tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-371361992024-03-05T14:04:37.504-08:00lemon voodooTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-60852976189168166692010-01-31T12:21:00.001-08:002010-01-31T12:21:44.787-08:00Seth is indispensable!If you grown up metaphorically with Seth as I have and read his books and blog, this book explains something. It explains why today, like me, you've probably become a Linchpin and are indispensable at work. I didn't plan on it, it's just happened - like Seth says "There's no map." But over the years Seth's consistent gifts of thought have washed over me and in my effort to be remarkable I have changed and continue to change for the better.<br /><br />I have a special needs kid and could find lots of reasons to just take it easy. Yet, after I read or watch Seth even for a brief moment, I'm inspired to be more than I am. I'd recommend this book BUT I think it would be a better read after you've read (or listened on occasion as I have) to ALL - YES ALL - his other books first! I mean it! <br /><br />Don't believe me? Borrow "Purple Cow" from the library as I initially did. You'll see your life split in two. BS and AS... (Before Seth & After Seth)<br /><br />Thanks Seth!!!Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-27517389195316744892010-01-27T13:05:00.001-08:002010-01-27T13:05:37.792-08:00First episode of HVAC TV posted. Had to use Vimeo b/c YouTube wasn't playing nice... <a href="http://ping.fm/KlY8m">http://ping.fm/KlY8m</a>Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-88825892374369508352010-01-13T05:29:00.001-08:002010-01-13T05:29:06.143-08:00Captain Airon takes flight today!We've added a quirky spokesperson to our company web site: <a href="http://ping.fm/4FlW6">http://ping.fm/4FlW6</a> What do you think?Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-37596934222406305532009-12-16T11:15:00.001-08:002009-12-16T11:15:54.347-08:00My co. is looking for sales pro in the GTA. Great place to work if you know BAS! www.airongroup.ca/careers.aspTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-73065895209188014042009-12-09T17:56:00.001-08:002009-12-09T17:56:20.658-08:00Starting Roger Martin's Diaminds w/ Mihnea Moldovenanu. Will be 3 Martins in a row. Decoding Mental Habits of Successful Thinkers. :)Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-65619431553500137492009-12-07T05:38:00.001-08:002009-12-07T05:38:29.918-08:00My daughter has WilliamSydrome - check out this cool show <a href="http://ping.fm/CD41v">http://ping.fm/CD41v</a> on MTV... 3 of the hosts have WS... good on MTV ! InTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-53881001427027682752009-12-01T08:29:00.001-08:002009-12-01T08:29:54.161-08:00I stumbled on Lemonade Stories today. Docs about moms of famous people. I had this idea years ago but didn't do it. There you go... I lose.Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-56328590397043156092009-11-29T17:13:00.001-08:002009-11-29T17:13:39.339-08:00Just a reminder that Bill Strickland is in the Hammer tomorrow night if you're in the area. It's free & he's an amazing speaker!Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-52282107551011489232009-11-27T06:01:00.001-08:002009-11-27T06:01:28.962-08:00Posted last notes on DesignThinkers 2009 <a href="http://ping.fm/Yo6rO">http://ping.fm/Yo6rO</a> ... Kyle Cooper. I emailed him to repeat his Paul Rand quotes - nothing :(Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-9192097837748590692009-11-27T05:58:00.001-08:002009-11-27T05:58:50.474-08:00DesignThinkers 2009 {7 and last one}Kyle Cooper – Prologue<br /><br />Editorial based/driven<br />Typography & animation<br />Henry the V – theme of exile <br />Analog solution; hand-made<br />Shoots on table top <br /><br />Interface for work includes grandfather’s liscence plate that reads, “OTHERS”<br /><br />About community & collaborations<br />Whole intention of titles, audience involvement emotionally about others<br /><br />Gestalt – involve them & they’ll remember<br /><br />How can the type help create meaning?<br />Handmade<br />Kyle@prologue.com (I wrote him and asked for his Rand quotes the he said so fast I couldn’t write down – yet to respond)<br /><br />Table top shoots – No After Effects (Handmade – keeps repeating)<br />Learn how to use your hands – don’t telephone it in!