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The Pounds of Brixton Independent business in the Brixton area...

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:52:00 +0100

The Pounds of Brixton

Independent business in the Brixton area of London have been using their own currency, the Brixton Pound, designed to support local businesses and encourage local production. For the currency’s 2nd birthday, the notes have received some sweet art treatment. They’re now emblazoned with the faces of Brixton heroes, most notably David Bowie.

Independent currency to support local business is cool. Bowie in your billfold is priceless.

Check out the article here: http://www.psfk.com/2011/10/david-bowie-featured-on-local-london-currency.html

And see what the Brixton Pound is all about here: http://brixtonpound.org/

Not 3D glasses. 3D printed glasses. If you’ve ever tried...

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:31:44 +0100

Not 3D glasses. 3D printed glasses.

If you’ve ever tried to shop for a pair of eyeglasses, you know how frustrating it can be to find the perfect ones. And if you’re even remotely style conscious, or picky in any way, it gets even harder. Well, recently a young industrial designer named David Minich faced this challenge, and said “screw this, I’ll design my own.” With 3D printing technology at his fingertips not only did he create the glasses of his dreams, but now he’s making it easy for all of us.

Make Eyewear lets you choose from a handful of styles and then customize the color. Or if you want to go fully custom, you can submit your drawing for a pair of frames, and Make Eyewear will make them happen. Chalk one up to new technology facilitating individuality and independence.

See the article here: http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/design-architecture/make-eyewear-puts-you-in-the-designers-seat/865

And design your own here: http://www.makeeyewear.com/

Independent minds can bring the world together. At least for a...

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:26:27 +0100

Independent minds can bring the world together. At least for a day.

When you have a video as powerful as the one above, you don’t need too many words. All you need to know is that two independent filmmakers have helped orchestrate this jaw-droppingly beautiful work of art starring ordinary people around the world. It is testament to the power of film, the power of compassion, and the power of independence.

Be a part of it: http://www.onedayonearth.org/

This is what American Idol should be. Leave it to ad whiz turned...

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:07:00 +0100

This is what American Idol should be.

Leave it to ad whiz turned social change agent provocateur Alex Bogusky to bring entrepreneurs together in very cool ways. Recently his collaborative brand incubator Common sponsored an entrepreneur battle in Boulder, where bold new thinkers pitched their ideas to judges and a crowd. Maybe not as entertaining as watching people sing and dance, but if more people tuned into this kind of thing, we might begin to build innovative businesses, create more jobs and get our economy on the upswing again.

Definitely take the time to learn more about Bogusky’s business efforts here:

http://vimeo.com/19688952

http://fearlessrevolution.com/

And check out the “battle” here: http://www.kdvr.com/videobeta/6e18fc55-0747-4aef-ba43-09b2ce8034fd/News/Entrepreneurs-face-off-in-Boulder

Coolin’ in the ATL. Everybody loves stories about people...

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:27:00 +0100

Coolin’ in the ATL.

Everybody loves stories about people who quit the corporate grind to pursue their dreams, and that story is definitely part of the King of Pops mythology. But the full story behind Atlanta’s hottest gourmet popsicle dealers is really the story of a few brothers following their dream. And with flavors like chocolate sea salt and Arnold Palmer (that’s iced tea and Lemonade for those of you in internet land who don’t know what an Arnold Palmer is), it’s also a rather delicious and refreshing story.

Check those fools out here. Or follow their Tweetage to see where they’ll pop up next.

http://kingofpops.net/about

Local Lord of Lighting Most of us here in the editorial office...

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 22:19:00 +0100

Local Lord of Lighting

Most of us here in the editorial office of Under The Influence are big runners. It keeps us alert, attuned, thinking and ready to tackle the day. And on this morning’s run around the Old Fourth Ward section of Atlanta, we got a kindly wave from an old friend. And we thought, you know what, there’s a guy who’s as independent as it gets.

