The 2010 UnSummit is an alternative, “unconference” for those in the interactive profession. It is being held on June 26th with the stated goals of “full participation, full dissemination and free admission — all the things that traditional conferences are not.” You can register here. The event will be held at the CoCo – Coworking and Collaborative Space in Saint Paul’s Lowertown district. This is perfect because CoCo is sort of an UnOffice.
I’m still a little unsure about what is going to happen at the UnSummit but things should get interesting as the group gathers to apply some brain pressure against the community’s collective hemorrhaging. The official theme is “Solve for X. Where X = your problem.” So, unless your problem is fear of open-ended conference themes you should come and participate in the unintended consequences. Hope to see you there.
One of my favorite things about working at BrainstormOverload (in addition to the gourmet hot cocoa) is the studio garden. Like all the other projects at bsol it’s a work in progress but one that is particularly wonderful in Spring when the garden seems to change almost daily. Why am I keeping all this blooming goodness to myself you demand? Good point. In an effort to share this is the first in a series of desktop calendars I’ll post (not daily but regularly) on the bsol blog. (I hope regular RedBlackBrown readers will forgive me for wanting to avoid posting on multiple blogs.)
The calendar makes it useful and I’ve always liked the texture of type over a photograph. Each date following a vertical line is a Monday. I’ll also provide the plant name in case you are inspired to work in your own garden which I highly recommend as a terrific creative outlet. I’ll start with the following standard (Mac) screen resolutions. Post a comment if the size you need is not represented.
Download
1440 × 900
1920 × 1200
The Webby Awards are here again and so is your chance to voice your opinion about the best interactive work of the year. In stark contrast to the convoluted quagmire in Washington D.C. this is an opportunity to see direct democracy in action. Of course, that doesn’t mean there is no room for lobbying. Colle+McVoy’s Yearbook Yourself is in the running for the people’s voice award in the social media category. Check out the scene and cast your vote here.
Minneapolis is the Top Bike City... Where's St. Paul?
Bicycling magazine recently released its rating of America’s Top 50 Bike-Friendly Cities and Minneapolis came out on top displacing a number of other epic bike cultures for which I at least have nothing but respect. So rather than take this opportunity to gloat I’ve got two questions. First, how did this happen? Second, where is the other Twin City? After all many of us regularly cycle from one city to the other. For that matter many of us cycle further afield to Eagan, Minnetonka and other cities. Wouldn’t it be cool if both of the Twin Cities registered on the bike-ability scale. As a transplant to Minnesota I don’t get too bent out of shape that Saint Paul and the surrounding cities gets lumped under the title “Minneapolis” but in this case Saint Paul is woefully behind.
It turns out the answer to both questions is bike advocacy. And the moral of the story is that if you enjoy the bike scene in Minneapolis you owe a pretty huge debt to all the advocates who gave so generously of their time to help make that possible. Pay that forward by getting involved. By helping Saint Paul catch up. The movement is already happening but you can help. There are a few upcoming meetings to push forward efforts for bike-ways in Saint Paul. For instance, Jefferson Ave. from downtown to the river. There is a public hearing coming up on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. at 15 Kellogg blvd (in the City Council chambers) Email me for more info if you are interested in more info. Or just show up so the powers that be can see that the human powered set is passionate about the ride-ability of both cities.
More on other projects coming soon but you can also download the Central Corridor Bike Walk plan and see if you want to get involved with this effort. Coincidentally, the latest issue of Momentum magazine (free at One On One) has an article on bicycle advocacy.
Spring is the perfect time to be working on the design of the printed materials for another wedding. My brother-in-law Geoff and his lovely fiancee Tina were inspired in part by Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree and in part by the forested landscape of the upper peninsula of Michigan where the wedding will take place. One of the ideas behind the design is to play with the perception of a single (albeit abstracted) tree form and a grouping of trees that represent the way family and friends grow together and merge as a result of the union of the couple. The save the date card is being printed now but through the miracle of the interwebs you actually get to see if before the guests.
Local advertising maven Pat Fallon will be featured on MPR’s Midmorning today at 10:00 a.m. (91.1 fm in the Twin Cities or listen online by clicking the blue button in the narrow center column) He’ll be speaking about the future of advertising. If you miss it the podcast should wind up here.
Speaking of posters. Shepard Fairey (who has created a number of things including his recent and wildly successful poster for Obama) is at it again and in a way hasn’t strayed far from the hope and change theme. This poster celebrates the Dalai Lama who is a tireless champion for peace and human rights. Currently exiled from Tibet in the face of repression from the government of China (the energies of which might be better spent keeping lead out of toys and formaldehyde out of milk than keeping the Dalai Lama out of Tibet) the Dalai Lama has become a fascinating public figure and a worthy subject for a poster entitled Compassion. Obviously I’m not the only one who thinks so since the 500 prints Shepard made sold out in a matter of hours.