners}
Previously in Idealog Weekly …
October 30, 2009: Man of the moment
October 23, 2009: By the numbers
October 16, 2009: Pavlova principles
October 9, 2009: The secret of the songbook
October 2, 2009: Free and easy
September 25, 2009: What the world wants
September 18, 2009: A slice of the pie
September 11, 2009: Walking man
September 6, 2009: A calmer kind of business
August 28, 2009: We have issues
August 21, 2009: Mincing about in waistcoats
August 14, 2009: Wired on pop culture
August 7, 2009: Trust is not a commodity
July 31, 2009: Fuzzy logic
July 24, 2009: Game of life
July 17, 2009: Grape expectations
July 10, 2009: Blade runners
July 3, 2009: Free: another word for nothing left to lose
June 26, 2009: Poorly pleased
June 19, 2009: The giver
June 12, 2009: Buggy on down
June 5, 2009: Brand Cambo
May 29, 2009: When the going gets tough, go proactive
May 22, 2009: Bayerische Wasserstoffmotorenwerke
May 15, 2009: Rugger blogger
May 8, 2009: Get on our cloud
May 1, 2009: Easy Tiger
April 24, 2009: Tiki tacky
April 17, 2009: The not-so-great indoors
April 3, 2009: A site for sore eyes
March 27, 2009: Dual control
March 20, 2009: Worth their Alt
March 13, 2009: Biofuels or bio-fools?
March 6, 2009: It's electrifying
February 27, 2009: Experience-rich and theory-poor
February 20, 2009: It's a hundred-and-fourteen-pager
February 13, 2009: Own your mistakes
February 5, 2009: Rules—made to be broken
January 30, 2009: Money: that's what I want
December 5, 2008: Framed by the thousands
November 28, 2008: Spank-branding novelty next week
November 21, 2008: In the Loop
November 14, 2008: Your good health
November 7, 2008: Misfits of science
October 31, 2008: No absence of colour
October 24, 2008: Plain-speaking Peri
October 17, 2008: Rebels with a cause
October 10, 2008: Seoulipsism
October 3, 2008: Fall seven times and stand up eight
September 26, 2008: Don't label us
September 19, 2008: Bloody Graham
September 19, 2008: Dream proposition
September 5, 2008: Taxi!!!
August 29, 2008: Up-Skilling on Idealog TV
August 22, 2008: 144 pages of pure pleasure, plus politics
August 15, 2008: Wash down that Lovemark with a Steinie
August 8, 2008: Strange journey
August 1, 2008: SMElly and happy
July 25, 2008: What a dive
July 18, 2008: Softly and woolly does it
July 11, 2008: The saviour from Timaru
July 4, 2008: Last laugh
June 27, 2008: King Kev
June 20, 2008: Slow ART
June 13, 2008: Killing two birds with methane
June 6, 2008: A combine harvester
May 30, 2008: Gold paint
May 23, 2008: Rock, out
May 16, 2008: Goodwill hunting
May 9, 2008: No wine jokes please
May 2, 2008: Who's bad?
April 24, 2008: Succession success
April 18, 2008: Out now or thereabouts
April 11, 2008: Paint by numbers
April 4, 2008: Reincarnated good
March 28, 2008: Making it
March 20, 2008: Knock three times
March 14, 2008: The customer is always tight
March 7, 2008: Beautiful words
February 28, 2008: Goodnight, I'm off to work
February 22, 2008: The art issue
February 15, 2008: Straight to the top
February 8, 2008: H for hot
December 13, 2007: Nothing in common? Perfect
December 6, 2007: Who needs a beer?
November 30, 2007: Dirty secret goes public
November 23, 2007: Don't speak
November 16, 2007: Worthy work (and free beer)
November 2, 2007: East meets best
October 25, 2007: Raid the fridge
October 19, 2007: Looking good
October 13, 2007: Can't miss it
October 5, 2007: Fresh meat delivery
September 28, 2007: If the walls had eyes
September 21, 2007: Phoenix rising
September 15, 2007: Can we fix it? Yes we can
September 6, 2007: Feats of social engineering
August 31, 2007: Doesn't bite
August 24, 2007: Telling us where to go
August 16, 2007: Tomorrow time
August 10, 2007: Going West
August 3, 2007: How to ... be your business
July 27, 2007: Freaky food
July 20, 2007: Meet the neighbours
July 12, 2007: Free Hollie
July 6, 2007: Green queen
June 29, 2007: The truth about youth
June 21, 2007: Walk this way
June 14, 2007: Times ten
June 7, 2007: The ape woman needs a label
June 1, 2007: Impossible is something
May 25, 2007: Yeah, we're still here
May 11, 2007: Trophy time
May 3, 2007: Friends with the band
April 23, 2007: Why worry?
April 19, 2007: Done by the big jobs
April 12, 2007: A rockin' good read
April 5, 2007: No fear
March 29, 2007: Out to pasture
March 22, 2007: Hip-hop and The Human Touch
March 15, 2007: Crazy Frog and Billy T
March 10, 2007: The Benadryl edition
March 1, 2007: We can be Xero
February 22, 2007: Back on board
December 15, 2006: Free beer
December 8, 2006: December 8, 2006
December 1, 2006: December 1, 2006
November 24, 2006: November 24, 2006
November 16, 2006: November 16, 2006
November 9, 2006: November 9, 2006
November 3, 2006: November 3, 2006
October 26, 2006: October 26, 2006
October 19, 2006: October 19, 2006
October 12, 2006: October 12, 2006
October 6, 2006: October 6, 2006
September 28, 2006: September 28, 2006
September 21, 2006: September 21, 2006
September 14, 2006: September 14, 2006
September 7, 2006: September 7, 2006
August 31, 2006: August 31, 2006
August 24, 2006: August 24, 2006
August 17, 2006: August 17, 2006
August 11, 2006: August 11, 2006
August 3, 2006: August 3, 2006
July 27, 2006: July 27, 2006
July 21, 2006: July 21, 2006
July 13, 2006: July 13, 2006
July 6, 2006: July 6, 2006
June 29, 2006: June 29, 2006
June 22, 2006: June 22, 2006
June 15, 2006: June 15, 2006
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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.
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Latest issue: Race to the bottom
Tweeted
- Fetching tweets …
Overheard
- Margaret Holmes on NZ Institute thumbs down Key's agenda:
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. - Tim Marshall on Smile, you’re in New Zealistan:
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 … - Peter McL on New note:
"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 … - Phil Wollerman on Smile, you’re in New Zealistan:
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 … - Anon on Smile, you’re in New Zealistan:
The answer lies in a) increasing the returns to capital and b) decreasing the cost of capital. To do a) we need to reduce corporate and income taxes and replace them with land, resource, pollution and infrastructure char … - James Cameron on NZ Institute thumbs down Key's agenda:
Im at two minds over this, I think however Boven does uncover some necessary points the the Govt. should address.
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ANDREA BENETTI - Professional painter
Pittura Neorupestre -
The Marketing Association
We stimulate business through best practice marketing -
Auckland Theatre Company: Le Sud
New work from Dave Armstrong - wickedly revisionist satire -
Elusiv
The stylish yet discreet mark of today's intuitive man - More in the Idealog Directory
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Comments
Vincent Heeringa
July 3, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Have you noticed that it's the bald v the hairy?
Su Yin Khoo
July 3, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Shaven mavens in pursuit by the hirsute
Juha
July 9, 2009 at 1:02 pm
They're not bald. They get their hair cut that way.
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