Thinking of Conclusions
Posted on June 2, 2007 | Filed Under Sociology - Psycology
The above is an advertisement of Zazoo Condoms.
The Advertiser in this advert tried to communicate his message by showing the conclusion that an action taken can have.
The same can be achieved in any form of advertising. Recently the same idea is also used in internet advertising and it is considered a guerilla tactic.
Understanding
We must always keep in mind the fact the most successful adverts and selling points come from the very common habbits a certain part of population has (target group). Most of our habbits are based one our primal insticts. Depending on gender, social position and previous experiences the same stimulation causes different reactions, but still some things remain the same for a very wide spectrum of the population. One of the rules of advertisement is that nomatter how broad it must always be targeted so we should not wait to be accepted or understand by the 100% of the population that will be “infected’.
So think about primal insticts - sex, aggression, survival, altruism, disgust, face perception, language acquisitions etc. These is a small but basic list of instics that govern each action that wants to create a direct reaction. The very foundations of religion are based on these archetypes and from an advertiser’s point of view, modern religion is indeed one of the most successful publicity stunts (God(s) or no God(s). It is based in aggresion control, survival (fear), society forming and communication.
Forming an Idea
In very simple terms in order to advertise a product or an idea based on conclusions you must find the simplest place this can be found in every day life. Think of the use of it reverse it or remove it and check the results. A simple example. You want to advertise the length of a certain toilet paper. You get every day life and you replace tolilet paper with a scrubber or you remove it from a toilet and imagine what the results of this can be keeping in your mind the above “insticts”.
Possible solution:
It is a beautiful Tuesday morning, the guy wakes up kissed the gorgeous girl by his side (obviously not his wife) and he is very late for work (they had a drink or two, 2 glassed of wine and a bottle by the floor). He dressed up double time checks his clock and last minute he need to go to the toilet. He enjoys himself with a smile bright at his face and the minute he is ready get up he finds out that the toilet paper is out. ” If only you had 6 feet more - The perfect ending. ”
The first scenes put the guy in a high successful social position and imply sex and good lifestyle. The expensive watch stands for success and busy lfe. The bright day is understand as happiness.
By removing the actual product we have established how importand it is and by boosting the rest of the insticts we have created a contrast of feeling that made the point even stronger.
Can you find what could possible happen n this occassion?
2 Thoughts are shared.
(3 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
Loading ...Organizing your Time and Office.
Posted on May 14, 2007 | Filed Under Freelancing
Some years ago in order to organize your time your would need a paper calendar a notebook an email account a Microsoft Office (Word Excell etc.) and the time to organize those before you even begin to organize your business.
Web 2.0 brought us some really nice stuff that if properly used can provide us with a package of applications that can help us work and save a lot of time, thus making this time money or leasure.
Google a year ago started expanding a unified platform that extends from the famous GMail to Gcal (google calendar), Analytics site statistics, Google Docs & Spreadsheets and finally 3 weeks ago Google Notebook a very handy and easy to use application.
I know that many companies all over the internet launched similar apps but the major problem is connectivity between them, you cannot get really organized if all of them work together, not to mention that jumping sites can be distructive. Google Network give you the ability to have a very good collection, a bundle if you please, that can not only help but also boost your productivity.
Which applications do you use to organize your freelancing efforts and which problems have you came against?
4 Thoughts are shared.
(2 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5) Loading ...What a “girl” needs.
Posted on May 4, 2007 | Filed Under Web Development, Freelancing
(a.k.a what practical knowledge do you need in order to become a Freelancer Web Developer)
The following text is a guide of the essential knowledge that a freelancer web developer needs to have in order to begin and progress in his carrier. I have categorized the skill list into 3 sections, junior, professional and expert. I believe that as in every art or craftsmanship we progress as we work and become better and better as we actually use our time in what we are doing. Web Development is also like that; you must have in mind that being a freelancer means more or less that you have to be jack-of-all-trades.
Junior
XHTML
Three or two years back I would propose to begin with learning HTML and XTML would have been a second step. Right now XTML syntax is and must be considered essential and the lowest standard a website developer must be looking into.
CSS / CSS 2.0
Cascade Style sheets and CSS 2.0 (positioning elements) is also a very important practical knowledge that you must be able to work with and understand in a fairly extensively. XHTML & CSS will give you the basic structure of any web site.
JavaScript
JS is the client side browser scripting language that is mostly used, if not entirely, nowdays. Understanding what JS can do for you and being able to intergrade scripts into your code is acceptable for this level.
Photoshop
Basic skills to create a layout and crop it in order to use it.
Finance
Basic skills to keep a clean income/expences book and the ability to set a hourly or daily rate if not, try setting a flat and minimun rate according to your needs and your tariff.
Organization
Get familiar with the process of creating a good client accounts and contacts system
Interaction
Since you will be doing all your appointments yourself try to acquire some conversation and presentation skills. Sometimes the way you present your product is more important than the product itself. Respect your client, believe in yourself, show him that you know what you are doing and that this is your work and you know better than anybody that is not his job what you are doing without offending him. Tip: Don’
t be a beggar, even if you REALLY need the money do not lower your price, respect your decisions or nobody will respect you. Also never give a quote before you assess the value of your work.
