Thursday, 12 February 2009
About Michael Peters
Michael, an LCC alumnus, is one of the most celebrated and influential designers in the world. He has pioneered a deep personal commitment to spreading understanding of design as an essential element of business success. Still actively working in the fields of graphics and branding, Michael Peters is an inextricable component of the history of commercial design and fast becoming a legend. Last term he delivered a hugely successful Creative Lives – Creative Partners session where we ran out of time to deal with all the questions. Michael has very kindly offered to come back to do this follow-up session, so don’t miss this extra chance to meet him, and also to get special price signed copies of his book Yes Logo - 40 years of Branding and Design.
Friday, 6 February 2009
job interview ended up with awesome great fine chinese painting
Today, it supposed to be a job interview day...(Yap, I m looking for a job to make some money that I can make my India trip¬)
The opening is looking for a secretary, not what I expect and I don't have any experience of being a assistant, moreover,the working venue is in a *red light area* city, but the payment is quite good and the company doing something seems quite stable and prospectively well, therefore, I still decided to go for it.
The smart boss just glanced on my CV and talked to me for a few sentences, then I think he noticed that I am not a good secretary, hah... but he seems quite interested in my experience of art...then we begun to talk about art almost for the whole afternoon¬ hah¬¬
I impressed of collection and the standard of his collection! He got more than 200 paintings from the top Chinese painting authorities¬ coolio!!!
and he showed me around 10 favorites of collection, eg: Yong Lin, Wanghuang Sheng, Ziwu Wang etc.
Super cool, he's collection are super amazing, what he collect is not only just paintings from great artist, but also great works of the artist(u know, some time, the great artist not always can make great works, however, he just collects great works)
Such an awesome day. saw quite a lot of awesome works which cannot easily to see in public!
The opening is looking for a secretary, not what I expect and I don't have any experience of being a assistant, moreover,the working venue is in a *red light area* city, but the payment is quite good and the company doing something seems quite stable and prospectively well, therefore, I still decided to go for it.
The smart boss just glanced on my CV and talked to me for a few sentences, then I think he noticed that I am not a good secretary, hah... but he seems quite interested in my experience of art...then we begun to talk about art almost for the whole afternoon¬ hah¬¬
I impressed of collection and the standard of his collection! He got more than 200 paintings from the top Chinese painting authorities¬ coolio!!!
and he showed me around 10 favorites of collection, eg: Yong Lin, Wanghuang Sheng, Ziwu Wang etc.
Super cool, he's collection are super amazing, what he collect is not only just paintings from great artist, but also great works of the artist(u know, some time, the great artist not always can make great works, however, he just collects great works)
Such an awesome day. saw quite a lot of awesome works which cannot easily to see in public!
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Interview of Michael Peters
Transcription of the interview with Michael Peters
Date: 4-Dec- 2008
Interviewer: Kelly Mai
Interviewee: Michael Pethers
Kelly: How many people in your company now?
Michael: We are starting new, so begin just with 3 people. But we will grow.
K: Last time you talking about you prefer the small company, small size. What do you mean by small? And how many people you prefer in a small company?
M: well, because it is very hard to tell, in my concern no more than 6 to 8 people in a company.
K: why?
M: Because in the time now, our clients now really want to talk to experienced people, they don’t want layers of management. They want to work around the kitchen table. For example, clients come here; we actually go downstairs and work around the table. So my idea is we should not have pressure in the west end of London. We don’t need fancy office any more. We just need to work in what clients’ interest in. We have big enough reputation already with track record to help us to do that. And I believe the big branding company’s dead day is coming soon. And I m only interested in the company allow us to do the very creative works, and help them to grow their businesses. And that’s why would like to my clients come and work with me or my senior colleagues.
K: I saw u did some work with big company, like W+K,
M: We are not big advertising agency, remember, we are in the world of branding and design. Big advertising agency they do need to be big to help their clients work worldwide. But they need to employ somebody or hire somebody like us to help, because we are specialized.
K: how do you market your company to you that kind of big company? Like W+K that kind of advertising agency.
