Registration in now open for Artworks Summer Camp for students ages 7 to 13. The annual…
Artworks in Big Rapids hosts summer camp for ages 7-13
Artworks in Big Rapids hosts summer camp for ages 7-13
Registration in now open for Artworks Summer Camp for students ages 7 to 13. The annual…
The Joys of Nighttime Landscape Photography
When you think of landscape photography, you most likely imagine doing it during golden hour, with dramatic rays of sunshine cascading across the scene. However, you can create compelling landscape images at any hour, even during the night. This awesome video tutorial will give you a ton of practical advice for tackling nighttime landscape photography and producing eye-catching shots.
Coming to you from Alister Benn of Expressive Photography, this excellent video tutorial will show how to take great nighttime landscape photos. While planning ahead is quite important in regular landscape work, it becomes doubly so when you start doing it at night. First, simply having much less visibility means finding the right location for a shot is trickier, so having your destination planned in advance is a major advantage that will save you a lot of time and effort. Second, working at night is more dangerous, and knowing your route will make for a safer trip. Be sure you take all the other necessary safety precautions as well. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Benn.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out “Photographing The World 1: Landscape Photography and Post-Processing with Elia Locardi.”
LAYER Takes a Quiet Approach to Technology for Samsung
Even if you’re oblivious of the hype building around the pending finale of HBO’s Succession, you’ve probably gotten whiff of the fashionable catchphrase “quiet luxury” floating around these days, a term encapsulating the neutral, label-free, and supremely tailored fashion preferred by the Roy family as an extension of their stealth wealth. If the Roys were to ever concern themselves about their mobile devices as they are about keeping their Loro Piana caps always ready, they’d possibly be carrying around the subtly done LAYER x Samsung Battery Pack.
Each Samsung Battery Pack features a 25W 10,000 mAh capacity allowing for Super Fast Charging for multiple devices simultaneously.
The minimalist slab’s pebble-like finish is made with a soft speckled plastic delivering a quiet tactile pleasure, a design LAYER and studio founder Benjamin Hubert describes as indicative of a “clean, elegant design” evoking “soft stone-like forms” and a “palette aligned with interior design.”
The Samsung Battery Pack’s gently rounded form and flat end are conceived to clearly display access to its dual USB-C ports with just a glance. The only pronounced embellishment LAYER has given the device beyond its tactile feel is a graphic typographic “10” debossed across the charger’s neutrally hued surface, a large numeral denoted its 10,000 mAh charging capacity.
We are proud to have partnered with Samsung since the very beginnings of LAYER. The new Battery Pack is a small part of a larger collaboration, and it is exciting to release the first of many products we are working on. The Samsung Battery Pack is accessible, functional, and simple yet instantly identifiable and memorable, bringing a little bit of joy to the everyday
-Benjamin Hubert – Founder, LAYER
The Samsung Battery Pack is part of an ongoing collaboration between LAYER and Samsung, and is available for $35.
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Pressing Matters offers possible new coherencies for paper architecture
Pressing Matters, the current exhibition on view at Modest Common, showcases printmaking work from eight architecture studios.
Making a bullet time video booth #Photography
In case you never heard of it: The bullet time effect has been around for a while, but became really famous when it was popularized with the movie “The Matrix” from 1999.
While it can easily be recreated in purely rendered form like animated movies or video games, it is still quite involved and costly to achieve with real cameras: You set up an array of photo cameras, trigger them all simultaneously and play back the individual photos as frames of a video. The result is that the scene seems to be frozen in time while the camera moves around freely.
When I said that the bullet time effect is still expensive, I have to admit that it has become much cheaper since 1999. I looked for old used DSLRs. They have large (albeit old) sensors, they support means to remotely trigger the shutter, they have plenty of resolution, their settings can be controlled precisely and nobody except me is interested in them anymore. The trick is that we are using the photo mode of these old DSLRs to create a video, which means that we are comparing old photo specs with modern video specs. So, I looked for the oldest mainstream beginner DSLR that has a decent resolution and picked the Canon EOS 400D from 2006.
See the video below and more here. The code is on GitHub.
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Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Identifies Your Feathered Friends Using AI
Birding, often thought of as a hobby of generations past, is experiencing some newfound popularity. So, it only makes sense that in today’s tech world the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder exists to notify you of avian visitors, snap photos, and organize them all into a collection for perusing and sharing. Currently, there are 65,000 active feeders in 113 countries, with more than 100 million photos and videos taken of 472 species!
Each day, Bird Buddies across the world snap an average of 837,000 photos and videos. The AI-powered bird feeder gives you total control over its built-in camera from the comfort of your home – well, actually, your phone – and provides five megapixel photos and 720p HD live stream video. Featuring a 120-degree field of view and a 4000 mAh rechargeable lithium ion battery, Bird Buddy’s camera uses artificial intelligence to recognize over 1,000 species – even the rare ones you didn’t know existed.
