The worst presentation I have endured in my entire life…
University festival of design, last night I went to the open evening and I wanted to share my experience!
I arrived a little late to a packed lecture theatre with a still atmosphere as the first keynote speaker was introduced. He was a design engineer from mobile phone manufacturer, a 30 something who had been at the company since his first job as a tester, which he got whilst studying. During the following hour the audience were subjected to the most dry, boring and drab journey of this uninspiring, un-engaging individual. I often refrain from criticising others, especially when they are qualified individuals, respected within their profession.
This chap had all the qualifications, had some great experiences over his career and holds an influential role, but I have to tell you this was the worst presentation I have endured in my entire life. What was the point to the keynote… Your guess is as good as mine, I learn’t some trivial information about his early years, about where his office was, how many cars he has and all of his qualifications. Maybe I had missed the point, but speaking to everyone after it was a widely shared opinion that is was truly terrible. Had it not been for the second keynote speaker who totally got it I would have been asking for my time back! He showed passion, energy, told an engaging story and awakened an audience who had been left in a coma from the first guy.
This made me realise that despite good qualifications, experiences… and before you are fighting this mans battle he said he was an accomplished presenter around the world to teams and schools, this was a ‘keynote’ for this there are no excuses. He was unable to read or engage the audience, prepare a good presentation and deliver with any zest what so ever. To top it off, the most awful PowerPoint slides made this a memorable event for all the wrong reasons. This becomes even funnier as the event was about celebrating design innovation! Shocking.
So, I was hoping that the student’s work would make up for this… I was drawn to the sustainable graphics and packaging course grads, in a small room was a dozen or so people from another Uni, and a mix of standards. Some good concepts and ideas with poor execution, and vice-versa.
Now sat in the gardens waiting before my next meeting I remember two individuals; One, a young chap who’s work was already at a commercial level, he talked with a clear drive and an understanding of the subject. I have no doubt he will find work and will be an asset to whom he joins. The other was a mature student, an ex designer in an advertising agency who had created an interesting concept, a working retreat for designers to escape. An environment to learn, reflect and design in a harmonious way. Aptly named ‘The tree house’. I would love to see this concept become a reality, so I can take my team for some ‘time out’ whilst still producing project work. I am compelled to help connect her to a few contacts that I think can help her pull this off.
It’s a great idea, and I am sure many design teams would love to spend a day or two to re ignite their passion for their craft, which is often lost in the hubbub of the working environment. The 4 hour event soon flew by and had filled me with excitement, knowing there is good talent coming through. With the lasting bonus, experiencing how not to present! Something I hope I will never be responsible for inflicting to an audience in the future! Sorry Mobile phone man, but please, please, ‘step it up’ or stop presenting!
Read MoreValentine’s 2.0
There aren’t many holidays that are left untouched by the world of social media, and Valentine’s Day is no exception.
This year, businesses are going all out to make a song and dance of the season, some quite literally. Even the world of confectionary has listened to consumer trends and included "Tweet me" as a new message on the American version of Loveheart sweets, Sweethearts
Amongst the many distinctly average attempts to create innovative ways of taking advantage of the day, I found a few gems:
The American greetings card company, amgreetings, has set up a daily Twitter contest in the run up to Valentine’s day, for its’ followers to produce the best romantically themed post. The winners are announced daily and have been winning up to $350 each. A costly use of the ‘free’ marketing tool, but they have certainly boosted their customer interactions.
Hallmark has created a line of Augmented Reality (AM) greetings cards. These are like regular paper cards, but when the image on the front of the card is held up to a webcam on a page on the Hallmark website it becomes a mini 3D animated world with sound and a fully rotatable stage. A bit of a gimmick? Perhaps. But a unique way to tell that special someone how you feel. See it in action here.
And of course, the iPhone has produced an impressive selection of the latest Valentine’s apps. The best of the bunch include virtual kisses that take an imprint of your lips and send it on, voice personalised e-greetings cards and even a two-person fingerprinting tool that can ‘accurately’ analyse the feelings between you and your loved one.
