all that chatter

digital creative technological stuff that comes to my mind

[chris-weier-blog]

MOST INSPIRING MAN OF THE WEEK - Tinker Hatfield

I love that new Netflix series - Abstract. It is all about creative people but that is not only it. I also love the way it is filmed and produced. The stories behind all these people, how they became what they are today. People like Tinker Hatfield, THE Nike shoe designer who used to be an architect before he happened to become a Nike designer. He is the inventor of the Air shoes and he never lost his courage to dare new things. Besides all that he is over 60 years old but looks like he was 50. He is all into sports and surfing and loves his life. A really inspiring man!

[chris-weier-blog]

Visit Original Link

What happens when two great people meet for a podcast? They have so much to talk about there has to be a second episode. 

Entrepreneur and American icon Tim Ferriss meets my favorite US designer Debbie Millmann during SWSX for a second round of answering very private questions about how she became what she is today and how she knew her path was the right one. I really like her talking so honestly about her life and decision-making. Go and listen!

[chris-weier-blog]

WHAT MAKES ME THINK

Nearly everybody heard about Cambridge Analytica helping Trump to win the election. During the Online Marketing Rockstars Conference, CEO Alexander Nix talked about their approach to combine data from different online and offline sources to be able to hyper-target one single person with an ultimately customized message.

Nix’ theory is that the so-called „blanket advertising“ is dead which means two people with the same demographics, age, income and family situation can still be put into different target groups. Just imagine, one is rather the one caring about his friends` and public opinion, being an introvert rather than the other one who does not care about other people`s opinions but love to live his own independent life. And here it is: that little something that makes them different.

Cambridge Analytica managed to work with loads of data being collected even through these kind of funny „Which dog type are you?“-quizzes we all love to play on Facebook. It´s frightening on the one hand, but on the other this is the future of advertising. Have a look at his speech and get your own impression!

[chris-weier-blog]

WHAT I AM READING

Are you stuck behind your desk? Working at a designer or concepter? What do you do to be creative?

Austin Kleon tells his secrets about becoming a creative person starting with copying people you admire, people whose work you love. Then you add this special something to your copy and something unique comes up.

His methods on how to unlock creativity can be more than agreed on. E.g. “step away from the screen”. I do not know how you guys do it but as a kid of the 80ies/90ies I am still addicted to doing work with my hands, being creative just with paper and pens. No digital devices until the idea has been created.

And you need to step away from your usual workplace. Go out, have a walk, sit in a café or a coworking space and let your mind flow. I really do not get it how creatives in agencies like the ones I used to work for stumble upon new ideas sitting in a mediocre office surrounded by white walls and the chatter of their colleagues.

So, there is much more in Kleon`s book than that. Go and grab a copy!