The Playful Planning Project

The wonders of digital technology

2007-01-24T14:44:00.000Z

Thanks to Cybergabi for photo

I can't claim to have found this, my digital partner here Andy, pointed it out.

It's fascinating how technology seems to be affecting our lives, be it Sky+ boxes which mean we no longer have to watch ads, or low cost satnav which means there's no excuse to get lost again (particularly good for me because I keep getting lost). The fascinating thing is how governments and councils seem to be adopting technology for real good. Anyone who has used Transport For London's journey finder will know just what a marvel it is, but I digress you probably already know this but perhaps not the efforts being made to make the world live in that little bit more livable...

"In March last year, a city council project in Lewisham was initiated, which allowed residents to send camera-phone pictures to their local council to report stray garbage, unwanted grafitti, etc. Two new spottings show that the concept is catching on. The local government of Amsterdam's Geuzenveld district just launched an online tool that lets people pinpoint neighborhood problems on Google Maps. After filling out an online form, a marker is placed on a Google map of the area, along with information on how the complaint is being dealt with.

The district is counting on the service to save time and money. Currently, a street lantern that's out of order will lead to numerous calls and emails to the district (roughly 40% of all complaints are sent by email/internet forms). Once people get used to checking the map to see if someone else has already reported an issue, the amount of redundant notifications will presumably decrease. Geuzenveld also hopes residents will feel more involved now that they're actually able to track how their complaint is being followed up, and that local maintenance crews will be motivated to keep the map as empty as possible, solving close to 90% of all issues within 2 days.

New York, meanwhile, isn't one to fall behind. Later this year, the city's 911 call centers will be able to receive camera-phone pictures and videos taken by residents and visitors, straight from the scene of a crime. 311 non-emergency call centers will be similarly equipped at a later stage, allowing New Yorkers to document and photographically report on 'quality of life problems'".

Time to smile

2007-01-24T14:38:00.000Z

I have no idea why, but this made me smile. I received it in an email, usually the stuff I get is rubbish, but I like this one. It's light and simple. If you stumble upon it, I hope it does the same.

The mobile phone killer?

2007-01-10T16:06:00.000Z

So Apple has finally announced the launch of the worst kept secret, their new wait for it...iphone.

They are of course predicting that it's going to revolutionise the market. I have no idea if it will or not, I guess time will tell. The thing is, I just don't think it's quite as revolutionary as Apple are making out. I suppose it's because it does all the things that I was expecting, plays music, film, you can make calls, it's got a camera and you can surf the net. Don't most phones do this already? So what else does it do that is so life changing? Well it has a touch screen which is clever, removing the need for a touch pad (and hence a bigger screen), and it has some nifty portrait to landscape functionality. And that's really it. I know you could argue that when the iPod launched it wasn't really doing anything that new, it was more that they'd changed the parameters by the way you do it. I just don't buy that the iphone is in the same league.

Furthermore the iPod was (and still is) as I've waxed lyrically before amazingly, jaw droppingly beautiful. The iphone isn't. It looks pretty smooth, but it's not beautiful, not like the iPod or the original iMac.

Maybe I'll change my tune when I get to see one in the flesh, but I'll be really surprised if this is the handheld device that changes everything.

Total 24 immersion

2007-01-10T15:46:00.000Z

There are only a few TV programmes, that I will do everything in my power to avoid missing, Lost, Battlestar Galactica (don't knock it till you've seen it), but above all else 24.

It's not quite as good as it used to be, but for pure escapism on a Sunday night, nothing beats it. Those of you who are fellow 24 fans will know it launches on Sky in about a weeks time, so surprise, surprise there's some pre-build up interactive interest. They're not the first to do it of course, Lost has had for a while a pretty decent interactive / immersion element, a website and various puzzle spin offs that give you more story beyond the TV show. It's quite possible that 24 has as well, but I've missed it until now.

But they've taken it further, you get to play agent, and you get phone calls! So cool!

I'm not going to ruin it for you, if you want to find out more go to www.ctuagent.com fill in your details (including your real phone number it's vital you do this), enter in passcode: 99k36f and wait to see what happens.

