lbōbi : the Little Blog of Big Ideas

lbobi Radio Ep. #40: Finding Our Focus

2012-05-17T14:33:32Z

In the latest episode of lbobi Radio, Brian and I discuss the history of lbobi (luh-bo-bee) over the last two years and how it's evolving into a place where we want to focus more on helping other small businesses. Of course this means photographers but I am also thinking broader than just our industry. There are universal issues every entrepreneur faces and Allison and I want to help you with them.

I feel your business has to be deliberate about everything it does or a better way of saying this, it has to be well designed. Everything from your color pallette, logo, website/blog, social media, customer service, how you package & deliver, customer experience. All these things needs to be well thought out, and we want to help you with this.

To reflect our renewed focus of designing your small business, lbobi will have more targeted posts, guest posts and Allison and I will be starting a live video feed via the new coolness that is Google Hangouts to talk about specific issues you bring to us.

Design Shepherd

Jeff

Follow @JeffRodgers

You can listen to this episode here, just hit play...

Hosts: Jeff Rodgers and Brian LeTendre

Music by the mighty : Jeremy Horn

My personal social media rules

2012-05-10T21:26:57Z

I have a set of rules I try to stick to when I am posting something to a social media site (faceboook, twitter, instagram, studio blog etc). It doesn't matter if it's business or personal I still use the same criteria. After all, when you are running your own business there really is no such thing as a personal account anymore. The lines are way too blurred and you are the brand after all. I admit that there are times when I stray from the path and say something online I really should not and I usually have to go back and delete but in general I really do try to stick with my own rules. My social media measuring rod comes from a Bible verse that I read years ago and has stuck with me ever since.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Philippians 4:8

I think that pretty much speak for itself. Basically be edifying, build up. I am not saying be fake and flowery all the time. Speaking about injustice or something that is just wrong is fine. Your point may well be valid, you are trying to change things. You just have to realize when you start talking politics you should NOT assume everyone agrees with your statements. As a matter of fact if not handled right your statements might even alienate your clients.

Social Medianaut

Jeff Rodgers

Follow @JeffRodgers

lbobi Radio Ep. #39: The importance of design.

2012-04-30T14:21:29Z

Greeting from the little blog of ideas!

Here's the latest episode of lbobi radio for your listening infotainment. This week my stalwart co-host Brian LeTendre and I discuss the importance of good design.

Episode #39 topics:
The truly magical world of Disney, the complete package that is Apple, the iconic title design for Mad Men by the superb Imaginary Forces, the be-awesomeness that will be the Avengers movie, Jeff's basic design rules, the importance of the user experience, Brian gets choked up talking about Walt Disney, Jeff admits to not having a business card and so much more!

Music provided by the lyrical Jeremy Horn.

JEFF! The design guy

Follow @JeffRodgers

p.s. As promised here a couple of the title sequences that we mention on the podcast and the link to the book Brian discusses:

Designing Disney by John Hench

Mad Men Main Title from Jeremy Cox on Vimeo.
The opening titles to Mad Men, produced by Imaginary Forces. Received the 2008 Emmy Award for Outstanding Title Design.
http://www.imaginaryforces.com/featured-work/broadcast/mad-men/

Human Target Main Title from Jeremy Cox on Vimeo.
The opening titles to the show Human Target, produced by Imaginary Forces. Nominated for the 2010 Outstanding Title Design Emmy.

http://www.imaginaryforces.com/featured-work/broadcast/human-target/

The Art of Film & TV Design by PBS: Off Book

2012-04-23T15:23:21Z

I have mentioned before my deep LOVE for title design work. In my alternate life I was going to be a title designer for films, instead of an art director at an ad agency. I was surfing youtube this weekend and came across this. When you watch this video and think about what they are telling you, the cover is a part of the design and in some ways even leads the design/ layout of a book.

Side Note / Design Tip: Design the cover of a book (album, brochure, annual report, etc) first. There have been many times I have designed the insides of a book and did the cover last. While designing the cover I would try something and wind up liking it so much I had to go back to the design of the interior and retro fit it to match the new design.

Shepherd of Joy

Jeff Rodgers

Follow @JeffRodgers

Skittles: King of creepy commercials

2012-04-19T16:38:33Z

Who doesn't like bizarre and vaguely creepy commercials? Here are three Skittles commercials to boost your afternoon with creativity coolness.

Jeff "Head Skittler" Rodgers

Follow @JeffRodgers

lbobi Radio Ep. #38: Where does your creative inspiration come from?

2012-04-17T13:00:09Z

In the latest episode of lbobi Radio, Brian and I revisit the question of where creative inspiration comes from. We go over where we have both been pulling inspiration from over the last couple of months and how it's different for everyone.

lbobi Shepherd

Jeff

Follow @JeffRodgers

Links mentioned in the show:

Moleskine Books: The perfect sized book for whenever creative inspiration stikes.

http://www.moleskineus.com/

Dead Space Sountrack - Brians favorite gaming sound track:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/dead-space-original-videogame/id293681736

National Novel Writing Month

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Cinfex Magazine

http://www.cinefex.com/

Adobe Ideas

http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeideas.html

AdvertisingAge

http://adage.com/

P.S.

I would really like to hear from you guys, here or over on our fb page, what inspires you?

Creative Inspiration: 9 year old builds a cardboard arcade

2012-04-10T20:56:41Z

This is the coolest thing I have seen in a long time. Such a creative kid, I want to go to Caine's Arcade and get the Fun Pass. I admit it, I might have got a bit misty eyed watching this.

