outeractive

This innovation thingi. And indulgence.

In recent times, one of the words that’s getting a disproportionate share of lip service is innovation.

Everybody’s on to it: corporations, brands, nations, management gurus, grad and under-grads.

And while it may take less than a second to say it, it takes a lot more effort to do it.

More so if you want this thing called innovation to happen in a large group or organisation.

Then, first, you need to create an environment to do it. 

You need to be able to shed away flab, bend some rules, create new ones... and then some...

After all of that, it comes down to the people: to some, innovation comes relatively easy: ‘born’ naturals. There are others for whom this innovation and creative thingi is not a cake walk.

The former are usually hyper-creative. They don’t necessarily fit into standard moulds, usually have an attention deficiency problem, and generally are not good at towing the line.

When you find this lot, pamper them.

Don’t mistake this with spoil: I say it again, pamper, even indulge but not spoil.

If you can’t hold their attention, you’ll lose them to others who can.
                                                                                                      

And all this is not a very democratic. It’s safe to say that individuals who call the shots won’t be winning popularity contests.

These choices need to be made early.

Else innovation will stay just a lip service. Stay just a trending topic. May be get an upgrade to a hashtag ;-)

Super Twitter campaign

The video casestudy of the campaign by TurkCell is not more than 140 seconds ;-)

Brands saying 'Follow us on Twitter' is just not enough.

This one proves that you need to connect, engage and then close things in a limited period of time.

Innovate. Do something different. Then the chances of success are pretty good.

 

Projection Mapping...on steroids

When Hyundai launched the 'New thinking New possibilities' campaign here, it didn't do much for me. Didn't care much for the audio in the TVC. No had No feel.

But check the video, here they take it to another lever... this is truly New Thinking and possibily on steroids. Transmedia, New Media or whatever.

This is what works and get people to remember you...

Hyundai Accent 3D projection mapping_making from flipEvil on Vimeo.

 

Let them Play

Hell, there are too many economies...some say we’re in the experience economy, the social or the ‘like’ economy, even the creative economy.

I kinda go with the last one: for me, it sums it up.

There are examples all around us: individuals and companies who shone though the crisis and the downturn are creative, or have creative leadership. (that’s being so craved for....)

Does that mean that MBA’s will be replaced? NO.
Does that mean that they need to be more creative? YES.

Which of the two is more relevant? He He He...for me, the latter ;-) ‘cos if you’re not, you’re screwed.

Sir Ken Robsinson spoke at TED about creativity and the need for change in the educational system...click here if you haven’t: I promise it’ll shake you up.

What he says is so true. I don’t have kids, but the ones that I interact with seem to be very ‘not-comfy’ not-knowing answers. That’s dangerous. It’s not their fault, but dangerous nonetheless.

Ignorance has always been bliss, but today, ignorance can be a huge bonus.

Black and white is dead. Grey’s are in. And if you can navigate this grey world, you’re one of the lucky ones.

Text books don’t have all the answers so we’ve got to stop text-book’ising this generation. They’re important. But not totally it.

Those don’t even cover FaceBook and Twitter. How can it be enough for a generation that is growing up breathing these.

iPads replaces the slate and kids are so comfortable using one of those it would seem that the womb had an instruction manual.


You may think it’s silly, but I mix toothpaste to get new flavors. Pretty much the same as I like mixing spirits. 

Oil spills and forest fires? Maybe give kids a shot at them. You might have some real workable solutions.

Why? Because they are not burdened with having to give a right answer. No ones marking them or giving them grades.

One of my dreams seems to be coming alive. A dream of setting up an innovation and design lab here in Mumbai. Kids and students collaborating with the Pro’s to come up with new products, new levels of service: using technology. Or not.

More importantly, to solve problems that are shaking up the world around us.

Yes, the system needs change. But that may take too long. That’s not in your hands.

But there are things that you can do. start by letting your kids do silly things.

Make them realise that while 2+2 is important, there’s a lot more to life than that.

Let your kids do silly things, let them do the new.

Do the dirty and do the clean, play some cricket and do the Wii and the PS3.

Do the music, do dance. Build and break, color and cut. Cook and create.

Let them do Facebook and Tweet a bit too.

Do the digital, but not without showing them charm of the analog.

Let them mash-up and hack a little. Multidisciplinary is good.

Let them PLAY.




btw... so should you :)

Staircase lust

He’s designed the first ever stair case that I’ve fallen in love with.  

Yup...a staircase!

Never in my life have I felt this way about a staircase... it’s finally just something that you either walk up or down to get you to another level...no?

He’s even thought of cars that double up as lamp posts...and furniture or objects made from sugars and human hair!

Think I’ve lost it...?

And btw, he’s also a pioneer of industrial design, having shown at the MoMa, and the Design Museum at London. And yes, he’s even told brands like Sony to F***...!

He’s also one of my inspirations. He is Ross Lovegrove.