Goodwill hunting

Welcome to Idealog Weekly, the free email newsletter for New Zealand commercial creatives, entrepreneurs and anyone rich with ideas.

A blatant brag

If you’re reading this via email, don’t. Why would you when you can read it on the Qantas Media Awards Feature Website of the Year? Yes, that would be idealog.co.nz—just thought we’d slip that in there. Oh, and Hamish Coney won Best Arts Columnist too. No subtle way to say that one, so we won’t even try: RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

Goodwill hunting

New Zealand has the fastest-growing Fair Trade market in the world. But will it keep on keeping on now that those of dubious integrity—aka bandwagon-hopping multinationals—are buying into the brand? Idealog takes a look at what it will take for Fair Trade to keep their dirt-road cred …

‘I could live here!’

… would not be most people’s reaction to a remnant space that’s only seven feet ten inches wide. But that’s why most people aren’t architects. And why most architects, including the two who designed this place, will never be caught out by the housing crisis. Of course, there’s no point making an incredible find if you can’t show it off, so after the four floors were installed, in went the finishing touches: installation lighting, display case walls and a roof-top bath. Our only question is, why go to the trouble when you’re going to spend all your time in another small room, on charges of lewd behaviour in a public place?

Reality TV

In these highly-advanced times, why should you ever be without an episode of The Simpsons? A new range of TV furniture, including sliding TV doors, allows you to have a Doh! moment anywhere from the kitchen to the bathroom. The TV furniture features on Kanye West’s blog, but don’t let those shutter shades lead you to believe the guy has no taste. Believe us, they’ll try.

Book. Bond, book

Not many people celebrate their centenary by sexing up their image—especially when they’ve been dead for 44 years—but that’s exactly what Ian Fleming has done, courtesy of artist Michael Gillette. With 007 as well-known for his work under the covers as his undercover work, these sexy Bond book covers are well overdue. (Via The Penguin Blog)

Buried treasure

Sorry Captain Sterling, but getting your ashes scattered at sea is so Love Boat circa 1984. In 2008 real sea-farers are keeping their ashes out of seagulls’ way and getting Afterlife Services Inc. to bury them in The Neptune Memorial Reef. Seems there are few disadvantages to being entombed underwater. You won’t even be short on visitors: “I am hoping and planning it be to the most dived location on the planet,” says the creator. Guess ‘Rest in Peace’ is for boring dead people.

The Wall

What happens to graffiti artists when they grow up? They get a bigger wall. Sorry the truth isn’t more exciting. This is.

Webbed brain

Calling the great chic geek, WEB08 will bring people to Auckland from around the world to discuss new trends in web design, technology and community. While some of us are still finding the hole in the box, top speakers will speak on how to break out of the browser

A pakeha living in New York clamours for cultural identity. So he comes home, starts painting in Maori symbols, then exhibits the show back in Manhattan under the title ‘Native New Yorker’. You see why we chose Mike Davison’s work to illustrate our story Is Maori Culture Too Precious to Brand? You’ll see a lot more if you’re in New York next month.

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Quote of the week

“The jury’s still out on whether this is going to work. The threat is not that the marketing people will pull out, but that they will stay in and corrupt the message. If multinationals pulled back, however, then fair trade companies would fill the gap; there are enough big ones to do it.”

—Geoff White, Trade Aid’s general manager, doesn’t want the big boys to share his toys.

More at Idealog online

Read more on our website: web exclusives, opinion, Idealog IP, the Idealog blogs and the Idealog podcast. See you at idealog.co.nz.

  Gena Tuffery
  Senior writer

Idealog Weekly is sent to friends, subscribers and registered website users of Idealog magazine.