<br /><br />Paul Rand – logo designer: Noble<br />Good at one thing<br />Resourceful > cross dissolve contact sheets<br />Not relying on digital effects<br /><br />(watched “To Kill a Mockingbird” titles)<br />Make a mess – Get your hands messy<br />Restrict yourself to be {Frame}? <br />Where’s the contrast?<br /><br />Relationships are the most important of reason…<br /><br />Read script > Photoshop framesTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-41307037297382951072009-11-26T18:25:00.001-08:002009-11-26T18:25:41.794-08:00Watching Haques Constructive Capitalism: <a href="http://ping.fm/suOPs">http://ping.fm/suOPs</a> after hanging with Thea @BestBuyPartyPackagersChapters#InTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-36877745318924600422009-11-24T09:46:00.001-08:002009-11-24T09:46:54.379-08:00DesignThinkers 2009 Notes {7}Terry O’Reilly – Age of Persuasion CBC & Pirate Radio<br /><br />Be SURPRISING – it’s sticky but How?<br />Doesn’t’ sell itself <br />Understand human behaviour<br />Be curious > it’s how to be interesting<br />Message - packaging must be new > not necessarily new message<br />Make people feel EMOTION<br /><br />Noise is deafening <br />Examples of surprises:<br />3M transit shelter money b/w glass – Need to ask the right question!<br />Leadership example Honda example<br />Demonstration is bedrock – benefits<br /><br />Rethink Orkin pest control collecting flies<br />British Rail making client wait to build empathy<br /><br />Demonstrate & Convince – don’t just inform<br />Compelling story about product<br /><br />Emotions must be felt, never stated<br />Tell story > … show you service/product can be trusted. Don’t tell<br />Emotion in story – use old stories<br />10Km speed difference (kid being hit by car) 80% likelihood of survival if 10Km slower otherwise 10Km faster 80% likelihood the child will be killed<br />Lego crane, fresh salad billboard for McDees, bus shelter seat scale for weight, fleas on dog from high view are people<br /><br />Invite people to be active members <br />It’s about making the box bigger!<br />Take stuff everyone ignores<br />Most compelling message is that you understand your customer’s needs!<br />In order to identify the obstacles they need you to empathize – understand and you win<br /><br />Razor compared to lawn billboard – Surprise<br /><br />Technologies are NOT ideas<br />Excite – strive to teach them; teacher, educate, provoke & inspire<br />Don’t cost a lot of money<br />Toronto Symphony – fear of not knowing what to do<br /><br /><br />Carter – Font guy<br /><br />Understand history if you use it<br />He did research – mathematical approach (didn’t sketch)<br /><br />“Accuracy is not the truth” – Henri Matisse<br />Fonts – Caslon, Vincent, Carter.. Snell<br />All caps – thoughts on how to do<br />Bembo – 16pt should look best! If it doesn’t look good @ 16pt you’re in trouble<br /><br />Reviving types<br />Invented Georgia & Verdana<br /><br />Ikea – Futura to VerdanaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-65334729821305043992009-11-23T13:09:00.001-08:002009-11-23T13:09:15.699-08:00Funny man on tweets! <a href="http://ping.fm/KRUMx">http://ping.fm/KRUMx</a> Thanks to Mitch Joel for posting it on 6degressofseparation! :)Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-31405307093965592912009-11-23T09:51:00.000-08:002009-11-23T09:52:00.124-08:00What's your take on smart growth? Principals here: <a href="http://ping.fm/eiG0P">http://ping.fm/eiG0P</a> Is smart smart or just dumb?Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-89347504238943191572009-11-23T09:46:00.001-08:002009-11-23T09:46:50.831-08:00Smart Growth Principals from Bubblegeneration.1. Outcomes, not income - how much better off are people? 2. Connections, not transactions - are you amplifying connections & community? 3. People, not product - are you pushing skill, dedication & skill of people? 4. Creativity, not productivity - hard to measure, manage and model but creates new value! <br /><br />Grow smart instead of dumb.Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-42562235544272970432009-11-22T10:00:00.001-08:002009-11-22T10:00:38.444-08:00Tracking Seifried, Whigham & Seddon for IRONMAN Arizona today: <a href="http://ping.fm/N7Hki">http://ping.fm/N7Hki</a>Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-2985704565938791522009-11-21T17:34:00.001-08:002009-11-21T17:34:39.380-08:00DesignThinkers 2009 Notes {6}Stephen Doyle & Gael Towey<br /><br />Martha Stewart<br /><br />Editorialize – tell stories<br />Laboratory – create from scratch<br /><br />Warm people up to stuff and then sell them i.e. glitter > glitter by number (Application on web?)