Check out this awesome new campaign for the N-series of Nokia Phones. The idea is a virtual competition between two artists: Pjotro, a musician/dancer/engineer who has made a special suit that makes music in response to his movements, and DJ eFFex, an amazing beat-boxer. Using your mouse you can create a dance-off between the two; the artist that commands the most mouse time wins. This is very cool.
http://www.pjotrovsdjeffex.com/
PS - I'm not clear on whether these two actually exist or were just made up by Nokia. From looking at some videos online, I'd guess that eFFex is real, Pjorto is made up.
[Via RGS]
Wow! Cool series of billboards from Mustang.
So, turns out the secret is that the billboard is made out of Lexan, a translucent material that blurs the image of everything behind it, creating the illusion of motion.
[Via New Media Blogger]
Steve Jobs is delivering a presentation at MacWorld Tuesday morning. There is a lot of buzz around that it could be something big. iPhone big. Check out the new graphic on Apple's homepage:
Apple is so cool. For more on the rumors, check out Valleywag's coverage.
Great, memorable ad for Yoga Center by Leo Burnette. These straws were put in local juice bars. [via 37 signals]
Well, this is depressing... Here's a report that gives some reasonable evidence showing that all those penny-stock email tips that you get actually do get people to buy.
Spam Works: Evidence from Stock Touts and Corresponding Market Activity
Sitepoint's monthly newletter has a great anecdote about redesigning an ugly, mistake-ridden web with a more attractive, more accurate site. After the redesign, to everyones amazement, sales on the site dropped precipitously.
How an Ugly, Mistake-Ridden Web Site Outperformed a 'Better' Site
The crux of the story is that the old site contained little info and forced interested parties to call a salesperson, who often closed the deal Once the site was redesigned, users were given all the information and had no need to call. They therefore made the decision without the added persuasion of a person on the phone, and less often bought.
Designers often design based on what users want. This is certainly the focus of the type of design taught to us at the (Stanford) d.school. Yet sometimes what the users and companies want are at odds. This often leads to result-centric design as opposed to user-centric design. Think of the process of buying a mattress or used car. Think how difficult it is to cancel services such as AOL.
Yet, over the long term, a company's brand is affected and a company wishing to build a lasting brand ignores users at their own peril. Microsoft consistently focused its design on building the bottom line, but in the process alienated users. Apple and Google have taken the opposite approach and have built up tremendous brand loyalty with users.
Besides, user-centric design is more fun.
A very powerful video as part of Dove's campaign. Brilliant! I have a feeling this ad is going to get emailed around a lot.
[Via apophenia]
OK, I thought this was a bit of a stretch. I was in the bookstore right before I left to Shanghai and I saw, in the magazine section, a new magazine by Mapquest. What's it about, you ask? No, not maps... or mapping web pages... or indeed anything to do with maps... but "College Quest" a guide to "finding the school of your dreams".
At what point did it seem to make sense for an online mapping and directions service to create a print college guide?
When I think back to how this decision was made, I wonder as to how that meeting went. I imagine some optimistic marketing director persuaded people that the Mapquest brand meant "finding things". Sorry folks, the Mapquest brand means "maps".
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