Mona’s blog

Both use mobile technology to do business.

Read an interesting article, no- profound article, in The Economist on the train home the other day. It was describing how mobile technology is now drastically changing lives of those living in Africa.

For example, money is being replaced by mobile money. Literally mobile money. You can pay for things and services, like haircuts, with cash on your mobile, and send money to relatives via text:

http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8089667

There’s no reason to stash vast amounts of cash at home (and risk being robbed), or trek for hours to your nearest bank. You can have it all at your finger tips on you mobile.  According to Rory Sutherland, fishermen in Africa are also finding that mobiles help them find the best place to sell their fish at the end of the day, and share info on weather/where the most fish are:

http://www.africanloft.com/tanzania-mobile-phones-benefit-fishing-community/

Guess the mobile is no longer just for talking-it’s a tool, a way to enhance lives, and I’m guesssing, a way to destroy lives too.

a.k.a. short-sightedness, is one of the things my gracious mother has left me. I realised last night, that not only am I physically short-sighted, that I’m also mentally short-sighted. I noticed that my approach to ‘getting’ advertising was limited. I read Campaign and the odd magazine  and newspaper to keep up-to-date with ad-land and the world, but not in any depth. Rory Sutherland, VP of Ogilvy, came to visit Falmouth yesterday. He had some surprising and great insights, taken from evolutionary psychologists and economists. Yesterday, I learnt something important. That ad-men and ad-women can only become great, if they get their insights from outside advertising- that’s it’s not possible just by studying and mimicing award-winning ads.

I guess lots of people in ad-land run the risk of chasing their own tails. Lots of ads are inspired from each other- I watched TV the other day and by the time it was time for bed, all the ads ended up clumped up in my mind as one big, fat grey mess. They were trite. They were as dull.

In order to create great work, I’m gonna put on my metaphorical and physical glasses, and look further afield, into stuff that I don’t know about. I’m gonna pry open my peepers and try and shake my mind out of its deep, ignorance-filled slumber.

That I have no idea how to use them properly. Can someone give me a hand and switch on a light for me please? There are way too many things going on on the website. Too much jargon. This, coming from a creative wanting to nail digital and make a career of it, is a little disconcerting. I do believe, that websites should be as clear and simple as possible. So that people like me- with average IQs, can have a bit of fun on the web. 

My neice, who’s almost 4 has got the hang of Youtube- now that’s what I call a website. If my neice can figure out how to use it, then surely it means anyone can?

Your thoughts/help please.  

I am excited. I spoke to an enlightened buddhist monk yesterday who advised me that digital was for me. I was never really into digital. I thought computers were for geeks. I’m glad I was wrong.

I can feel this energy and spark that I haven’t had for years. I used to feel like this when I studied Psychology- the lectures were fascnitaing and pushed you out of thinking inside convention. I’ve been trawling through web award sites and have been overwhelmed by how much websites and its content have improved. The next few years will see digital become part of our lives, like how tv changed people’s lives back in the day. I can’t wait to cut my teeth and do some breath taking work.

Websites are no longer static, two-dimentional jokes. They are 3D, interactive, beautifully crafted peices of art.  The tv ads I’ve seen this morning seem bland compared to what’s coming out of digital agencies at the momen. Brands on TV seem to desperate to make you buy buy buy! I just watch them and think, “I don’t think so”. The jokes aren’t funny, insightful or clever. The problem with TV ads is that no matter how great on is, the positive affect it creates, is quickly wiped out by a crap ad, that irritates you so much, that you forget the great ad you just watched.

Amazing. I watched a film called Existenz a few years ago and was intrigued by the notion that one day we’d not be able to tell the difference between being/playing in a video game and reality.

Looks like the lines have already begun to blur. There’s a new gaming phenomenon called Game Maker Profile: area/code.

Apparently it was originally created to promote TV shows etc, but people liked them so much that they kept them running.

The gaming is interactive and takes place in the real world.  What’s next? Well Gaming companies have started to ask doctors to help gamers feel what’s happening to them in the game and created suits with air guns to simulate being shot/hit. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_09/b4073070473539.htm

This is my life- a blank slate. I have a pretty clear idea of where I want to be, the question is, will I get there? The fear of the unknown is exhilarating and at the same time pertrifying. Over the past 4 years since graduating, my life has been as predictable as Friends, and at times, like the Simpsons- bizarre but fun and unexpected. 

That BBDO NY Stork ad summed up how I feel. My calling is calling… I’m gonna try my best, cross all my fingers and toes, and hope for the best.

I wish we’d thought of that! Genius!

Awards. The benchmark of excellence. I was told by my tutors that on no uncertain terms was I to enter my work without their permission.

Initially I was irritated by them for holding me back- after all, they have their awards. It’s time for me to receive mine… But then, after a tutorial I realised why my scamps weren’t winners. I realised I have a lot to realise. The pressure to win awards and get distinctions is immense.

 I’d been so focused on getting high grades that I’d fogotten that I was primarily here to learn.  I’d forgotten that you have to embrace failure, and to not fear it, in order to succeed.

 I guess i should thank my tutors for giving me the grades they did. It means I’ve learnt a heck of a lot this week.