Thursday, March 11, 2010
in the old days, there was geocities



You probably like reading Wired because it keeps you up on the latest in everything interactive, technology, design and stuff that we generally like to call "yummy."

It's also fun to look back a few years at the stuff our industry pimped, promoted and then threw away. That's the premise of Wired Reread, a blog devoted to scanning old issues of Wired to show dead, funny, or the overall ridiculousness of our industry. Like an ad for Geocities, above. Geocities. Hehe.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:43 AM   1 comments



Tuesday, March 09, 2010
a trailer for a book that you'll want to read



Xplane produced this video for Youngme Moon, to promote her new book "Different."

It's beautifully produced, thoroughly engaging, completely inspiring, and makes you want to buy the book. Which is exactly what a trailer for a book should be doing. Nice work.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM   0 comments



Tuesday, February 23, 2010
nbc's mood meter



This new NBC site lets visitors vote on how they feel about the stories - and the results are immediately posted in fun, easy to skim categories, like "intrigued", "sad", "laughing", "bored", and more.

Makes reading the local news just a little more fun. How could your message delivery be more entertaining? From @mmcgreevy

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:27 AM   1 comments



Monday, February 08, 2010
print publishing: the new non-profit?



Giant Robot is the most awesome resource for Asian meets American pop culture. The trouble is, like most pubs on paper, not enough people are subscribing or paying for ads.

They've put together a pretty heart-touching video and fundraising site that explains their predicament and how they need your help.

Kind of makes you wonder if NPR-style fund-drives are the future of print publishing, doesn't it?

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:23 AM   0 comments



Wednesday, January 13, 2010
al gore, typographer



Who says clients don't know a thing or two about type?

Al Gore, the inventor of the internet, managed to convince a type designer to make a reasonable change to their font. Cute.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM   0 comments



Friday, January 08, 2010
tweetdeck: should be required in the workplace



Sky News is requiring all of their journalists to install Tweetdeck - so that they might better gather and share news. Hmmm...seems like this Twitter thing is getting really popular.

If the old school, dying news industry can integrate Twitter with their employees, maybe this is just the story you can send to your boss, to convince him to require the same of all employees at your company.

Why shouldn't everyone in the company be aware of what's being said about their brands and industry (and be a part of the conversation?) They all have phones, right? From @MattCeni.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:33 AM   0 comments



Tuesday, January 05, 2010
your custom paper published on the fly



You read a lot of stuff. You're a busy person. You don't have time to hold paper objects. Meet Instapaper. Your virtual, personal paper that you create on the fly throughout your day.

Throw things onto your custom instapaper by clicking the "read later" button, and it's all there for you, when you have the time. Enjoy your stuff on your own schedule on your iPhone, computer, Kindle, or paper (!)

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:01 AM   0 comments



Tuesday, December 29, 2009
the future of magazines



Maybe you're already on the edge of your seat waiting for the Apple tablet, rumored to be coming out in 2010. But even if you're not a gadget freak, you'll want to check out this prototype from Bonnier, the publisher of Popular Science and other magazines.

You're going to want one tomorrow, and will instantly realize how the publishing industry will soon be changed forever.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:07 AM   2 comments



Thursday, November 19, 2009
the history of skateboard art II



The author of "Disposable: A History of Skateboard Art" wasn't content with his first bible of skateboard art and has published a new tome that chronicles the history of deck design even better than his first.

Cool Hunting interviews the author to find out what makes this book even more awesome than the first. Put it on your coffee table and your friends will automatically think you're a little bit cooler than you are right now.

This comes at a good time and serves as excellent inspiration for those completing their decks for the Bordobello fundraiser. (My board is coming along quite nicely. See the progress here.)

From @charliecurve

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:20 AM   0 comments



Tuesday, November 17, 2009
more pr about esquire's augmented reality experiment



Everyone's raving (and complaining) about the new augmented reality issue of Esquire. Regardless of what side of the fence you're on, you may really appreciate this behind the scenes interview with the issue's creators.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:11 AM   2 comments



Tuesday, October 06, 2009
lonny: the new domino



Fans of the now defunct Domino Magazine can rejoice in a publishing celebration that it's been brought back to life. Kind of. A former editor of the now dead publication has launched Lonny (that's what happens when you combine London and New York).

