tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233232352024-03-07T18:32:51.844-05:00Tracking ImaginationOne side of the conversationNate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-77634176179274824422008-07-04T14:49:00.002-04:002008-07-04T14:50:28.256-04:00Another New Home For Nate ArcherI have moved addresses once again. The fun continues over at<br /><a href="http://natearcher.ca/">http://natearcher.ca</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-34429660934294735972007-01-07T15:28:00.000-05:002007-01-09T17:43:41.393-05:00Goodbye!This blog has moved to <a href="http://trackingimagination.wordpress.com/">http://trackingimagination.wordpress.com/</a><br /><br />See you there, have a good trip!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-14951947724578329732007-01-07T13:42:00.000-05:002007-01-07T13:49:36.821-05:00NerosimI was flipping through <a href="http://www.icon-magazine.co.uk/">Icon Magazine</a> and found <a href="http://www.icon-magazine.co.uk/issues/035/isms.htm">this</a> interesting definition under "isms" for the 21st century.<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Neroism</span> <p>Rather than solving our problems, design is killing us. Architects and designers no longer provide for our needs but for our wants, fuelling the inferno of human consumption that is overwhelming the planet's life-support systems.</p> <p>Yet our collective fear of impending disaster is overwhelmed by our unwillingness to make the lifestyle compromises necessary to reverse climate change and habitat destruction. Contemporary notions of “sustainability” are aimed more at assuaging our guilt than making a real difference.</p> <p>Neroism describes the contemporary condition of hedonistic behaviour in the face of catastrophe and also justifies it: ours is the last generation that will be able to enjoy such wanton irresponsibility, so let's enjoy it while we can!</p></blockquote><p></p> I thought this was a very apropos way of describing design's role in today's mainstream. I feel that this represents all that is wrong with design and presents an interesting new approach to designing objects. What if we designed not to satisfy needs, but rather designed to avoid satisfying needs?<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-68195038189700149492007-01-05T13:29:00.000-05:002007-01-05T13:30:24.752-05:00Re: The Entrepreneurial SpiritNoah’s <a href="http://www.noahbrier.com/archives/2007/01/the_entrepreneurial_spirit.php">latest post</a> touches on a lot of things I have been thinking of recently. I recently hung out with a couple of friends from high school and after a few years apart, the ways in which we have all changed is very noticeable.<br /><br />It was my understanding that everyone thought the way I thought. All my colleagues and friends in the design world thought the same as me and I assumed this extended beyond them. However when comparing my high school friends and myself, I realized how different we have become in only a few short years.<br /><br />The world doesn’t think how I think and I am only beginning to understand how large this difference is. (The very fact that I can’t define what I do would scare the shit out of some people, but to me it seems right.)<br /><br />As Noah said, “I'm not saying one is better than the other, just that we don't all have the same thing driving us.” I believe this is what it comes down to: motivation. I believe the separation that exists can be divided into two parts. The majority of people are driven to work so they can live their lives the way they want. The rest of us are driven by an intangible force. By this I mean that work isn’t work to us, it is a passion that we cannot deny. Our work is our lives, and vice versa.<br /><br />The notion that "not everyone wants to be an entrepreneur" follows this logic by the fact that there are those who work to provide and those who define themselves by their work.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-16911410338985171472007-01-05T12:40:00.000-05:002007-01-06T22:24:04.043-05:00Brilliant!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.scaryideas.com/pictures/1286.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.scaryideas.com/pictures/1286.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>For Maglite (for some reason the "scaryidea.com" banner is blocking the caption.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.scaryideas.com/">via: Scary Ideas </a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-34876077417688890122007-01-04T22:30:00.000-05:002007-01-04T22:35:17.526-05:00A Blog Post a Day, Keeps The Doctor AwaySo as some of you may have seen, I took a photo everyday last semester for a thinktank project. Although I skipped a few days here and there, the project was an overwhelming success. One of the main things I learned from this project was how easily something become part of your schedule when you are "forced" to.<br /><br />So I was thinking about it and I thought that I should apply this same idea to some thing that I have a hard time fitting into my schedule. This thing is of course: Blogging. So starting next Monday, I will be blogging once a day. From a single word to unlimited words, the sky is the limit. I think that this will allow me to really get into blogging and create some unexpected consequences.<br /><br />See you then!<br /><br />(I'm aiming to post before then too)<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1165081309659353922006-12-02T12:28:00.000-05:002006-12-02T12:41:49.673-05:00Design v. Business (Or Desiginess)<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62357961@N00/285041134/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/121/285041134_eff2011978.