So today, ladies and gentlemen, it gives us great pride to introduce you to Christopher Moulder. Chris has been making his own brilliant, inspired lighting creations out of his Atlanta studio for years. His work is a masterful blend of art and function, serenity and blaze. His creations adorn fancy hotels and down to earth homes all over the country. And he’s one of the coolest guys you’ll ever meet.

So check him out, and if you know any local badasses who do their own thing, do it well, and do it with pride, send them this way.

http://www.christophermoulder.com/history/enter.html

Schweet Schwood. You can always count on Portland, Oregon for...

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:35:01 +0100

Schweet Schwood.

You can always count on Portland, Oregon for cool indie stuff. This time a band of Cascadian kids brings us handcrafted shades made from the wood of old skateboard decks. So not only do we have small batch, independent craftsmanship at play, but we’ve also got the recycled angle and street cred galore. If Ray Ban marketing execs aren’t worried yet, they should be.

Kickstarter was not started on Kickstarter. Not the first time...

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:07:49 +0100

Kickstarter was not started on Kickstarter.

Not the first time we’ve talked about this innovation juggernaut on this blog, but Kickstarter is such an interesting example of how technology facilitates independence, that we can’t help ourselves. And with this just out article by NY Times consumer culture writer Rob Walker, we get an in-depth look behind the scenes. Here Walker talks with the company’s founders about the ins and outs of crafting a good funding pitch, and how Kickstarter shapes things at the intersection of money, creativity and culture.

Read it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/magazine/the-trivialities-and-transcendence-of-kickstarter.html?pagewanted=1&sq=kickstarter&st=cse&scp=1

Small presses. Big cojones. Bigbox bookstores are going under....

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:58:19 +0100

Small presses. Big cojones.

Bigbox bookstores are going under. E-readers and tablets are on the rise. But the mighty paper book refuses to die. More to the point, there are a growing number of small presses cropping up all over. These DIY outfits are not only thumbing their nose at the electronic tides, they’re also opening the doors for newer, less established writers.

This is the book version of the underground zine scene, and they’re not going anywhere. In this piece we salute local faves Vouched ATL, who personally read, and vouch for, everything they print. Power to the presses!

Work isn’t what it used to be. The security of earlier...

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:43:00 +0100

Work isn’t what it used to be. The security of earlier generations is gone, and today’s fast-paced, constantly changing landscape demands a variety of skills and extreme versatility. So it’s no surprise that more people are freelancing than ever, lending their skills on different projects here and there. What is interesting though, is how growing ranks in freelance culture have given rise to a new type of workplace.

While there’s something nice about the freedom of working from home or a coffee shop, freelancing can get lonely. So increasingly collaborative workspaces have been popping up in big cities. For a small fee, people can rent some office space they share with others. So you get the freedom of freelance, but the benefits of a convivial office. So not only is loneliness a thing of the past, but these spaces give workers the chance to collaborate on projects and network for future ones. Win win. And welcome to the new workplace.

Check these out, and let us know if you know of others like this:

http://hiveat55.com/

http://www.indyhall.org/

There are few areas of life that haven’t been drastically...

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:32:03 +0100

There are few areas of life that haven’t been drastically changed, or even revolutionized, by the web. Think about the ways we buy everything from books and shoes, to cars and homes. The way we manage our bank accounts and bills, and the way we choose a dentist or a doctor, are all very different now than they were 20 years ago.

One area that hasn’t changed though, is the way choose our nation’s leadership. Most Americans know very little about the murky process of nominating a presidential candidate, which has long been the domain of caucuses, fund-raising benefits, and staged town hall meetings. Well, that could be about to change.

Enter Americans Elect, a recently unveiled site that lets Americans choose the issues important to them, and even nominate candidates. Founded by a bi-partisan group frustrated with the old ways, this site could revolutionize one of our oldest, and most important, institutions.