What's cool about Lonny is that it's an online only publication that reads like its old school paper friend. It feels foreign (and maybe annoying) at first, but once you accept the navigation it's not so bad. Even better, they've linked most of the products featured in the publication's pages to online sellers. That's a boon to readers and marketers.

From Laura Newman

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:41 AM   0 comments



Friday, October 02, 2009
what it's like to drink like the madmen



The staff at Double X decided to see what would happen if they incorporated the drinking habits of the MadMen into their own routine.

The results didn't exactly increase productivity, but they did get to talk about things like urination at office lunch meetings. Pour me a double.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:46 AM   0 comments



Wednesday, September 30, 2009
letting fans run with your brand



The age of self publishing, brand fandom and yummy food have finally converged.

Cooking With All Things Trader Joe's, a book authored by a fan of the popular grocery store chain was self published, sold over 70,000 copies and inspired other books to follow on the Trader Joe's meme.

While it's not currently available at the store, its existence certainly adds to the brand's cult favored status. (And c'mon Trader Joe: putting this book in your stores could only work to sell more product!!)

Just another great example of a brand that's building so much love that fans can't keep it to themselves. Can your brand say the same? (And couldn't you really go for some of those Wasabi flavored crunchy snack things right now??)

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:48 AM   0 comments




life on google



ResearchBuzz reports that Google's just made the entire collection of Life Magazines from 1936 to 1972 available online. That's over 1800 issues of yesteryear ready for your browsing.

It's also cool to see (on the cover pictured above) that "tweens" used to be called "subteens", and that they were going to hell in a handbasket because of heavy necking and sensual dancing. (And why don't ladies wear hats like that anymore??) From BBH Labs.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:43 AM   0 comments




wild things in nyc



If you're in NYC tomorrow or over the next couple of weeks, you'll have to check out the Sendak in SoHo exhibit at the Animazing Gallery. Billed as the world’s largest exhibition (& sale!) of original illustrations and etchings from the collection of artist and author Maurice Sendak, this is a must visit event!

There will be over 200 pieces on display, and if you make the opening tomorrow you'll even get to see Mr. Sendak receive a Lifetime Achievement award. Thanks, Deb!

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:24 AM   0 comments



Friday, September 18, 2009
google's future in...paper.



Google has produced a magical printing machine capable of printing a 300 page gray-scale book with a color cover in about 4 minutes. They're in the process of getting these into book stores (stores that sell collections of paper) around the world, so that you can order a book, have it printed locally, and walk down to your store and pick it up.

Right now they're offering any of the 2 million plus books currently in the public domain. But they believe the future On Demand Books is that every old book will have 15 readers. That's the long tail economy coming true.

From Steve Woodruff

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM   0 comments




behind the cover of wired magazine



Wired Magazine has some of the best covers in what's left of the print publishing industry.

Check out this presentation from Creative Director Scott Dadich, who takes you throught the creation process of several of their more magnificent cover designs. From Michael Surtess.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:33 AM   0 comments



Wednesday, September 16, 2009
gary vaynerchuk crushes brand flakes for breakfast



Maybe you know Gary Vaynerchuk for his immensely popular Wine Library TV show. Maybe you're a fan because of his Today Show appearances. Or perhaps you've seen one of his countless keynote speeches at conferences across the globe.

Well, Gary's got a new book called Crush It! that's all the rage in the social media universe, and he wants to spend just a couple of minutes telling you about it. In true Gary V style, he recorded a video just for Brand Flakes readers!

While we still love our brand flakes with whole milk, we appreciate that he even drinks wine with his breakfast. Thanks, Gary!

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:47 AM   2 comments




mad men as an advertising history lesson



There's a new blog called The Footnotes of Mad Men that chats about advertising in the era of Mad Men, and ties real world topics to themes from the show. It's like a fun read about your favorite tv show, and a history lesson all in one blog.