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Day 38" /></a> <br /><br />Business is blending into Design, and Design is blending into Business. This trend has been continuing over the past couple years and is really beginning to take shape. Listening to the Businessweek Podcast entitled <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/mediacenter/podcasts/innovation/innovation_11_07_06.htm">Design Means Business</a>, I heard a phrase that I believe sums up the relationship between the Design industry and the Business sector. <br /><br />"One can't do it without the other."<br /><br />The podcast was covering the <a href="http://gainconference2006.aiga.org/">AIGA Gain conference</a> in New York. The speaker was someone who has always been a blend of Business and Design, Tom Kelley of <a href="http://www.ideo.com/">IDEO</a>, who was discussing the <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/jul2005/di20050721_216497.htm">JetBlue terminal</a> design at JFK. I think this phrase stuck out because it shows that neither Design or Business is more powerful than the other. Their true power is found when combined in equal parts. This is a great notion and something that both designers and business people should learn from. <br /><br />I am reminded of the OCAD Rotman's partnership program happening at my school. It combines 2 OCAD designers and 5 Rotman's students together in collaborative projects. I think this partnership is missing one thing: equality. It is my hope that in the future we will see less of this one sided view, and more of an balanced partnership that weighs both sides equally. This will release the true potential of Business and Design.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1164295004031407002006-11-23T10:11:00.000-05:002006-11-23T10:20:23.010-05:00Mp3, Photo & Presentation<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62357961@N00/278623345/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/108/278623345_93132bec95.jpg" width="500" height="331" alt="Day 32" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">State of the Music Industry</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">D</span>igitization has advanced how music is created; however it has negatively impacted how music is commodified. Unfortunately, because the industry’s business wasn’t designed for this environment, artists and labels are unable to reap the benefits from these changes. The result is an industry that is not fairly compensating its most vital participants: creators. <br /><br />The rapid changes of the last few years have empowered the artist. It is key to find a solution to their problems and fulfil their needs; without them there is no music. The democratization of the industry has taken the power away from the labels and needs to be made accessible to artists. We need to allow the artists to maintain control and ownership of their creations, empowering them to craft and control their own careers.<br /><br />However, the labels still hold some power when it comes to commodifying music. Their strengths lie in the business, financial and marketing aspects. The label of the future is about providing these necessary services to artists, facilitating the relationship between the artist and the listener. This new approach will allow them to maintain their business and profit without drastically altering their business.<br /><br />The listeners need music delivered to them the way they want. Just like the artists, they too have been empowered by technology and will no longer play by anyone else’s rules. They want to find great music and create rich experiences around it. They want to have music delivered to them on their terms, at the right price and without any restrictions. The demand exists; it is up to the industry to fulfil it.<br /><br />To fulfil these needs it is essential to start embracing new technology and business innovations. The industry must accept this new technology and use it to its full capabilities. These innovations offer immense opportunities to enrich the musical experience and in turn, create profit. <br /><br />The industry has the ability to benefit from the technology they are currently ignoring. Many mavericks have abandoned the past and have been greatly rewarded. The old system was designed to profit from music, the new one will nurture music and benefit from it. Artists and listeners have the ability to ignore businesses that don’t meet their needs, but they can also greatly benefit from ones that do. <br /><br />From these perspectives it is clear that we need to empower the artist-listener relationship. The labels need to realize their core competencies. Artists need tools that empower them to reach the listener and make a living, and listeners want a rich music experience. The relationship is reciprocal; the artists have music and want revenue and the listeners want music and have revenue. Connecting the two is my goal.<br /><br />This has led me to conclude that the music industry is in need of an effective way to commodify music that is designed to fit into the digital landscape. This will specifically focus on a system that provides artists with tools to effectively distribute their music and profit. The service will provide new artists with the tools they need to break into music, while also allowing established artists to continue their careers. It would also connect listeners and artists and nurture their relationships.<br /><br />Simultaneously, this system will provide listeners with a product that fits their needs to effectively close the commodification loop. The act of buying music extends beyond the transaction. The music industry is a business, but to the artists and listeners it is all about the music. This service needs to facilitate this and provide music not as a product, but an experience.