all for inspiration

GESTALT getty images!

2006-10-03T19:18:00.000+05:30

Art directors, graphic designers and advertising executives are always on call for big ideas – an expectation that can occasionally push the boundary of sanity. Starting today and continuing through November 3, Getty Images, is offering creatives a coffee break escape with an interactive online game called “Gestalt”, found at gettyimages.com/rfzone. While the mental benefits are considerable, the game offers more tangible rewards as well.

Patterned after Rorschach inkblot therapy designed to reveal deeper meanings, Gestalt engages players in a quick and entertaining game that refreshes their inspiration. After each “therapy session”, players are entered into a daily drawing to win $1,000 as well as a drawing at the end of the promotion to win one of six exciting fantasy experiences

Think like a genius

2006-06-21T10:48:00.000+05:30

"Even if you're not a genius, you can use the same strategies as Aristotle and Einstein to harness the power of your creative mind and better manage your future."
The following eight strategies encourage you to think productively, rather than reproductively, in order to arrive at solutions to problems. "These strategies are common to the thinking styles of creative geniuses in science, art, and industry throughout history."

1. Look at problems in many different ways, and find new perspectives that no one else has taken (or no one else has publicized!)
Leonardo da Vinci believed that, to gain knowledge about the form of a problem, you begin by learning how to restructure it in many different ways. He felt that the first way he looked at a problem was too biased. Often, the problem itself is reconstructed and becomes a new one.

2. Visualize!
When Einstein thought through a problem, he always found it necessary to formulate his subject in as many different ways as possible, including using diagrams. He visualized solutions, and believed that words and numbers as such did not play a significant role in his thinking process.

3. Produce! A distinguishing characteristic of genius is productivity.
Thomas Edison held 1,093 patents. He guaranteed productivity by giving himself and his assistants idea quotas. In a study of 2,036 scientists throughout history, Dean Keith Simonton of the University of California at Davis found that the most respected scientists produced not only great works, but also many "bad" ones. They weren't afraid to fail, or to produce mediocre in order to arrive at excellence.

4. Make novel combinations. Combine, and recombine, ideas, images, and thoughts into different combinations no matter how incongruent or unusual.
The laws of heredity on which the modern science of genetics is based came from the Austrian monk Grego Mendel, who combined mathematics and biology to create a new science.

5. Form relationships; make connections between dissimilar subjects.
Da Vinci forced a relationship between the sound of a bell and a stone hitting water. This enabled him to make the connection that sound travels in waves. Samuel Morse invented relay stations for telegraphic signals when observing relay stations for horses.

6. Think in opposites.
Physicist Niels Bohr believed, that if you held opposites together, then you suspend your thought, and your mind moves to a new level. His ability to imagine light as both a particle and a wave led to his conception of the principle of complementarity. Suspending thought (logic) may allow your mind to create a new form.

7. Think metaphorically.
Aristotle considered metaphor a sign of genius, and believed that the individual who had the capacity to perceive resemblances between two separate areas of existence and link them together was a person of special gifts.

8. Prepare yourself for chance.
Whenever we attempt to do something and fail, we end up doing something else. That is the first principle of creative accident. Failure can be productive only if we do not focus on it as an unproductive result. Instead: analyze the process, its components, and how you can change them, to arrive at other results. Do not ask the question "Why have I failed?", but rather "What have I done?"