The concept has already been picked up by Harper Collins for a book! Light up a smoke, pour yourself a scotch, and sit back and enjoy.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:18 AM   0 comments



Tuesday, September 15, 2009
google reinvents the newsstand



Yesterday Google launched a fun new tool called Fast Flip. This news aggregator pulls together content from a kazillion sources and lets you flip through it as if you're looking at a newsstand in the old timey world of print publishing.

Very fun. Think of all the time you'll save so that you can tweet more during the day!

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:25 AM   0 comments



Monday, August 31, 2009
as if austin wasn't cool enough



Now the Austin Statesman (yes, a newspaper) is using Posterous to allow their readers to submit photos to the paper.

By using Posterous , the publication eliminates the obstacles typically associated with submission. Readers can submit while on the move, from their cell phones, or anywhere with the magic of internet, since submitting content is as easy as sending an email. From Steve Rubel.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:05 AM   0 comments



Tuesday, August 25, 2009
how to sell a bunch of books



Chris Brogan has a deal for you:

+ Buy 300 copies of his new book Trust Agents and he'll give you a half day of his consulting, gratis.
OR
+ Get about 100 of your friends together, and he'll fly in for a signing.

If you've been following Chris over the last few days, you've seen how he's expertly launched his new book. He doesn't ask much of his ginormous Twitter audience, so you could say he's built some trust. You could also say that trust has earned him a favor or two.

A few tweets and blog posts over the last few days have called in those favors (and fans), and have put his book on the Amazon charts over the weekend. And now he's snowballing that position and pushing it even further, with some fun promotions like the "deals" mentioned above. He's using his online audience of individuals to sell his book by the hundreds.

Chris didn't mastermind this overnight. He didn't join Twitter yesterday and start hawking his book. He's spent the last however many years building an audience by providing something of value. And so when he does have something to sell, he's got an audience that's interested, invested and ready for action.

Nice job.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:24 AM   3 comments



Wednesday, August 19, 2009
what it takes to make a magazine cover



If you've ever wondered what it takes to put together a magazine cover (those paper things, that are like blogs), or maybe you've questioned why your creative agency takes so long to complete that ad of yours - then you have to watch this time lapse video of the creation of a MacWorld cover.

From photo shoot to published in three minutes. Wonderful and beautiful and you'll wish that we could time lapse every project like this.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:15 AM   3 comments



Tuesday, August 11, 2009
go to playboy.com. it's work...really.



Ben Kunz over at Thought Gadgets points us to the new Playboy site. Not because there's almost naked girls on the site - but as an example of the changing landscape in the publishing industry.

As Ben points out, the main broadcast networks have sold $1 billion less in primetime upfronts this year, down from $9 billion in 2008. And we all know what's going on in the newspaper/magazine industry.

How to survive? Provide creative content and integrate your advertisers. That's what Playboy is doing. They've allowed the MadMen brand to takeover the site - and tailored their history of relevant content around the brand.

They've integrated their advertisers into the content (see the Southern Comfort screen shot above.) And they've backed it up with deep content. You can browse every issue of Playboy from the 1960's, page by page - including ads - which are just as entertaining as the pinups. For real. Sadly, you can't link to individual pages - which would have been awesome to show you some old Hathaway or Wrangler ads. Now you'll just have to "explore" yourself.

Go ahead...it's work.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:32 AM   4 comments



Tuesday, June 30, 2009
fool your friends and let them think you still read the paper



Love blogs but afraid that the old people you hang with will make fun of you?

Not to worry! Now you can get the latest blog posts printed out in old-school paper format. Al Gore is crying somewhere. From @benkunz.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM   0 comments



Friday, June 26, 2009
michael jackson broke the internet



Techcrunch has an interesting story about how the Michael Jackson news spread across the internet, and the impact of mondo traffic, public interest and internet stability.