M: I m not particularly interested in working with the big advertising agency. Let me say, advertising agency are interested in working together with us. Because we start the processes, and then advertising agencies are follow. But increasingly, what our clients are looking to do is to ask artist to create the advertising, and find a cheaper way to get the advertising into the worldwide market. The advertising agency used to be the strongest part of client communication. Now the brand consultancies become the strongest part. It starts small groups of people to help with, whether you are Ford whether u are Uniliver. Clients need to buy experiences and skill. We have a big job. We create the basic idea. But we actually employ outside to help worldwide is necessary. We have to go to a virtual agency, which means we are bring in the people have specific skills to help our clients on work, you can expect to get one skill all the skills in one organization for every client.
K: so you have a lot of connections?
M: I have a lot of connections all over the world. For example I might have a project I may want to bring a Brazilian designer in. he could work with me virtually. We are working in a virtual work. I think bring the right people to help us.
K: Can I know how long have you run this company?
M: This is brand new, today is the first day. I have been in to this area for 40 years. So we bring in all the experience in to now Michael Peters and Partners.
K: So how was your previous company, how many people in your pervious company?
M: Identica, there was 150 people in Identica. Now not anymore, Identica I think it is very small now. Identica must be 15 to 20 people now. Before Michael Peters Group, which was 800 people worldwide, we were the biggest branding and design company in the world. We were public company then. So from the very very large to the very small now. That’s the way I see my business going in the future. I don’t want the large one, branding company should be very small.
K: what do you think about the advantage and disadvantages of small company?
M: Small is the first of all is much more controllable. Is much more fun, is much more exciting. With the large company, you have to find work to keep people satisfy. And today it is not the way I want to work personally. There are obviously others want to grow big companies. But I don’t want to do that. I believe what clients want is to come to a place like this, or a small office, they will get into their future. They want to come and work directly with us. they want to small companies, they don’t want big companies any more. Too expensive. You are paying for layers of layers layers management you don’t need.
I started from small, became into big, but now small. But I am very happy about that. When I started, I stared small, just me, but now I have reputations.
Now I very keen to work with company who want to do very creative and exciting works, and allow us to do very creative works. And people who come to us, because we are doing creative and exciting works.
K: Do you think you company is a personal brand or a company’s brand.
M: a personal brand.
K: so do you think the small businesses should treat them as a personal brand?
M: I think small businesses should be personal brand anyway. Let’s say virgin, it is Richard Branson’s brand, he is a great entrepreneur. If you look at the people who come to us, because of my reputation and experience of creative work, so it is all about personal brand. But what comes first is not personal, is what I offer can make my client to be successful.
K: so in the beginning when u just start, how you market yourself.
M: in that time I just keep to see people and persuade them. I am a good sales-man. So I persuaded people to give me work. In creative business, you need creativity, sense of business, sales skills. I am not just a designer. My team is not just designer, we have board skills.
K: how do you think about the Internet can help your business?
M: I am great believed that the Internet is the future driver of brands. I absolutely agree with that. It is not a virtual idea. What I am going to do is building the reputation online. It is the easier and faster way to do it. For me, the Internet is the most exciting medium. I want to ask people to be a part of that.
It is too early in the way what we are doing and what will we go to do, but I will use all available gateways to help us to grow our businesses, which is Facebook, MySpace whatever might be. Use the internet to build the client’s brand.
K: do you have any suggestion for if someone wants to start a new design company?
M: Look, first of all I think. What is important, first of all is the people have to decide what they want to achieve, if they are designers, they have to ask themselves whether they are professional designers and how they can move on accordingly. I believe that today we live in a very very tabular time, not only economically but also politically and socially, therefore, we have to do business through creative eyes, we are going to make our clients a lot of money. I like the link between creativity and commerce, as I said in the speech in LCC (London College of Communication) the link between creativity and commerce is key to me, but I can speak to everybody, for me, that’s my philosophy. For me doing the best creative work, is using the digital interface is one way to communicating and in storing clients’ businesses, and making sure the clients make money for what we do, it is what I actually want to be. That’s my philosophy
K: do you think the network is it important for small businesses?
M: of course, it is like any businesses. It is like a shop, if you don't have networks, there are no people to come to buy your clothes, you don't have business. Networking is the key. Building reputation is the key too. When you start, it is very tough, start small, do great work and gets reputation by doing great works, and you clients will come to you.
