Prototyping is the most powerful way to engage, create and build consensus. From a branding perspective it takes thinking out of the abstract, into real life so that you can evaluate it visually, emotively, contextually.

Check out the the institute of Design at Stanford  to learn more. The have a virtual crash course. Go on.

stanfordbusiness:

Building early and often is key in Professor Jim Patell’s Design for Extreme Affordability course. In the class, Stanford University students learn how prototyping increases the occurrence of great ideas as they design low-cost products that solve tough problems in the developing world. Learn more about Professor Patell and his passion for innovation on CNN’s “The Next List” this Saturday at 11:30am PT. http://stnfd.biz/l7hgG 

thecreatorsproject:

There are faces in the trees. 

Clement Brend’s tree projections explore the link between reality and imagination. Whatever you think of his artistic rationale, these projections of spiritual images on living nature are really stunning, and strangely moving.

(Source: lilfury, via smarterplanet)

Nuff said.

Emotion Is Currency: A Plan for Effective Sustainability Communications.

It is actually called “A 5 point Plan for Effective Communications”, but i cannot bear numeric headlines. That said, this is a really excellent article from Ben Maxwell, addressing the dangerous assumption that sustainability communications is a separate strand of activity with a message aimed at a hypothetical audience segment of ‘greens.’ “Sustainability” is not for everyone, but the benefit of sustainability and sustainable thinking is universally valuable, and valued. Brands like IBM know this and are winning because of it. Click the link, have a read. Worth it.