Who said romance was dead?
Read More2009 a year in review plus our testimonial of the year!
When we began 2009 we were prepared for a tough year, as a management team we sat down for two days to prepare our strategic direction and survival plan. We have taken the time every month to monitor and review performance and client feedback and success.
I am delighted to end the year feeling exhausted for all the right reasons. As a team we have grown, as a company had our most successful to date in the last 10 years and as a person I have begun to feel free again. Running your own business is a roller coaster of emotions and challenges so it is critical to maintain a self belief so strong it can withstand any cross fire.
Our talented team of 10 superstars has made sure we retained our clients whilst acquiring new ones that fit our strategic model. We’ve branded and launched 16 companies, re-branded 8 businesses, built 35 websites, produced 8 promotional videos including filming across Europe, we have continued to be the strategic marketing department and partner for 6 growing businesses, run a brilliant public vintage fayre, worked over 16,000 hours, drunk over 5,900 mugs of coffee & green tea, sent over 16,200 emails (not campaigns just day-to-day messages) ran 29 workshops for about 150 people, presented to more than 100 young entrepreneurs, shot over 13,000 photographs, and spent more than 2,000 hours on Facebook! And had a lot of fun doing it all!
We do what we do because we love it and we’re damn good at it! We like to be challenged and valued. We get stuck in and deliver results; we like freedom and learning and strive to be the best in our world.
But do you know what made my year? Reading this…
“I would just like to thank you and your whole team for the level of service, commitment, attention to detail and timely actions that you have all taken to give ooops.net limited that paradigm shift required of a business entering its eighth year of trading. As you know we are a five strong team at this moment in time and with your continued help I am sure within the year we will be an eight strong team! I am impressed with RT Media’s integrity; each and every member of your team are free to say what they think, to express themselves with a zealous passion for putting us first. This ensures we know we are getting the whole truth and nothing but the truth – important to winning! You are like an honest “coach” and “mentor” to us. I am impressed with RT Media’s creativity, I know it is your pre-requisite but there are a great many of your competitors out there that are not! I am impressed with RT Media’s strategic vision, able to see beyond the horizon, helping us let go of the shore! Ensuring we don’t waste money now, saving for the opportunities that will give the greatest return on investment in future. An example of this is our stopping of our Press advertising and moving into Social Media that is FREE! All in all – I’m as chuffed as nuts with you all!”
Paul Booker – Founder of ooops.net limited
Well done to the whole team for a year to remember. I am looking forward to making 2010 even better.
Thanks to all who take the time to think of us, work with us and recommend us.
Ross.
Founder & Creative Director.
RT CMS says: Hallo, Hello, Bonjour, Привет, 餵, Hola
Hi
This is Alex, from the WebDev lair, I have an update for everybody.
Our previous and current projects give us ideas how to upgrade and modify our CMS. So what did we do? We revised the whole code, and made necessary tweaks, we fine tuned databases and slightly changed the interfaces. Thus, our clients are able to run multi-language versions of websites. Supported modules are: News, Addresses, Articles, Testimonials and of course: WebPages – all of what you need 
If you have ever dreamed of reaching your customers around the world, even people speaking different languages – now you can do it. Armed with our CMS!
Read MoreTo-do: write a blog post
To-do lists are an essential daily tool!
Not only do they organise our day, but they cross over and affect other people’s tasks as we interact and help each other out. They may not bring joy to those who are constantly nagged by electronic reminders, but they do serve the purpose.
Once a goal or task becomes part of a to-do list, it can feel more concrete/critical/real/important – take your pick. It can be invaluable to break down seemingly insurmountable undertakings, into bite-sized chunks of effort. For instance, my little daily to-do list often blossoms into the semblance of a fully fledged project and with the combined effort of the RT Team becomes reality!
Read MoreChange begins with a belief; an aligned attitude then focused action.
A friend sent me a link to this and it really resonated. Love it. With the desire to do better, to live better and succeed, anything is possible.
Read More