Date: 4-Dec- 2008
Interviewer: Kelly Mai
Interviewee: Michael Pethers
Kelly: How many people in your company now?
Michael: We are starting new, so begin just with 3 people. But we will grow.
K: Last time you talking about you prefer the small company, small size. What do you mean by small? And how many people you prefer in a small company?
M: well, because it is very hard to tell, in my concern no more than 6 to 8 people in a company.
K: why?
M: Because in the time now, our clients now really want to talk to experienced people, they don’t want layers of management. They want to work around the kitchen table. For example, clients come here; we actually go downstairs and work around the table. So my idea is we should not have pressure in the west end of London. We don’t need fancy office any more. We just need to work in what clients’ interest in. We have big enough reputation already with track record to help us to do that. And I believe the big branding company’s dead day is coming soon. And I m only interested in the company allow us to do the very creative works, and help them to grow their businesses. And that’s why would like to my clients come and work with me or my senior colleagues.
K: I saw u did some work with big company, like W+K,
M: We are not big advertising agency, remember, we are in the world of branding and design. Big advertising agency they do need to be big to help their clients work worldwide. But they need to employ somebody or hire somebody like us to help, because we are specialized.
K: how do you market your company to you that kind of big company? Like W+K that kind of advertising agency.
M: I m not particularly interested in working with the big advertising agency. Let me say, advertising agency are interested in working together with us. Because we start the processes, and then advertising agencies are follow. But increasingly, what our clients are looking to do is to ask artist to create the advertising, and find a cheaper way to get the advertising into the worldwide market. The advertising agency used to be the strongest part of client communication. Now the brand consultancies become the strongest part. It starts small groups of people to help with, whether you are Ford whether u are Uniliver. Clients need to buy experiences and skill. We have a big job. We create the basic idea. But we actually employ outside to help worldwide is necessary. We have to go to a virtual agency, which means we are bring in the people have specific skills to help our clients on work, you can expect to get one skill all the skills in one organization for every client.
K: so you have a lot of connections?
M: I have a lot of connections all over the world. For example I might have a project I may want to bring a Brazilian designer in. he could work with me virtually. We are working in a virtual work. I think bring the right people to help us.
K: Can I know how long have you run this company?
M: This is brand new, today is the first day. I have been in to this area for 40 years. So we bring in all the experience in to now Michael Peters and Partners.
K: So how was your previous company, how many people in your pervious company?
M: Identica, there was 150 people in Identica. Now not anymore, Identica I think it is very small now. Identica must be 15 to 20 people now. Before Michael Peters Group, which was 800 people worldwide, we were the biggest branding and design company in the world. We were public company then. So from the very very large to the very small now. That’s the way I see my business going in the future. I don’t want the large one, branding company should be very small.
K: what do you think about the advantage and disadvantages of small company?
M: Small is the first of all is much more controllable. Is much more fun, is much more exciting. With the large company, you have to find work to keep people satisfy. And today it is not the way I want to work personally. There are obviously others want to grow big companies. But I don’t want to do that. I believe what clients want is to come to a place like this, or a small office, they will get into their future. They want to come and work directly with us. they want to small companies, they don’t want big companies any more. Too expensive. You are paying for layers of layers layers management you don’t need.
I started from small, became into big, but now small. But I am very happy about that. When I started, I stared small, just me, but now I have reputations.
Now I very keen to work with company who want to do very creative and exciting works, and allow us to do very creative works. And people who come to us, because we are doing creative and exciting works.
K: Do you think you company is a personal brand or a company’s brand.
M: a personal brand.
K: so do you think the small businesses should treat them as a personal brand?
M: I think small businesses should be personal brand anyway. Let’s say virgin, it is Richard Branson’s brand, he is a great entrepreneur. If you look at the people who come to us, because of my reputation and experience of creative work, so it is all about personal brand. But what comes first is not personal, is what I offer can make my client to be successful.
K: so in the beginning when u just start, how you market yourself.
M: in that time I just keep to see people and persuade them. I am a good sales-man. So I persuaded people to give me work. In creative business, you need creativity, sense of business, sales skills. I am not just a designer. My team is not just designer, we have board skills.
K: how do you think about the Internet can help your business?
