The science of eureka! (and how it applies to our industry)

“Peggy, just think about it deeply. Then forget it, and an idea will jump up in your face.” – Don Draper

There is no formula for creativity. In fact, those times when the job requires a particularly inspired idea are fairly terrifying, because who knows if it will come? You just hope that it does come, before your deadline, preferably, and that you have a pen or a MacBook Pro handy when it does.

Of course, we know there are things one can do to spirit the muse along. Jonah Lehrer seems to have narrowed the process down
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Political advertising in 2012: Impact on local advertisers

For local and regional advertisers, political advertising presents a number of challenges. Political candidates are well funded, determined and aided by a number of FCC rules and policies. These rules provide political advertisers with guaranteed space and time on media outlets at the lowest rates possible, resulting in the potential preemption of regular commercial advertisers’ media schedules.

This year, the media landscape will be inundated with political advertising due to changes in legislation and the high number of elections occurring across the country. Analysts have estimated overall political advertising spending for 2012 will be at
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The New Aesthetic

The New Aesthetic is a concept that has only recently been acknowledged in a real way. It’s a complicated idea that requires an understanding of art, culture and sociology to truly appreciate the impact of the New Aesthetic — as does aesthetics in general. I’m going to try and keep this short.

Aesthetics, aside from being a fun word to say at dinner parties after a couple glasses of wine, is a philosophical concept fundamentally concerned with defining our understanding of beauty. It typically asks questions like, “What is beauty? Why is something perceived as beautiful? And why does this appreciation of beauty change throughout history and across cultures?”
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Coachella: Where no one is partying like it’s 1999

Since it started in 1999, the Coachella Music Festival has become a world-class event, creating legions of fans and a brand that extends way beyond its desert confines. Not only have the music and production values always been top-notch, but Coachella is also an excellent example of how brands can use social media to generate awareness and drive sales. Year after year,
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