Category Archives: social media

Motion Graphics to entertain and inform: Did you Know 4.0

Feb 05
10
Posted by Andrew Davies

What’s the easiest way to get our attention? Chocolate! Ok so what’s the second easiest way to get our attention? Do a motion graphics piece that doesn’t just tickle the eye but teaches us something as well. Taking into consideration recent innovations in communication and publishing, these kinds of info-tainment pieces will become more needed. And, for a change, I’m not the only one that thinks so.

We recently read a post from Jay Kinghorn, a photographer, who thinks that multimedia’s the way of the future for his profession. And advertisers might be taking advantage of the full media experience available through Apple’s iTunes for books, seeing this as a new media channel (see: revenue stream).

Anyway, here’s a bit of moving knowledge for you.


Categories: Advertising, Inspiration, Motion graphics, social media
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Kickstarter - A New Way To Fund Ideas and Endeavors

Nov 12
09
Posted by Susan Isaacs

kickstarter

There’s a common theme that seems to apply to more than one conversation we’re having around the office of late: community funded projects. You’ll be hearing quite a bit about this from us in the coming weeks.*

Right now though, I thought I’d share a recent discovery, Kickstarter.

I love the way they introduce themselves:

We believe that…

* A good idea, communicated well, can spread fast and wide.
* A large group of people can be a tremendous source of money and encouragement.

Simply put, Kickstarter is a way for creatives to receive (online) community funding to execute their ideas.

It’s quite clever: a filmmaker, artist, musician, inventor, etc submits an idea along with a request for the amount of money they need to make their concept a reality. The online community is able to review these ideas and if so inclined can pledge money to help make them happen.

The creator is able to propose any type of reward system they’d like as a “thank you”. This could be as simple as access to ongoing project updates or something fancier like a T-shirt or an invitation to a party. Regardless, the creators retain full ownership of their ideas. No politics. No big investor demanding final sign-off on production.

But here’s the part that I really love. No-one’s credit card is charged up-front. ONLY if the total amount requested has been pledged within the specified time frame, is the money actually collected. Once the mark is hit all the cards are charged at once. This way a filmmaker is not obligated to make a $6000 independent short for $2000 if that’s all he was pledged. It’s an all or nothing scenario.

If you’ve got a brilliant idea and need a cash to give it wings, perhaps Kickstarter might be the place to go. They charge 5% of the pledge goal, so you’ll need to factor that into your budget.

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*Just a final note: we (Paragon) believe that many people doing a little can often have a much greater impact than a only a few people doing a lot. We’re putting this theory to the test with a new project, 2K Strong. We’re currently working on the site, but you can sign up for project updates now at www.2kstrong.org

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Categories: Art, Design Thinking, Innovation, User Interaction, social media
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5 Reasons you’re probably scared of Social Media

Jul 06
09
Posted by Andrew Davies

scared1

(Image from sxc.hu.com)

The game has changed for marketers. I know, I know,  that’s become a cliche statement by now, but it bears repeating since the rate at which the game is changing  (or has changed depending on how you look at it) hasn’t really allowed some of us the time to stop and take a look at how drastically things’ve… well… changed.

For the early-adopters out there the new media landscape is exciting. But for some of us more cautious-adopters (I prefer that to” late bloomers”) and those stuck in the traditional, out-bound, 1 directional, disruptive marketing frame of mind, it can be a bit daunting and sometimes downright scary. But Why?  Well this post is my way, as a designer who’s hearing these concerns ,  of commiserating with any marketers, and brand custodians who’ve been apprehensive about this new social media whoosy-whatsit.

At the end of the day, I think  it boils down to a  couple of reasons:

1. You’re not in complete control - your users are.
2. The Rules of Engagement are evolving, quickly and constantly.
3. It takes a lot of Commitment.
4. The priorities are different.
5. It feels invasive.

Let me explain…

Read More of this post


Categories: Blogging, Marketing, social media
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