M: I am great believed that the Internet is the future driver of brands. I absolutely agree with that. It is not a virtual idea. What I am going to do is building the reputation online. It is the easier and faster way to do it. For me, the Internet is the most exciting medium. I want to ask people to be a part of that.
It is too early in the way what we are doing and what will we go to do, but I will use all available gateways to help us to grow our businesses, which is Facebook, MySpace whatever might be. Use the internet to build the client’s brand.
K: do you have any suggestion for if someone wants to start a new design company?
M: Look, first of all I think. What is important, first of all is the people have to decide what they want to achieve, if they are designers, they have to ask themselves whether they are professional designers and how they can move on accordingly. I believe that today we live in a very very tabular time, not only economically but also politically and socially, therefore, we have to do business through creative eyes, we are going to make our clients a lot of money. I like the link between creativity and commerce, as I said in the speech in LCC (London College of Communication) the link between creativity and commerce is key to me, but I can speak to everybody, for me, that’s my philosophy. For me doing the best creative work, is using the digital interface is one way to communicating and in storing clients’ businesses, and making sure the clients make money for what we do, it is what I actually want to be. That’s my philosophy
K: do you think the network is it important for small businesses?
M: of course, it is like any businesses. It is like a shop, if you don't have networks, there are no people to come to buy your clothes, you don't have business. Networking is the key. Building reputation is the key too. When you start, it is very tough, start small, do great work and gets reputation by doing great works, and you clients will come to you.
Monday, 12 January 2009
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Twitter helps your creative businesses! Worth to try it!
Creative works, successful or not more reply on how much exposure you can get. As long your works can get more exposure, the value of your work might increasing as well.
Though there are massive businesses begin to use various social media to do marketing, marketing for art and design businesses is still undeveloped.
There is still plenty of room to use social media to market creative businesses.
A lot of creatives come from artistic background, not familiar with technology stuff. It results in they cannot produce some Internet-friendly marketing material (e.g. a post which is easy to be searched online, a search engine friendly website..etc ), that made them think social media cannot really not work for them.(98% art and design businesses involve in social media sites, but more than 40% thought social media just slightly useful even not useful at tall.)
Twitter is a good example which would be a impressive e marketing tools for art and design businesses but low using by creative businesses.
According to the result of my survey of Creative businesses, there are just 10% of art and design small businesses using Twitter.
Somehow, 400% users growth of Twitter last year(resource from Nielson PR team's report), shows that how this social media sites fascinating emerging.
I believe that Twitter would be a great idea to spread you new works news to your friends.
One month ago, when I suggestedTwitter to Nineteen74.com, my boss was doubt about that.Luckily, after a week, he came back to me and told me that is fascinating to help him to spread Ninetten74.com news
check out the following link, might inspire some ideas about how to market your new creative works.
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/50-ideas-on-using-twitter-for-business/
I picked up some points would be applied in small art and design start ups
1. Use some popular terms, in order to be easily searched.(lol, it was my latest experience, one intesting person found me via the term I used on twitter.) If you are doing some niche style works, you can use the niche terms + some popular terms(e.g chinese art/investment/Internet marketing..etc Whatever the hottest relevant terms.)
2. Use Twitter as a news annocement tool. Remember, when promoting a new works or a new post on ur site, ask a question or explain what’s coming next, instead of just dumping a link.
3. Follow the relevant people, and see what he/she follow. Mainly focus on your clients and target clients/market. Twitter is a good way to find out where is your target market through following people and see who they following. (some artists always complained to me, they don't know where does their target markets locate)
4. Use Twitter as customer relations maintaining and marketing information acquisition tool. You can get up-to-date market informations when the people you following, update their twitters. You can know how people think and make response.
BTW, I think I should quote some downsite of Twitter
Though there are massive businesses begin to use various social media to do marketing, marketing for art and design businesses is still undeveloped.
There is still plenty of room to use social media to market creative businesses.
A lot of creatives come from artistic background, not familiar with technology stuff. It results in they cannot produce some Internet-friendly marketing material (e.g. a post which is easy to be searched online, a search engine friendly website..etc ), that made them think social media cannot really not work for them.(98% art and design businesses involve in social media sites, but more than 40% thought social media just slightly useful even not useful at tall.)
