"here's a thought"

Eastman Kodak, the company behind one of the world’s most popular brands over the last few decades, was declared bankrupt recently.

They built a massive business based on film, but were unable to react to the digital onslaught as people’s photography behaviour changed beyond recognition, leaving Kodak’s business model high and dry…

Time magazine recently decided that their iconic ‘person of the year’ award for 2011 should be awarded not to a person, but to “The Protester”.

Their decision followed a turbulent year around the globe during which people power managed to overturn the status quo in several nations including Egypt and Tunisia…

As more and more companies see the massive impact of social media on their audiences, they are naturally tempted to give it a go themselves.

Indeed, if you listen to some of the experts, companies really can’t afford to avoid having a social media presence nowadays….

Fuelled by Computer-Generated Imagery (GGI) technology, the gaming industry is increasingly blurring the barriers between virtual and reality.

CGI’s influences are being felt everywhere. New digital effects have wowed audiences in blockbuster films including Avatar, Inception, and the new Planet of the Apes.

Video games themselves have also upped the ante, with the life-like effects of L.A. Noire where players solve crimes involving in-depth characters and tangled motives, a great example…

It was way back in 1968 that Andy Warhol first uttered those legendary words, “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes”.

And here in 2011 with blockbuster TV shows like The X-Factor and Australia’s Got Talent once again dominating the Australian television landscape, his words seem as relevant now as they did back then…

As we gallop into the future at a bewildering speed of change, many of us also find ourselves hankering to learn more about the past.

The success of TV shows like “Who do you think you are?” and websites like Ancestry.com are a couple of interesting cases in point…

July 30th was International Friendship Day – not the highest profile date on the calendar, but one that promotes a noble cause nevertheless.

Nowadays it seems that we live in a world where social media has given us the opportunity to become connected to an ever widening group of friends. Surely this must be a good thing mustn’t it?

July 14th is Bastille Day, a day of significance to French nationals everywhere, marking what is regarded as the beginning of the modern nation.

On this day in 1789, there was an uprising of the people who stormed the Bastille prison and brought about the end of feudalism and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy (we have a new French employee at The Seed so feel fairly well informed on the topic).

In the modern day world of marketing we are also witnessing a revolution of sorts. Less violent for sure, but also of great significance and marking a fundamental shift in the ways brands communicate…

With the 2011 Federal budget recently delivered, Australians are now coming to terms with what it means to them and their household budget.

Whilst some groups may be better off, it is likely that with such a large budget deficit to deal with, many will find themselves with less in their pocket and will need to look for ways to stretch the budget further…

April 25th commemorates Anzac Day, a chance for Australians (and Kiwis) to pay their respects to the Diggers who died fighting for their country.

It is a time for sober reflection. A time when we are able to acknowledge some of the values that capture what it means to be Australian – courage, mateship, support…