Self Advertisement
At the beginning of your career you should be able to advertise yourself. This part is of outmost importance and it will be as the above furtherly in next lessons. For now you must understand that in order to begin your career as a Freelancer Web Developer you will need to have a Personal Statement, a logo, a business card, a website, a mobile portfolio of your work so far and these are only the most essential in time you will need a full stationery set (personal envelope, compliment slip, letterhead). Apart from your physical existence these are your links ot the world and the only way people at the beginning will know about you and your services.
Professional
A professional of course will need all the above plus,
Web Server Programming Languages
PHP, ASP, Ruby, Python or any other from of server side programming language is essential at this point. (the box prefers PHP)
Web Database
In order to use the abilities that a server side programming language gives you, you must be able to use one database system, most commonly nowdays mySQL, SQL, Oracle or FireBird (the box prefers MySQL)
XML & XSL
Bringing your code skills to the next level will require to be able to work with XML that is a actually a very good way to list and distribute information since it is the heart of RSS and ATOM feeds. XSL gives you the ability to stylesheet the XML format and create presentable lists of data.
Advanced Photoshop
By now you must have mastered some techniques on photoshop and understand more about layers, curves, typeface usage, photography, brushes, and colour patterns and a variety of techniques widely used over the internet.
Flash Technology
Basic knowledge of Flash animation even if you wont be using it is also a requirement at this level. Even if you are outsourcing your FLASH animations to some colleagues you must have an idea of what can be done, what is the level of difficulty and the time requirements.
Advanced Javascript
At this point you must be able to write your own scripts and modify them in order to suit your needs.
Basic Linux / Apache
Being able to work around issues that have to do with Linux (since most web server run linux or a short of a unix shell) can also be very helpful even in order to be able to communicate with your server technician. Apache Web Server is where everything happens so if you really want to be a “religious” man you must more or less know the inner workings of your god.
Outsourcing & Collaboration
That is the next step that you must acquire communication wise. Being able to discuss with photographers, illustrators, animators, graphic designers, printers etc is now an absolute necessity since all projects above “minor class” will require you to work with one or more of the above. Building trust a good name, keeping deadlines and be clear when you are stating the brief and the desired outcomes is very important.
Expert
I wont come into detail for what an Expert needs to know because if you are reaching for this level you already know more or less what is needed from you and you have certainly chosen a path by this time towards programming or towards design. In some words your Programming and Database Structure abilities, your photoshop abilities must excell, AJAX is something that you ought to know at least by name and finaly I believe that your career, in most cases, at this point must be leaning towards a more “consulting” kind of working than hands on labour.
All of the Above will be explained furtherly in future posts
References
If you are just starting out it would have been a good idea to take a look at w3schools.com and read the tutorials. In my personal opinion it might be just basic knowlege but it does have all the basic knowledge that you will need before you continue to specific tutorials or even better a book on a specific subject.
Credits
Top Image: Connais-je encore la nature? Model: Astarte Alexia Pourgali @ 2006
(1 votes, average: 3 out of 5) Loading ...Opening the Box!
Posted on April 29, 2007 | Filed Under Uncategorized
According to Wikipedia
Boxes are highly variable receptacles. When no shape is described, a typical rectangular box may be expected. Nevertheless, a box may have a horizontal cross section that is square, elongated, round or oval; sloped or domed top surfaces, or non-vertical sides. A box normally may be opened by raising, sliding or removing the lid, which may be hinged and/or fastened by a catch, clasp, or lock. Whatever its shape or purpose or the material of which it is fashioned, it is the direct descendant of the chest, one of the most ancient articles of domestic furniture. Its uses are innumerable, and the name, preceded by a qualifying adjective, has been given to many objects of artistic or antiquarian interest. Objects are often placed inside boxes, for a variety of reasons
According to Us
A box is just a box, in our case it is black, obfuscated in a vibrant green colour. It is a source of inspiration. When opened, ideas fly out of its dark core and illuminate the brightest of my thoughts. A box is an enigma - everybody wants to take a pick in a box, especially a gift box. A box is where you place your secrets, memories, photos, letters, poems. A box can be a curse, ask Pandora about it, she will be more than glad to explain about the subject.
Here in BlackBox Studios we all share a common passion to share the hidden and arcane knowledge of our box with you, and this is the reason of this blog’s existence. We’ll try to communicate to you our ideas, our knowledge, our inspiration and passion. Feel free to talk with us. It is said that if you don’t ask you will never receive an answer to your question. We are not Gods nor do we possess the knowledge of a thousand worlds, but we do love to solve riddles, to research and to learn. So, even if we don’t know about something we can find out.
I, Dimitris, and the rest of the BlackBox Studios team, welcome you to our box and invite you to jump in and take a pick.
2 Thoughts are shared. (2 votes, average: 4 out of 5) Loading ...-
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