Good luck fellow CTU agents.

Pom Bashing

2006-11-24T15:48:00.000Z

In the interest of fairness (and ensuring a peaceful home life) I thought I'd share how a different company is capitalizing on the cricket. It's hardly an original idea really, I mean Australia and sledging, goes together like England and fair play, so we should all take it on the chin and not let it get to us. The problem is I'm really easy to wind up...

Weirdly enough it comes from Ford, I can't quite work out the link with cricket, maybe it makes more sense out there. Anyway it's actually quite fun, reminds me of swing the penguin.

2006-11-21T10:14:00.000Z

Aussie Bashing

Hopefully my other half won't see this (she being an Australian), but thought my first post in a while should combine my job and the best sport in the world: CRICKET.

It's a viral ad for Marston's and bashing Australia. This might be the only laugh we get for the next month or two, so I thought I'd share it with everyone. Who knows maybe, just maybe it'll get under the skins of the Australian team, so destabilise their confidence that we win 5-0.

Now that would be something.

It's quiet, too quiet...

2006-10-10T17:22:00.000+01:00

But there is a reason! I've been in that awkward period of looking for a new job. Which means it's been hard enough too:
- read and keep up to date with all the great blogs and posts out there
- do my job
- create fake meetings to go to (and remember what they were!)
- ensure I do enough research on what I'm about to walk into interview wise
- and then to write things that pop into my head and put it down here

But the wait is over, I've got a new job and can now spend the time contributing my little bit to the world wide web.

Oh and where am I going? Here's a clue...

p.s. that's not me on the right.

What it means to be English

2006-09-28T15:07:00.000+01:00

More often that not, an outsiders perspective gives you a much better idea of your own culture than you will ever have, because they see the differences... at least that's how the theory goes.

By and large I go along with that, as discomforting as it can sometimes be. Chief Giorgio Locatelli, revealed something about us in the Observer Food Monthly, which I'd never really considered particularly associating with us.

I quote:

"They are very passionate, the English. They are very passionate about different things. They are passionate about fair play"

I really wasn't expecting that, I mean fair play is not the first thing that would come to mind in describing the English, but when you think about it...

Maybe that really is a unifying factor, a sense of justice and fair play is something that we hold true. Lets face it, we don't like cheats be it sportsmen or businessmen, if you're successful fine, but play by the rules.

Having said that, in comparison to Italy where corruption seems to part and parcel of life, 'fair play' might well seem enhanced. And I'm not convinced historically we've always adhered to these principles, but I do wonder if the US held 'fair playness' more centrally as an ethos, perhaps the world and their own country wouldn't be in quite such a mess.

Must remember this, could be a useful brand positioning: x the fair play brand.

Statistics can be fun

2006-09-28T12:25:00.000+01:00

A few weeks ago I posted some scary cigarette smoking stats, so here instead are some fun non-scary booze related stuff, specifically for Guinness and will not, I guarantee, send you scurrying into a corner to hide with a pillow.

There is a pub, in the soho vicinity, that specialises in Guinness, if you drink the stuff then you've probably been there, it's The Toucan on Soho Square. It has to be one of the tiniest pubs in London let alone Soho, but has more taps of Guinness than in any pub I've ever been to, which might help to explain how the following was possible.

On St.Patrick's day 2005 they got through 43 kegs of Guinness.

There is approximately 85 pints in a keg.

Which means that The Toucan served a staggering 3,655 pints in a 24hr period.

In fact, more accurately, their hours of opening are from 11am to 11pm, so they served 3,655 pints over 12 hours.

Or 304 1/2 pints per hour, or unbelievably 5 pints per minute (remembering that it takes 119.5 seconds to pour the perfect pint).

Which is nice.

Roadside advertising and more

2006-09-26T10:00:00.000+01:00

My driving trip round the US was amazing, and the thing you reaslise, is just how fundamental the car is to American society. Consequently most most towns are organised round the car i.e. the road (as opposed to pedestrians, squares, etc.) and this results in a multitude of roadside advertising.

The following are some of the funnier roadside "ads" or rather signs that we came across during our trip. Notice how many times "God" is used to sell a product.

