A calmer kind of business
Welcome to Idealog Weekly, the free email newsletter for New Zealand commercial creatives, entrepreneurs and anyone rich with ideas.
In, er, last week’s issue:
Apologies for the lateness of this edition of the Weekly. Some friends of ours sent out their own newsletter on Friday and the resulting traffic bought their—that is, our—web server to a halt. So we thought we’d wait and despatch this issue over the weekend. In the meantime, we have some big iron on order so the problem doesn’t happen again. We have some new gadgetry for you too—check out our Navman giveaway in this issue!
A calmer kind of business
Jyoti Morningstar got a helluva shock in 2004. The Wellington yoga instructor was in a good place when within the space of a few months George Bush, John Howard and Kerry Prendergast were voted back into public office in Washington, Canberra and Wellington. “It made me realise the world was not as I thought it was,” she tells Felicity Monk in the latest Idealog. “I was really out of touch.”
Voters may not have thought it was a time for change, but Morningstar did—and so began a chain of events that has left her partnering with former Bendon chief executive Stefan Preston in We’ar, a fashion eco-label that’s inspired by yogic principles and aims to be a holistic business. If that sounds like an unlikely partnership, well, the pair admit they don’t always see things the same way—and that might be their greatest strength. Read Felicity Monk’s interview in Celsias (which is bundled with Idealog #23), or on our website.
Where the Wild Things would like to be
Last year we got all excited at the news that Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich) would direct a movie version of Maurice Sendak’s much-loved children’s book Where The Wild Things Are. Not long after that came the miserable news that studio execs didn’t like Jonze’s film because they thought it would be too scary for small kids. Hey, it’s supposed to be scary. They’re wild!
It seems Jonze had a powerful ally, though—Sendak himself. Check out this featurette on Jonze and Sendak where the author talks about the difficulty he had convincing publishers to sell his work and the instant panning it received from critics. So he can sympathise with Jonze, but what’s fantastic is the praise Sendak showers on the filmmaker. “He’s turned it into his—without giving up on mine, but embodying mine with Spike Jonze.
“There will be controversy about this, but the film has an entire emotional, spiritual, visual life which is as valid as the book. He’s done it … in a more brilliant, modern, fantastical way, which takes nothing from my book but enhances, enriches my book.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3idqJVVYwA
The start of StopPress
This week the presses stopped and we launched StopPress—the first online-only product by HB Media, the company that creates each issue of Idealog. StopPress is a free blog and twice-weekly newsletter for everyone in marketing, advertising and media, edited by online newshound Frances Chan. It’s the online voice of our sister publication, NZ Marketing. We’ve had a fantastic response and if your job involves marketing, advertising, social media, PR, digital media, SEO or media sales, you want StopPress. Check out the website and sign up for the newsletter while you’re there.
Can’t find my way home
If that’s you, Idealog Weekly is here to save your blushes. We have an awesome new Navman GPS—worth $549—to give to one lucky reader. The sleek, good-looking, time-and-petrol-saving Navman MY55’s large 4.7” screen has tap or touchscreen options for ease of use with 3D junction views and landmarks bringing the map to life. It also has Bluetooth for hands-free calling, live weather updates and extended seven day forecast, pedestrian mode to be guided on-foot, and a petrol efficiency mode.
The optional AA Traffic (sold separately) will give you the latest traffic updates on your trip as well as suggesting alternative routes if there’s bad news ahead.
What’s more, if your gas is running low, tap the petrol shortcut on the main menu and all the closest petrol stations will appear on the screen. Same goes with finding food—if you’re hungry, tap the food shortcut to find cafes, takeaway bars and restaurants nearby.
You won’t want to leave home without the MY55. To win yours, email editor@idealog.co.nz with your most embarrassing misnavigation story. We’ll pick a winner before the next Weekly is despatched, so don’t delay.
Pocketing a Tuanz
Congratulations to pocket entrepreneurs Francois Bondiguel, Jason Leong and James Wigglesworth, who on Thursday won the Commerce award at the annual Tuanz awards—beating Fonterra and Air New Zealand in the process. It’s amazing what can be done with energy, ideas and $120 a month.
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Data points
 Last weekend a crowd gathered in Wellington determined to mash up some public property. No, not Te Papa—this crowd had its eyes on something less substantial but probably just as valuable, government data. “Who knew data was sexy enough to persuade 150-odd people out of bed and into a bunker on a sunny Saturday morning for six solid hours of talk and no pay?” asks Julie Starr on the Idealog blog. Well, how about improving traffic flow, health delivery, or informing local councils which roads need repairs? Or improving news coverage of elections? Or—just maybe—threatening the stability of our government? Julie came away from the event she may have witnessed the return of older ideas about community. Find out why in her post on the Idealog website.
Canada’s fourth most popular digital pop parody act
Radio-friendly pop music: why it sucks, told in a decidedly radio-friendly style by Jon Lajoie, who is apparently the most popular Canadian on Youtube. Take that, MTV. (I should warn readers that the language in this video is definitely not radio friendly and it should not be watched by children or your employer.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0Gs4xGw1Eg
Pacific in Bloomsbury
In Idealog #3 I met George Nuku, an Auckland artist who had spent months working with Dan Willdridge and Omeka Takiari in a Glenfield garage on a most unusual project: a marae carved entirely from perspex. They were way behind schedule and had a rigid deadline to meet to take pride of place at the Pacifica Styles exhibition in Cambridge, UK, in May 2006.
Nuku and his creation both made their flight—and Nuku is still there. This week he’ll join Rosanna Raymond, Shigeyuki Kihara and Lisa Reihana at ‘ethKnowcentrix: Museums Inside the Artist’, an exhibition at London’s October Gallery. The four are New Zealand artists of Maori and Samoan heritage, and they’re bringing a unique Pacific sensibility to the old country.
ethKnowcentrix runs until October 10. And check out Alistair Guthrie’s photographs of Nuku, Wildridge and Takiari at work.
Job of the Week
Account Director (P0517)
Junior AD Role • DM / Retail Experience • Major Agency
Our client is seeking an experienced and driven Super Senior Account Manager or Junior / Intermediate Account Director—with polished Direct Marketing skills along with Retail account experience. You will need to be buttoned down and a stickler for detail. This role will be working closely with your team, taking leadership of your Account Manager and Executive along with mentoring and developing their skills.
You will be working with an amazing Group Account Director on this account—she will be your mentor and give you the opportunity to grow and develop your skills.
If you enjoy working in a large agency, can work to tight deadline and have the ability to prioritise and organise, then this could be the role for you.
Please contact Louise Lawton at Portfolio Recruitment at louise@portfoliorecruit.co.nz without delay. You can also apply on our website.
Assembled design
Design Assembly is about to turn one. On the evening of September 30, the not-yet-venerable but definitely inspirational event will reconvene at AUT University’s Art & Design building for a typically eclectic event, including Meena Kadri on hand-lettered typography from the streets of India, David Gardener and Andrea Wilkinson on alternative urban landscapes in New Zealand, and Alt Group’s Toby Curnow on grids and tessellations in art and design. RSVP on the Design Assembly website.
Quote of the week
“The whole green movement is boring … why can’t an eco-business be about abundance and be sexy? I think that’s an interesting conversation.”
– Stefan Preston on the saucy side of sustainability
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.
Matt Cooney
Editor
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