citizenbay

Helsinki Conference part 2 : Lord Heseltine speaks...

Also on the bill at the Helsinki conference was Lord Heseltine. Speaking on key global trends in the magazine industry, here is a quick summary of his main points:

1 Embrace change in the industry. By ignoring the new realities, companies will miss out.
2 There is no such thing as strategy
3 When pressed for a global strategy, his view was to make it happen in one market, then replicate and roll out.
4 Content is critical to success in the magazine industry. He no longer sees Haymarket as a magazine publisher, but as a content creator and provider
5 Get the right people. They make the success, not strategies
6 Crunch time for any publisher will be when the web-based extension has to be set free to compete, leaving behind difficult decisions to close paper versions (see Smash Hits in the U.K.)

The Value of Magazines in the Digital Age - Helsinki Conference part 1

The Value of Magazines in the digital age – Conference In Helsinki part 1

Recently spoke at a conference on the evolving value of magazines in Helsinki, as a guest of the Finnish …….
Wonderful hosts and a stunning venue, the Finlandia Hall designed by Alvar Aalto.

Also speaking there was a great photographer based in Sweden, Pelle Bergstrom. Intertwined with a history of his still life work for many well known brands, Pelle dropped in some great nuggets of insight.

First up on the Top Tips from Pelle list would be ‘Trust your small ideas’. Given an unplanned situation to deal with by a client, his little bit of improvisation created a whole new look in photography seen first in the pages of Wallpaper.

Next up from him: “Time has a relevance to the result”. Often when clients wish to minimize time for cost reasons, the resulting photographs can miss something that would otherwise be achieved with a little more time and planning.

Lastly, in what he sees as the role of the still life photographer, he says: “We know what things look like…sometimes it is great to show things in a new light with a new perspective”.

Such a role has value in how we all approach marketing communications. Seek a fresh perspective on how we are structured within our own organisations; refresh how we work with agencies, clients and media owners; rethink how we connect with consumers...

We are all Creative aren't we?

The word Creative conjures up very distinct images in the business world.

On the one hand, it refers to a number of individuals who have immense talent to turn vague client briefs into stunning advertising that powerfully connects the brand with consumers. Or they are overpaid pool players.

In a wider context, the word carries negative connotations. 'Creative Accounting' isn't too positive, whilst Finance Officers and Sales bosses of many companies continue to be wary of the word in the context of building business success.

Yet aren't we all creative? Every kid has a go with Crayola crayons, constructs something out of nothing, creates a story or has imaginary friends. All very healthy for the mind

Isn't it time to start celebrating Creative Thinking within organisations, rather than hiding it away?

That after all, is where great innovation stems from.

You think you can run the country?

In a move that is a step towards redefining democracy perhaps, the French Finance Minister has announced that 10,000 citoyens will be invited to play his new web game 'Cyberbudget', giving them a chance to manage the country's budget.

The aim is to help the citoyens of France to better understand the complexities of balancing the books, and the difficult decisions that need to be made along the way. The real worry is that if someone out there finds ways to do it effectively, will the government listen?

This idea in enabling people closer to the democratic process was inspired by a similar approach by the Japanese government...though the Japanese approach seems more people friendly, and ended up as the most popular page on the finance ministry's website. the French have opted for the 'controlled' test, rather than opening it up to all...wouldn't that have been fun?

Looking forward to seeing how user friendly and engaging the French one is. My concern is the tone might be a little too preachy, as the recent statements from the minister suggests.

Lessons here for all of us involved in trying to create real dialogue with consumers. Will keep you posted...

Tip for a media owner...

Might be a small detail this one...but here is a lesson for all media owners when they pitch directly to clients...

When I was on the client side, one media owner managed to pitch a 'fresh idea' to me...but forgot to change the client logo on the presentation.

Outcome, I got to see who saw the idea first, and was given the impression that we were second best.

Not the best way to impress a client.

So before you rush in to present to a client, check the logos!

Homage to the album cover artist

OK, We admit it. We have bought an album because the cover looked stunning. Yet isn't it the same when we are seduced by beautiful packaging, only to find the product doesn't match the expectation?

So here is our little homage to the genius of the album cover artist who has matched the quality of the music contained within...

First up...

Blue Note - The iconic Jazz label
The photography of Francis Wolff mixed with the design genius of Reid Miles created so many classics album covers...Here are a few favourites...and the music is pretty good too!

Blue Note's fusion of music, design words (the sleevenotes) and photography creates a wholeness of the brand 'Blue Note' that is rarely seen these days.

More to come from Prestige, Factory, ECM, Gary Grimshaw and Roger Dean!

The Print Medium... an endangered species?

Circulation pressure across the globe for many titles; media moguls shifting investments into digital platforms; Advertising Age U.S. headlining with 'Print Publishing decline quickens as digital media soars'.

All very gloomy for those in the print medium?

Maybe, but maybe not. So much opportunity exists. Contract publishing for brands has only scratched the surface; user generated content online is now appearing in paper format, as the brilliant eggbaconchipsandbeans by Russell Davies testifies. What started out as a blog to indulge Russell's passion for the old Cafes serving fry-ups, has now expanded into paper book format (which is sold in book stores on and off-line). Community based content has also yet to be fully explored in print. The underground rise in interest in arts and crafts may yet turn up in paper format. This and so much more.

So as a Homage to print, here is my favourite title of the month: Straight No Chaser. Consistently great design, stunning content, and gives me insights that I would not otherwise get.

Please share your favourites and I will post them for all to enjoy...