The first is possibly the scariest, and the last is unbelievable!

Design of the week: my new ipod

2006-09-25T17:45:00.000+01:00

And to kick off my return, I'm going to share with you a present I got for myself when I was in the US: a brand new ipod.

I don't care what people say about Apple or ipod's, I think it is a thing of beauty. Simple as that. why on earth would you want anything else?

It's the first time I've spoiled myself in ages, something I rarely do. It often feels like it's wrong to do, at least from my perspective, but it felt really nice. A treat.

See y'all later

2006-09-08T15:35:00.000+01:00

I've been a bit blog lite this week preparing for our road trip across America.

In less than 24 hours, we head for mid-west USA. I'd like to thank everyone who helped to build what will be our soundtrack for America. When I get back I'll post the full list for future travellers.

And hopefully I'll have some great experiences to share...

Do come back ya here.

Creativity and the future

2006-09-07T10:47:00.000+01:00

I have no idea how Jon does this, I didn't when I worked for him, but he's found an amazing talk on the internet. A very insightful and enjoyable speech about creativity and education systems. I've often thought that our schooling system in the UK is damaging to creativity, as Sir Ken Robinson, puts it beningly pushing you away from it: you won't get a job doing art, dance or music...

Amazon.com a stretch too far?

2006-09-05T14:15:00.000+01:00

I used to think Amazon.com was great; I really understood what they were about. But I'm not so sure now.

The book selling was the really compelling proposition, I really got it: if the book's in print somewhere in the world you can get it from us. And with the marketplace, if the book isn't in print you might still be able to get it. That was revolutionary. And because we're online, we can lower costs, and hand them over to you. Brilliant.

Understandibly Amazon.com wanted to grow, so they added music to their inventory, which still kind of worked with their overall model. Then they added DVD's, games, electronics, toys, houseware...

The problem with all these additions, is they've started to move from a clear proposition of what they're about, to a generic retailer. Where once they were revolutionary, they're now simply copying other companies.

And now surprise, surprise they've introduced the Amazon.com credit card. It's not revolutionary it's just another store card.

The Innocent of cereals?

2006-09-04T15:08:00.000+01:00

I like muesli, I have for a while. But for so long it's either been hopelessly worthy or dull.

But now there's a new kid on the block: Dorset Cereals. They seem to have come from nowhere; first they were in our local corner shop, and now they're in Sainsbury's and Tesco's. And the good news for them, is they keep selling out.

The first thing is, like Innocent, the product is very good, it tastes great, there's a good range and from my experience it's better than most muesli's out there. Secondly, this definately feels like the first 'adult' cereal, or at least the first 'adult' cereal that somebody has taken the effort with.

But there may be a problem, I can't work out if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but Dorset Cereals does feel an awful lot like Innocent. If they were to do cereals, I don't think it would be a million miles away from here.
- a fun look to the packaging, yet at the same time quite understated
- down to earth communication style (feels very much like a conversation)
- yet allied with a slightly irreverent tone

This a definately a brand to keep an eye on, I suspect it could get a whole lot bigger.

Doing the right thing

2006-09-04T13:05:00.000+01:00

I saw an amazing film over the weekend, I missed it whilst it was out in the cinema: Goodnight and Good luck. It is a fascinating insight into the McCarthy witch-hunt era and his fall largely a result of intrepid newsmen. Specifically Edward Murrow.

He delivered several powerful speeches, but one in particular made me think about some of the discussions given towards moralism in marketing. It was delivered to the Radio and Television News Directors Association in the late 1950s (for the full transcript go here).

"This instrument (television) can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box."

This is surely as relevent to brand communications today. Wouldn't it be great if our collective aim was to illuminate and inspire. Imagine the visual landscape, and the potential for new brands...

The Morals of Marketing

2006-09-01T11:43:00.000+01:00

There has been some really interesting discussion on various blogs about the ethics of marketing, good and bad practice. Should consultants/planners/marketeers stand up and be a lone voice when clients want to or continue to tread a dangerous line with their brand.

