The Benefits of Free

Posted on May 12, 2008 - Filed Under Cool Ideas | Leave a Comment

People like getting free stuff. Especially if it’s unexpected. It promotes loyalty. It makes customers feel valued. It makes employees feel empowered to develop relationships with their customers. In an era where people are getting fired for giving away a Timbit (a tasty Canadian donut treat), it’s nice to see some companies can do it […]

Rockin’ Out Made Easy

Posted on April 21, 2008 - Filed Under Cool Ideas | Leave a Comment

Guitar Hero. It’s karaoke for playing the guitar.

It also seems to be an international phenomenon. It’s appeal stretches across national boundaries, generations, skill levels and social cliques. Why? Because of a basic insight: everyone wants to be a rock star.
The success of Guitar Hero is based in its ability to help you fulfill your dreams […]

Ikea Train

Posted on April 16, 2008 - Filed Under Cool Ideas | 1 Comment

Ikea has converted the Kobe Portliner Monorail in Japan into a moving showroom before the April 14 opening of a new store. The setup will be in place until May 6th.

Check out the original post and pictures on Kanye West’s blog here.
- Christian

Schools Kill Creativity

Posted on March 20, 2008 - Filed Under Cool Ideas | Leave a Comment

Why don’t we get the best out of people? Sir Ken Robinson argues that it’s because we’ve been educated to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers. Students with restless minds and bodies — far from being cultivated for their energy and curiosity — are ignored or even stigmatized, with terrible consequences. “We are educating […]

Christian’s Cool Christmas Present

Posted on December 24, 2007 - Filed Under Cool Ideas | 2 Comments

I got something really cool for Christmas. So, every year ad agencies give their clients (and staff) presents for Christmas. Sometimes it’s a party. Sometimes it’s alcohol. One time it was a PSP (very cool). At TAXI - the Toronto ad agency where I work - they decided to do something a little different.
To commemorate […]

Cost/Benefit Analysis of Washers

Posted on November 22, 2007 - Filed Under Cool Ideas | 1 Comment

This post is courtesy of an email that Hamid sent me. Apparently Tom Parker, author of Rules of Thumb, created a washer out of a penny instead of spending a lot of pennies to buy a washer.

Very cool idea. I also heard a rumour that the value of a penny is less […]

Droga’s Big Idea: The Million

Posted on November 20, 2007 - Filed Under Cool Ideas | 4 Comments

Heard of the Tap Project for UNICEF? Of course you have. It changed the way that people think of executing a simple idea. Check it out here.

The brains behind the operation? An Aussie named David Droga. Now Droga is tackling a problem facing the New York Department of Education is having motivating students to stay […]

Make Beer, Not War

Posted on November 7, 2007 - Filed Under Cool Ideas | Leave a Comment

So Miller Lite is apparently trying to start another beer war with Budweiser. They released an ad that made fun of the Bud superbowl spot (click here).
They’re talking claims about how their product has “More Taste, Less Carbs” etc. To be honest, I wouldn’t drink Miller Lite or Bud Light. Light beer is for Americans. […]

Word of the Day: Information Design

Posted on October 25, 2007 - Filed Under Cool Ideas, Inspiration | Leave a Comment

Information design has been defined by Wikipedia as the art and science of preparing information so that it can be used by human beings with efficiency and effectiveness. In reality, it is leveraging graphic design to visually represent information in a more impactful way. It takes the analogy “a picture is […]

No Shoes Allowed

Posted on October 23, 2007 - Filed Under Cool Ideas | Leave a Comment

It makes total sense. Even in today’s collaborative work environment, you need to find time to get away from all of the distractions of your desk and your colleagues in order to think. Everyone needs some peace and quiet in order to gather their thoughts, recharge, or just lock themselves away and […]