Each time a feathered friend stops by, the camera snaps a photo and sends you a notification of its latest visitor. Get closer to these shy creatures than ever before, thanks to the camera’s selfie-like perspective that uses a wide-angle lens. You can even draw specific birds to your feeder by browsing hints that share what type of food will attract various species.
While the technical assets are indeed impressive, the body of the Bird Buddy is manufactured from new and post-consumer recycled plastics (BPA-free). The modern bird-friendly design includes a protective roof, dual sided windows for seed visibility, and a rear door for easy refilling. Choose to hang the bird feeder using the included bottom mount with pole, wall, or fence mount.
Though already packed with great features, there are add-on accessories available to take your Bird Buddy to the next level of birding. Upgrade with a detachable solar roof panel and provide the feeder with all the power it needs – no recharging necessary. Attach your Bird Buddy easily to a wall through the use of a wall mount, simply drop it into the plate and rotate it in your preferred direction. Or, easily mount a suet ball holder with the treat of your choice (suet ball not included). Lastly is the 3-in-1 Nutrition Set that can help local birds stay refreshed at all times by bringing together the functions of a water fountain, fruit stake, and jelly tray.
But the Bird Buddy isn’t just about what’s been mentioned. By using one of the feeders you’re also contributing valuable information to the database of bird migrations and populations that will help experts better understand and protect them.
Bird Buddy is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for their next two products: the Smart Hummingbird Feeder + Smart Bird Bath.
Smart Hummingbird Feeder + Smart Bird Bath
To learn more about the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder, visit mybirdbuddy.com. Check out their latest Kickstarter to fund the Smart Hummingbird Feeder + Smart Bird Bath at kickstarter.com.
Not Even a Sculpture of a Black Woman Can Escape Racist Hate
Three hundred people in the UK gathered to clean a sculpture of a Black woman vandalized with white spray paint.
Ad Museum Tokyo
Like everywhere, advertisements are everywhere in Japan. It’s also quite infamous for its T.V. commercials, often shocking the world with their bizarre touch. Despite (or because of) our familiarity with it, however, advertisement largely remains an underappreciated art form. The Ad Museum Tokyo was established in 2002 to turn people’s eyes to the fun, creative ideas that lie in ads.
Set in chronological order, the museum starts off its permanent exhibition with a variety of business tricks from the Edo period, the last of Japan’s feudal periods, circa 1603-1867. It suggests that the world’s first marketing genius may have been Takatoshi Mitsui, a claim supported by famed management consultant Peter Drucker.
In 1673, Mitsui founded the kimono fabric shop Echigoya and quickly made a fortune with his innovative business style. Instead of visiting the would-be customers’ houses door to door, he sold his wares at the storefront while widely distributing hikifuda, an early form of flyer with a daring catchphrase printed on it, advertising his policies: fixed prices and on-the-spot tailoring. His business would later develop into Mitsukoshi, the oldest department store in Japan, and Mitsui Group, one of the largest corporate groups in the world.
By the 19th century, shrewd Edo merchants had found a myriad of ways to advertise their businesses. Meanwhile, artists often featured contemporaneous establishments in their works, from kimono shops in ukiyo-e paintings to teahouses in theater plays, some of which remain in operation to this day.
Japanese advertising rapidly Westernized and modernized in the Showa era, circa 1926-1989. Influences from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements were clear as day, catering to the general public’s taste. In the museum’s collection, you may also recognize many of the brand names from this era’s adverts, including Shiseido, Calpis, and Morinaga Milk Caramel.
As the exhibit goes on through the post-war era to the Heisei era, you can see how advertising developed into the late 20th century. An array of posters, newspaper clippings, and the like are on display alongside the products they advertise, serving as a perhaps nostalgic trip down memory lane for those who lived in these eras.
There are also four cloud-shaped audio visual booths suspended from the ceiling, inside of which visitors can watch an assortment of T.V. commercials curated depending on the “feelings” they evoke: “Yeah!,” “Love,” “Humm…” and “Wow!”
In addition to its vast collection, the museum has a reference library, a unique gift shop, and a temporary exhibit usually displaying recent award-winning ads and their creative processes.
How Marketing Tricks Have Kept Barbie’s Brand Alive For Over 60 Years
Rejected by the toy industry at first, Barbie is now one of America’s most trusted brands. “She” – the 11.5 inch blonde doll, but also her brand persona – generated worldwide sales of around 1.5 billion US dollars (1.3 billion pounds) in 2022, and has a brand value of 590 million dollars.
Barbie debuted on March 9 1959 at the New York International Toy Fair as Barbie Teenage Fashion Model. Sixty-four years later, the doll continues to be the subject of cultural, sociological and psychological interest. By creating an iconic brand with special meaning for fans of all ages (Barbie is marketed to children aged three and older), toy company Mattel has successfully extended the lifecycle of the Barbie brand for well over half a century.
