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Check out this inspiring article from Sharon Fisher, at HOW Design, on how to set the stage for an innovative thinking and creative work environment. Below is an excerpt of ideas from the post, happy brainstorming!
“1. Innovation isn’t just for creative types. Involve everyone — even outsiders. We frequently ask the UPS man to stop in and share a quick idea. Invite customers, too.
2. John Cleese, of Monty Python fame, once gave this advice: “If you spot any colleagues engaging in unfamiliar activity such as wondering out loud or gazing thoughtfully into space, poke them with a sharp stick and accuse them of wasting time.” Enough said.
3. Hang a giant piece of paper on your office door; at the top, write a question or issue that you need help with. Invite everyone to come by at their leisure to share thoughts and ideas.
4. Show a stand-up comedy video before every creative session. Laughter stimulates great thinking.
5. Keep magazines unrelated to your business in the office. Encourage your team to cut out pictures that relate to a project you’re working on and make a collage.
6. “The amount a person uses his imagination is inversely proportional to the amount of punishment he will receive for using it.” This anonymous quote says it all. Allow your team to get comfortable taking risks and support them for doing so. From small things like sharing personal anecdotes and wearing goofy hats, to physical challenges like trust falls and walking high ropes, seek activities that get people out of their comfort zones.
7. Hang an “If Only” board. Let people jot ideas, then use them to spark your imagination during the next creative session.
8. Have everyone choose a different hat, then participate in the creative session as if they were that person.
9. Trade environments. Going somewhere else to generate ideas—the park, a toy store or even someone else’s conference room—will stimulate fresh thinking.
10. Encourage people to do something with their hands during the creative process. While playing with toys and doodling have been criticized as being “too simplistic,” there’s scientific evidence that 97% of the nerves in our hands are connected directly to our brains. Busy hands stimulate brain cells.”
Who doesn’t LOVE a picture book now and then?! If your interested in organizing your web discoveries to help generate inspiration – check out Wookmark! It’s a great place to collect what visually inspires you while your traveling across the world wide web! Happy Collecting.
Really interesting Harvard Business Review article showing how the basic premise of social networking’s value to marketing was outlined over five decades ago. The author shares how Ernest Dichter, considered a major player in motivational research in the 60′s, conducted a study about word of mouth advertising. He noted how companies should gather customer feedback, engage rather than just talk at their audience, and use dialog to move customers to buy. Sound familiar?
Need an afternoon pick-me-up? Check out The Cool Hunter for a little daily inspiration. I must say, I love visiting this site – it offers a unique global collection of all things creative! It truly is a “hub for what’s cool, thoughtful, innovative and original.”
And the best part is – you can subscribe for free!
Happy clicking!
For most of recent memory, panic about advertisers leaving the stalwart network and cable advertising in droves to move their budgets into social media have been the ad industry’s words of warning. However, a recent article in the New York Times tells a different story of how traditional media can successfully partner with, rather than compete with, social media.
Which is how it should be, right?
Marketers ‘get’ that one tool does not make a marketing strategy, but rather, works with all the tools to get the most bang for the client’s buck. It’s good to see that even on the mega-million ad budget front, everyone is learning to play nice together!
Check out the article “TV Networks Expect A Jump In Spending On Commercials“.
A friend sent these to me and they feature European product bags. I love how these are made to just be fun, attention-getting, but also used for cause-marketing. To whomever created these – great concept!
Mr. Peanut is making a comeback. For those of us seasoned enough to remember the original Mr. Peanut (hey, I had a Mr. Peanut Peanut Butter maker when I was 5) this is a nice and comfortable flashback. But will the new Mr. Peanut campaign resonate with a younger crowd? The ad firm thankfully did put a gray flannel suit on him, although being au naturale in the new millenium is not really as risque as it might have been 3o years ago.
Going old-school is a risk for any advertiser as you have to walk a fine line between dull and outdated or ‘new retro’, as this is being coined now.
Let us know what you think of the new and improved Mr. Peanut – clever and intriguing, or just a desperate attempt to resurrect what was once a classic campaign icon?
Read more at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/business/media/08adco.html?src=busln
Omni Communications Group cordially invites you to visit our recently redesigned website . President Jill Schuller notes the latest internet incarnation of the marketing communications company marks the third update in the last ten years.
“Tweaking our image and clearly communicating our corporate message in an aesthetically pleasing manner while embracing ever-changing digital technology is critical in our industry. Omni is committed to evolving with the times.”
The new website incorporates a minimalist, less-is-more concept effectively utilizing white space and effortless site navigation to convey the philosophy, services and professional flair of the advertising agency and its staff. The highlight of the website is the impressive digital portfolio, proudly displaying a large sampling of Omni’s creative marketing solutions and graphic design skills across a wide variety of industries and mediums.
Have a look around and let us know what you think!
Omni has just finished the beautiful Sangamon Auditorium 2010-2011 season brochure, and we’re quite pleased with the design. Watch for this coming soon to see all the fantastic performing arts events coming to Springfield, Illinois!
