Monday, February 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Video Prototyping
Overview : A narration of a scenario where a product or system designed for a user group considering the user needs. In video prototyping it is showcased by filming a video. Why video ? It is only medium where people connect to the concept and be more empathetic.
How was it introduced ? We were shown the different stages involved in the production of actual design. Mock ups, Prototypes, Demos etc. However there are very slight differences among few. Prototypes are again varied on the fidelity. Low-High.
Different Types : Paper Prototyping involving basic sketches and explaining the concept is a low fidelity prototyping. Where as video prototyping or Interactive Prototyping using Flash or other software is High fidelity prototyping.
Topics : All the 30 students were divided into 4 groups and were given topics to choose.
Our team was: KARMA ( the fate )
Manoj Manduva
Shilpa Chaudhry
Gaurang Gupta
Shivi Kapil
Kumudini Roherkar
Vinay Kumar
Topic : Sustaiable Design for LifeStyle
" I chose the topic because for a lifestyle to be changed for good , for a sustainable design to be induced ,it has to lure ,intrigue.
We develop a bad lifestyle out of bad education which affects us really early and lasts throughout life. So its a bigger challenge later in life to deal with such a situation. "
Our prime objective in the design was to choose a sustainable solution that can be induced at all stages of life ( from childhood to elder class ) and to all strata of people ( working class to executives ).
Process : The different steps involved in the Video Prototyping were
1. Ideation / brainstorming
2. Storyboard development
3. Filming /Movie making
4. Editing
Idea : We had several ideas of which few were:
1. Game for Value Education - primary school children (a design solution for children to make them learn the values early in playful way so that there lifestyle is forever set right )
2. Cycle transit in cities ( Pollution , Energy Conservation are the burning issues of today. We can tackle them by simple solutions such as cycle utilization in urban areas )
Changes we made : We shared our ideas with the faculty and they wanted us to be more implementable in approach , so we tailored the idea to suit our own college .
Camera : Sony Handycam
Editing Tools : Adobe Premiere
Duration : 2 days
Approach : We wanted to try something new in movie making and tried " Green Matte "
concept and made the characters move over hand drawn backgrounds which was well appreciated.
The video prototyping course was really helpful and more reasonable at this juncture because it taught how to make the design concept be empathetic to users, how can the users approve of the design by imagining themselves in the characters.
How was it introduced ? We were shown the different stages involved in the production of actual design. Mock ups, Prototypes, Demos etc. However there are very slight differences among few. Prototypes are again varied on the fidelity. Low-High.
Different Types : Paper Prototyping involving basic sketches and explaining the concept is a low fidelity prototyping. Where as video prototyping or Interactive Prototyping using Flash or other software is High fidelity prototyping.
Topics : All the 30 students were divided into 4 groups and were given topics to choose.
Our team was: KARMA ( the fate )
Manoj Manduva
Shilpa Chaudhry
Gaurang Gupta
Shivi Kapil
Kumudini Roherkar
Vinay Kumar
Topic : Sustaiable Design for LifeStyle
" I chose the topic because for a lifestyle to be changed for good , for a sustainable design to be induced ,it has to lure ,intrigue.
We develop a bad lifestyle out of bad education which affects us really early and lasts throughout life. So its a bigger challenge later in life to deal with such a situation. "
Our prime objective in the design was to choose a sustainable solution that can be induced at all stages of life ( from childhood to elder class ) and to all strata of people ( working class to executives ).
Process : The different steps involved in the Video Prototyping were
1. Ideation / brainstorming
2. Storyboard development
3. Filming /Movie making
4. Editing
Idea : We had several ideas of which few were:
1. Game for Value Education - primary school children (a design solution for children to make them learn the values early in playful way so that there lifestyle is forever set right )
2. Cycle transit in cities ( Pollution , Energy Conservation are the burning issues of today. We can tackle them by simple solutions such as cycle utilization in urban areas )
Changes we made : We shared our ideas with the faculty and they wanted us to be more implementable in approach , so we tailored the idea to suit our own college .
Camera : Sony Handycam
Editing Tools : Adobe Premiere
Duration : 2 days
Approach : We wanted to try something new in movie making and tried " Green Matte "
concept and made the characters move over hand drawn backgrounds which was well appreciated.
Sustainable Cycle Transit System - Karma from manoj manduva on Vimeo.