Fine Line Revealed Between Creativity and Insanity

2006-06-21T10:43:00.000+05:30

History suggests that the line between creativity and madness is a fine one, but a small group of people known as schizotypes are able to walk it with few problems and even benefit from it. A new study confirms that their enhanced creativity may come from using more of the right side of the brain than the rest of us.In the spectrum between normal and insane, schizotypes generally fall somewhere in the middle. While they do not suffer many of the symptoms affecting schizophrenics, including paranoia, hallucinations and incoherent thoughts, schizotypes often exhibit their own eccentricities."They may dress or carry themselves in a strange way," says Bradley Folley, a graduate student in clinical psychology at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee and the lead author of the study. "They're not abnormal, they live normal lives but they often have idiosyncratic ways of thinking. Certain things may have special meaning for them or they may be more spiritually attuned." Problem solving The link between creativity and psychosis has largely been based on anecdotal evidence and correlation studies. The Vanderbilt study is the first to investigate the creative process experimentally using brain-imaging techniques.The researchers defined creativity as the ability to generate something new and useful from existing products or ideas. "Creativity at its base is associative," Folley told LiveScience. "It's taking things that you might see and pass by everyday and using them in a novel way to solve a new problem."The researchers conducted two experiments to compare the creative thinking processes of schizotypes, schizophrenics and normal control subjects.In the first experiment, subjects were shown a variety of household objects and asked to come up with new functions for them.For example, all three groups would be asked to come up with possible uses for a needle and thread. While the normal and schizophrenic controls came up with pretty typical responses like sewing or stitching, one schizotype said that if a person was poor but wanted to get engaged, he could use the thread to make a ring and use the needle to write "I Love You," in the sand.Picture this In the second experiment, the three groups were again asked to come up with creative uses for everyday objects, but this time their brains were monitored using a brain-imaging technique called near-infrared optical spectroscopy. The scans showed that both sides of the brain in all three groups were active when making novel associations. However, in the brains of schizotypes, the activation of the right hemisphere was much higher compared to brains of the control subjects. Folley speculates that what may be happening is that schizotypes may either have more access to the right hemisphere than the average population or there may be more efficient communication between the two hemispheres.The finding is detailed online in the journal Schizophrenia Research.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/050907_schizotype_creative.html

World peace day

2006-04-28T13:07:00.000+05:30

Issued in public interest by Malayala Manorama on International Day of Peace.

Sprite Ice: Snowflakes

2006-04-28T13:06:00.000+05:30

Nike

2006-03-18T19:58:00.000+05:30

Heinz Ketchup

2006-03-18T19:54:00.000+05:30

Aquabona

2006-03-04T14:00:00.000+05:30

Does your Brain, Lips, Heart asks you Aquabona?

IPod

2006-03-04T13:54:00.000+05:30

Well this might be a little older, but i liked it very much.

Bajaj Room Heaters

2006-02-23T17:12:00.000+05:30

Google Guys!

2006-02-15T16:20:00.000+05:30

Google Guys on the Feb issue of TIME magazine.

It's Me!

2006-02-14T15:45:00.000+05:30

***Your Five Factor Personality Profile***
Extroversion:
You have high extroversion.You are outgoing and engaging, with both strangers and friends.You truly enjoy being with people and bring energy into any situation.Enthusiastic and fun, you're the first to say "let's go!"
Conscientiousness:
You have high conscientiousness.Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life.Most things in your life are organized and planned well.But you borderline on being a total perfectionist.
Agreeableness:
You have high agreeableness.You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly.Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone.You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance.
Neuroticism:
You have medium neuroticism.You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic.Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy.Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of.
Openness to experience:
Your openness to new experiences is high.In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas.You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits.A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.
The Five Factor Personality Test http://www.blogthings.com/thefivefactorpersonalitytest/

Save the Forest

2006-02-09T10:18:00.000+05:30

Excellent creation by German ad agency. I don't remember which agency did it. But nice work.
Save the Forest and save your world.
or else things will happen like this.

2006-02-09T10:11:00.000+05:30

Advertising As Proof of Entry

2006-01-30T15:48:00.000+05:30

Adam Green over at Darwinian Web has kindly said of Adlab: "I never know what to expect when a new post from this unique blog appears in my RSS reader." Let me tell you, I never know what will come up in your RSS reader next, and when I find out, I'm just as surpised. Say, how many times have been to bar where they stamp you hand at the door? Now look at this.
"Door staff at clubs and nightclubs across the United Kingdom used these specially designed stamps on Friday night. (Usually, they're used as proof that you've paid to enter the club.) The person would then wake up on Saturday morning and be reminded of the free CD offer in Saturday morning's Guardian newspaper." An Epica finalist for media innovation.