It's been fuelled by comments picked up by Brand Tarot in regards to Coke's poor working practices worldwide, and specifically Rita Clifton's stance where she suggests that this isn't necessarily that big a problem for the brand given that "People are radical in research questionnaires and reactionary at the checkout Â People like to carry on doing what they like doing".

Others have commented on this morally dubious statement, none better than Jon Howard's post here, as he argues "wrong is wrong" and rightly so.

The irony is that anyone who works with Coke knows their business is in HUGE trouble. So I suspect to some degree people will carrying on doing what they like doing, and if that means feeling better not buying coke then they will. (I still for the life of me cannot work out how Coke is still considered the world's number 1 brand).

So to add fuel to the fire, here's an article from the Washington Post demonstrating just how amoral marketing can be. OK no surprises it's the USgovernmentt/Military, and it's hardly news that they are attempting to manipulate the media to present a better picture of Iraq.

But when you consider there's a $20 million contract, and that PR firm's will be pitching for it, you have to question the morals of any firm even willing to take part..don't you?

Statistics can be scary - this post now comes with a health warning

2006-08-31T12:15:00.000+01:00

Was caught by some smoking statistics in an article in the Guardian. So did some sums on the way-in. Sorry if you smoke, but thought the results quite interesting.

500,000 35+ year olds die a year.

Of that 90,000 die due to smoking.

Approximately 1 in 4 people smoke.

Which means of the 500,000 people that die a year, 125,000 of them are smokers.

Which means 71% of smokers die of smoking.

Or 3 out of 4 smokers will die because of smoking.

The question is would you do something if you knew there was only a 29% chance that you would survive? Or 71% chance it would kill you?

I know most anti-cigarette smoking advertising is shock based, but I've never seen the odds quite as starkly as this. Maybe it's already been done, but might actually make people sit up and notice.

Although from my experience, I used to simpy blank it out, switch channels, or believe it wouldn't happen to me.

Nothing like a cup-a-tea

2006-08-30T16:14:00.000+01:00

I don't seem to be the only one who spotted this article on tea from the BBC.

I don't remember tea ever being particularly bad for you, it just fell out of vogue, what with the rise of soft drinks and now coffee. But even so better than water?

"Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so its got two things going for it" Dr Ruxton

Surely this is a vindication to every avid tea drinker. The thing I can't get my head round is I thought tea was a diuretic. But apparently that's a misconception, only very highly caffeinated drinks are dehydrating.

I just wish they could prove coffee was as good for you!

Oh and then I read the bottom of the article:

The Tea Council provided funding for the work. Dr Ruxton stressed that the work was independent

Design of the week: a website and a power extension

2006-08-30T12:54:00.000+01:00

So I'll start with the power extension

Curtesy of Boing Boing , I came across this lovely piece of design. I can just imagine this sitting under my desk, or being tucked in behind an armchair, which will only be discovered when you need to plug in your mobile charger. I like the play between making something usually so dull, quite pretty and fun, but also the whole consumerism angle to it. Must find out where I can get one.

Visualising the news

This is a completely different way of displaying the news. Fallon picked up on this earlier in the week, it is a news agregator site, which has taken a novel graphic approach to visualising the news. I think it's great, but also because it is surprisingly intuitive and simple in showing what is happening right now, but importantly what stories the newsreporters think are important.

I love design

2006-08-30T12:18:00.000+01:00

Always have. From the simply beauty of graphic design:

To brilliant industrial design:

I'm not sure why 'design' captures me, might be because my dad trained as a designer, or might be because I grew up in the hey day of advertising and logos, or it might be simply being brought up in the greatest city in the world, being surrouded by the vibrant, creative place that is London.

In any case, I think design has never been so exciting.

Where form used to follow function, indeed when form was the sacrificial cow of function, now we seem to be in a time where form is as hallowed as the function. And personally I think that is fantastic. I love seeing the juxtaposition of something totally utillitarian, with something totally wacky.

Why shouldn't everyday objects be beautiful? Why shouldn't all the really boring dull stuff we look at, not be fun, playful and interesting? It's something that has interested me for a while. So from now on, once a week or so (we'll see how it goes) I'm going to post examples of great pieces of design.

