Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Creativity, Culture, Gaming, Humanity, Technology
A while back I was walking past a bus-stop near the office and saw this:
I don’t know why but I found it a bit sad.
The dismissal of a staple piece of 70’s life … even though the fact it was carefully placed on the nondescript bin, suggested the last owner hoped someone would pick it up to use in their home, because otherwise why not just break it in two so it could fit inside the bin?
But of course these days we have technology to play these games with.
Hell, I remember when the first ‘computer chess sets’ came out and it seemed like we were jumping a 1000 years in the future.
Playing chess against a computer?! What the actual fuck.
But for all the online games … for all the AI friendships and advice … games with people in the same room hits differently.
It may be able to be replicated by tech, but it never quite has the same finesse.
It’s why I still love the quote of Nora Ephron who – when describing things she’ll miss when she dies – said:
“Dinner with friends in a city none of you live in”.
From the first time I heard that, it captured my imagination and emotion … and having been lucky enough to experience that many times over the years, she’s right. Which is why as much as I love tech – and boy, do I fucking love it – it’s always ends up being a slightly lesser experience than playing with humans … because while the end goal may be the same, it’s the beautiful and unexpected shit that goes on in the interactions between start and finish that makes it a moment, rather than simply a fast-track to the end.
The problem with the tech bros is they’ve convinced us life is about optimization when really it’s about rabbit holes.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, Cannes, Creative Development, Creativity, Technology
I kinda love this drone usage at an open-air concert.
A simple ‘exit sign’ that allows the thousands inside to see how to leave the venue.
Nothing fancy.
Nothing overblown.
Just some practical magic.
It reminds me in many ways of the brilliance of the old SONOS logo – when it wasn’t old.
A static image that was carefully designed to look like moving sound waves. Amazing.
I say this because in our quest to create the shiny new thing, sometimes we forget the most useful thing. The stuff that surprises – and delights – in its practicality.
Small acts that feel big and – even more importantly – are memorable.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the bonkers and utterly imaginative stuff.
It’s important … it breaks new grounds and possibilities.
But that doesn’t mean we should discount doing the simple stuff in smart ways.
Because while I know it’s not sexy … and I appreciate a lot of it can be easily replicated … the fact is with so many ideas recently being exposed as ‘questionable’ at the Cannes Festival of Creativity – they’re not just useful, they’re real.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, AI, Attitude & Aptitude, Communication Strategy, Crap Campaigns In History, Creativity, Culture, Emotion, Empathy, Humanity, London, Technology
While I was in London, I saw this:
What the actual fuck?
The worst thing is I can imagine they’ll get lots of enquiries … probably from companies who are very vocal on saying ‘their staff are their greatest asset’.
But as we know, the companies that shout the loudest about their people are often the ones who are the worst offenders of them. Like some supercharged gaslighting trick, except everyone knows what they’re doing.
The bit I find confusing though is who do these companies think will be their future customers if they are shedding jobs in favor of AI?
Who is going to have the money and why the fuck do they think those who do, will spend it with them when there is a distinct lack of customer care, craft or consideration?
AI has incredible possibilities, but the scary thing is most companies like it because they see it as being able to do the same things they’ve always done, just cheaper or faster.
That’s it.
What these companies fail to realise is that if their products and operations can be replicated this easily, then they may not be that good in the first place.
I’m seeing this everywhere – especially in advertising.
Agencies and clients banging on about how they have used AI to create an ‘ad’ that would have cost millions before – without once stopping to realise that not only is it something we have seen millions of times before, but while the ad may be visually rich, it is also fucking shit.
Sure, it’s early days … but that so many people are focusing on the optimization of the technology rather than the possibilities of it is tragically sad. But then – as I’ve talked about a bunch in the past – I have always been more alarmed by the people behind the tech than the tech itself.
Maybe this is why my client – the biggest investor in luxury and street culture fashion on earth – believes the future of luxury will be built around personal service. Not the illusion of personal service … but the engagement and interaction with real humans.
Highly trained, highly experienced, specialists.
That doesn’t mean they don’t see the value and power of AI … they do. It’s just they recognize that you can’t claim value when you’re doing everything you can, on the cheap. And yet so many brands forget that … mistaking a premium price for a premium product. Until they find out by the actions, choices and behaviours of the people.
Technology is amazing and nothing is possibly more amazing than AI.
It has the power to liberate opportunities we’ve never imagined.