<br /><br />To conclude, my goal is to create a system that distributes music in a way that meets the needs of artists and listeners in our digitized world, reinvigorating the music industry with a sustainable business model. This would enable artists to keep making the music we love.<br /><br />Example of some great music: <a href="http://www.badmintonstamps.com/downloads/hold-stuck.mp3">The Hold Steady - Stuck Between Stations </a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1164036448216962092006-11-20T10:25:00.000-05:002006-11-20T10:28:24.270-05:00How Long 'Til This Is On Letterman<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aM94aorYVS4"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aM94aorYVS4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />First was Will It Float, now its Will It Blend<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1163889518125013632006-11-18T17:36:00.000-05:002006-11-18T17:39:45.570-05:00Gate Closed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2050/1548/1600/IMG_8819.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2050/1548/400/IMG_8819.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Gate 2 is over! My presentation went pretty good, I stumbled a bit, but overall it went well. H<br /><br />I also started back on the photoblog and tonight is my parent's Taste of the World Gourmet diner party. It will feature food from all the continents and should be pretty good, my dad has been making pesto all day, so I expect the rest of the dishes to be very good too.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1163543232426580262006-11-14T17:26:00.000-05:002006-11-14T17:27:12.486-05:00Day 50!!!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62357961@N00/297594157/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/112/297594157_3c03f4245f.jpg" width="500" height="500" alt="Day 50" /></a><br /><br />I did it!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1163474666846380782006-11-13T22:22:00.000-05:002006-11-14T09:20:59.773-05:00Gate 2 & 50 Photos<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62357961@N00/285045660/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/107/285045660_ae4452ca75.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Don't Jump" /></a><br />So blogging isn’t at the top of my list right now, as you can tell from the long absence. This week is our Gate 2 presentation, so I will be prepping my document and presentation all this week. <br /><br />Check out my daily project at <a href="http://daybydayproject.blogspot.com/">daybydayproject.blogspot.com</a> because tomorrow is Day 50, hope I find something good!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1161971901778085682006-10-27T13:56:00.000-04:002006-10-27T13:59:12.380-04:00Another Reason To Love Front DesignOne of my favourite design groups. They always impress! This is their most recent example of why!<br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oNF5M3IXRbE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oNF5M3IXRbE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />For more check them out <a href="http://frontdesign.se/">Online</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1161868529783716592006-10-26T09:12:00.000-04:002006-10-26T09:15:29.803-04:00Cool Shit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.photographie.com/magazine/publication/103704/img/520/15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://www.photographie.com/magazine/publication/103704/img/520/15.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Amazing light <a href="http://www.photographie.com/index.php?pubid=103704&pag=2&secid=3&rubid=91">graffiti</a> via <a href="http://www.coudal.com/">Coudal</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1161534992754893842006-10-22T12:33:00.000-04:002006-10-22T12:37:17.853-04:00Attention Musicians, Music Industry Insiders, Music Fans or Anyone Who Knows Any of These People<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62357961@N00/193976743/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/77/193976743_9eb78893e2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Finale" /></a><br />So after a little hiccup in my thesis project I am know back on track and am currently undertaking the interview process to create personas. I have created a set of questions for Musicians, Music Insiders and Music Listeners. So if you fit into one of these categories or know someone who would qualify please let me know. Leave a comment or email me at nlarcher at sympatico.ca. Your input would be greatly appreciated.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1161534193559036832006-10-22T11:42:00.001-04:002006-10-22T12:32:26.580-04:00Top 10After reading the multiplicity of <a href="http://www.noahbrier.com/archives/2006/10/reach_vs_influence.php">coverage</a> on <a href="http://www.ck-blog.com/cks_blog/2006/10/the_bloggers_be.html">David</a> <a href="http://attentionmax.com/blog/2006/10/david_armano_on_blogging.html">Armano’s</a> <a href="http://www.mpdailyfix.com/2006/10/post_11.html">recent</a> <a href="http://blogs.forrester.com/marketing/2006/10/a_blogs_eye_vie.html">presentation</a> in NY I realized that what I am passionate about right now is… my schoolwork. It may sound somewhat odd, but I have to occupy my time with something, right?<br /><br />So I thought I would share my “Top 10” a recent presentation I gave. I chose based on what I view as the current shift in design in today’s landscape, as well as to show my classmates the stuff that has inspired me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Brief</span><br />What are you seeing that is interesting? What work is important to you? Who is doing good work? <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27461468@N00/276271403/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/109/276271403_38da452032.