Is YouTube losing its way?

2006-08-30T11:01:00.000+01:00

Whilst most people have been talking up the success of YouTube, and the incredible number of hits it receives per day, there are those on the fringes who are starting to talk of its demise. At first I thought it was tall poppy syndrome, corporate jealousy and simply people looking to shoot down another internet success.

But then came Paris Hilton. John Grant I think only yesterday commented on this fact and whether the internet community will accept this type of 'advertising' on its site.

The thing I'm starting to wonder about, is whether YouTube actually has a plan. If the rumours are right YouTube is losing $1 million per month, without an effective means of recouping the bandwidth costs. So they start by introducting Google Ads, and now branded channels.

It looks as though they are jumping at ideas as to how to make money. What I can't quite fathom is why the people behind YouTube would have started up an online business, which had the clear potential to hemorage money. It smacks of the early days of the internet, when people just setup random online companies, backed with a huge marketing spend and hoped they were bought out. Can YouTube really be the same?

But then there's the Paris Hilton thing! They clearly can't be sane if they think this is how YouTube can make money. Especially if you see the user commentary - any researcher would tell you it probably isn't working.

I guess the old adage "there is no such thing as a free lunch", may well come to bite all of us who use YouTube. Ach well it was good whilst it lasted.

Verbal Overshadowing

2006-08-25T14:42:00.000+01:00

You know those times when you come across something and that "of course!" thought strikes you, well I've had one of those whilst reading a post from Jason. It's a pretty interesting article generally on the whys and wherefores of the creative brief. But something leapt out at me when I was getting down the bottom, in reference to why one shouldn't write everything down whilst working on a strategy - Verbal Overshadowing.

This is a phenomenon that I came across whilst doing my psychology degree on facial recognition. I'd completely forgotten about it, but essentially what has been discovered is that if people too early on in a process (in this case recalling the details of a criminal) talk about certain details they inhibit their future memory and ability to accurately recognise the said criminal.

The more I think about it, the more I wonder whether there are greater implications than simply brief writing. One of the things I find difficult is being asked to pitch or work on something that I have previously have had a lot of experience with before, I always find it more difficult to come up with something startling new, because my previous experience seems to get in the way. In fact I wonder whether one really can come up with something startling new, simply because of that fact.

So a Friday question to ponder on, how many pitches are won by planners (ok I know it's not all down to us, by roll with me) coming up with great insights as a result of previous experience in that field vs. those with none or only lateral experience?

Accepted wisdom would state that those with the more experience will come up with the richer insights, simply because they have more grasp of the subject, but I wonder whether this is true...

My Music Tower

2006-08-24T12:46:00.000+01:00

I came across this a while back and really thought I should post this on my blog, mainly because I think it's pretty cool.

It's been created by those clever people at the beeb. I've stuck it in the sidebar and is, if you roll your mouse over, a tower of my musical tastes. As you can see (and hopefully hear) I am more of an indie/rock planner, so what sort are you?

Jon, I suspect you're going to struggle with this, having one of the braodest tastes in music that I've ever met, but if you do manage it let me know and I'll check it out!

Why planner's blogs are great

2006-08-24T11:41:00.000+01:00

Richard from Adliterate, who I've never met, but feel I know, has proposed something more useful than any IPA or APG planning paper award, he has set a challenge to see whether really good thinking by people (planners I assume?) that has led to really great work, actually works.

I've always thought the IPA Effectiveness Awards somewhat pointless, endlessly proving advertising is effective, is a bit like endlessly proving that if you drink alcohol you will get drunk. In fact, if anything these days it seems to be more about proving just how effective it is, i.e. how drunk you got, rather than whether the advertising was any good i.e. a glass of Chateaun Petrus vs. Vodka Redbull.

My dream would be to be able to prove that through brilliant thinking, and brilliant creative/engaging execution you were able to reduce media spend because of its effectiveness at generating sales. Imagine a client setting that as a target...

In case you're wondering I proposed Persil's "It's not dirt" campaign. Great thinking and beautiful strategy, I'd be really quite upset if they haven't sold bucket loads as a result.