<br />Colour sensibility<br />Vision (BIG idea) Figure out how to do it.<br /><br /><br /><br />Robert Brunner – Ammunition<br /><br />Ideas, not just objects<br />Token product guy<br /><br />Disruption – How to harness<br />Connection - ?<br />Partnership – Has to be a balance<br />Do you matter? (Not for us)<br />Would they shed any tears if your company would no longer be around?<br /><br />Bullshit meter > no veneer <br />Harley Davidson – tatooes > business guy thinks he’s a bad-ass<br /><br />iPod > Apple Logo > Video > iTunes > iMovies > Packaging = My Music<br /><br />Accessorize by leading designers<br />Look for clients in trouble! They are willing to take risks – simple Nook (two part – top read and bottom navigation)<br />Useable DOES NOT = Desirable<br />Useable > Useful > Desirable<br />Risk is NOT a four letter word > Innovation = Risk<br /><br />4 Ideas<br />1. Playing with fire – BBQ “Fuego”<br />2. Sound matters – Beats by Dr. Dre “A lot of people owe me a lot of favours” – Jimmy<br />3. Wake up call – Dream surface – iPod App clock radio app Excitement fit & finish<br />4. Seeing the light – Regen; powered by light – solar calculator<br /> Energy harvestor USB Collect and use power<br /><br />Has to engage people – Interface to tell you stuff i.e. Energy use…<br />Fast Company magazine – Focus<br /><br />It’s all about the ideaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-46467062439794682382009-11-21T15:39:00.001-08:002009-11-21T15:39:28.067-08:00Awesome-ness!!! Innovation just doesn't cut it anymore. <a href="http://ping.fm/oyDMx">http://ping.fm/oyDMx</a>Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-57534144958055714432009-11-21T14:37:00.001-08:002009-11-21T14:37:45.806-08:00Finished reading You Inc.. Reading The Opposable Mind now... very cool so far. <a href="http://ping.fm/jhZxm">http://ping.fm/jhZxm</a>Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-16641438733285912252009-11-19T15:58:00.001-08:002009-11-19T16:03:14.251-08:00DesignThinkers 2009 Notes {5}Steven Heller<br /><br />Iron fists<br />Branding the 20th Century: Totalitarian State<br /><br />1. Cult of the Leader<br />2. Cult of Kids (capture kids hearts & minds)<br />3. Cult of signs (& logos)<br />4. Cult of uniformity<br />5. Cult of hate<br />6. Cult of souvenirs<br />7. Cult of stupidity<br /><br />The darker side of design thinking<br /><br /><br />Marty Neumeier – Are you zagging or lagging?<br /><br />Vision (what could be)<br />Critique magazine > Teach designers what they are doing…<br />Tool to be innovative – keep innovating, Steve Jobs<br />Herbert Simon says, “Changing existing situation > preface anyone change situations<br /><br />Design NOT decide the future<br />Dragon’s Den KNOW – MAKE(design) – DO<br />We’ve gone from cheap, good & fast TO free, ? & now<br />Competition comes from clutter – 5 Kinds<br /><br />(pauses for water)<br /><br />Whose done this before?<br />Radical = Loser thus not equal Power<br /><br />Barriers from physical > mental<br />Barriers from company > customer<br /><br />Be REALLY different – radical differientation<br />Tool > Good Different Chart … see Zag<br />Sweet spot is b/w Good and Different – See the BIG picture<br /><br />Soft focus<br />Empathy – Experience – Intuition – Judgement<br />Different scares companies > but Powerful<br />Good & Different is Gold!<br />Does poorly in tests but then people associate different with good – use examples like the Herman Miller chair to convince people not to play it safe<br />Warhol twist – companies will be famous for 15 minutes<br />Be REALLY different – no more me too<br /><br />Prototype & Test… de-risk and make choices clear for customers<br />Have to put time in & help them make steps – speak their language and lead them to a bold solution by de-risking them<br /><br />Make them ready to embrace design – look at Roger Martin’s books<br />Prototype bolder solutions!Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-51958867320692787322009-11-18T17:41:00.001-08:002009-11-18T17:41:57.985-08:00DesignThinkers 2009 Notes {4}Warren Berger - Glimmer<br /><br />Everyone can learn from the way designers solve problems<br />Outside > Question > Fresh solutions and perspectives<br />Brian Collins, “Design is hope made visible”<br /><br />Design to solve problems<br />Cheetah prosthetic vs. High heels<br />Seek the story of the Cheetah creator<br /><br />Lateral thinking… outside influences to change existing reality<br />*intention, planning & make things better<br />Check these out: X02 Laptop, Luke arm, Deborah Adler, OXO tools, Tim Brown of –IDEO. Rewatch TED video<br /><br />Design Thinking… How designers solve problems<br /><br />Designers – hoard, huddle together, communal <br />Attack each other & caring<br /><br />How Designers Work: Open possibility, will find a better way & challenge assumptions<br />1. Ask stupid questions – guts to ask why?<br />2. ?<br />3. Jumping fences<br />4. Make hope visible<br />5. Embrace constraints<br />6. Begin anywhere<br /><br />Optimism – still possible to solve BIG problems1<br />Immerse yourself & go deep<br />Become a student of human behaviour<br />Understand audiences, be empathetic<br />Ask isn’t there a better way?<br /><br />Lateral thinking – jumping fields, brining it back<br />Smart recombinations<br />A+ B = C<br />Connect things in new ways<br />Don’t reinvent the wheel<br />Don’t be afaid to imitate – put your spin on it<br />Don’t look in the usual places<br /><br />Reread Edward De Bono’s Thinking Course book on Lateral thinking (I have it somewhere)<br /><br />Ok to failure – Fail forward<br />Basement problem solvers<br />Example: Taxi’s Homeless jacket. Designer asked himself to solve the problem<br />Experience, empathize, question > solve the problems<br /><br />Seek problems & solve them!!!<br /><br />Redesign behaviour i.e. Pedigree – integrated so people could believe in you<br /><br />Dog breeding > design?Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-19726749365788483552009-11-17T17:59:00.001-08:002009-11-17T17:59:43.295-08:00More DT <a href="http://ping.fm/o2ghP">http://ping.fm/o2ghP</a> & Roger Martin on CBC for the drive home. Think I've found my passion to "Crush"!Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-55976907851092184722009-11-17T17:55:00.001-08:002009-11-17T17:55:17.703-08:00DesignThinkers 2009 - Notes {3}Shanky<br /><br />Trends – The chocolate room (poetics of space)<br />Looking how people behave<br />Be in a non-safe place to do work<br />10-20% time is charity work<br /> No gambling<br /> No cigarettes<br /> No fast food<br />RFid Chips (know where they are when entering a building)<br />10 languages die every year<br />Evidence based design “ “ provide the framework with the brackets<br />Others put the stuff in the “ “<br />Bathroom stall graffiti<br />There is no free time, you have to make it<br /><br /><br />John Bredenfoerder – Colour strategy<br /><br />Fridge magnet for pizza – where the customer makes the decision<br />Anticipate colour trends<br />Proof in final environment where its going to be seen<br /><br />Tints – colour + white<br />Tone – colour + grey<br />Shade – colour + black<br /><br />Medamerism – things look different in different lights<br />Red has physical effect<br />Colour phsycology – graph of influences & forecasts<br />But test context in context<br />Fads, trends and cycles influences > forecasting what direction is it 2010?<br /><br />Facebook, United Nations bluc – community, earth light blue white<br />Mylife beige John Lennon’s imagineTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-58065382134004180862009-11-17T07:06:00.001-08:002009-11-17T07:06:06.652-08:00Reread Jobs on dots (while on break) <a href="http://ping.fm/22RLJ">http://ping.fm/22RLJ</a> waiting for my dots to connect 1 dayTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37136199.post-62155866400517047412009-11-16T17:21:00.001-08:002009-11-16T17:21:51.028-08:00DesignThinkers 2009 - Notes {2}Dana Arnett<br /><br />Shop class as Soulcraft – M. Crawford<br /><br /><br />Ben Blumenfeld – Facebook<br /><br />3 approaches:<br />1. Ship & Interate (Beta) good enough<br />2. Data Informed – not driven<br /> A-B Test <br /> It’s all about the tease<br />3. Leverage (most important)<br /> Using existing tools or building new ones <br /> “I voted” button during election w/counter<br /><br />Pixelcloud (Skitch) screen shot: working on…<br />Camp fire – collaborate<br />Crowdsourcing: translation tool – available<br />Find basketball games > map to bring people together<br /><br />Facebook – YouTube – GooleDocs<br />Huge impact to effect change & make world a better place<br />Light version (paired down)Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07252145916710020863noreply@blogger.com0