The video prototyping course was really helpful and more reasonable at this juncture because it taught how to make the design concept be empathetic to users, how can the users approve of the design by imagining themselves in the characters.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Framed
Photography is mind game.
It is not what we see that is framed but what we imagine , perceive or what we would like to tell others.
All the years it has been capturing the moment randomly , posing for pictures.
Of course there has been a tinge of expression, philosophy and experimentation in my earlier attempts at photography.
If you observe the pictures below:
There has been a accidental intrusion of design principles like the 2/3 ratio and Golden Ratio in few. But there is no strong philosophy or reasoning for which the photographs are taken.
In the module I learnt that first we should be determined about the subject and then imagine the composition and frame it right considering the design elements.
Often while trying a hand at professional SLR cameras in order to get the right calculation we compromise on the framing or vice-versa. However by practice we can achieve a good balance.
Some of the photographs I clicked on few topics are
Freedom :
On The Job :
Stand Out :
All photographs shot by Canon 350D
It is not what we see that is framed but what we imagine , perceive or what we would like to tell others.
All the years it has been capturing the moment randomly , posing for pictures.
Of course there has been a tinge of expression, philosophy and experimentation in my earlier attempts at photography.
If you observe the pictures below:
There has been a accidental intrusion of design principles like the 2/3 ratio and Golden Ratio in few. But there is no strong philosophy or reasoning for which the photographs are taken.
In the module I learnt that first we should be determined about the subject and then imagine the composition and frame it right considering the design elements.
Often while trying a hand at professional SLR cameras in order to get the right calculation we compromise on the framing or vice-versa. However by practice we can achieve a good balance.
Some of the photographs I clicked on few topics are
Freedom :
On The Job :
Stand Out :
All photographs shot by Canon 350D
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Dedicated to Design
Design is the process of creatively finding solutions to the user's problems.
This is my understanding of design. It is also art+science. When I say that. I mean, taking the aesthetics , the feelings, the expression and mixing it with the functionality.
According to our faculty Mr.M.P Ranjan, there are two types of designers. Those who design just for change and those design for a better change. Like the one who changes the angle of curvature in the Nike's sole and those who design the seeding tool for farmers in rural India.
Designers have the great power to change. To change for better. To lay a path for millions. But great power comes with great responsibility.
I want to be a designer to bring new possibilities , build a sustainable world .
I am dedicated to design.
This is my understanding of design. It is also art+science. When I say that. I mean, taking the aesthetics , the feelings, the expression and mixing it with the functionality.
According to our faculty Mr.M.P Ranjan, there are two types of designers. Those who design just for change and those design for a better change. Like the one who changes the angle of curvature in the Nike's sole and those who design the seeding tool for farmers in rural India.
Designers have the great power to change. To change for better. To lay a path for millions. But great power comes with great responsibility.
I want to be a designer to bring new possibilities , build a sustainable world .
I am dedicated to design.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Branding and Marketing during Recession times - my learning
When there are tough times in the market. The companies tend to spend cautiously. They build on the key aspects which can keep them alive. Every penny goes as investment in retaining the customers and controlling attrition.
During these times how branding , marketing , keeping the brand promise and buying the real estate on the customer's mind seems to be a luxury.
I have raised an open question and could get amazing answers from leaders all over the world. Thanks to every one.
" I guess, Branding must be considered as a catalyst to get more business.. I was going through this article, hope this might help you... "Will Kellogg, the CEO of Kellogg’s, was a marketing whiz who understood the principle of exaggeration. When the Great Depression hit, most American cereal companies downsized, reduced their advertising, and cut marketing costs. Kellogg, on the other hand, doubled his ad budge, made his cereal boxes bigger, increased his sales and marketing staffs, and erected the world’s largest billboard in Times Square. When the Depression was over, he owned the market." - Mani
"Branding can survive by keeping it constant and not changing it because the external environment, if you change your branding you won't be that particular entity which all people know you by. Marketing can survive by simply doing what you promise (nothing different than normal), a company can focus on retention strategies more than normal, because it's easier/less costs to keep happy customers instead of acquiring new ones. Even then, it's the internal aspects (product/service/USP) should be the same, because that's what your company is about. Marketing will be the differentiator towards the external environment, new sub-markets, new growth strategies, rethinking strategy based on newest competition analysis and so on."