It can enable and facilitate whole new ways of working and creating.
It will provide an outlet for people who have been overlooked for decades.
This is all incredible and important stuff.
But if companies increasingly see it as a way to cut costs to drive short-term gains … then frankly, not only do they deserve all they will get, they need to realise they are the embodiment of Artificial Intelligence.
So to the people behind Artisan … go fuck yourself.
Said with love. Human love.
Filed under: Attitude & Aptitude, Childhood, Creativity, Family, Mum, My Childhood, Parents, Technology, Television
I’m old.
Fucking ancient.
And yet, despite 1000’s of years passing between my single digit years and now, there are some things I remember clearly and dearly. One of those are the kids TV shows I watched growing up.
Not all of them, of course, but some.
Trumpton.
Campbellwick Greene.
Why Don’t You.
The Magic Roundabout.
Rhubarb And Custard.
Pipkins.
Mr Benn.
Mr Benn was one I particularly liked.
It was a cartoon about a man – Mr Benn – who would leave his house and visit a fancy-dress shop nearby.
Each episode, the owner of the shop would invite hum to the changing room to try on an outfit before ushering him through a magic door at the back of the changing room. From there, he would enter a world linked to whatever outfit he was wearing and go on a small adventure.
Each episode would end with him reappearing back in the changing room holding a small souvenir connected to where he’d just been and that would be it.
It was short, innocent and – for a 5 year old in Nottingham – bloody brilliant.
A window into other world’s and possibilities.
A chance to explore and imagine.
A taste of what could await.
I have probably not seen an episode of Mr Benn for almost 5 decades and yet it still has a warm place in my heart. If you asked me how many episodes I’d have watched, I’d have probably said hundreds … watching them either with my Mum when they were on at lunchtime or later in the afternoon when I was home from school.
So you can imagine my surprise when recently I saw this …
WHATTHEFUCK!???
If finding out Mr Benn’s house was a real place wasn’t amazing enough … I then discover there were only 13 episodes ever made.
THIRTEEN?
I am in utter shock.
I’d have bet everything I own saying I’d watched more than 13 different episodes.
Fuck, I thought I watched nearly all of that in a single week.
I don’t know if I’m more confused by the fact I thought I’d watched hundreds or that they only made 13.
Why so few?
It’s not like it was amazing animation.
What else of my childhood was a lie?
Was pulling a ’64 pavement slab wheelie’ on a Raleigh Grifter not really legendary?
Was Sarah Holtham not actually the prettiest girl in the World?
Was the Philips G7000 not really the cutting edge of technology?
Was the Argos Catalogue a compendium of tat rather than gold?
Were Hedgehog Flavored Crisps a bit shit?
I don’t know if I can ever recover from this …
Before I saw that image I thought I’d had a great childhood and now …
So thanks a lot Mr Benn, you’ve just fucked my entire childhood … but I’ll still go visit your house next time I’m in London.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Flying, Football, Gaming, Nottingham Forest, Singapore, Technology
A few weeks ago I was in Singapore waiting for a connecting flight to Vietnam.
I was lucky enough to get into the lounge so hung out there for a while.
I got myself some food.
I got a big glass of Coke Zero.
Found a seat and started to watch the football.
It was Manchester United versus Arsenal … and while I don’t support either of those team, the fact Nottingham Forest were currently 3rd in the Premiership – just behind Arsenal – I was paying extra close attention to what was going on in the match.
Now I acknowledge it was late.
I also acknowledge I was tired.
And we cannot forget I am currently dealing with an eye issue so my vision isn’t too hot right now … but even with all that, I must admit to being blown away with the athleticism and precision of the Arsenal players.
It was amazing. The intricate passing and speed of turn.
In fact, I was so mesmerized by it, that it took me 15 minutes to realise I WAS WATCHING A VIDEO GAME VERSION OF THE MATCH!
What the actual fuck?!
Why would this be on the Singapore Airlines Lounge TV?
Was it a mistake?
Were the people who chose to broadcast this also fooled?
Or was this simply some Singapore Airlines staff taking the piss out of the people who sit in their lounge and eat their food?
Whatever the reason, the fact I was the only one who seemingly realized – and it took me 15 minutes to work it out – means this may be the best ad for Playstation since the literally best ad for Playstation.
Nice work computer nerd people.
And the mischievous bastards at Singapore Airlines, Changi Airport.