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May 17, 2012
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Of all the industries out there, banking remains one of the most staunchly conservative. History shows bankers simply don’t change their ways unless outside circumstances force them to. But that doesn’t reflect how innovation usually works; markets mirror biological evolution in that they tend to develop slowly, then jump. Take dinosaurs, for example. They gradually evolved, then—thanks to a giant asteroid—disappeared off the face of the earth. And now, as Simon Young and Jake Pearce point out, banks are long overdue for a shake-up. Mobile technology, P2P lending, personalisation and globalisation (among other things) are combining to create a force that they can’t ignore. As we like to say: innovate or die.
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Mark your diary and get ready for another dynamic Semi-Permanent fix this year! Tickets to New Zealand’s premier design event go on sale from May 24 with a limited number of earlybird and deluxe VIP places up for grabs—all passes, of course, include the legendary Semi-Permanent goodie bag along with access to the after-party.
A line-up of 12 international and local creatives will headline the two-day event, spanning August 20-21 at the Aotea Centre. Leading the charge are Chris Allen of London-based multimedia company The Light Surgeons, New York-based typographer and illustrator Jessica Hische and graphic designer Adrian Shaungnessey from London. Meanwhile, artists Dick and Otis Frizzell will spearhead the New Zealand contingent of talent. Book your place through The Edge Ticketing Service or 0800 BUY TICKETS (0800 289 842).
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Marketing veteran Michael Carney has just released an e-book—Adventures into the Unknown World of Social Media—a guide for those needing a little help dipping their toes into the conversational waters. A must-read for marketers, it’s packed with entertaining Marvel-style illustrations, practical tips and real-life case studies. Social media sceptics will be shown the error of their ways as he explains why businesses can’t afford to ignore the new landscape. You can download it for free here; clocking in at 35 pages, there’s plenty to get your teeth into without being overwhelmed.
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Just like the name suggests, the inaugural Bright Ideas Challenge is a chance to transform brilliant business ideas into reality. All you have to do is explain your concept in 100 words or less and be in to win $25,000 worth of seed capital, a place on the Kickstart programme (worth $1,200) where you’ll develop a business case and revenue model, and the opportunity to connect with some of Wellington’s top business experts and investors. Each and every idea submitted will get feedback and it costs nothing to enter.
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Lethal weapon
If the Borrowers had ever decided to wage war on humans, they’d probably have done it with this mini cannon. Not only is it surprisingly accurate, it packs a hefty punch, too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxHW-QGMuZ4
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The countdown is on for FullCodePress 2010—a unique fundraiser that pits three crack web teams from NZ, Australia and the US in a race to build a working website for a charity in just 24 hours. Dozens of web designers, writers and programmers are set to descend on Wellington for the June 19-20 event, with our own Code Blacks team announced today. There’s a lot riding on their shoulders; they’re defending last year’s crown and have yet to be beaten in the competition, which first ran in 2007 and again in 2009. Regardless, it’s for a great cause and it’s about as much fun as you can have in one day on the web!
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What do you get when a renowned Kiwi artist collaborates with an autistic child? An exhibition like no other—a total of 12 unique pieces which will raise money to build The Cocoon, New Zealand’s first centre for autism. Created by award-winning artist Sofia Minson and a group of autistic children, each acrylic will be auctioned at a charity cocktail evening on June 3.
A selection of Sofia’s oil paintings will also be exhibited on the night, with one of her donated artworks to be sold to one lucky bidder.
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Most of us are constantly on the lookout for the next big thing, but sometimes it’s nice to look back at where we came from. That’s exactly what curator Angela Lassig will be doing next week at a series of lectures around the country—examining the emergence of contemporary fashion and the influences that have shaped Kiwi style. Her book New Zealand Fashion Design profiles 25 of our top designers, as well as key developments that have put us under the international spotlight. She’ll also be joined by powerhouse guest speakers Denise L’Estrange-Corbet (Auckland), Deborah Sweeney (Wellington), Sharon Ng (Christchurch) and Margi Robertson (Dunedin). Email info@finz.co.nz to register (entry is free).
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Two new exhibitions open tonight at Auckland’s MIC Toi Rerehiko Gallery: The Visualisation Unit’s Other Than Human and Marcia Lyons’ Open Limit. The former is a interactive installation featuring enhanced sensory engagement through architecturally designed stimuli; the latter, a projection of seismic data occurring in real-time around the globe. Both displays run until June 26—visit the gallery’s website for location and opening hours.
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Projector-powered melody maker
Blair Neal’s “Colour a Sound” project turns a plain-Jane overhead projector into a bonafide instrument. As a transparency scrolls down, a camera reads the placement and colour of marks as musical notes. http://vimeo.com/11606420
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Excessive packaging is so last century: what you need is a cardboard sheet which boasts the ability to conform to the shape of any object. Designed by Patrick Sung, it features triangular perforations that allow it to be moulded around awkward shapes. It also folds into a perfectly adequate standard six-sided box, making it a one-stop solution.
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