And here's a great post on how the story broke, and how credibility still has value. Even on the internet, even with Michael Jackson.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:05 AM   0 comments



Thursday, June 18, 2009
news reporters realize that twitter is cool



Because people that are in love with Twitter love to talk more than 140 characters about Twitter, they've created a conference for them. 140 Character Conference brought together a bunch of Twitter lovers and media stars to do what they do best: talk endlessly about the Twitterverse.

One cool concept that apparently came out of the event is the possibility of a Twitter News Network - or TNN.

Ummmmm.....DUH. This is something we suggested back in May, and the folks at TwitterGrep created (which now sadly appears to be defunct.)

Here's an idea: CNN, NBC, whoever: instead of waxing over the possibility, why don't you create it? Next week? The tools are here (TwitterGrep was proof of concept) and the opportunity exists for a valuable tool branded with your network's name on it. (Call us if you really don't know how.)

Oh, and if you didn't make the conference, but have a secret crush on Ann Curry like I do, then you'll love the beautious shots that Brian Solis captured at the event.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:48 AM   1 comments



Tuesday, June 09, 2009
brandflakes confirmed as the best blog ever



It's true, because now we're in a book.

David Airey received his advance copy of Blogs - Mad About Design, and posted some sweet pics. This is a big, fat, beautiful book devoted entirely to blogs about design.

(David Airey actually has two blogs that are featured, which likely makes him the only person cooler than us.) It's awesome that BrandFlakes looks like it was placed in the front part of the book, so that you don't have to read the whole thing to get to the good part.

We can't find a link to where you can find the book just yet - and we don't have our copy yet either - but will share as soon as we find details. This should definitely be the gift that you give your mom, your grandpop, best friends and kids for their birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:05 AM   6 comments




social media for journalists



Wow. Leah Betancourt, the Digital Community Manager at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis has a smart post for your friends in the newspaper business. The cool thing is that you can replace the word "newsroom" with your company's name, and the reasoning mostly holds true.

How Social Media is Radically Changing the Newsroom talks about the necessity of social media tools in the news business, how journalists need to integrate it into their lives, and the responsibilities that come along with its use.

“Just like the telephone didn’t replace the face-to-face meeting over coffee, and e-mail didn’t replace the telephone, social media doesn’t replace other forms of connecting with people. It adds to them,” says Serra Media CEO Mark Briggs.

There's a bunch of great advice here that you can most certainly pass to your friends in the corporate bubble, too.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM   0 comments



Tuesday, May 26, 2009
not all newspapers are dead



Some journalists are actually using the internet.

Check out the insides of five innovative "newsrooms" that embrace technology or are otherwise interesting. Granted, many aren't for old school newspapers - but this is still a pretty sweet peek inside some places you're not normally allowed into.

From Eugene Driscoll, via Facebook.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:47 AM   0 comments




cover of the new yorker: produced on an iphone.



If you haven't seen this already, it's worthy of 30 seconds from your morning:

The cover of this month's New Yorker was painted by Jorge Columbo. On his iPhone.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:37 AM   0 comments



Wednesday, May 06, 2009
all the news that's fit to tweet.



Introducing the Twitter newspaper. Because it needed to happen.

Check out TwitterGrep. It's a virtual newspaper of what's being tweeted in the twitterverse. Yeah. People at old school papers are freaking out and saying things like "really?" and "are you f*&king kidding me??" right now.

Some are already saying that RSS is dead - replaced by the immediacy of Twitter and FriendFeed. So TwitterGrep doesn't seem like such a bad idea.

Idea: Here's an IMMENSE opportunity for a brand to create a custom, branded paper. Why can't I have a custom Twitter paper, with my own feeds, customized with my own tags? And then include a column with your brand's news, too. Seriously. Let's build this. Call us.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:49 AM   1 comments



Monday, May 04, 2009
how to save playboy



The publishing industry has fallen on hard times. Lots of magazines are closing up shop. And you're getting that feeling in your gut that Playboy is one of those publications that's not going to make it to the other side.

