http://www.fastcocreate.com/1680076/a-startup-ad-pivot-behind-the-dollar-shave-club-promo

1. Firehouse

2. Marketing Arm

3. Moroch

4. Publicis

5. TraceyLocke

6. TM

This is the beginning steps of awesome design (except of course, for the times when you actually have a passionate purpose to follow).

That bite in the ass to jump start your creative gene is controlled by you, the designer, because this creative cycle or so called process will forever work in our favor…we are humans and therefore can be spurred to action.

TO GET THINGS GOING HERE IS SOME JEALOUSY INSPIRATION:

http://www.howdesign.com/design-creativity/top-10-sites-for-designers/november-2011-top-10-websites-for-designers/

After a warm welcome and enjoyable presentation (of course, with tea) we began to discuss Wagh Bakri’s potential movement into the US and how would they go about it or why would it be relevant. While the debate bounced back and forth between question, answer, and retort, there was a somewhat mood change that took over the conference room. It went from light and tea-tastic to aggressive and stiff. It was very clear that there was a disconnect of points and purposes to be made between the two sides of the equation. And while assumptions were being made about Americans as a whole based on a visit to New York, I kept thinking about the diversity of India from north to south, east to west, religion to religion, etc. and how one cannot stereotype the Indian culture because there are so many differences much like one cannot stereotype the American culture becaue much like Indian we are a melting pot of differences and values.

After the semi-akward meeting, we were at dinner when terrorist attacks on Bombay changed the course of the trip and we found ourselves scurrying back to Dallas by way of Delhi, London, and Chicago! And I learned quite quickly that jet lag is much worse on the way back.

Walking through Old Town was quite interesting, the sights and smells were something unto themselves. Old Town is divided into smaller communities that are essentially organized into neighborhoods. The entrance to each is noted by a door or gate with a sign of some sort labeling the new community. These communities are not composed of whoever wished to move there because of location location location but rather these communities are where entire families reside so that they can be close.

C.K. Prahalad mentions that often times individuals at the bottom of the pyramid are not identifiable and cannot be apart of the larger picture because they are on the fringe of society. Old Town, however, has a very clear identity, these individuals are part of a tight community. This in itself has an identity. Old Town was colorful, aged, intricate, organic, and peaceful. There are son many ways to look at the tour but one point really stood out to me. While walking through the winding corridor-like streets, we came across a common court of sorts where a statue and community cow resided. The cow was quite domesticated and not at all afraid to say hello to us. From the center of the court, you could look 360 and completely understand the community idea. Families were within speaking distance and yet were in different homes. It was like a knot, multiple ways to untie and retie the rope but the rope itself is always constant. These families are ever changing and evolving or growing but in this knot they are intertwined comfortably.

After which we visited the Gandhi Ashram, this was literally where he lived and breathed and ate and prayed and meditated and all kinds of things! The home itself was perfectly quaint and simple but the best part was the aura that penetrated each step taken inside the residence. Every time I felt the little granules of sand between my feet and the stones, an energy pulsated and soothed. It wasn’t hard to picture Gandhi and his wife simply being and living, life is life pure and simple. We tend to lose sight of what really matters in life, but when one gets to witness such an existence it can have a lot to say. Gandhi made a choice to live his life as such…he didn’t choose a Hummer and diamonds. He chose a cotton wheel and peace.

We were familiar with IndiGo from our meeting with Wieden + Kennedy and we were fortunate enough to experience the IndiGo brand while flying from Jaipur to Ahmedabad.

The innovation of this brand from beginning to end is so successful in the Indian market because it took into consideration all the elements and demands that its target want and worked within them plus expanded. IndiGo offers affordable style and class that is bright and modern. I would have never guessed that we were flying a low-cost carrier because it was an experience and an art show from the tickets to the attendants.

Everything was branded and specialized to reflect the style W + K shot for, even the sandwich boxes we designed within the brand image. I could easily see the power of the brand among the travelers with us, they were engulfed in the brand and were happy to purchase branded items…even if just as gifts or souvenirs.

Astrologist Guide of Awesome

The Observatory and the astrologist that toured us were the best tag team pair I have ever had the honor of witnessing much less meeting! He walked us through the various sun dials built at monumental scales in order to maintain pin point accuracy of telling time, measuring stars, and depicting space. The zodiac garden was this spread of seemingly organic geometric forms that created a visual ebb and flow. Quite mesmerizing, though, was how accurate and keenly astute the astologist’s peronalized horoscope were simply based on one’s birth date, time, and place.

Zodiac Garden: Taurus

According to him, someone born on May 5 at 7:37am in Texas would be defined as a double Taurus set in Venus and is very very strong Venus. Characteristically this person would love music and traveling; be very romantic, friendly, and happy; and much more. Future plans in response to this enlightenment shall include further research on the definition and relations of a double Taurus and very strong Venus.

We also visited a high-end jewelry handicrafts shop where we were guided through the jewelry making process from beginning to end that Jaipur is famous for. I did notice, though, that when introductions were being made, the title supporting one’s name and position was whether they were Muslim, Islamic, Hindu, or Christian. This small yet poignant example of how India’s history and past are forever being remembered and engraved in even everyday occurrences such as a simple “Hello Friends”. This idea of cultural meaning through symbols and beliefs is a valuable human truth read in Hy Mariampolski’s work.