bbc winter olympics

great new idents from the beeb

data.gov.uk

Big step in the right direction for the government and the liberation of all that data out there. Here is the best article I've found on the subject written by Tim Berners-Lee himself.

Thought this excerpt was particularly poignant as to the function of the web and the opportunities that lie therein...

It's re-use of data in new - and often unexpected - ways that creates both social value and opportunities for economic growth. It's not our job to say where data might be useful; it's our job to unleash it and allow businesses and independent developers to build innovative services which they can then deliver to users. That's the story of technology through the years - and the way the World Wide Web itself has grown over the last twenty years.

fourtet new album!

we're always on the lookout for fresh ideas for the office stereo so you can imagine the delight when this cropped up...




There Is Love In You by Four Tet

courtesy of Ian Tait

You're a Brad Pitt fan I see...

Came across this awesome infographic on the New York Times site courtesy of designer Stephen Gates today. Interesting on a number of levels,

Firstly it's my view that infographics are a great resource for the established content providors to differentiate themselves from the blogging masses, they're interactive, easy on the eye and work whether the reader is just browsing or looking to explore on a deeper level. Surely the introduction of the much gossiped about tablet will excel their importance in both the physical and digital spheres.

Secondly, Netflix deserve a pat on the pack for having the foresight to put together something like this - they could have quite easily (as so many brands do) sit on a whole pile of data and do nothing with it

Thirdly - given the level of insight this infographic offers us into New Yorks DVD rental habits there is so much potential for the next level of brand communication to play on the funner side of this or look to create bespoke communication based on each postcodes differing habits (e.g notice how Manhattan seemed to be obsessed with Mad Men but couldn't give a toss about anything Jack Black does). I can see the printing presses for the personalised (post digital moment - drum roll please) newspaper wurring into action as I type...

2010

Things I'm looking forward to being part of / seeing happen / spectate from the sidelines

1) The general election and how the parties communicate with people

2) Hyperlocal - google goggles, streetview, GPS, QR codes - we've got the tools - how will brands and people use them

3) Digital paywalls - will they, won't they - a potential watershed moment in the history of the internet

4) Mobile - This is the year that Apples competitors finally arrived and it is on a ship named Android armed with smartphones.

4) Fires - lighting lots of them, seeing what works and resonates, tweaking, learning - reminding brands that they are always in beta

5) Google wave - someone will find a use for it beyond tweating 'who want's an invite?'

6) Post Digital - utilising the power of digital to make stuff in the real physical world. Aka - newspaper club, blurb.com, Russell Davies

7) Magazines embracing digital - think tablets, apps, Paul Morley redifining journalism to include text, video, podcasts and more focus on story telling

where the Japanese lead, others follow

For me, the Japanese are leading the way on web design right now. Minimalist, lots of flash, simple navigation, incredible animation or photography.

Here are a few of my faves

via workup and leanmeanfightingmachine