Saul Colt, often referred to as the smartest man in the world, has a plan to save Playboy. Here's the outline to Saul's plan:

1. Drop the naked ladies
2. Stop with the Rear View Mirror Air Fresheners
3. Go Back to your roots
4. Playboy should ask itself 20 Questions
5. Lock the doors to the Playboy Mansion

I have to agree. Playboy is a brand worth saving. They're not likely on the bailout list. And it's time to reinvent the brand, since people don't need to buy magazines to see naked chicks. Playboy: let's do something radical.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:55 AM   1 comments



Thursday, April 30, 2009
you're a genius, and deserve to be published



Here's how you go from coffee house poetry slam to being published. Or how you can tell everyone that you modeled for a spread in a new book. Or that you're a venture capitalist, and you just invested in an exciting publishing venture. All without lying.

Just agree to become a sponsor in the first ever (?) crowd-sourced book. Pay $30, and get a page. Just one of several projects on KickStarter, a site devoted to crowd-sourced funding of small entrepreneurial projects.

Hurry. Only a few days and a few pages are left.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM   4 comments



Wednesday, April 22, 2009
all the news that's fit to...stream



Whoah. Now you can view all of your news in a visual timeline. With the publications and sources of your choosing.

The dudes at Google have done it again, with the launch of yet another awesome product: Google News Timeline. Wow.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:49 AM   0 comments



Tuesday, April 07, 2009
because a good stache never goes out of style



If you have nothing to do today, you should review every cover to every issue of TV Guide. That's the best way to find out what JR wore on Dallas, or to remember the good ole' days of Moonlighting.

Kids: In the old days, there was a magic box that played your programs for you, instead of your laptop. And people had to watch their programs on a pre-determined schedule. It was so confusing that they actually printed a weekly instruction manual to help you find your way. This was called TV Guide. Think of it as Google, for TV.

Thanks, Steve!

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM   0 comments



Monday, March 02, 2009
the story behind the end of the paper news



If you haven't seen it yet, and want to feel really depressed, you could take a few minutes and watch this sad documentary about the end of the Rocky Mountain News (a paper based means of communication).

It's one thing to be all snarky, and make fun of a newspaper office packed with $800 Herman Miller chairs (nicest newsroom I've ever seen.) It's another thing when you see the real people, and the real careers that the trend is affecting. Sadness.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:22 AM   2 comments



Wednesday, February 25, 2009
available online for free



Evan Roth, founder of the Graffiti Research Lab, has published a new book titled AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR FREE. The book features some of Evan's best and totally inspiring work from 2003 - 2008.

As you might expect, it's available online. For free.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:55 AM   0 comments



Tuesday, January 27, 2009
the king of madison avenue: the i didn't read it review



People who love BrandFlakes send us books, for review. We love reading, but spend most of that time on the intertubes rather than in books. But every once in a while, there comes a book that's worthy of a review anyway. So here's my "I didn't read this" review of the brand new book The King of Madison Avenue, by Kenneth Roman, former Chairman and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather:

Cover design:
Meh. It's not going to make you look cool while reading this on the plane. The Annie Leibovitz (!) photo of the late David Ogilvy makes him look a little pissed. Or maybe he's just being badass. Most people won't recognize him, as his name is more famous than his face.

Heft:
Good heft will leave you feeling accomplished after reading. 282 pages feels good, without feeling like a project.

Design:
Photos on the inside are a nice bonus! Toward the back of the book, there are transcripts of actual memos from the legendary Ogilvy.

Description on the back cover:
Nothing entirely inspiring. This book might have benefited from some more prominent positioning of David Ogilvy's name. That's the one reason I'm actually considering reading this. For real.

Should you read it:
I love everything that I've ever read about David Ogilvy, and admire his teachings, so I'd read this on his reputation alone. Read it for the king of Mad Ave, Mr. Ogilvy.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:18 AM   1 comments



Tuesday, January 20, 2009
abraham lincoln invented the emoticon



As we prepare for an historic occasion this afternoon, it's important to look back on the events that helped get us to where we are today. Without visionaries like Abraham Lincoln, we would not have...emoticons.

Some people believe they've found the first emoticon in an 1862 New York Times transcript of an Abe Lincoln speech. Some people also believe there's a face on Mars.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:58 AM   0 comments



Thursday, January 08, 2009
spend more now.