- Gianluigi Cuccureddu
"Marketing in 2009 is about delivering measureable return on investment. It specifically is not about branding, creative ads, PR, etc. Those are the tools of the trade and should be viewed as commodities used toward a larger goal. In tough times, I guarantee that CEOs, CFOs and boards look at every action with an eye toward ROI and if a marketing initiative contains the means to improve ROI for a company it should get attention. Of course, one of the secrets is to package the proposal properly and that may in fact, ironically, involve making sure the words "marketing" and "branding" and "advertising" do not appear anywhere in the plan! They can have a bad image in a tough economy...as in "expensive".
-Chris Petersen , CEO, President, COO, GM
"Recession or not, I'm going to drink Coke, buy Charmin, and go to McDonalds.Strong brands have left there mark on us all. The wise marketer will stay true to their positioning, branding and the equity they've developed in better times. Ignoring marketing fundamentals in the name of cost cutting or to satisfy an ROI decision tree might just bury a lot of solid brands in these tought times. If you could do more with less, you would have done that last year. . .we all were not out wasting money in 2008. What marketers need to do in 2009 is focus on those areas that are of the greatest importance when it comes to reaching our target audience. " -
Steven Napoli Account Executive/Business Development at Gish, Sherwood & Friends, Inc. and Marketing and Advertising Consultant
" Hi Manoj I will recount what Richard Branson has written in his book "Business Stripped Bare" about Brand. Virgin brand, considered amongst the top 20 brands worldwide, is one of the exceptions in the way they have been able to associate it with variety of products and services. Unlike other 19, it does not ply a well-defined trade. It is the only brand that is diversified into a range of business activities, including airlines, trains, holidays, mobile phones, media – including television, radio, cable – the Internet, financial services and healthcare. As per him - Brands exist as a means of communicating what to expect from a product or service. A brand should reflect what you can do. You have to deliver, faultlessly and for all time, whatever your brand promises. So it’s better to make your offering sound witty and innovative than to pretend you’re more than you are. My take is, Branding and Marketing need to instrospect to get reconnected with what the organisation is capable of (at complete stretch)and cares to offer to the customers rather than flying off and trying to create a chimera which the organisation will fail to live up to. This should apply in good times as well as bad times
Links:
http://entrepreneur.virgin.com/tag/branding/ " - Deepak Nagar Strategic Innovation and Knowledge Management Evangelist
"A recession may be a difficult environment for establishing a brand, but a sustaining brand should be durable enough to survive an economic downturn. With ad rates down and many brands hunkering down or going dark, it could be an opportune time to extend a brand by making a personal connection with customers in novel ways to create future value. I would say an economic downturn as a particularly good time to capitalize on the reduction of competitor white noise in the marketplace to craft a marketing campaign that builds brand awareness during this time of relative 'consumer quiet' and spending restraint. This strategy isn't meant to solve immediate cash flow problems, but if the cash-strapped customer isn't going to buy your products today anyway, then the next best thing you can hope for is to position your brand in front of the customer so the first thing they want to spend money on when they have it again is your products. Been there. Done that. Lots of sleepless nights, but good things come to those who wait. " - Kathy Roach Senior Creative Interactive Designer
Thanks to all other who have contributed their time and shared their knowledge.
During these times how branding , marketing , keeping the brand promise and buying the real estate on the customer's mind seems to be a luxury.
I have raised an open question and could get amazing answers from leaders all over the world. Thanks to every one.
" I guess, Branding must be considered as a catalyst to get more business.. I was going through this article, hope this might help you... "Will Kellogg, the CEO of Kellogg’s, was a marketing whiz who understood the principle of exaggeration. When the Great Depression hit, most American cereal companies downsized, reduced their advertising, and cut marketing costs. Kellogg, on the other hand, doubled his ad budge, made his cereal boxes bigger, increased his sales and marketing staffs, and erected the world’s largest billboard in Times Square. When the Depression was over, he owned the market." - Mani
"Branding can survive by keeping it constant and not changing it because the external environment, if you change your branding you won't be that particular entity which all people know you by. Marketing can survive by simply doing what you promise (nothing different than normal), a company can focus on retention strategies more than normal, because it's easier/less costs to keep happy customers instead of acquiring new ones. Even then, it's the internal aspects (product/service/USP) should be the same, because that's what your company is about. Marketing will be the differentiator towards the external environment, new sub-markets, new growth strategies, rethinking strategy based on newest competition analysis and so on."
