Archive for February, 2009

Diagrams are sweet

Ben Witnall - February 27th, 2009

Rrrrrrepost! From the Delib blog:

I love diagrams. Everybody loves diagrams. They’re like the tangy bits in those chewy sweets, the little extra bit of zing that keeps you tantalised right the way through a pitch or presentation. So as a little treat, I thought I’d dip into the dusty jar of old documents and dig out a handful of Delib diagrams from the past few years. I’m not saying these are our greatest diagrams or convey the heart of what we’re about; no, like the best pick ‘n’ mix, this is a fairly arbitrary selection in a completely arbitrary order – just enjoy! (N.B. in some cases, names have been erased to protect the innocent/client).

Fig. 1: the oval of participation
Engagement - participation diagram

Fig. 2: the internets
Seeding cloud diagram

Fig. 3: Delib vs. the ladder of participation (v. old – as you can tell by the colour scheme)
Ladder of participation diagram

Fig. 4: boxing out a custom build
Site plan boxes diagram

Fig. 5: do cross the beams (of online and offline consultation)
Criss-crossing offline and online diagram

A hat full of hope…

Matt Golding - February 27th, 2009

I attended the Bristol Media Portfolio Night last night – which was exhausting (especially following the Today viral shoot I did on Wednesday – more about that later) but great. Lots of really interesting people from across the region and loads of great work. My hat is now full of cards from all the great people I met…

Hat full of hope...

Write stuff down

Andy Parkhouse - February 27th, 2009

Your brain is phenomenal at solving problems, and for remembering what has happened to you in life. You need this store of experience this so you know who you are, and so you can learn. That’s essential.

Your brain is weak at remembering tasks, appointments, and the details of obligations you have entered into. Write these down, and have a simple system for checking and acting to get them done. That’s also essential.

Moreover, using a simple system to remember things and get them done does not mean that you are somehow less capable as a person – just the opposite.


Back story: I learnt the hard way that the brain is poor at recalling tasks, appointments and details of obligations.

It took me many years to understand that writing things down and regularly checking them removes that nagging feeling that you’ve let something slip somewhere; by doing so the mind rests easier, and you avoid the minor shame of broken promises and failed obligations. I’ve yet to meet anyone for who this is not true.

Today Programme…

Matt Golding - February 20th, 2009

We were invited onto the Today programme this morning to chat about all this viral advertising lark, so I got up early and headed over to TV centre. Very nerve wracking all this live radio stuff, but think it went OK. You can see the pics below (it was very early, so apologies I look close to death. How they do this every day I don’t know!). And hear Rubber Republic on the Today programme here and here. The section I’m in is 1 hour 45 mins in.

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Rubber Republic on Radio 4 Today programme

Andy Parkhouse - February 20th, 2009

Matt was just on the Today programme on Radio 4, having a nice discussion with Evan Davis about viral advertising. We’ll put a link up to the audio stream when it’s available.

Ballooning

Matt Wilkes - February 17th, 2009

Balloon Sprint

Hi all!

We’re pleased to announce the Bristol Balloon Sprint, a nice, friendly Plone sprint in Bristol, UK in early August.  Some of you will have heard about it already, as it’s been announced to our local Plone usergroup, Wessex Plone, already. (What’s a sprint?)

We’ve got a good contingent of skilled developers, testers and usability experts coming and are planning to work on making both Plone 3 and Plone 4 better.  This sprint is open to everyone, whether you’ve never sprinted before or are a core developer (we have both already) you’re more thana welcome.

So, if that sounds like your kind of thing, join our openplans page and put your name on the participants list.  Also, please add some ideas for topics, we’re having a discussion in the office today about more tasks, but if there’s something specific you want to do, please list it!

Finally, if you’re interested in sponsoring the sprint, you can contact Jake Wittlin and have a chat, we’ll make sure your logo goes on the plone.org event page and the sprint pages, as well as tell the attendees how awesome you are.

Rubber Republic start a bit of scaremongering for Friday the 13th

Ben Witnall - February 13th, 2009

How’s this for a timely story? Our Rubber Republic wing has been commissioned by Paramount and MEC Global to run an online PR campaign that will fuel anticipation of the latest release in the iconic ‘Friday the 13th’ series of horror movies.

The purpose of the campaign is to start online conversations about the film, which hits cinemas across Europe on Friday 13th February — that’s today, folks!  The campaign’s focused on five major European territories: the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain (EFIGS to the ITKs).

We’ve been equipped with a provocative and interactive viral film to get people talking: http://www.travelwithus.tv. In the clip, you join a ‘live’ webchat with a slightly fearful lady backpacker before she is, ahem, *cut off*.  You can also customise the clip to send a delightful personalised message straight from Jason to your friends — or enemies.

The campaign follows the good work we did last year with the viral promotion for Paramount’s ‘Tropic Thunder’.  We’ve also been engaged to undertake a major online seeding campaign for the hugely anticipated ‘Watchmen’ which is released in cinemas next month.

Rory reckons: ‘Paramount are pioneering what can be done within digital social-media and viral channels. They have recognised that the film can start well before the viewer gets to cinema – it’s very exciting to be part of this when we can offer people genuinely engaging content.’

aMap lift off…

Matt Golding - February 13th, 2009

Our aMap launch party last night buzzed along nicely, in the friendly surroundings of Piada, the fantastic italian cafe under our Frith Street office. Thanks to all of you diverse media, film and political types who turned out to see our feisty new baby spread its wings. If you haven’t seen the project yet visit aMap here, where you can buy our selection of pre-made aMaps, or construct your own online to argue with your friends…

3276378862 0cb85fd9b81 aMap lift off...

3275558115 5b50557a00 aMap lift off...

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Same Team Rubber, new look

Andy Parkhouse - February 11th, 2009

It was time to refresh the visual identity. Hot off the press, and with no expense spared on the photography, here’s one of our new business cards. Photo 52.jpg
Ollie Lindsey at Play Nicely has done a great job for us, I love this. Thanks Ollie, thanks to all of Team Rubber, you make it what it is. I’ll leave any further speeches to Kate Winslet.

Great cause, great viral, great results…

Adam Abu-Nab - February 10th, 2009

ComputerTan.com, the hoax site we launched with McCann Erickson, could have easily been an advertisement for Something Awful’s anchor “the internet makes you stupid”.

It wasn’t, thankfully. It was for the wholehearted cause of spreading awareness around the tanning risks of skin cancer.  The anger of being hoaxed by something so preposterous was replaced with a little helping of understanding.

500k visits to the site, 100’s of blogger mentions and a wealth of international press since it was launched 7 days ago make this wholly pro bono campaign deeply satisfying for everyone involved. For those who who were luckily enough to not fall for it, here’s the informercial:

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