The not-so-great indoors

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

The not-so-great indoors

New Zealand has many wonderful things going for it, but its housing often disappoints. Damp, draft, cold, mildew and generally unkind to human habitation describes the average Godzone crib, so why are we putting up with it?

Andy Kenworthy digs into the issue of our substandard housing in the current Ecoinnovator, and proposes that we actually fix the problem instead of putting on another pair of socks or a sweater, and ignoring the coughing and sneezing. Read his story on our website.

Where everybody wins

It’s Webbys time of year again, and congratulations to the Hyperfactory for making it into the Agency of the Year category. They’re a worthy finalist and have to be a good chance for taking out the top prize. Find out why in our story from last year.

But we have to disagree with the constant references to the Webbys as “the Oscars of the Internet” and “the Internet’s highest honour”. The list has 600 or so nominees and 1,100 honorees, and some of the categories look thin on inspiration. Check out the pointed criticism of Jack Shafer from Slate magazine. If Slate doesn’t win anything this year, now you know why.

Better way of mooning

Sci-fi flicks are cheesy by definition, but not all of them. Blade Runner is a perennial favourite of the cheese-averse, and the forthcoming Moon might be a candidate too. We’re awaiting breathlessly, because in space … (Via Kottke)

A fine Web 09

Web09 is on right now at the Langham in Auckland, featuring the likes of David Karp, Steve Smith, Tim Heuer, Ryan Stewart, Pamela Fox and Rod Drury. Domesticated blogger Ben Kepes is liveblogging the event today and tomorrow on the Idealog blog: check out his updates on our website.

Job of the Week

Digital Account Manager (P0499)

International agency • Work with a highly skilled management team • Entrepreneurial acumen required

Our client, the Interactive Arm of an International Advertising Agency is seeking an industry experienced Contract Digital Account Manager. You will have experience working in a similar role within the interactive industry.

You will need to have excellent project management skills, be able to work to tight deadlines, have energy, enthusiasm and be able to work well within a fun team environment.

This role will be looking after a very busy digital account, so experience taking creative briefs, through to briefing creative and production along with an excellent client servicing skill set is needed.

This is an initial contract role, with the view to the role turning permanent.

If you feel this is the right next step for you, please send your details to Louise Lawton at Portfolio Recruitment on 09 379-9303, or apply on our website.

Give the CodeBlacks root

New Zealand’s geek honour is at stake in Australia at the FullCodePress 09 event. We are the champions, and have to defend the title against eager teams in building a complete website for charity, in 24 hours. There will be no extensions, no budget overruns, and no excuses.

The Kiwi organisers are currently assembling their team. If you’re keen to be bloodied at the CeBIT 09 in Sydney, head over to FullCodePress and register. Entries close on Monday, April 20.

Headcase headsets

The Thriller one doesn’t thrill but the Daft Punk one ain’t duff.

Unexpected results

Crowd-sourced human-dependent robots provide hope for humanity. No, really. It’s not obvious but these little cardboard critters show us how.

Alienate and annoy, the Amazon way

Here’s a fascinating case study: either it was Amazon that got prim, and decided to de-rank thousands of books because they were homosexually themed, or it was a French employee accidentally flipping the wrong switch with the online retailer’s automated systems mindlessly obliging.

Either way, the PR fallout wasn’t pretty for Amazon. Lessons to be learned there then, one hopes.

A new Big Idea

If you’re a creative looking for work, heading over to The Big Idea website probably isn’t such a silly idea. The site has just been spruced up big-time; the new version has been years in the making so there’s plenty of new stuff to soak up, including Idealog articles and videos.

Seven years and 20,000 members strong, The Big Idea lists about 150 jobs in the creative sector each month, and also features awards, competitions, commissions, funding and internships. Do take a look.

C’mon baby light my plasma

Metal halides joining the gas plasma to emit a powerful with light sounds very sci-fi indeed, but that’s here and now with the Luxim LiFi bulb. Now 140 lumens per Watt and a Colour Rendering Index of 91 are about twice as good as high-end Light Emitting Diodes presently. We’re beginning to see the light now.

Quote of the week

“The Business Council reckons a renovation programme would add up to 180,000 additional work days—even at a minimum wage of $12 per hour, that’s worth at least $17 million per day.”

—Andy Kenworthy on the economic benefits of fixing our rotting house stock. Who knew being warmer would make us richer?

More at Idealog online

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

  Juha Saarinen
  Ideologue, Weekly