Illusion

2006-01-27T10:50:00.000+05:30

If your eyes follow the movement of the rotating pink dot, you will only see the dots in pink color.

If you stare at the black plus sign (+) in the center, the moving dot will be 'seen' to be green in color.

Now, concentrate on the black + in the center of the picture. After a short period of time, all the pink dots will slowly disappear, and you will only see a green dot rotating.

It's amazing how our brain works. There really is no green dot, and the pink ones really don't disappear.

ADFEAST

2006-01-25T03:30:00.000+05:30

hungry! hungry! hungry! gasp a bit, consume some sugar and get ready to get a whale in ur claw,
roast it and feed ur tastebuds with some really good stuff comes up with a spicy, hot, aromatic ingredients.

Indulge and tantalize. Get ready for the ADFEAST.

Feed ur senses.

Google CEO interview !

2006-01-24T15:00:00.000+05:30

Respected US show host Charlie Rose interviewed Google CEO Eric Schmidt last week for a recording of a new series about the world’s leading innovators. (Excerpts from PSFK).

Google Today

Charlie started by asking Eric where Google “was at”?
The focus of Google is to solve end user problems, Eric said. Their business had been created to do this. People now have an amazing way to find information

Charlie asked Eric to expand on Google’s Mission to organize the world’s information.
“We’ve just started”, Eric replied. The majority of the world’s info is not available on the web or Google. In many ways people want to sell it and Google has to partner with these people. Other people want to archive it behind locked firewalls and Google wants to get access to index this information.

Google was working on a right answer every time - and, today, on any device.

Eric said there were only 1billion users on the web – about 1/6th of the global market. There were 1.6 m wireless devices and 3-400 million of these were designed to be able to use the web. The market was “way under-penetrated” They knew that the demand was there and that there will be lots of different devices. Google will help deliver content to these devices.

Google’s Success

Charlie asked what the forces at work behind the Google success.

There is a tremendous hunger for innovation. Traditionally systems like federal government have been supported innovation through research funding. Today, graduates from grad school these days have amazing vision and the capital in VC let’s people build companies very quickly. One or two people at Stanford can change the world.

Charlie wondered if that was what they said about Netscape.

“Netscape changed the world!” Eric responded. They showed a new way of computing. Netscape provided access to lot of information out there on the web.

Charlie asked how all this information has changed us?

Eric thought that today are in a state of partial attention – they’re on the web, watching TV, on the phone – and somehow they manage to do it all. Eric even admitted that he had to get people to turn off their laptops when they come to a meeting in order to get their attention.

Charlie asked what would be the downside to the future?

Stress – there’s so much information, people want to tune out. Time competition – more things to do each day.

Innovation At Google

Charlie asked about innovation at Google.

Eric described how each employee spends 20% of their time on what they want to do. If Google likes an idea someone comes up with, that person stops their current job and go off and explore it.

“People work very hard at their regular jobs, so this isn’t a problem. This 20% is a source of our ideas.” Charlie questioned what proportion of their ideas come from the 20%. “Virtually all of them,” Eric conceded.

"If it works that well, why not 50%?" Charlie asked.

Eric suggested that maybe he should run that as an experiment although he was worried about the possible anarchy. The ideas have to fit within the objectives of Google:

• 70% search and advertising
• 20% near to that
• 10% other

Charlie asked about 'being competitive'.

Eric said it was very difficult with technology. With Google, you were one search away from losing a customer to a competitor. “We spend every day worrying about that.” He suggested that there were many tech companies that had taken their eye off the ball.

Leadership

Charlie asked how the business leaders of today ticked.

“There’s no off-switch. When they’re at home, they still going. They are absolutely driven,” Eric replied. “Smarter?” Charlie asked. They are very smart, Eric replied. They may have high IQs but they also have a brain that constructs new ideas. They see new ideas before others to do.

Charlie asked why people like Gates and Jobs had not finished their education.