Check it out here: http://www.americanselect.org/

And have a look at a NYTimes op-ed piece about it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/opinion/sunday/24friedman.html

Spotlight: Small Business The need to support small businesses...

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:03:57 +0100

Spotlight: Small Business

The need to support small businesses in America is now more important than ever. Not only are small businesses vital to creating jobs, spurring innovation and competition and generally jolting the economy northwards, they’re also deeply ingrained in our national sense of self. So in this post, and in a few more to follow, we’re going to shine the spotlight on different ways that people are embracing and supporting small businesses.

In this first episode we’ll look at financial services giant American Express, who has offered specialized credit and services for small businesses, recently made a commitment to supporting small businesses by declaring the Saturday after Thanksgiving to be Small Business Saturday. Pretty sweet. Righteous even. Read more and get involved here: http://smallbusinesssaturday.com/

And as always, if you’ve got something to contribute, send it our way!

You can’t really talk about how technology is facilitating...

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 03:49:34 +0100

You can’t really talk about how technology is facilitating independence without talking about what’s going on in the Middle East. In fact, you could probably devote an entire blog to that. If nations of young, well-educated, web-enabled people can start toppling dictatorships, you can bet your twitter account they can start innovative companies. Here’s a great piece on how the new situation in Egypt is opening the door for startups. If you’ve got similar stories, please send them this way.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/business/global/egypts-entrepreneurs-look-beyond-the-revolution.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=arab%20spring%20startup%20summer&st=cse

Customize it. And keep going. Custom Culture first creeped onto...

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:11:00 +0100

Customize it. And keep going.

Custom Culture first creeped onto the fringes of American consciousness in the 1950’s, when young men, some back from WWII and looking for kicks, began modifying cars inside and out. A whole culture of chopping, lowering, pinstriping and souping up was born. The staid black clunkers of the 40’s and 50’s were suddenly turned into fast, loud, eye-catching statements of individuality. Detroit took notice and starting working towards the muscle cars of the 60’s.

Today customization is alive and well, and over time American marketers have gotten in on the act. Interestingly, sneaker companies were some of the first to offer online “build your own” tools, most notably Nike ID and Vans Custom. Car companies have also long offered online car builder tools, which are doubtless invaluable in the buying process. It’s far more convenient, and far less intimidating, to build and price your next ride from the comfort of your laptop, and without an annoying salesman hovering over you.

So where is online customization going next? Discover is currently offering consumers the chance to build their own credit card, complete with different rewards programs and over 100 card designs. Chiquita recently ran a campaign that allowed fans to customize the iconic little blue and yellow stickers that grace their bananas. Marvel Comics is giving its fans the tools to create their own comic book heroes. Are there architects out there that will let you design your dream home by dragging and dropping?

This is an interesting trend that gives consumers the power to express their individuality, while allowing marketers to operate outside of traditional retail models. If you’ve got any cool examples of where this “build your own” trend is going, we’d love to see ‘em!

These should get you started:

http://www.eatachiquita.com/sticker-contest/

http://marvel.com/games/cyos

http://nikeid.nike.com/nikeid/index.jsp

http://press.tiffany.com/News/NewsItem.aspx?ID=93

http://www.converse.com/#/products/shoes/converseOne/scratch/all

http://www.discovercard.com/credit-cards/cardbuilder/?icmpgn=1007_ccMORE_mrq_cb_btn

The lines are blurry, and it’s not the alcohol. Jack...

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:48:06 +0100

The lines are blurry, and it’s not the alcohol.

Jack Daniels is doing some good new work that celebrates its independence and embraces its authenticity in the face of an increasingly digitized world. Which is great because it’s really on-brand. But things start to get weird when they invite you to share their old fashioned letterpress posters on facebook. It just feels like two opposing forces are at play, digital VS analog, classical VS modern.

But maybe that’s the world we live in today, where there are no rules about intersections of old and new. If organic farmers can blog about churning butter, and butchers can have twitter followers in the hundreds, there’s nothing odd about sharing letterpress posters online.

