Archive for November, 2011
Case study: The re-engineering of a conference
Posted on 09. Nov, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
Conferences should be fun
On of our best clients is Dimension Data. They really get it – and are dedicated to pushing the innovation envelope when it comes to their conferences. They understand that hosting a conference is a huge opportunity to demonstrate forward thinking to the people that matter – the people attending the event.
Most brands [even the seemingly progressive ones] when hosting events, surprisingly just can’t tear themselves away from the standard conference format. It’s the same ol’ format with the same ol’ tired outcome at the end. It feels like event organisers are too scared to do something different for a change.
Last year, we produced a conference quite out of the ordinary with a 2-week long game called State of Grace. This year we stayed physically in Sandton, but instead produced interactive and immersive elements for the event that enhanced the overall message and experience of innovation.
Finishing touches to the RFID stations
RFID tag technology has remarkable applications for events, allowing you to blur the barrier between physical interactions, digital tracking and social media integration. We designed, prototyped and build a series of RFID stations, which we placed throughout the conference venue - tracking each participant’s progress between sub-venues through the day. All were build from scratch in our lab using Netbooks and Arduino circuit boards and software applications that we wrote. Tags were personalised and loaded with individual information that even indicated the preferred beverage of the conference goers to the barman at the end of it all. Unexpected touches that make a huge difference and all possible with the technology.
Our RFID-trigger photo booth
Part of the series of stations was an over-sized RFID triggered photo booth [that we also designed and built from scratch] that tagged photos with the names of the people triggering the shot based on the RFID cards swipped. These images were then displayed in real time via large projections to the dance venue at the end of the event. At one stage we had eight people crammed into the booth firing multiple images of themselves and then running through to the dance floor to revue they efforts.
RFID picture taking and tagging
Some couldn't stay away
In the repackaging of the conference content we also created a 2m high hologram [for real] and a 5-minute long 3D-projection mapping that was displayed on a partially wrapped 14m x 5m specially design stage. We used the backdrop of the mapping throughout the conference as a dynamic theme to pull all of the content together.
[Once the video of that mapping is complete we'll share more about that then.]
Projection mapping set up
Space ship masking
Mapped conference backdrop
In conclusion: Our philosophy is that an event or a conference that people have elected to attend is an unbelievable opportunity to WOW! people with your brand. We hear a lot about ‘death by PowerPoint’ these days, but in truth it’s not PowerPoint that’s putting people to sleep, it’s the company’s unimaginative intention behind that presentation that’s the crying shame. If you’ve managed to attract an audience to your gig – do them, and your brand a favour and make sure the overall experience is remarkable and unforgettable.
To infinity and beyond...
Invest the budget and leverage off the massive amount of word-of-mouth you could potentially generate. In an overcrowded global media environment it’s the hardest working investment you can make. If you’re not sure how – call us.
Mirage: The full surf experience
Posted on 09. Nov, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
This is really what we’d like to be doing right now.
Rip Curl has again created a technological world-first by capturing full-tilt surfing action using a “30 camera Array” — a line of cameras firing consistently as surfers ride towards and past it. The results are unique “frozen moments of time” – that can be viewed in a combination of angles for a true in the round perspective.
Stunning stuff.
Margin Call
Posted on 08. Nov, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
Trying to understand exactly how the much talked about 1% effectively shafted the 99% is not easy. But perhaps a new theatrical movie entitled Margin Call is worth a viewing.
Sadly most ‘educated’ people who work of the world’s major news agencies still won’t get it and will continue to label those that question the status quo as unpatriotic and anti-capitalist.
Puma and Brewers & Union introduce KREECHR
Posted on 04. Nov, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
Not many things make us as happy as good beer and the Volvo Ocean Race. So when you combine the two, together with the punchy allure of the sexy Puma brand, you have a threesome that would make even Terry Richardson’s eyes water.
We were lucky enough to have been invited to taste the new KREECHR beer last night – which we gladly welcomed as part of our own privately organised build-up to this year’s race that starts in Spain on the weekend.
KREECHR is strong. It’s not a beer for wimpy landlubbers or those unfamiliar with the feeling of adrenaline gushing through their veins.
On the nose [yes, we can use terms like that when it comes to appreciating the delicate olfactory nuances of beer] it magically teleports you into the middle of an apple orchard at the beginning of spring. Light and floral with notes of honey and lavender, but that where the bunnies and soft babbling brooks end.
It’s when you take a hearty swig of the KREECHR that its true sailing pedigree is revealed. Brad and Rui have successfully crafted a beer that delivers the essence of a sophisticated rum in the palatable guise of a lager. At 6.5% ABV it’s meant to be appreciated as a quiet one after taming the oceans in a fibreglass bath tub that’s worth a billion dollars, but you’ll be forgiven for dreaming of the seven seas with a couple of these beauties after your hard day just watching the race online. In short, it’s bloody delicious!
For the duration of the Volvo Ocean Race – or at least while the limited quantities of stock are still available – we’ll be finding every opportunity to be drinking a KREECHR. Paired with something spicy it’ll make the rest of November seem like we’re spending it on-board the Mar Mostro with Captain Jack Sparrow himself.
Kelly Slater is now 11x World Champion
Posted on 04. Nov, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
What’s with this guy? Did nobody tell him that at 39 he should be playing golf and relaxing instead of racking up yet another World Surfing Championship?
Amazing – Tim Noakes will tell you that all remarkable achievement starts and ends in the mind.
National Geographic’s live augmented reality experience
Posted on 03. Nov, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
Although this augmented reality stunt in a mall for National Geographic is very cool – it’s also, in another way, incredibly sad.
The sadness that we feel is admittedly as a result of some deepset philosophical trigger spawned by the realisation that human beings are so out of touch from our surroundings that this thing is then seen in some kind of positive light, but that’s a topic for another day.
Cape Town revue bar launches a perfume range
Posted on 02. Nov, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
Mavericks – Cape Town’s upmarket revue bar – has launched a range of male fragrances.
Because people get a bit carried away at Mavericks and have just one more dance to see what happens, they usually arrive home late
And get in huge ‘trouble’.
So the range of fragrances is called Alibis. “My car broke down”, “We were out sailing” and “I was working late”.
The fragrances smell like the name My car broke down, smells of Gas and grease and steel
We were out sailing smells like sea salt, sunscreen and cotton rope
And I was working late smells of cigarettes, coffee, ink toner and wool suits.The fragrances have been made by a top Cape Town Parfumer
So the fragrances are awesome.[thanks Porky]
Fragrance sales will be promoted through the erection of billboards and and around the city. Some may get a little touchy over the issue. We reckon if it’s not your vibe, just don’t buy the stuff.
Que the ‘blue-rinse brigade’ and the ASA.
OWS is the fight against Corporatism not Capitalism
Posted on 01. Nov, 2011 by Jonathan Cherry.
It’s most frustrating watching news channels that keep on refering to the Occupy Wall Street protests as anti-capitalist. It’s not capitalism that’s the problem – it’s the abuse of power in a free market economy of corporates that are anti competative by design and nature. Commerce us good – corporatism is not.
But this guys seems to say it better.