“They were bored”, came the reply.

Inside Google Search

Charlie asked how the Google Search worked.

Google uses a system called Page Rank. The name Page Rank comes from founder Larry's last name. Google decided to base their search technology on how other people rate you. They built an algorithm to provide the search. Algortihms are very important at Google. Even the "spell checker" for search queries is based on an algorithm – no dictionary is used.

Charlie asked why people feared Google.

Some of it is competitive. They did worry about some of the content – the bad things. "We try very hard to be true to our principals," Eric siad and added that they didn't use our business to alter our rankings.

At Google's core – they solve people’s problems.

Google Advertising

Charlie wanted to know how big the market was.

The dynamic auction behind the advertising powered Google’s growth, Eric said. Larry had said “there’s value in ads because they’re useful” – to help people find the right information.
Currently they made $6-9billion revenue from advertising. That was relatively small compared with the global advertising market that was $500 to $700 billion per year.

Eric told the audience that technology in advertising is not very sophisticated. The ads on TV are a bit of a waste. If you open a newspaper it’s full of ads that are not accurately targeted. “We can do this better,” Eric suggested.

Eric also added that Google’s clients tended to be head of sales rather than marketing – and that stopped them being affected by changes in Madison Avenue spend. "The market has room to grow. We’re in a space so large that there’s room for all of us – and new companies too."

Charlie mentioned the recent move into radio.

Eric said that they were taking their system to radio advertising. And then they would apply that to TV.

Google's Future

Charlie asked about Google’s video service.

Eric joked that people can now watch Charlie’s different suits on through Video Google. Eric said that commuters are watching shows on their mobile devices. Money is being made from clips. And it’s going to accelerate.

Charlie asked where would Google be in the next 10 years.

Eric said that was very hard to predict. He said that a lot of people were finding each other over the web and creating communities. “We will help them make money,” Eric said. The next generation of content will come from the stuff that people are doing out there.

nice photography

2006-01-23T17:00:00.000+05:30

funny ipod posters

2006-01-20T18:06:00.000+05:30

saw this in this link. http://steverubel.typepad.com/

Search Image by sketch

2006-01-19T11:40:00.000+05:30

Now search image by sketch. An interesting one. link.

Fun with ads

2006-01-19T11:10:00.000+05:30

via:frederiksamuel.

honda podcast now live

2006-01-16T11:43:00.000+05:30

Check out the new Honda ad and 'Making Noise' Documentary can be downloaded from iTunes as a podcast.
Here's the link.

E-Zine

2006-01-12T19:06:00.000+05:30

World is fast and advanced. Civilization grows everyday in a rocket speed. Technology is astounding and it makes people's lives easier and easier than ever. Take a look at this magwerk. This is one of the perfect example. An E-Zine, which is coool and flashy which makes people to drool on it sure.
In this days of long queue for Harry Potter's book, ezines are published as a replicated version of print. Ads has life (animated), articles has links, and lot more interactive.

However print has its uniqueness comparing to Electronic.

Quote

2006-01-12T18:06:00.000+05:30

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen,
nor touched... but are felt in the heart." --- Helen Keller.

advertising for advertising!

2006-01-12T17:51:00.000+05:30

well here is an ad that speaks itself!

great work guys!

via:frederikamuel.

madras nalla madras (chennai)

2006-01-12T17:49:00.000+05:30

Post it

2006-01-12T12:39:00.000+05:30

WOW!! Simple idea.

Helpline

2006-01-09T10:09:00.000+05:30

Sexy idea and execution.

Volkswagen Christmas Card

2006-01-06T10:01:00.000+05:30

Now this may be a little late but with a good stuff.

WWF!

2006-01-05T18:23:00.000+05:30

I am not convinced with the copy!

Divorce!

2006-01-03T10:52:00.000+05:30

Simple stuff from JWT, Frankfurt
for Silke Mohring-a divorce lawyer.

absolute spoof!