Ads on Edge

If your boss just cut your marketing budget because we're in a recession/depression/end-of-all-times, slap him in the face with this sweet presentation from The Economist.

There's a handful of slides toward the middle that trash online spending inappropriately (this is to sell print advertising, after all), but the rest is spot on great thinking.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:35 AM   1 comments



Thursday, November 13, 2008
even better than the real thing



There was a fake New York Times distributed across NYC yesterday. And it only featured dreamy, good news. If you're feeling sad, you can even check out the website. Nothing but good news, all the time.

Gawker gets to the bottom of the stunt, which was pulled off by notorious pranksters the Yes Men. Even the NY Times likes it. Good news, all around.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:00 AM   3 comments



Wednesday, November 12, 2008
books: buy them for the covers



Apparently there are still stores filled with paper-based books. And at least one publisher has a cool idea on motivating people to purchase the versions that don't go into your iPod.

What are they doing? Awesome cover design. Redesigns. That's right - design is the differentiation, here. Orange Elements Insights points to White’s Books - who has redesigned the covers of some classic literary works by authors such as Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Charlotte Bronte and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Now you can buy them again, fall in love with them again, give them as gifts or even READ them for the first time. And you can do so looking all stylish with the sweet new cover designs.

(You, sitting on the train, looking at the passenger next to you, and pointing to his iPod: "They still make those things? Pffft.")

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:30 AM   0 comments



Monday, September 29, 2008
insert, blow in...what would you call it?



There's a line of underwear called Styx. And they don't get up all in your crack. So how do you communicate that product feature in a print ad? An insert, of course.

I'm more concerned about the face paint on the Styx models. Is that required to wear this underwear? (You should paint your face like that, and see if anyone in your office notices.)

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:29 AM   3 comments



Tuesday, September 09, 2008
internet kills newsprint, and then captures it for history



Now that the internet has eliminated the need for paper newspapers, some people want to read them on their screens.

Google has just launched an initiative to put every newspaper on the internet. The old, printed ones. And they're going to be searchable, indexed and readable in their original formats.

Now you'll be able to search, zoom in and view newspapers from long ago. Just like old people used to do in libraries, with something called microfiche (sounds like a disease for puppies, doesn't it?)

This is a pretty impressive tool. It's fun to explore, and gives you one more reason never ever leave your home. Or to even open the door. Just stay where you are.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:51 AM   1 comments




esquire and ford get electric



Just in case you don't pay attention to paper based products, or visit a newstand, Esquire did something pretty awesome yesterday. They've released the first ever digital ink magazine. And it features the very first e-ink ad - for the Ford Flex.

They've utilized the same e-ink technology as the Amazon Kindle. Wired doesn't like it. (Jealous?) They do have one point though - People who actually subscribe to Esquire won't be getting the light-up-my-life cover. (Way to punish your fans.)

It's getting massive buzz and water cooler chat, which probably makes it all worthwhile for Esquire and Ford. There are only 100K copies - so you'd better hurry if you want one. What could you be doing with e-ink?

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:16 AM   0 comments



Thursday, September 04, 2008
rich people: still reading paper



A new survey of rich people shows that they like their information the old fashioned way. On paper. People with incomes of over six figures read on average 15 publications a week. Just like they did five years ago. (Keep in mind that this is being reported by...print publications.)

The affluent are also spending more time online and less time in front of the magic video box. Duh.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:04 AM   0 comments



Thursday, August 28, 2008
the ad agency diet



Just when you thought that you had Alex Bogusky, his hair, and Chuck Porter all figured out - they go and do something completely unexpected. Like write a diet book. Yeah, exactly.

Apparently this book will teach you to eat fewer calories by having you put your food on a 9" plate. Wise advice to be sure - but that's not all. The book apparently also details how consumers are being hoodwinked into eating things they don't need. Like ahem....perhaps Burger King and Dominos? (Two Crispin, Porter & Bogusky clients)

I'm just waiting for someone to tie this stunt to the big foot discovery and announce that it's all a big campaign for a new 9 inch big foot burger at BK. Weird.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:48 AM   0 comments



Monday, August 11, 2008
philly: you can have your news when it's good and old.



