a hundred avatars

Why Networks Matter + How They Propagate

Nicholas Christakis again, this time at the RSA in the UK.

Really good stuff on how networks work. It comes down to the fundamental human need to not only experience (emotion, events, habits, etc) but to share. By expanding our network, we expand ourselves. Particularly interesting is the bit towards the end, where he talks about the correlation between successful Broadway plays and the type of network the people working on it came from.

Shows that either threw together a bunch of people who had never worked together or people who had only worked together tend to fail.  Shows that balance the relationships between people tended to succeed. Unsurprisingly, it's not only about happiness spreading (or obesity or altruism) but also that the types of networks we form create different sorts of lives for ourselves.

JJ Abrams + The Mystery Box

JJ Abrams on the importance of revealing less than...

How to be a culture hacker

via @timstock

Fun! (or, media that is really social)

I loved this video from Volkswagen, which goes to show the power of a brand going beyond its purview to bring a benefit greater than itself to people's lives. (as well as the power of what Thaler and Sunstein's Nudge calls libertarian paternalism). More brands should really think about how to help people, beyond just RTBs.

 

It also raises an interesting question with viral videos as to what credit (or blame) an agency in Sweden should get for changing brand perception of a global brand in the US. For me, this video does more to improve my opinion of VW than anything Crispin has done for them here in the US.

Wing + LATISM

OK, they kinda got the name of the agency wrong, but I'm not complaining. It's always an honor even to be nominated (ahem). 

I just found out that Wing has been nominated by LATISM (Latinos in Social Media) as one of the “Best Hispanic NY Marketing / PR Firm using Social Media”.

 
This is a totally spontaneous, crowd sourced nomination from the latino social media / blogging community. Apparently we are the second most nominated company.
 
The award show is this Thursday and whoever gets the most votes, wins.
 
If you want to participate in the vote, please go here or http://latism.org/latism-ny/latism-ny-finalists/

… and click on the “VOTE NOW” link. There are a number of categories that you can vote on if you wish, or leave blank. Our category is the fourth and we are at the bottom of the list.
 
Feel free to also forward it so we get as many votes as possible. Thanks! 

Paula Scher and the Geography of Design

In a few short interviews directed by Nicolas Heller and produced by former colleague Brian Collins for the Art Directors Club, Paula Scher talks about how the energy of the city affects her work. Part two talks about her maps, which are amazing renderings of the layers of perception that maps really represent.

She's doing the signage for our new office, which is really cool.

And part two