deflux-admin's blog

Pantone books are the designer's version of the bible - a Pantone colour swatch is *definitive* and as we all know brand consistency is the most important aspect of a successful brand!

Well joyous days, not only is there a sweet iPad Pantone app that almost brings a tear to my eye - I must have it (and I suppose I need an iPad first but let's not sweat the details) - but Pantone have release some new "official" colours bringing the tally to over 5000.

So two things I've noticed. No-one knows what to do with Twitter really, and no-one seems to read books anymore (although after playing with an iPad yesterday I see e-books coming back in a big way!)... but trust Wired to apply their trademark perception and playfulness to see what happens if you apply the Digg community idea to a real-time experience. So around the world people are reading a book together and tweeting their comments, thoughts and questions to make the 2.0 hipster version of the oh-so-square book club.

I don't know where Red Bull find the time to do anything else what with the making of tasty tonics, producing a magazine, sponsoring NZ and the world's best athletes, hosting bands at Red Bull Studios, and putting on a ton of events both big and small. But somehow they've got round to making a TV show, Red Bull Chronicles which not only sports a snazzy logo courtesy of, well, ourselves, but also promises to  "bring you the world’s greatest athletes and events from the world of Red Bull."

Taika Waititi can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. I loved Eagle v Shark, and I must go and see Waititi's Boy - which is making great box office locally which is very encouraging!

Recently back from a jaunt to Melbourne and nothing particularly blog-worthy that you wouldn't already know.

Obviously taking an "eco" approach into design is a crucial concern these days, which is also obviously a good thing. Paper reps sit down with me each month extolling the eco-credentials and sustainability of their stocks with claims that this stock is ECF (elementally chlorine free), FSC (forest stewardship council), WMF (well managed forests), PCW (post consumer waste) and either EMAS or ISO14001 (mill certifications)... which is all well and good.

A lot of clients ask me about social media and only see the positive sides of things... but then you have to understand that the more you step into the public sphere the more you have to walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Of course then there's companies who fall out of step with their audience and social media bites back.... like when one of my favourite film director's Kevin Smith was asked to leave a Southwest flight because he was too fat.

...is that we neglect our own. Fear not though trusty readers (all two of you), we've not been idle. Rather it's been a wave of deadlines to get some brand spankin' new websites live.

Viral videos huh? Here comes another one, this time courtesy of Ray-Bans (™), a brand that's really got back in the game and is now official apparel for anyone wanting to be down with the indie kids (and I should know. My flavour? Tortoiseshell. What's yours?)...

So did Matthew really get his face tattooed? If so he's broken Brian Setzer's number one rule on tattoos: "Don't get them where the judge can see them."

The mix of traditional publishing complimented by an up to the moment blog provides readers with the best of both worlds, and is something I've always admired Wired Magazine for...