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Slide1" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27461468@N00/276271487/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/100/276271487_6d673f6490.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Slide2" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27461468@N00/276271552/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/85/276271552_391ceef3ac.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Slide5" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27461468@N00/276271509/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/79/276271509_78f4b74b6f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Slide3" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27461468@N00/276271571/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/122/276271571_9c71fe9f82.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Slide6" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27461468@N00/276271536/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/100/276271536_d4468e4d5d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Slide4" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27461468@N00/276271592/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/110/276271592_94e9f451b4.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Slide7" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27461468@N00/276271610/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/276271610_602509bd9a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Slide8" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27461468@N00/276271637/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/99/276271637_f8ad914ee3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Slide9" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27461468@N00/276271429/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/119/276271429_e37f47e635.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Slide10" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27461468@N00/276271445/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/112/276271445_c0ac9b4160.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Slide11" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27461468@N00/276271463/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/111/276271463_154e625615.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Slide12" /></a><br /><br />All Photos from authors and <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/digitalweb/">nickf</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1161531737759777072006-10-22T11:42:00.000-04:002006-10-22T11:42:17.760-04:00Fuck Blogger!!!!Crash on me once, shame on you. Crash on me twice, shame on you still!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1161200701299970332006-10-18T15:38:00.000-04:002006-10-18T15:46:31.690-04:00Depletist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/28/100377836_dd9f5898a5_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/28/100377836_dd9f5898a5_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight:bold;">Depletist</span> {de-plE-tist} <br />Noun<br /><br />1. An individual or group demonstrating apparent negligent or reckless disregard for the environmental consequences of their actions.<br /><br />2. An individual or group that exhausts non-renewable resources and rejects positive environmental strategies.<br /></blockquote><br />I thought I would give a brief update on the fourth year think tank project I mentioned previously. We moved beyond using the school as a test bed for our ideas and have now created a word to try and affect change through language. We noticed that the word environmentalist was reserved only for those who acted above the norm. It was our goal to change this. So we created a word to make environmentalism the norm. Depletist is used in the same tone as racist or sexist and meant to label anti-environmental behaviour. We are currently spreading the word (literally) and would love some help. If you know of a way to help, please let me know, otherwise just start using it!<br /><br />Depletism Online<br /><a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/depletist">Wiktionary</a><br /><a href="http://www.canadiandesignresource.ca/officialgallery/?p=1036">Canadian Design Resource</a><br /><br />Photo: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/kk/">kk</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1160610480687071232006-10-11T19:43:00.000-04:002006-10-11T19:54:03.816-04:00Ze Frank Knows Me? (Do I Know Ze Frank)<a href="http://www.zefrank.com/theshow/archives/2006/10/101006.html"><img style="border: 1px solid #000000; margin: 6px;" src="http://media.revver.com/broadcast/77074/thumbs/thumb_default.jpg" alt="" /></a><br />After watching <a href="http://www.zefrank.com/theshow/archives/2006/10/101006.html">this video</a> of Ze Frank’s <a href="http://www.zefrank.com/theshow/">The Show</a> I was just amazed by how much he knows his audience. Not only does he usually deliver great content but also manages to articulate the very thoughts that a viewer would have while watching. Ze is what I feel the future of media should be. <span style="font-weight:bold;">He knows his audience enough to encourage them to form a true relationship with the content and the creator.</span> Thinking about this, I think that this is what makes the best content work so well.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1160536318077369782006-10-10T23:11:00.000-04:002006-10-10T23:15:19.796-04:00Hey Check This Out!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62357961@N00/260869863/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/102/260869863_3ae50da6ff.