Hello!

The Melange by MiOLA, is a fresh place where ideas are brewing, opinions are percolating and the aroma of creativity is in the air. Inspired by the Viennese Kaffeehaus tradition and its signature blend, this is your virtual coffee house. Pick a table and read on...

[miola]

3 men, 3 generations, 3 stories of Syrian migration at Samer al-Kadri’s Pages Bookstore Café in Istanbul, Turkey.

Real stories, real people — not just the news.

Meet Ahmad Nazir Shhada (30), artist and bookstore owner Samer al-Kadri (42) and ophthalmologist Dr. Ammar Meerkhan (60), who all sought refuge in Istanbul, Turkey after escaping the Syrian civil war. In the emotional conversation they discuss what was lost and what they all struggle to find anew. Click here to read! 

Created by Mia Dahlmer, written by Olufunke Abiola Moses + Illustration by Karabo Poppy Moletsane.

[miola]

When I read something, see something, or meet someone who is authentic it changes me in profound ways. I embrace it; I facilitate it; I am open to it. I think everyone should be a change agent. What choice do we have?

From the 1Q interview Bangalore to Brooklyn: The spontaneous journey of Raghava KK.

[miola]

Be the change! Check out the NEW Ten-Q Magazine (1Q) interview with artist, entrepreneur, troublemaker + 4 x TED speaker, Raghava KK on art, play, destiny, change, truth with poet + James Navé. Read it now 1Qinspire.me.

[miola]

I believe you’re born every day, and then you die at the end of the night, and then you’re born again.

Raghava KK, Bangalore to Brooklyn: The Spontaneous Journey of Raghava KK

[miola]

Finally landed! Dive into the premiere issue of the 1Q TRAVEL SPECIAL: 4x4 EUROPE for a rich insider’s experience of 4 of Europe’s most livable cities by 4 dynamic creators. 

The creators are Christina Liljenberg Halstrøm, Travis J. Todd, Clotilde Dusoulier and Mireia C. Saladrigues. The awesome cover art is by Japanese artist Yasuko Fujioka.

[miola]

We only went to two events at the recent Social Media Week in New York, but yet, I learned so much! Our favorite event was "The Future of Giving: Storytelling, Big Data, Crowdfunding, and Finding New Donors" hosted by iGiveMore.org. Although the event was about charity fundraising, the things we learned are universally applicable to communicating with your audience via social media and more.

1. Build an online presence that will inspire and has a great user/donor experience. 2. The giving experience is crucial and must be pleasant, easy and quick. 3. Understand your audience, who are they, where do they spend their time. 4. Social media changes fast, thus be adaptive and find the best possible ways to engage with your community — for example, many young people are over Facebook and prefer Instagram. 5. People want to share things that are positive, inspire, educate, in other words, meaningful content. 6. Tweet at people directly, to start a conversation. 7. Allow people to share their stories on your social media sites. 8. Mobile optimized websites are crucial for non-profit organizations, since half the people donating and checking out websites are on mobile. 9. People to people email marketing + communication is still very important. 10. It’s important to send messages that can be forwarded, most mass email opens are dismal, hence personalized emails to specific people who will share are important. 11. Analyzing + understanding data is very important! Who is sharing, what, when, how + why. 12. Storytelling is key in getting donations, see Indiegogo, etc where the videos are the crucial element to getting money. 13. Also, carefully consider what the story of your organization is and how to best share that story. 14. Make sure that the donations are traceable and that people can see how their money has been used and the good that it is doing. 15. Always remember, the web is about person to person communication, connections and sharing, not just having an online brochure.

[miola]

We must dare to be great; and we must realize that greatness is the fruit of toil and sacrifice and high courage...

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States

[miola]

Sasha Huber's short and sweet, a golden rule for love. Click here for an update on Sasha Huber. And in case you missed her the inspiring interview with this Swiss + Haitian artist, visit Ten-Q Magazine at 1Qinspire.me.

[miola]

What are your thoughts on LOVE? 

[miola]

In honour of Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, I love this olympic history website, by Russian agency Ruformat called olympicstory.

[miola]

“I think everyone struggles with self-love” — Philip Seymour Hoffman RIP. Amazing talent, amazing legacy. Drugs take away so much. Get help today, if you need it.

Photo by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin. 

[miola]

Happy Birthday, Mac!

On January 24, 1984, Macintosh put the creative power of technology in everyone’s hands. Explore the 30 years of innovation that have followed.

Happy 30th Birthday Apple Macintosh! You're a real adult now, what are you going to do in the next? 

[miola]

Exciting! Team 1Q is working diligently to bring you the first ever 1Q TRAVEL SPECIAL: 4x4 EUROPE — stay tuned. Meanwhile, get your daily dose of insight + inspiration with the current interviews on 1Qinspire.me.

[miola]

Always do what you are afraid to do.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

[traceloops]

[miola]

Very cool, gif by traceloops. The title is self-explanatory.

[miola]

What happens when fast food logos get fat? See McDonalds + other fat fast food company logos by adelbanfeel, graphic designer + illustrator from Saudi Arabia.

[miola]

Love this living + breathing, ever changing logo for University of the Arts Helsinki, Finland by Finnish design firm Bond. Click here to see full branding.