Objectified

...and what about design ? What about it ? I often ran into questions like these. I never got the reason why, after explaining about a particular design aspect in The 4Th Floor's works (and I bet this is not the only case, you probably ran into them also), the following question that pops out is : "why's it so expensive ?". I guess, because nothing comes for free in this world, I keep saying to myself. Dumb answer you might say, but what other suitable answer would satisfy someone who always wants to see the final product delivered. It's like he refuses to believe that there is actual sweat and talent and work hours, various creative approaches and most of all that omnipresent passion that became your inner life drive. I know that passion for being concerned about pixel-like details or colors, or even angles, for being really focused on following the aesthetic principles of contexts and situations, might seem unmeasurable or uncategorized, thus unsuitable to have a value. This assumption will always be the climax of being wrong in my opinion. There is always a small example that always pops out in my head on such occasions : how will people look at you when you show up at an important meeting in a sharp suit with your shoelaces untied ? Everyone will expect you to trip and fall down. It's common psychology, and, most of all it always works. My conclusion through this example would be : take your time to analyze your need to be in the spotlight, with all eyes on you, those eyes always looking for that small detail you forgot to repair and give it the proper finish. Try to picture that those eyes are your consumer's eyes and from time tot time, in the back of the room, the eyes of your competitors. If this makes you sweat a bit, don't panic, take a deep breath...there's no guns pointing to your head...Only eyes

Trippin' through thoughts

Every once in a while I bump into those vocabulary words that try to illustrate the business world. While passing on the street or waiting in a coffee shop for the waiter to milk a cow and bring it to the table along with the espresso, I keep hearing these buzz-words : corporate this, corporate that, f..k corporate, hail corporate. I still don't know what's so special about this word, or is it already a lovemark and I keep swimming into the ocean of ignorance I dive in from time to time ? Is it me, or does this seem like a friendly arcade flipper game ? Everywhere you turn, everyone you meet, how you breathe, how you think and how you feel, is somehow related to this word. Is this becoming the shadow of this nation perhaps ? Hell no, I don't want another identity. Now you might say, what's this idiot thinking ? He's an active creative freelancer, he runs a small business...he is part of the corporate environment and he says this word does not define him. Well, for those of you who will say that, I have to state that this word is not an alter-ego. It's another reason to be ironic, it's another reason to split doing / making stuff with passion, from having to do / make things with "passion" (and for this quotation please feel free to find matching words). 

Well, the reason I'm writing today about this "corporate" word, is due to Radu Afrim's play "Jocul de-a vacanta" and a particular song that keeps popping into my head every single time I hear the word "corporate". According to my fellow psychologists this could be translated as a Pavlovian reflex. But why this connection ? I guess it's caused by the extremely well chosen song lyrics that in an acid symmetry howl : "vivat corporatia". Every single time I hear this, somehow, communist targeted anthem, I realize the reason why "corporate geniuses" like Richard Branson or Steve Jobs created brands like Virgin or Apple, and were not born under the protective communist wings, they were not fed iodine pills after the Csernobil incidents and so on. I really wonder if in a normal, hard working, non-paranoid society, our people (understand it as you like) would have been able to come up with the true meaning of the word "corporate". Even if I will not kill my dream to remain in the advertising industry, for sure I won't be carrying a "corporate" badge tied to my Jaguar car key. What are the odds of seeing me carry a "The 4Th Floor" or "Just Enjoy Thinking" badge tied to my Mr. Bean vintage Morris edition car key ?  I would be honored to read some comments from you sometime and also on Radu Afrim's song which I invite you to digest while getting ready for a new day at the office :) Just enjoy thinking, as I always say 

Default gadgets

I bet that most of you guys out there know how it's like to carry around or always have around on your desk a couple of items that you are kind of addicted to. Yes, I'm talking about smart gadgets that somehow give you strength and confidence in your everyday life and even put a smile on your face. 

Personally, I wasn't a gadget "freak" until recently (and by this I mean until 2-3 years ago), but getting to know some of the gadgets that today I always talk about, carry and are a must in the business process, made me ask myself "why wasn't I attracted by them earlier ?" (stupid question, I know ha ha ha ) My personal favorites which I fully exploit on account of my needs are pretty basic, not the most high-tech but I can call them "my precious". Here they are :

1. Nokia E51

2. iPod Touch

3. Wacom Bamboo graphic tablet

Of course, if you feel the need to share your gadget top 5 and your personal experiences as gadget "freaks", feel free to comment on this blog on this topic.

Until next time, just enjoy thinking