Check out the work, and read more here: http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/ad-day-jack-daniels-133454

Start your own marathon. If you’re a runner, you know that...

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:31:00 +0100

Start your own marathon.

If you’re a runner, you know that The Boston Marathon is pretty much the be-all-end-all. For years, Boston was the only marathon outside of the Olympics that you had to qualify for, and the standards were strict. If you saw someone wearing a piece of gear with the Boston Athletic Association’s unicorn logo, you knew they were a fast, determined badass.

But over the years, the ranks of Boston became filled with runners who gained entry through charities. Nothing wrong with that, except for purists who argued that the race had grown too big, too corporate and had lost its original hardcore essence.

Well last year some of the purists started their own race. It’s called the Gansett Marathon, and qualifying is the ONLY way you can run it. And you’d better be fast. In the first year there were just 55 runners fighting it out on a cold, wet stretch of Rhode Island. Now that’s hardcore.

Check out the race here: http://www.gansettmarathon.com/

And check out a Runner’s World article about it here: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-239-281—13898-0,00.html

Sweet logo, right? It was created especially for this issue of...

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:05:00 +0100

Sweet logo, right?

It was created especially for this issue of Under The Influence. However, the articles we’re about to post seemed like the perfect occasion to release that bad boy onto the blogosphere. Courtesy of Entrepreneur Magazine, we’ve got a couple tasty tidbits. One is a handful of profiles of people who’ve started their own businesses. The other is a checklist to see if starting your own business is right for you. Because truth is, we all think about it, but it might not be right for everyone. Either way, knowledge is power.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219937

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/219932

Atlanta has always had a good indie music scene, but ATL...

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 23:41:00 +0100

Atlanta has always had a good indie music scene, but ATL Collective puts a sweet creative spin on it. For each of their events, they invite a different handful of local musicians to come together and play a classic album from start to finish. Improvisation and interpretation are key, making classics like Van Morrison’s “Tupelo Honey” and The Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds” sound totally fresh and new. Nice right? You bet. Now tell us what cool things are happening in your city’s indie scene!

This post is a double whammy. Because we’re not only...

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 20:28:52 +0100

This post is a double whammy.

Because we’re not only profiling an independent alternative to Facebook, but we’re also saluting the innovative funding platform that helped it get up and running.

Diaspora made waves last year when its four young founders made the NYTimes front cover: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/12/nyregion/12about.html Their mission was simple; create a friendlier, open source social networking site that gives users more control over their personal information than social networking monster Facebook.

They launched their venture on Kickstarter, one of the web’s most radical, and potentially influential innovations yet. Kickstarter is a site where anyone with an idea can go and try to raise money for that idea from the web community at large. To date everything from inventions to books to albums to companies have been launched with help from Kickstarter. In short, Kickstarter is venture capitol for the people, by the people, and it’s certain to help people shake things up.

Check out http://www.kickstarter.com and the page where Diaspora was launched here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/196017994/diaspora-the-personally-controlled-do-it-all-distr?ref=live

Erik Proulx has built a career of turning lemons into lemonade....

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 18:25:29 +0100

Erik Proulx has built a career of turning lemons into lemonade. The long-time advertising creative turned his layoff into an opportunity to make an inspirational movie about his ad industry peers who turned their own layoffs into new, exciting creative journeys.

Now he’s back with a new movie about people who are trying to rebuild Detroit. To say Detroit was hit hard by the decline of the US auto industry is putting it lightly. In recent years the city has been known for blight and flight. But a growing number of diehards are fusing their passion, their creativity, and their love for their city into an effort to re-imagine Detroit into one of America’s most forward thinking cities.

Just as innovative as Proulx’s transformation to indie filmmaker is his funding plan for this movie. For every dollar you donate, he’ll give a producer credit on your very own frame of the movie. Killer.

Check out the whole thing here http://www.lemonadedetroit.com/