Twitter is a good example which would be a impressive e marketing tools for art and design businesses but low using by creative businesses.
According to the result of my survey of Creative businesses, there are just 10% of art and design small businesses using Twitter.
Somehow, 400% users growth of Twitter last year(resource from Nielson PR team's report), shows that how this social media sites fascinating emerging.
I believe that Twitter would be a great idea to spread you new works news to your friends.
One month ago, when I suggestedTwitter to Nineteen74.com, my boss was doubt about that.Luckily, after a week, he came back to me and told me that is fascinating to help him to spread Ninetten74.com news
check out the following link, might inspire some ideas about how to market your new creative works.
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/50-ideas-on-using-twitter-for-business/
I picked up some points would be applied in small art and design start ups
1. Use some popular terms, in order to be easily searched.(lol, it was my latest experience, one intesting person found me via the term I used on twitter.) If you are doing some niche style works, you can use the niche terms + some popular terms(e.g chinese art/investment/Internet marketing..etc Whatever the hottest relevant terms.)
2. Use Twitter as a news annocement tool. Remember, when promoting a new works or a new post on ur site, ask a question or explain what’s coming next, instead of just dumping a link.
3. Follow the relevant people, and see what he/she follow. Mainly focus on your clients and target clients/market. Twitter is a good way to find out where is your target market through following people and see who they following. (some artists always complained to me, they don't know where does their target markets locate)
4. Use Twitter as customer relations maintaining and marketing information acquisition tool. You can get up-to-date market informations when the people you following, update their twitters. You can know how people think and make response.
BTW, I think I should quote some downsite of Twitter
The Negatives People Will Throw At You
- Twitter takes up time.
- Twitter takes you away from other productive work.
- Without a strategy, it’s just typing.
- There are other ways to do this.
Monday, 15 December 2008
Wondering about how Sayvee can make money from poor artists and designers
This idea looks good for artists who want to build a website, right?
I tracked back to this coming simple web tool for art and design businesses...Sayvee!!
still have to wait... http://www.sayvee.com/content/NewsItem_15
My research result showed me that over 90% artists and designers who are doing interent marekting thought their websites are the most effective internet marekting tool!
Sayvee sounds would be quite good to help the people who from the artistic background and new to the web stuffs...
but somehow I wondering whether can they make money or not...as I talked to one CMS company CEO in a conference .. he said CMS might be not suit for small businesses, because the cost of CMS might be a bit costly for small business...
according the talk with someone(cannot released his name:P), an internet marketing expert in the biggest Chinese internet marekting company, he indicated that his clients just the big companies...not the small businesses, because they have less money, though the Internet marekting can help a lot for the small businesses...
...I wondering how can Sayvee make money from the poor artists and desingers?
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
LONDON Calling
BACKSTAGE at NINETEEN74's LONDON's CALLING from WWW.NINETEEN74.COM on Vimeo.
Imagine the scene: it’s the year 2222, centuries into the future. Vogue doesn’t exist, neither does Armani, London is war-torn as an army of fashion creatives move forward to make a new mark on the world. “The Next Generation” if you will, the breed of unknown talent set for the future, the ones to watch for in years to come.
Such was the concept behind London ’s Calling, a project set up by professional networking site Nineteen74.com’s founder Raoul Keil in collaboration with creative agency Factory 311’s Nicholas Hardy.
Designed to bring together some of the hottest young talent around, the result was a team made up of Nineteen74.com ever-growing membership base not only from London, but across the globe; among them a French photographer, a German model, an Israeli designer, and of course a South African-based magazine. Evidence, if ever it was needed, of the internet’s reach.
In total some 40 people were involved one way or another in the making of this single dynamic image. “The aim was to have an all-encompassing troop, we considered everybody necessary to make this work, from the hairstylist through to the journalist,” says Keil.
The shoot itself took place at Spring Studios in London , with photographer Fabrice Lachant, stylist Semra Haksever and make-up artist Steven Canavan at the creative helm. From models poised to look as if they were moving, to the masterpiece sketches inspired by old war images and “a kind of fantasy land”, it was the innovative genius of 311's creative director Pierre Doucin and the beauty of computer generation that brought the whole thing together.
Say hello to Nineteen74.com’s fashion soldiers of the future; it’s a revolution in the making.
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