MICHAEL NAIMARK EXHIBIT, WILLIAMSON GALLERY 2005

Group Exhibit demonstrating incarnations of space, place and experience.

ROLE: LEAD CREATIVE, VIDEO PRODUCTION

Walking along side the moving flat panel, viewers find it seems as if they are looking through the wall behind.

The Chiller Plant: an open design studio in Old Town Pasadena for art and design students, faculty and local creatives — a space to spread out and work, studio offices to rent, a place for workshops, events and gallery shows.

The Chiller Plant grew out of an inspired project redefining networks and creative spaces.  This space originally was a run-down and very, very dirty shell of an industrial building. In a former life, the space was as it’s name suggests, a chiller plant, supplying electricity to a nearby college. My partner, Delna Balsara and I transformed this space into a gorgeous working studio and event space. Then, our neighbors fell in love with it and bought us out. 

ROLE: FOUNDER / KEEPER OF THE VISION

CLIENT: MARITZ INC.    |    ROLE: FOUNDER / MEDIA STRATEGIST

I Farm Ideas is a creative R&D group  within Maritz Inc. I co-founded IFarm with my partners in crime, fellow IFarmers Delna Balsara and Jamie Templeton. We have grown to be a core group of influencers, cool-hunters, researcher/developers and creative strategists. Together, we’ve created a network for new ideas to collect and grow and a way for clients to benefit from the sharing of those ideas. Operating as a nimble creative boutique within a large corporate organization, we offer clients unique and innovative solutions.

Check out the I Farm Blog.

 

I FARM Case For Social Media Applications

Businesses across the world effectively apply social media to their day to day operations. This software is used for a number of networking functions, social, informational, archival. The successful ones are “sticky”. They are relevant to their participants in that they provide a tactical service yet they provide a participatory call to action. They make the user want to log-on, want to participate and share. A purely didactic relationship ie: “Log-on to share your thoughts about XYZ Topic in this forum,” may work for a one time interaction, maybe a short thread to see responses but there no there there, no engaging destination, no impetus to log-on again other than to fulfill an obligation.

Successful social media provides a there, there. They allow for a participatory culture to grow organically. Social media applications become “sticky” because there is something about them that remains in peoples minds. They want to incorporate this media tool into their lives, it provides meaningful interaction and transactions. Stickeyness also occurs when participants become stakeholders in the product, they are the ones shaping the outcomes.

Social networks create a community where people can find like minded people, where contacts remain relevant because you know something personal about them and you see them on your daily radar. These networks create relevance and connections among people in an organic and at times whimsical and creative way.  This is a very important factor in interpersonal relationship building and “stickyness” - interpersonal fun as a catalyst for connecting. People share because they are building community, not because they have to but because they are invested.

I FARM has all the markings of a “sticky” social media tool. Early adopters will start the trend, feeds will reach out via email, pulling participants in, reaching out with vital information, cool things happening out in the world, sharing experiences. A base will grow quickly larger by word of mouth as members find commonalities and make connections. Connected people remain relevant to each other and new opportunities will present themselves.  I FARM will provide valuable tools and resources, the network will connect groups of people that would otherwise not meet. I FARM provides the there, there.

Somewhere out there is a piece of land waiting for my Sander Architects inspired Hybrid-House. This is a quick and simple mock-up I did in Sektch-up. Sketch-Up is such a great tool for quick ideation, I’m totally in love with it.

CLIENT: MEDIA DESIGN PROGRAM, ACCD    |    ROLE: HOST, PLANNER & ENVIRONMENT DESIGN

The Chiller Plant hosted a farewell event for Dr. Peter Lunenfeld, Media Theorist. Former students from all over the world texted quotes, Lunenfeldisms, memorable quips and the like which were projected live on the walls of The Chiller Plant.

CLIENTS: MARITZ, NISSAN, LEXUS, MTV/LOGO    |    ROLE: VIRTUAL WORLD STRATEGIST

www.slangmedia.com

SLANG Media was founded by a group of experienced design creatives to help brands and entertainment properties find meaningful engagements in the 3D virtual world. Recognizing that corporate brands must actively contribute to the community to engage their clients, SLANG creates immersive experience opportunities.