Barbie is also a polarising figure. The brand embodies the notion of a “double bind”, celebrated as an inspirational role model while at the same time blamed for creating unrealistic expectations of women, particularly when it comes to how they should look.
But while most toys remain popular for only two or three years, Barbie’s long-term success reflects Mattel’s responsiveness and adaptability to the changing cultural and political discourse in society and around this doll. So how has the company done it?
Suggested Reading: Mattel Introduces Barbie With Down Syndrome: Why Is This Move Ground-Breaking?
Barbie Brand
A Barbie Girl, In A Barbie World
Research shows there are many ways to build and sustain brand characters, but Mattel has used a “multiply” strategy for Barbie. This has involved introducing other characters that play supporting roles in Barbie’s “world”.
Over the years, these supporting acts were introduced to portray Barbie’s relationship with friends and family. First there was Ken (1961), Barbie’s boyfriend, then her younger sister Skipper (1964), followed by friends including Midge (1963) and Christie (1968), the first black Barbie character.
The storylines and individual characteristics of these additional characters connect to Barbie’s persona and increase brand visibility. Mattel has also used storytelling tactics such as announcing that Barbie and Ken had officially broken up on Valentine’s Day in 2004 (they got back together in 2011). Such stories resonate with fans’ emotions, sustaining interest in the brand.
These tactics typically work for a while, but how has Mattel sustained true brand longevity for this long? There are many strategies designed to revitalise mature brands. Mattel successfully extended Barbie’s brand to capture new audiences, drive growth and expand into new types of products beyond dolls.
This is a risky endeavour if the brand is stretched too far. But Barbie’s brand has been successfully extended into other profitable categories such as clothes, accessories, cosmetics and entertainment (music, movies and games). And now, after several computer-animated, direct-to-video and streaming television films, Barbie’s first big budget, live action movie will be released in cinemas in July 2023.
Early reports suggest the movie – helmed by Oscar-nominee Greta Gerwig, who also directed Little Women (2019) and Lady Bird (2017) – is likely to be rated PG-13. This is not the “universal” rating you might expect for a film about a popular toy. It hints at another strand of Mattel’s successful Barbie branding strategy: nostalgia.
Life In Plastic, It’s Fantastic
Alongside ongoing efforts to appeal to young girls, Mattel also deliberately targets older consumers. Specific objects – not just toys but clothes, food such as sweets, or even items like vinyl records – can give a physical form to a set of attitudes, relationships and circumstances for people. This evokes a powerful sense of the past.
This kind of nostalgia generates trust and positive attitudes towards a brand, influencing consumer preferences when it comes to choosing between toys.
In addition to the upcoming film, Mattel has attempted to capitalise on the nostalgia Barbie evokes in other ways. It sells more sophisticated designer and limited edition lines of collectible dolls aimed at adult fans, for example. These items are typically sold in speciality or boutique stores, and carry higher price tags than the average doll.
Criticism Of Barbie
As Barbie’s brand has expanded and evolved, the doll has also encountered criticism. Over the years, Barbie went through many transformations to look more confident, and was marketed as having many life options, particularly when it comes to work. There are now Barbie dolls representing more than 200 careers – from astronaut, surgeon, paratrooper, game developer, architect and entrepreneur to film director and even US president.
But critics have argued that these career dolls are a “misfire attempt at inspiring girls”. This negative perception of the brand’s moral vision is linked to the notion that Barbie is rooted in an ideal of femininity that still characterises women by their physical appearance.
Barbie has been accused of promoting unrealistic body standards, stereotyping and objectification of women, as well as having a negative influence on girls’ self-esteem and body image.
So, faced with declining sales and competition from smaller brands offering dolls with more realistic body types (such as Lottie and Lammily), Mattel launched “Project Dawn” in 2016. This included the launch of Fashionistas, a line of Barbie dolls with different body types (curvy, petite and tall) and abilities, skin tones and eye colours, as well as hairstyles and outfits.
But research suggested that young girls aged between three and ten preferred the original tall and petite dolls. They were negative about “curvy” Barbie, and this doll also received intense public scrutiny.
In 2017, Mattel took another significant step by introducing ethnically and racially diverse dolls of different nationalities, including the first hijab-wearing Barbie doll. However, this approach prompted criticism that Mattel was treating race and ethnic differences as “collectible”, and commodifying culture.
Despite this, Barbie continues to be a toy that many children play with. The longevity and iconic status of the doll is a tribute to Mattel’s astute marketing and reinvention efforts. These have helped the brand remain relevant even now, 64 years after it was launched.
Sameer Hosany, Professor of Marketing, Royal Holloway University of London published this article first on The Conversation.