This would be hilarious if it weren't true. Some old coot at the Philly Inquirer got the idea on how to beat the internet...by not allowing their stories to appear on the website until the printed version of the paper is available.

Because in Philly apparently, news only happens on a deadline - and people aren't interested in getting information on a more timely basis. Right. Hilarious and sad. It's also clear that the news industry still hasn't wrestled with how to deal with this internet beast.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:09 AM   0 comments



Wednesday, August 06, 2008
the bible: rebranded.



This will certainly upset some people and certainly be a best-seller. Dag Söderberg is turning the Bible into a "hip coffee table version" of the Bible. Titled Bible Illuminated, this is an interpretation of the book in a more current view. With beautiful photography. And magazine style design.

See Dag tell the story of the project on the promotional site. Found on Animal.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:51 AM   2 comments



Thursday, July 24, 2008
power to the people



If you really dig old school stencil art, the Russian revolution or propaganda art, then check out this new book Power to the People.

The book features stenciled Russian Telegraph Agency window posters that hung in storefronts from 1919 to 1921, just after the Russian Revolution. (T-shirts, just waiting to happen.) From Print.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:55 AM   0 comments



Thursday, July 17, 2008
print is the new interactive



Frog Design started a new magazine, DesignMind. A magazine. On paper. That you get in the mail, or on a newstand. It's written by frog designers, technologists and strategists.

This will be interesting to watch it's progress, as other publications struggle to survive on paper. If nothing else, at least there's a website.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 5:49 AM   3 comments



Tuesday, July 08, 2008
people still read magazines?



Thought Gadgets reports on a cool new idea in the magazine publishing industry. (Yes, there's still enough people to call it an industry, I guess.)

MagHound is a service where you pay 9.95/month for seven publications that you can switch with other publications whenever you want. Tired of Vanity Fair? Switch it next month and get GQ. Switch and swap month in and month out.

I'm suspicious that they feature magazines that have been shuttered. Some for a while now. But we'll cut them a break for now, as it appears that the site is still under construction. (Magazine publishers: there are better ways to slow launch a site. Call us.)

(And doesn't Photoshop make Lindsay Lohan look hotolicious??)

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:51 AM   1 comments



Wednesday, June 04, 2008
how could you add a little willy wonka to your brand plan?



Brian Shaler points to Nate Westheimer's story about Gary Vaynerchuk's wonderful 'Wonka' style marketing.

While traveling together for a tech conference, Gary went into a Borders, searched for his book on the shelf, and hand wrote a note in the book. The note includes a secret password that if emailed back to Gary, will get the recipient a special prize. Wonka-freakin-licious.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:04 AM   0 comments



Thursday, May 29, 2008
the chelsea hotel never looked so nice



Members of Pentagram Berlin just completed work on what looks like a stunning book devoted to New York's world famous Chelsea Hotel.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:51 AM   2 comments



Friday, May 02, 2008
accidental branding: the "i didn't read it" review



Here's the thing. Publishers send us books all the time, for review on BrandFlakes. But I've sadly given up books for everything internet. There are some really, really hot books out there. Worthy of reviews. But there's only 24 hours in a day. And at least a few have to be devoted to sleep, for now.

So here's an attempt at a review, for a book that I haven't had time to read. I'll highlight the things that you might find helpful, if you're considering purchasing Accidental Branding.

But let me be clear: I didn't read this.

(All ratings are based on a 1 - 10 basis, 10 being "excellent.")

The book's concept: 9
How a handful of really cool people have built some very successful brands. Each chapter is devoted to another personality. Really, really cool people that you'd like to know more about - Craig Newmark (Craigslist), Gary Erickson (Clif Bar), Roxanne Quimby (Burt's Bees), and other super influential business people.

Cover design: 3
This one won't pop off the shelf. You've got to look for it. I would have given this a "2", but I'm in a good mood today.