- Gianluigi Cuccureddu
"Marketing in 2009 is about delivering measureable return on investment. It specifically is not about branding, creative ads, PR, etc. Those are the tools of the trade and should be viewed as commodities used toward a larger goal. In tough times, I guarantee that CEOs, CFOs and boards look at every action with an eye toward ROI and if a marketing initiative contains the means to improve ROI for a company it should get attention. Of course, one of the secrets is to package the proposal properly and that may in fact, ironically, involve making sure the words "marketing" and "branding" and "advertising" do not appear anywhere in the plan! They can have a bad image in a tough economy...as in "expensive".
-Chris Petersen , CEO, President, COO, GM
"Recession or not, I'm going to drink Coke, buy Charmin, and go to McDonalds.Strong brands have left there mark on us all. The wise marketer will stay true to their positioning, branding and the equity they've developed in better times. Ignoring marketing fundamentals in the name of cost cutting or to satisfy an ROI decision tree might just bury a lot of solid brands in these tought times. If you could do more with less, you would have done that last year. . .we all were not out wasting money in 2008. What marketers need to do in 2009 is focus on those areas that are of the greatest importance when it comes to reaching our target audience. " -
Steven Napoli Account Executive/Business Development at Gish, Sherwood & Friends, Inc. and Marketing and Advertising Consultant
" Hi Manoj I will recount what Richard Branson has written in his book "Business Stripped Bare" about Brand. Virgin brand, considered amongst the top 20 brands worldwide, is one of the exceptions in the way they have been able to associate it with variety of products and services. Unlike other 19, it does not ply a well-defined trade. It is the only brand that is diversified into a range of business activities, including airlines, trains, holidays, mobile phones, media – including television, radio, cable – the Internet, financial services and healthcare. As per him - Brands exist as a means of communicating what to expect from a product or service. A brand should reflect what you can do. You have to deliver, faultlessly and for all time, whatever your brand promises. So it’s better to make your offering sound witty and innovative than to pretend you’re more than you are. My take is, Branding and Marketing need to instrospect to get reconnected with what the organisation is capable of (at complete stretch)and cares to offer to the customers rather than flying off and trying to create a chimera which the organisation will fail to live up to. This should apply in good times as well as bad times
Links:
http://entrepreneur.virgin.com/tag/branding/ " - Deepak Nagar Strategic Innovation and Knowledge Management Evangelist
"A recession may be a difficult environment for establishing a brand, but a sustaining brand should be durable enough to survive an economic downturn. With ad rates down and many brands hunkering down or going dark, it could be an opportune time to extend a brand by making a personal connection with customers in novel ways to create future value. I would say an economic downturn as a particularly good time to capitalize on the reduction of competitor white noise in the marketplace to craft a marketing campaign that builds brand awareness during this time of relative 'consumer quiet' and spending restraint. This strategy isn't meant to solve immediate cash flow problems, but if the cash-strapped customer isn't going to buy your products today anyway, then the next best thing you can hope for is to position your brand in front of the customer so the first thing they want to spend money on when they have it again is your products. Been there. Done that. Lots of sleepless nights, but good things come to those who wait. " - Kathy Roach Senior Creative Interactive Designer
Thanks to all other who have contributed their time and shared their knowledge.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Core Values:
manucorp considers Freedom, Simplicity, and Creativity as the fundamental core values, as it aspires to be young, fresh and giving a new dimension to work.
Creativity, is about bringing newness. Its making mistakes. Its learning from mistakes. It turning mistakes into trends. Its being young. manucorp enjoys being young and futuristic. It thinks out-of-box. Its all action!
Freedom , is the most valuable asset. You are real or true when you are free. In this new age , to be on the top you need to create a difference in the way we deliver, to be passionate about the work which is only possible by being free.
Simplicity, is loved universally by people. You are direct in delivering the message if you are simple. So is the other person's understanding. It saves a lot of logical overhead on us. Future's mantra is simplicity. We celebrate future.
Simplicity, is loved universally by people. You are direct in delivering the message if you are simple. So is the other person's understanding. It saves a lot of logical overhead on us. Future's mantra is simplicity. We celebrate future.
Creativity, is about bringing newness. Its making mistakes. Its learning from mistakes. It turning mistakes into trends. Its being young. manucorp enjoys being young and futuristic. It thinks out-of-box. Its all action!
Win on your weakness not on opponent's strengths.
Compete with self is our motto.
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