A marketing link

In my view good marketing involves crafting compelling and contagious stories about products. Crafting such stories is an iterative process…these days stories are told using various mediums.
This story commissioned by the advertising agency Nordpol+ Hamburg uses origami models and computer animators to tell the story of the japanese sports brand ASICS.

Origami In the Pursuit of Perfection from MABONA ORIGAMI on Vimeo.

Viewing photos of nature can boost your memory…

I read an interesting study by Berman, Jonides and Kaplan (2008) from the University of Michigan. They tested the effect nature walks (and nature photos) on cognitive function.

In their first study participants were given a 35 minute cognitively taxing task- repeat loads of random numbers back to the experimenter in reverse order. After this cognitive exercise the participants were sent out for a walk. The first group went to an arboretum and the second down a busy city street. Both the groups took the test again.

The result indicated that the test improved by almost 20% after wandering amongst the trees. By comparison those subjected to a busy street did not reliably improve on the test.

In the second study participants did not leave the lab but instead some stared at pictures of natural scenes while others looked at urban environments. The group staring at the nature photos beat the chaps staring at the roads and lampposts.

“Who’s Leading Who? – The Piano Trio as a Leaderless Team"

I started typing this yesterday night watching Liverpool torment Real Madrid to a 4-0 defeat and today I continue this post watching Barca beat Lyon 4-2. 

Yesterday I left work early, at 3:20 PM, to attended a interactive workshop conducted by Rob Kapilow and The Gryphon Trio on leadership. I was not sure what to expect as I walked in the drizzle from St. George station to the Fleck Atrium in the Rotman building. The workshop started few minutes late with the introduction of the presenters.

This was the first time I was attending a live performance by The Gryphon Trio, and I have to say they are spectacular. The workshop very hands-on, entertaining, and informative. More on this later.