It can be easy for people from different arenas to talk about design and completely misunderstand each other. Why? Because the concept of design is so wide and varied that the crux of understanding between players is often knowing the broad scope of the word’s definition.

Here’s two examples:

Architectural design refers to the planning and construction of buildings and physical structures. User-centered design is a field within digital interface design where the needs of the end user are given direct attention during the creation of the interface.

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The term Social Media Olympics has been bandied about relentlessly over recent months, with countless statistics backing up the fact that London 2012 will be the most digitally connected Olympics of all time.

The Olympics has always united a global audience and social media has made this audience more tightly connected and participatory than ever. Technology has changed the way in which consumers connect with the Olympics, their national teams and individual athletes. Genuine social conversations between athletes and the public have broken down barriers and made the London Olympic Games more inclusive and engaging.

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“Design is a plan for arranging elements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose.”

Charles Eames – legendary architect, filmmaker, graphic and industrial designer.

A brand can be visually expressed in many different ways. The most common and arguably the most revered is the logo.

Of late, logotyping has broken out of the strict rules of conformity that once shackled the discipline. The static logotypes we’re used to are making way for a new era of dynamic logotyping. In layman’s terms, this means the image can be changed – even animated - but still maintain the visual identity characterising the company or brand. The variations can be in colour palette or structure but never both.

Given that the definition of a logotype is ‘a graphic element which uniquely identifies corporations, products, services, institutions or events in order to publicly differentiate the owner of the logotype from other entities’ it’s interesting no one thought of it earlier! Keywords here are ‘uniquely identifies’ and ‘publicly differentiate’.

A pioneering example of dynamic logotyping is the work done for the MIT Media Lab.

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Do consumers in need of aged care support rely on the back of shopper dockets for aged care information? Recently, a new sales promotion caught my attention via this medium. Behind that list of my week’s groceries it proposed, “Need care at home? Mention this shopping receipt for a free consultation, valid until 6 August 2012″.

Private aged care and disability provider, Care Choice is directly appealing to the consumers who are prepared to spend money for aged care services. For $39.50 per hour ($49.50 on weekends), an older person can access the types of services a government funded home care package offers: home care, meals, assistance with shopping etc. Depending on the needs of the individual, Care Choice will arrange the appropriate services. Read all…

Ask someone where they’re from and the answer is revealing. We rarely say the country or state, almost always we start with the city. We certainly define ourselves by the city we call home or the city with which we have the closest connection.

Another test. Ask yourself are you proud of your city’s cultural life and the plentiful activities on offer. Then work out the number of those activities in which you have actually participated. We are proud of aspects of our place that we don’t really have much, if anything, to do with.

One more. Ask yourself, if your city was a person, what kind of person would it be? Well dressed, bright, stately? Or a man of the people, strong, and hardworking? We judge a city by its people and its people are often judged by its leaders. I always remember the arguments over the Lord Mayor and his car. One camp said it was wrong to have splendour attached to political office; the other camp saw it as a ritual reflecting the city’s status and heritage. This is actually an argument about values not a car. And communities have diverse values, despite many a politician’s best attempts to pin a shortlist to us.

Australia’s tourism marketing efforts consistently struggle to break free of the Hoges Curse. How can Brand Australia be a lovable laconic larrikin and an urbane sophisticate? There aint’ no crocodiles in Melbourne, of that we’re sure. It’s too damn cold.

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What! You don’t follow us on Twitter yet, you say?

Go to @EllisJonesLive and click Follow! You could be missing out on some great resources and useful information on using social media and online PR in your marketing efforts.

Ever wondered how to use social media channels to recruit your workforce talent, or what other NFPs are doing successfully in this space?

Perhaps your focus is to stay informed on the best / worst examples of social media use in organisational marketing?

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According to Marian*, in order to operate a successful bequest program, nurturing donor relationships and building trust with donors is paramount.

Marian works part-time as a Bequest Officer for a large non-for-profit organisation that relies on fundraising and bequests to support the programs that receive little or no government funding.

How did it all start?

“In 2007 we had one bequest and today we have 27 known bequestors. It’s incredible to know that there are people in the community prepared to leave a legacy to support those in need,” said Marian.

What does it take to implement an effective bequest strategy? According to Marian, a company needs to:

• Invest in a Bequest Officer
• Understand the needs of the various target audiences
• Build and maintain close relationships with stakeholder

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Sounds a bit harsh. Or is it? I mean, with a wink and a smile, it’s really just a bit of a friendly dig. But through gritted teeth it’s a challenge.

The tone of what we say is relevant to the meaning and the understanding. And we often get it wrong – especially when cream-like layers of platitudinous waffle are applied the way Anglo-Saxons do so well.

“Might I suggest the possibility of removing this little line?”

Drives Germans up the wall. Good sport but not so productive in public diplomacy.

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Why have one?

In the first of this three part series we ask the question, why have a social media policy?

Whether you are in the office, a café, on a tram or on the couch at home – what can you see all around you? In fact, you’re looking right at one and there are likely several others in close proximity. They are ubiquitous, ever more pervasive, immersive, interactive and always-on…

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Tapestry is a new social media platform designed to help seniors and their families connect.

It separates itself from other social networking sites like Facebook by keeping it simple; by not bombarding its users with games or advertising or anything to detract from the core principles of the platform – staying connected with loved ones.

Tapestry makes it super simple for older people to connect with their favourite people by funnelling all their social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and email into one place where pictures and messages can be easily accessed.

This platform is being heralded as an effective way to tackle social isolation amongst our older generations.

Keeping in mind their goal of creating a product that is easy to use by anyone, the platform was created in close consultation with older users irrespective of how familiar they were with technology.

Before it’s launch in November 2012, Tapestry had already won the 2012 iAward under the E-Inclusions and E-Community Category.

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