25 things journalists can do to future-proof their careers

This is pretty good. It's meant for journalists but applies well to the rest of us too. It's about maximising our impact with the tools currently available. Good advise to clients too.

http://econsultancy.com/blog/4507-25-things-journalists-can-do-to-future-proof-their-careers

Tasteful is bland? Not so sure about that

Wolff Olins's top man says that 'tasteful' is bland - and that the 2012 Olympics logo will work

Interesting, but is this just a design smoke screen? Arguing that negative reaction to a design isn't to be valued because the audience is too restricted by conventional 'taste' seems wrong. This may be true but does it show understanding of the audience and so the brief?

For something to be ground-breaking does it have to be tasteless? Just look through some of the other brands created by Wolff Olins for some great examples of why this theory holds no water. Surely Orange was innovative, tasteful and not bland?

Another ray of sunlight: Financial crisis may have been good for the climate

The financial crisis and high oil prices caused the growth of greenhouse gas emissions to drop by half in 2008 - New Scientist

We can reduce our environmental impact further by contributing a little time and skill. These cotton shopping bags I designed for our local environment action group are going down well and reducing the use of plastic bags in the Elham Valley, Kent.

Recession's not all bad for designers

As clients become more keenly focused on value, designers are being forced to prioritise this as well.

The increased need to justify costs is forcing us to sharpen our vision of how we can really make a difference to clients' businesses.

Bad for creativity? Maybe, maybe not. Less indulgence but some of the best work seems to come from the most challenging briefs. A change in mindset is refreshing.

Getting through a recession

"Don't stop advertising. All too often, executives see cutting the advertising budget as the easy option because it can be enacted overnight. But this is the time to capture the hearts and minds of consumers. Robust businesses increase advertising in a recession." Well, we would say that. But we didn't. easyGroup head Stelios Haji-Loannou did.
Stelios Haji-Loannou's top ten tips for surviving a recession

Other recession related links
Top 10 tips on how to recession-proof business
Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of advertising agency WPP, delivers recession tips on You Tube