Category Archives: design

Near future communication at Mojo

“Swipe, tap and eat” -  a little update from the Creative Technology front at MOJO. We have partnered with Amnesia/Razorfish and the University of Sydney to develop a mobile application that could change the way we order our favourite meals. We helped MA student Stephen Davis to devise, test and program ‘BrandTable’. It is concept that allows shoppers to order food with only a tap of their mobile phone, using near-field-communication (NFC). A popular smartphone feature in Japan and Korea, NFC will sweep into the Australian market in 2012. Our video of the prototype, which you can see here, has already caught the attention of global technology blogs TechCrunch and Engadget.
We know Australians love smartphones and social networking, so we will continue to explore this technology. Any progressive creative idea, from mobile couponing, real-time scavenger hunts to launching branded films, can be propelled by NFC. And that makes it very near-future-communication for us at MOJO.

Occupy George Washington and Fat Abraham Lincoln

Compare this ingenious ‘print on dollars’ protest campaign by Occupy George

Red Washington

Red Washington

with this work by Ogilvy Thailand for a ‘best exchange rate in town’ ad. I reckon one could easily mistake the second for a political ad as well.

Fat Lincoln

Fat Lizzie

Fat Lizzie

Creative Social featuring ’52 Suburbs’ and ‘Underwater Sydney’

I am really excited about tonight’s Creative Social (more on CS below), this time hosted by Amnesia Razorfish and myself here at MOJO. We have the pleasure of welcoming two speakers, both ex-advertising professionals, who explore our home town Sydney in very artistic and unusual ways.

Creative Social at MOJO invite

Creative Social at MOJO invite

Louise Hawson is the author of popular blog 52 Suburbs, a search for beauty in Sydney’s more than 600 suburbs. Her work consist mainly of photo diptychs, taken in documentary style over the course of (you guessed it) one year. The body of work is now being turned into a book (to be released in May as part of Sydney Writers Festival) and an exhibition (to be opened at Museum of Sydney May 14) . Have a peek at the list of suburbs and see if yours has been explored by her.

52 Suburbs at redfern

52 Suburbs at Redfern by Louise Hawson

Our second speaker is Richard Vevers who is a member of Underwater Sydney, a conservation effort for Sydney’s beautiful underwater coastline. He will speak about his passion for diving and underwater photography – and how it took him to get involved in this noble cause.

Nudibranch by Richard Vevers

Nudibranch by Richard Vevers

Creative Social Sydney is a monthly get together of digital CDs and senior thinkers in the industry. We get involved in advising industry bodies such as IAB or ADMA, think about how to get greater and more innovative work out there, have the voice of digital creativity be heard more often, and invite inspirational speakers. Originally started in London by Mark Chalmers and Daniele Fiandaca who will be present tonight as he is in town with HyperIsland. It is now happening in numerous cities around the globe, and the lucky ones even get to travel around and have coffee in other fantastic cities (not us sadly).

Pharrell Williams and Holler (on the Granimator)

OK, we aren’t really tight with the mastermind of N*E*R*D fame. But we did manage to be included in the same wonderful iPad app.
Holler Sydney has contributed to one of the most successful new iPad applications, Granimator. Holler’s contribution is the only one from Australia and was designed by our own Kerry Edward and accompanied by sounds from Sydney musician Eli Murray.

The application which is currently in the Top 10 of free apps in the UK was developed by English studio UsTwo. It lets users design wallpapers, using only their fingers.

Holler pack on Granimator

Holler pack on Granimator

The graphics are sourced from globally recognised illustrators and creative studios such as Airside, Buro Destruct, Rob Bailey, mcbess and Jon Burgerman. And now it also includes cross over groups like N*E*R*D (+ Friends with You).

N*E*R*D on Granimator

N*E*R*D on Granimator

Also worthy of a click:

And just to round it up in style, here’s Pharrell/N*E*R*D with Everyone Nose:

Bollywoodification – get a new profile pic for the Delhi Games

In the lead up to the Commonwealth Games 2010, our friends over at SOAP have created this (very manual) facebook app called “Delhi Yourself” to promote Foxtel’s coverage (Follow The Games). Essentially you let them access your profile picture and one single illustrator, Harsha Nagaraju turns it into a hand drawn portrait, complete with Bollywood-type personal name and some Foxtel branding.

I 100% love the idea of individual results for every single user. And who doesn’t have a soft spot for a hand drawn portrait? While I could handle a lengthy wait till the profile picture was available, the delivery just felt a bit left to chance (no notification). Many fan posts on the page display the same confusion (where and when to get the pic). And unfortunately, despite me liking this “Delhi Yourself” app as an idea, I find the picture itself doesn’t contain any likeness.

Bollywood Tim

Bollywood Tim

Here is my original facebook profile picture that Harsha worked from.

Tim on facebook

Tim on facebook

Even though the creative drawing effort was performed by an authentic illustrator-posse (in India I assume) it doesn’t feel very Delhi – why not?

Mr Pink in Bollywood

Mr Pink in Bollywood

I could definitely need some tigers to spice my picture up a bit. Or should I be grateful I don’t look like Mr. Pink?

Comments via Bombay TV only please…