Font size/typography: 6
Nothing uber creative, but nothing annoying or intimidating either. Clean layout, clean type, done well.

Pictures/info graphics: 0
No photos. No sexy info graphics. I think that's ok, given the subject matter. It's about the people, and their stories.

How it feels in your hands: 8
There are three kinds of books:
a) The kind that your English teacher assigns you to read, and is about 900 pages too long, and 43 pounds too heavy.
b) The pamphlet that's trying to pass as a book, but really isn't a book at all. It's a brochure.
Accidental Branding isn't either of these - it's a appropriately sized. Like a good book should be. The kind of book that feels good in your hands, after you've bought it. Your messenger bag will accept it, and it will feel just right to open, on a long train ride.

Other reviews that I would believe:
Greg Verdino
The Marketing Spot
ToddAnd

Scale of "I'd like to read it": 8
We can learn so much from others. Accidental Branding is chocked full of stories from people that you can't help to admire for their business and brand success. I swear that I intend to read this one. I just need a free weekend. Or a couple of nights...

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM   7 comments



Monday, April 28, 2008
how to write a novel. 140 characters at a time.



NL Belardes works in the ABC newsroom. He's got an interesting side project: He's writing a novel, titled Small Places, 140 characters at a time. Using Twitter, of course. (If you start reading now, just make sure you start at the bottom.)

I wonder if he's actually posting as he's writing, or if he's got a portion of the story "in the can" and posts it periodically? (I've asked him via Twitter. Follow his personal Twitter stream , and maybe we'll find out.)

This is an interesting writing technique - because once it's posted, it's published. He can't go back and edit. That's got to be a real challenge for the author of a novel. This is a fun, and really cool idea.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM   4 comments



Tuesday, April 22, 2008
embrace your inner dorkness



Dorks just became really cool. Geeks have had their day, and remain awesome, but dorks are the new hot. And it all happened thanks to the release of Dork Magazine, an online publication dedicated to art, habitat, and people.

The current issue is really good. If you enjoy BrandFlakes, you're going to love Dork. Issue #5 includes articles about Nike, Uniqlo, SmartCar, the Murakami show in Brooklyn, and sooo much more dorkaliciousness.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:29 AM   0 comments



Wednesday, April 16, 2008
ten rules of lois



The April issue of Metropolis has a wonderful spread devoted to the Esquire cover designs of legendary ad man George Lois.

The piece features ten covers, with George's "rules" on their design. The Ed Sullivan cover above, accompanies rule #5:

"If your magazine doesn't have the clout to sign up the celebrity you need for your idea, attack him at the stage door."

You'll have to (gasp!) invest in the paper copy of the magazine for the other rules, because unfortunately, Metropolis doesn't have this spread available on line.

You can view a truly inspirational gallery of covers with George's commentary, on his official site.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:18 AM   1 comments



Friday, April 11, 2008
how competition fuels bloggers



Not all will admit it, but bloggers are pretty damn competitive. Publish a list, a chart, a link guide, and watch everyone scramble to get a better position. So how do you best channel that competitive spirit into a friendly, positive promotion?

Rohit Bhargava did exactly that, to promote his new book Personality Not Included. Rohit created a contest where participating bloggers interviewed Rohit via email, and the public could vote on their favorite interview. Genius. Multiple bloggers interview Rohit, talk about his book, and reach out to their networks to garner votes for their interview.

Linda Sherman (who placed second in the contest) writes a wonderful post about how the promotion fueled her competitive spirit.

Need bloggers to talk about you? How can you get them to rally together, while competing with each other?

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:41 AM   4 comments



Monday, April 07, 2008
how to save the publishing industry



The Amsterdam Weekly has launched an interesting campaign to get people to pay for the paper. They've divided each page of the publication into 204 blocks, and are selling each block for €5. The blocks that don't get sold, don't get printed. Leaving blank pages, or blanks on pages. Even the cover. Punishing all of the readers, for the few that didn't contribute. Can't wait to see how this turns out.

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posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:40 AM   1 comments





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