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Day 15" /></a><br /><br />We all have those friends who love to show other people stuff they think is cool. Whether it’s a funny video or a cool ad, they love spreading the word via email or in person. In today’s media landscape these people are a marketer’s dream and the reason ”viral” advertising works. However I have come to the conclusion that they only embody this now and once we figure out new ways of tracking web activity they will no longer be son coveted.<br /><br />I always have people showing me new things online and most of the time they are uninteresting to me. When our friends and family recommend something new to us we usually pay attention because we feel that they know our likes and dislikes. However somehow it never is as good as when we find it ourselves. <br /><br />When we are online we can find others with similar tastes. The immense size of the web means that we can connect with any one of the million users online and gives us a better pool to draw from than our immediate connections. Online, we can find people with near identical tastes and it is these people who we really form a trust with. The difference between this and real world recommendations is that in reality others give suggestions based on their perceived knowledge of us, whereas online we are filtering the recommendations ourselves. In effect we are finding our own referrers and this is far more effective. Because, in the end, <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">who knows you, better than you?</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1159931103810647962006-10-03T22:43:00.000-04:002006-10-10T23:18:08.113-04:00Bruce Sterling Visits OCAD (Why We Have to Find Our Own Modernity)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/4/6746465_7262daa929_b.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/4/6746465_7262daa929_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Photo: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/digitalweb/">nickf</a><br /><br />After class today I went to talk with Bruce Sterling, he is definitely a person to watch. I would probably be described as a futurist however he stated later in the day that he isn't. However I would definitely check out his book, Shaping Things.<br /><br />So in the morning, he discussed among other things, Raisinettes, Eastern Europe and Capitalism. Very engaging guy that seems to have an opinion or knowledge on everything.<br /><br />What was kind of strange was that although I regard Bruce as being a celebrity, he was so cool and down to earth that is was hard to keep up that illusion in his presence. I had no difficulty asking him his thoughts on where the future of music was. However his response was a little disheartening. His answer was simply that he was worried because he believes that music as we know it will die. Copyright restrictions will hurt music so much that people will stop caring and eventually will rebel in the form of user generated content that is aggregated via something like Flickr. By denying the user's needs we will natural resort to crowd sourcing to fill the void.<br /><br />On a bit of a tangent he stated that in the future we will see information warfare, where one country will blatantly disregard their enemies copyrights. Keep in mind he is a Science Fiction writer, but interesting idea.<br /><br />However this has given me some motivation... I hope!<br /><br />Also, check out the Day x Day Project over at <a href="daybydayproject.blogspot.com">daybydayproject.blogspot.com</a> I'm already on day 14 !!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/62357961@N00/259991671/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://static.flickr.com/88/259991671_ebd0f0f792.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Day 14" /></a><br />Here are my notes from Bruce Sterling's evening lecture...<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Writers have audience, designers, futurists have clients<br />Designers value to companies is to bring information from outside of the box. In this case the value is from not being involved<br />Dematerialization is in the creation of services, interaction and experiences.<br />Futurist = Filter<br />Pew report = sensibility that is just a grinding process not blue sky/ demise<br /><br />Futurists<br />futurists don't tell the future, their tool and trade is the scenario the alternative possibility of the future.<br />No single future can exist, the future is alterable subject to change<br />Scenarios let you demonstrate people's untapped capacity to change through role playing<br />"Finding the three" selecting the proper ideas from a brainstorm or filtering out the important changes in environment<br />ideas develop and derive value from context<br />After brainstorming, it is key to let them "sleep"<br />Quadrant is the futurist's sketch<br />4 futures to represent multiple directions or tones of futures<br />tool to engage client<br />Greed > Fear, Familiar > weird (4 axis points)<br />Weird the one they never thought of<br />Each team is assigned to one scenario to compete on making theirs the most real<br />Sorting out brainstorming ideas into quadrants one or all<br />People naturally drawn into the cross hairs<br />The hit is the MAYA, allows the future to meet the needs<br /><br />Design plus futurism??<br />futurists insist that designers have sell by date<br />designers know futurists are old fashioned<br />design has future, ironically futurism doesn't<br />products services are as fragile as we are, temporary and impermanent<br />We cannot gain insight by studying history and future, we personify time.