Making their mark

Yep, it’s that time again. Hot off the press and now in stores, the 28^th issue of Idealog is here, featuring a bunch of talented New Zealanders making their mark on the world. For starters, we chat to covergirl and first-time director Roseanne Liang, who’s about to direct a film based on her own life and featuring two kung-fu movie veterans. We also meet the expat introducing Kiwi meat pies to San Francisco; a former hairdresser with neither design nor business experience who’s now running a thriving fashion and homeware label; and an academic who reinvented the trampoline while keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground. Not to mention solving the mystery of just why so many people come up with identical ideas at the same time (and it’s not just down to plagiarism). Intrigued? Get thee to a newsstand and pick up a copy, or subscribe and save yourself the walk in future.

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It's nice to be appreciated

We’d never dream of blowing our own horn here at Idealog, but unaccustomed as we are to bragging, please allow us a moment to thank our staff, contributors and supporters for helping us clean up in the business category at the Magazine Awards last night. Not only did we win best magazine, best editor, best web/print integration, best designer, and best cover, we still managed to make it into the office this morning.

Across the stable, our sister mags Good and NZ Marketing took  the gongs for best cover in their respective divisions, while HB Media’s  Adrian Clapperton and Su Yin Khoo were also crowned designer of the year in various categories. And we can’t forget Good editor Annabel McAleer, who was named journalist of the year in the health and wellbeing section! The bar is set high for 2011, but we’re confident we can keep delivering the great content our readers have come to expect from us.

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Celebrating creativity

As of this week, our architects, designers and clients finally have a place of their own, and it’s called Design Daily. Think of it as a meeting of minds: somewhere to compare notes, share stories, show off your work and wax lyrical about great visuals with fellow creatives. Design Daily’s first newsletter—which you’ll have received a sample of—went out yesterday, and if you want to see more of it, be sure to sign up to the mailing list and add the website to your favourites. Highlights from this week: award-winning student digs, waterfront attractions and a playhouse you might just enjoy more than the kids do.

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Big ambitions pay off

In early 2005, LanzaTech was set up to develop methods of producing fuel ethanol from gases produced by the steel industry, with a boost from a $12 million grant the following year. Now, just five years later, the cleantech company has signed a deal to work with China’s largest steel and iron conglomerate, Baosteel, and the prestigious Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) to commercialise its technologies for producing low-cost biofuel.

It has successfully run a pilot plant at Glenbrook in Auckland since 2008; the next step is construction of a demonstration plant in China before commercial operations begin. The company says the approach provides a key alternative to the use of food resources and reduces carbon emissions, which is in line with China’s energy policy. Cleantech is here, and it’s here to stay.

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Reviving penmanship

Sure, you can customise email with colours, fonts and signatures, but there’s only so much a computer can do. For the truly personal touch, creating a font based on your own handwriting via webcam, scanner or traditional digital camera is the way to go. Enter Pilot Handwriting.

Two by two

Two minds are always better than one. With that in mind, Metonymy is calling for artists and writers interested in pushing their boundaries and participating in a collaborative project. You’ll be matched up with a complementary partner (ie, if you’re a visual artist, you’ll be paired with a scribe) and given two months to create a unique work of art to be exhibited at the Corban Estate Arts Centre. Keen? Sign up now—entries close tomorrow, so get clicking. 

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Creative cocktail

Do you work in the creative industries? If so, then you need to be at Semi-Permanent 2010—New Zealand’s largest annual design gathering and the only event of its kind in Australasia. There are a limited number of earlybird and deluxe VIP places up for grabs; all passes, of course, include the legendary goodie bag along with access to the after-party. Speakers confirmed so far include Pixar’s Andrew Gordon, fashion designer Karen Walker, and artists Dick and Otis Frizzell. Where else can you celebrate everything from graphics to fashion or animation to sound design? Get in now by booking online or calling 0800 BUY TICKETS (0800 289 842).

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Growth spurt

The Deloitte Fast 50 is canvassing the landscape for businesses that have mastered the art of growth. Now in its tenth year, the index is an opportunity for businesses—large or small, public or private—to benchmark and celebrate their success. It honours innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit of those that make business growth look more like an art form than science. So if you’ve mastered the art of growth or know of a business that has, check out the 2010 Deloitte Fast 50.

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Spot the difference

Setting up and maintaining a server for your business can be a costly and time-consuming affair—not so with Apple’s Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server. From email to shared calendars and contacts, or file-sharing to online collaboration, Apple’s Snow Leopard Server can deliver immediate tangible benefits with no fuss. Come and see why it’s purr-fect for the job (and you could take home an iPod touch just for coming along)!

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Playing with fire

After a solid fortnight of hard labour, YouTube user “brusspup” was finally ready to release the masterpiece Pixels-on-Fire. Featuring more candles than you’ll blow out in a lifetime, it’s stop-motion Tetris as you’ve never seen it before. Watch it here.

Learn from the best

On the first Wednesday of every month, the Icehouse opens up to entrepreneurs who are hungry to understand the steps to business success. You’ll get the chance to meet Icehouse executives, experts and angel investors (chairman Greg Cross just won the TechNZ Hi-Tech Inspiring Individual of the Year), and talk to previous incubator residents over a beer. It’s not just about networking, either; startups director Ken Erskine will present a seminar on five rules for successful entrepreneurship based on his ten years of experience. And did we mention that it’s all completely free? Register to attend the next session here.

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Quote of the week

“With seemingly limitless verdance, the El Dorado of the South Pacific remains fresh due to rain-washed skies and pure light.”

— Jason Smith cautions against painting a rose-tinted view of Aotearoa