After you watch this I bet you will want to go to http://cainesarcade.com/ and donate to his college fund. If you have a heart that is. : )

Jeff "Caine's Arcade supporter" Rodgers

Caine's Arcade from Nirvan Mullick on Vimeo.
A 9 year old boy - who built an elaborate cardboard arcade inside his dad's used auto part store - is about to have the best day of his life.

Help Caine's Scholarship Fund:
http://cainesarcade.com

Caine's Arcade Online:
http://facebook.com/cainesarcade
http://twitter.com/cainesarcade

Credits:
Directed by Nirvan
http://twitter.com/nirvan

TED: Chip Kidd on designing book covers

2012-04-05T14:29:28Z

Seth Godin posted a link to this video this morning and it is so good I wanted to post it here for you. I am not saying it will make you run out and design a book cover but it will inspire you to create something and that is really the point of this blog for me, creative inspiration.

Jeff "I wish I could wear that jacket" Rodgers

Project Glass: Googles augmented reality eyewear

2012-04-04T21:18:37Z

Google announced today a new product they are working on, augmented reality glasses called Project Glass. They are past the concept stage but no where near announcing a launch date or a public beta test. The idea of glases that give you a heads up display like a jetfighter cockpit? That could be the coolest thing in the world or potentially the most annoying thing in the world.

Watch the video and tell me what you think. Now someone could be staring right at you and ignoring you by reading a text message. Yay

Jeff "Seriously, I am listening, please continue..." Rodgers

Simple explanation of F-Stop by Dylan Bennett

2012-04-03T20:35:57Z

I saw this earlier being bounced around twitter so I thought I would contribute to the viralness of it and post it here for your perusal.

Dylan Bennett gives a simple explanation of an F-stop.

Check out his other videos as well, I watched the Depth of Field one a couple weeks ago, very nicely done. http://www.youtube.com/user/DylanABennett

Jeff "fan of the camera" Rodgers

Follow @JeffRodgers

Paper by FiftyThree for the iPad

2012-03-30T14:42:07Z

Paper is a very unique iPad sketching app from the company FiftyThree. It's free on iTunes and offers several expansions (pencil tool, watercolor etc) for $1.99 each. The pen tool it comes with is more than sufficient to get a lot of use out of the free app without buying the extras.

Give it a try and tell me what you think.

Sketchy Jeff,

Paper by FiftyThree from FiftyThree on Vimeo.
Paper is where ideas begin. It's the easiest and most beautiful way to create on the new iPad. Capture your ideas as sketches, diagrams, illustrations, notes or drawings and instantly share them across the web. Download "Paper by FiftyThree" free from the App Store. #madewithpaper

Free Download:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/paper-by-fiftythree/id506003812

What do you do for a living?

2012-03-27T15:58:57Z

What do you do for a living?

It's a simple question, what's not so simple is how you answer this question. The answer you give is indicative of more about how you feel about yourself than what the person you are talking to thinks of you.

How you perceive yourself affects how you present yourself. Self perception is driven by your self confidence and affects how you interact with your clients. This is especially true when you are talking about your fees and how much prints cost.

So tell me, what do you do for a living?

Jeff the Questioneer

lbobi Radio Ep. #37: Google+ hires Kevin Rose, should you care?

2012-03-26T15:57:15Z

Hello good citizens!

To kick off your week properly, I am posting the latest episode of lbobi Radio for your listening edification. This weeks focus is on the up and coming social network Google+. They recently hired internet entrepreneur Kevin Rose to, ostensibly, revamp the ghost town that is Google+.

My co-host Brian LeTendre and I go over what our impressions of Google+ are, how I am using it at the studio, where Brian sees it going, and what Kevin Rose might be able to do for the new social network.

Music provided by the lyrical Jeremy Horn

Listen here on this oh so convenient player:

Click here to Subscribe

Mayor of lbobi and all the lands East of Narnia,

Jeff Rodgers

TED: Kelli Anderson's Disruptive Wonder for a Change

2012-03-22T16:41:22Z

During lunch today check out this 16 minute TED talk given by designer Kelli Anderson. It is titled Disruptive Wonder for a Change.

From her blog: http://kellianderson.com/blog/2012/02/my-tedx-talk/

"Aside from just showing/explaining pictures, the talk makes the case for creating absurdist/surreal work that disrupts our preconceived notions about the world through small, intimate experiences. This type of work can defy conventional expectations by presenting the hidden "talents" of everyday things that we easily take for granted. On a handheld level, these projects rail against unnecessary/unhelpful assumptions--the kind that lurk in the unexamined, quotidian corners of our day-to-day. In these very places of non-examination, the tiniest of subversions can open up small, alternate realities and become amplified into (modest) conversion experiences about our surroundings."

To find out more about Kelli:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/kellianderson

Blog: http://kellianderson.com/blog/

Dribble: http://dribbble.com/kellianderson

Mayor of lbobi,

Sir Jeff Rodgers

The Fundamental Elements of Design by Erica Gorochov

2012-03-21T17:22:27Z

Want to save $25k and skip design school? Watch this 1000 times.

An interesting video from Erica Gorochow on The Fundamental Elements of Design.

The fundamental Jeff

The Fundamental Elements of Design from Erica Gorochow on Vimeo.
Direction, Design, Animation, Writing: Erica Gorochow
EP, Writing: Karl Sluis
Sound, Music: Michael Coffman