2006-01-02T18:01:00.000+05:30

absolut spoof! ads for your thirst. enjoy drinking! but dont get drenched.

Courtesy: adbusters.

Resolutions

2006-01-02T12:35:00.000+05:30

my new year resolution list.

1. Focus
2. Follow the heart.
3. Look for internal inspiration.
4. Accept mistakes.
5. Listen and react.
6. Learn.
7. "Be Creative".
8. Get up early.
9. Think Positive.
10.Find opportunity in the problem.
11.Be Left hand.
12.Action oriented.
13.Smartness.
14.Ambidexterous.
15.Date a Girl.
16.Write Poems.
17.Learn Music.

and many more i would try to make it happen this year.Hope i will acheive this and maintain it.

lol!

Reuters top 40 pictures.

2006-01-02T12:34:00.000+05:30

hi check out this site reuters top 40 pictures of 2005!

http://i.today.reuters.com/Pictures/galleries/showcases/showcase_slide.asp?storyID=632702912668906250&urlStr=/pictures/&directory=/configData/Pictures/&edition=US

2006!

2006-01-02T12:32:00.000+05:30

Hey all,

Wish u all the very best happy new year 2006!

Playboy!

2005-12-29T10:56:00.000+05:30

Wonderful! Playboy ads are always simple and effective, as it has a sex appeal.

Why r u creative?

2005-12-28T13:35:00.000+05:30

What is Creative?. What makes u creative? How others define or feel it.

But for me creative is hungry.

Child labour

2005-12-28T12:59:00.000+05:30

Guerilla attempt by RMG David
Chennai, India for Anbu Illam -
home for street Child.

The growth of Child laborers is getting
increased day by day due to poverty
and many reasons. Because of this
they are unable to continue their
studies and they take up working in
their young age to survive.

To prevent child labor and promote
education, RMG came up with this
Guerilla, where they designed cover
and kept brick in each cover. They
put it in major bookshop in the city
to grab the attention of readers.

Nice thought and execution.

Christmas Tree collection

2005-12-27T19:16:00.000+05:30

Some Christmas tree collection ads, which i got it from Coloribus (Thank u guys). Outrageous and creative to the core. They just loosened their heads to create such stuff.

Each gives me different expression!
beers!!, coool!!, hmm sexy!!, wow!!, crrrrk!!.

Top Ten Design Blogs of 2005

2005-12-26T13:26:00.000+05:30

Coudal
AIGA
Design Observer
Speak Up
Veer: The Skinny
Newstoday
The Prepared Mind
Design Is Kinky
CRIT
Designers Who Blog

TOP 10 Global Leaders in Food

2005-12-26T13:24:00.000+05:30

Cadbury-Schweppes
Danone
General Mills
Heinz
Hershey
Kellogg
Kraft
Masterfoods
Nestlé
Unilever Bestfoods

Adidas + Google Earth

2005-12-21T17:31:00.000+05:30

Adidas has come out with an innovative stuff of brand promotion for football freaks all over the world.Tied up with Google's division Google earth, adidas promotes its football by an online game via google earth, where the lucky one will draw finals for the matchball.

Interestingly Innovative!

~ Fashion and Photography ~

2005-12-16T15:35:00.000+05:30

hey guys i came through this site phamous69 (not a porn site) when i was looking for photography. Gorgeous. Playful Lighting. Must see!!

U can define pictures are worth more than words!! by seeing this.

!MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2005-12-15T18:19:00.000+05:30

!Merry Christmas! ad for Levi's Jeans.
Absolutely simple and creative.
I love this, i don't know which agency did this and i think it's a last year's christmas ad, but i am not sure.
Anyways Ideas are universal and long lasting like this jean.
Hats off to the guys who did this.

Anybody there who knows which agency did this?

Superbrands of 2005

2005-12-15T17:39:00.000+05:30

India Today, Hutch, Heinz, ICICI Prudential, TATA, Timex, Jet Airways, Dulux, Pizza Hut etc.. are the Superbrands that secured its place in the heart of Indian consumers.