Ignite Salt Lake
I attended the Ignite Salt Lake 2 last night and overall I was a interesting event. There were a few things that bugged me and turned me off from it, but granted, it was probably more of my own issues than the event itself. One of my biggest issues is when events don’t start on time. If there is an agenda, I expect it to be followed.
After the “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock” tournement ended (going way to long) the speakers begun. It started out really well with Josh Awtry speaking on “Critical Hit: How to host your own role playing game”. He really did a good job and was a great start to the night. Unfortunelly all the speakers didn’t have the same energy, which I’m not complaining because I couldn’t do any better. Another entertaining speaker was Jarond Suman who spoke about “Film is not dead…yet”. This speaker was really doing well and holding the audiences attention until there was technical issues and they decided to have the intermission. Then there was a speaker that seemed like he could be outside the rules of the game and demanded a little more attention than he should have gotten.
Other than the speakers, this biggest purpose of the event is the networking opportunities. It is a great place to meet new people and expand your areas of interest. I met some people who came with the intent to find good people to help build a business and some that just wanted to have an enjoyable evening. It is great that anyone from any business or personal aspects can come and have a good time. I’m used to attending the AIGA events that focus on design related themes, which I really enjoy, but the Ignite event is not limited on who can come and enjoy themselves, plus, it’s free.
Be sure to go to the next one so you can judge for yourself, but for myself, I probably wont be going back—unless I decide to speak at it or know someone who is.
Who is Your Hero – Bible Series
While ago I posted about some Book of Mormon Posters that were simply amazing. Well, now there is a Bible series that is just as amazing. Well done Steve Nethercott. Be sure to check out the new Bible Series.
Random Image | Sprinkler
It’s not that I think random sprinklers that barely work are interesting, it’s the fact that they have been running straight for 3 4 days that intrigues me.
Good use of water.
npr.org Redesign
The new design for npr.org is now live. I think this is a great improvement from the old site and incorporates a lot of great User Experience and design features.
Most of all it is clean and simple and not cluttered up with unimportant elements. Even though the site is nice, it is a lot like other news sites and follows the same structure. It is a good update for NPR but isn’t anything ground-breaking, but, does it need to be? I think the content of the site is what makes this site stand out.
On the new site, it will be easier to combine listening and reading, to follow breaking news, to comment on our work and share it, and easier to find programming from your NPR station.
Some of the features that they set out to accomplished worked out very well. For instance, the simplified navigation and the three major sections prominently displayed on the home page (News, Arts & Life, and Music). It also has a latest news section that gets “timely” updates.
For a complete walk through and list of the new features, go to http://www.npr.org/services/new_site/.
Montana Backroads
For the past couple of months I have noticed a billboard that I think is brillant. Why is it brillant? Because it is simple, engaging, and to the point, plus, you get the message driving by at 65 mph, okay 75 mph. This billboard is Montana’s Backroads.
I unfortunetaly don’t have an image of the billboard but it is as simple as a beautiful image of the back county with the text, “backroadsmontana.com” on it. That is it. Far to often, companies think they have to cram so much information on a billboard to get their message across when in reality, the opposite is true. The message of this billboard goes beyond the url, although, you know exactly what they want you to do–type in backroadsmontana.com and visit the site (which is also beautiful). The message is left open to inturpretation, escape, explore, having fun, see nature, what ever it turns out to be. Regardless of what you get from it, you want to visit the site.
As I also mentioned, the website is also beautiful, you go there and instantly know you are in the right spot. There is plenty of information and it is organized very well. There are also videos and maps you can download for the different areas.
The firm that did the marketing and design, and also convinced the Montana Office of Tourism to do this, gets an “A” from me. I hope it is successful for them and when you are out driving, try to notice the billboards and check out the website, www.backroadsmontana.com.
Random Image | TV in the Parking Lot