<br />people demand an tangible future to make themselves happy and digest it accordingly<br />we can always think about the future scenarios, however all we have to do is wait<br />the future can only be predicted in the terms and conditions of todaysustainability is the only model that works<br />to get there we act and learn over and over<br />sustainability is dull, posterity and uninteresting un futuristic<br />sustainability needs to mean the same thing as modernist, without an future looking stance there cannot be a future.<br />green is mournful, to live is to consumer the most sustainable are those who do don't live<br />we see history as a nightmare we are trapped in<br />we need to use time to our advantage, it is all we can really depend on<br />we need to leave the future with options and the capacity to make fresh mistake, freeing them from history<br /><br />1. Make everything monumentally - to make all things last forever. Traps descendants in our time for as long as possible. don't feasible<br />2. Make all bio-degradable - junk just disappears. great idea just not feasible right now<br />3. SPIMES - We digitally catalogue all objects, all our knowledge on the web, actual become the new virtual. a paradigm ship that meshes the dichotomy. Junk is easy to label once we know about it.<br /><br /> Instead of making the decision now leave it to the future when they are able to make a better choice.<br />Cataloguing objects makes time an industrial asset and resource<br /><br />Q's<br />The past is the basis for the future<br />future is history that hasn't happened yet<br />find your own modernity<br /></span></blockquote><br />Thanks Bruce!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1159140203634055122006-09-24T19:20:00.000-04:002006-09-24T19:30:29.576-04:00Movie Recommendation (Or How to Occupy Your Time As You Procrastonate)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/40/96655106_f82222a25c_o.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/40/96655106_f82222a25c_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Film is a captivating and inspiring medium when done well. I watched two great examples this weekend and thought I would spread the word.<br /><br />1) The first was small indie film called "Hard Candy". This film is a truly unique film which I guarantee is different from any film you have ever seen. The movie starts normally enough and transcends into an intriguing dialogue between the two characters who remain the only characters for the majority of the film. Smart and snappy dialogue is paired with beautiful images. Worthwhile checking out.<br /><br />2) The Devil and Daniel Johnston is a very interesting and captivating documentary on the fore-mentioned Johnston. This film is a very unique look at the creative process and the role of madness. Throughout his career Johnston has made amazing steps towards fame and seemingly simultaneously sabotaged his success. Very good film, highly recommended.<br /><br />Photo by: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanand/">Sanand Om</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1159030815056258982006-09-23T12:56:00.000-04:002006-09-24T22:29:19.143-04:00my world almost ended today!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2050/1548/1600/IMG_7652.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2050/1548/400/IMG_7652.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />My life was not in danger, nor were there guns but rather by blog list folder was deleted. I find it amazing how dependent on technology we are today. A collection of blogs almost ruined my day! Luckily i have my history from the past week and will be sorting through this to find all my favourite ones. <br /><br />Go check out day 4 of the Day by Day project that i will be posting later today!<br /><br />{EDIT: On sunday I discovered I had actually just moved the folder into another folder my mistake.}<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1158883868397422912006-09-21T20:03:00.000-04:002006-09-21T20:11:08.416-04:00Day by Day Project<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2050/1548/1600/IMG_7601.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2050/1548/400/IMG_7601.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I have just started my project for Think Tank on daily activities. the assignment is to document something once a day for the duration of the semester. My project is photographing places that I have never been to in Toronto. So everyday I will be going to somewhere new and outside my daily routine and uploading the image to a <a href="http://daybydayproject.blogspot.com">blog</a>. Let me know where you think I should go.<br /><br />This was a sight that I came across today. Totally bizarre.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23323235.post-1158852102200588642006-09-21T11:20:00.000-04:002006-09-21T11:23:18.526-04:00OCAD is Thinking in a Tank<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.flickr.com/27/64839752_5b3106f9b6_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://static.flickr.com/27/64839752_5b3106f9b6_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Photo Thanks to <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/lollie-pop/64839752/">Lollie-Pop</a></span><br /><br />The third cycle of classes for this semester is just beginning and in our Think Tank Class with Lewis Nicholson we are just getting into gear. The class is aimed at promoting social issues using the power of design. Currently we are brainstorming ways of promoting sustainable practices.<br /><br />We have determined that OCAD isn't living up to its mandate of being a school for "Design & Humanity" and will be using the school as a test case for documenting how small changes can have a big impact.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Please Leave A Comment!</div>Nate Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01777100795944435478noreply@blogger.com0