Picnic Etiquette: six steps to a delightful afternoon

This summer, the National Gallery of Victoria has been hosting picnics in its sculpture garden – a darned delightful way of attracting patrons.

I love to picnic often and always, so last weekend in Melbourne I stopped in at the NGV and ordered a hamper with bubbles to enjoy with friends. I noticed this thoughtfully penned guide to picnic etiquette, which accompanied the menu - if only all marketing directors could commission such charming copy:

"the Basket
Even when lunching on a lawn in the city, one’s basket should give the impression of a day in the country. A good basket should be large enough to appear plentiful, but not so heavy that it makes one perspire.

the Blanket
To make the right impression, one needs the appropriate blanket. Laid flat, it should seat approximately four persons and, as you are in public, sleep only two. Colour should be chosen in accordance with one’s clothing.

the Perfect Spot
While arriving early does prevent one from being fashionably late, it can be necessary for securing the ideal location. Look for grass that is not damp underfoot, and sun and shade in equal measure.

the Refreshments
No need to overcomplicate this matter. Drinks simply need to be properly chilled and never-ending.

the Long Lunch
Remember, there is no such thing as a quick picnic.

the Conversation
Dull weather and dull conversation are the only two things that can ruin an afternoon picnic. Make sure to choose guests wisely and, if in need of inspiration, attend an exhibition prior."

Words by: Chris Barton, Right Angle

How to make money from creative ideas...

Very few creative entrepreneurs have cracked the secret to monetising IP.

I recently interviewed 2 people who have: Tomek Archer, an industrial designer and musician from Melbourne; and Shainiel Deo, CEO of Halfbrick, a gaming company in Brisbane.

Tomek Archer (below left) is very switched on when it comes to licensing his furniture designs to international manufacturers. He's not precious about IP - instead he believes the more available you make your designs, the more likely you are to profit from them.

Shainiel Deo is running one of Australia's most successful independent gaming studios. Halfbrick used to rely on commissioned work until it introduced 'Halfbrick Fridays' (much like Google's '20% time') and began to develop its own games, like 'Fruit Ninja', which has been downloaded 3.5 million times and counting.

You can read Tomek Archer and Shainiel Deo's advice on IP on CreativeInnovation.net.au

My feet in Vietnam

Here are my feet anticipating an incredibly delicious meal at the Temple Club in Ho Chi Minh city, where I set up my office at A&Em Hotel (pictured right, it's a great boutique hotel chain for business travellers) for one week while I was in Vietnam meeting with advertising executives for ADFEST.

One Central Park... now under construction

Last year I worked with Frost* Design to write a magazine and website promoting Central Park - a property development that will transform the old Carlton United Breweries site in Chippendale, Sydney into "a $2 billion urban village with a beautiful, spacious park at its heart".

There was lots to write, but I have to say it was amazing to be involved in promoting a development that will transform the city so visibly. Frost* have given Central Park a vibrant brand identity to reflect Sydney's own vibrancy, and photographer Ant Geernaert did an incredible job capturing the faces of the inner-city.

Designed by starchitects including Jean Nouvel, Sir Norman Foster and local talents Richard Johnson, Alec Tzannes and Tim Greer, with a vertical garden by French botanist Patrick Blanc, Central Park aims to raise the benchmark for sustainable living not just here but globally. It replaces an industrial, drab corner of the city (Broadway has never been Sydney's prettiest strip) with a new hub for living, working and playing.

One Central Park, which will be covered in native Australian plants and vines, is now under construction.

You can visit the Central Park website here

The trouble with tourism...

I discovered these garish sculptures on a recent holiday to the island of Phu Quoc, Vietnam. Parts of the island are pristine and unexplored, but others are ruined by hideous adornments like these.

Squint and you might see me standing amongst a herd of concrete swans, and before a miniature replica of the Sydney Opera House.

My foot finds a friend

Celebrating the New Year at sunset in Luang Prabang, Laos

Vietnamese fashion

I sometimes wonder what I might be like if I were born in another country. If I were raised in mid-west America, would I wear sneakers with jeans and a bum bag? Would I be less likely to know the capital cities of other countries?

My curiosity relates to my own identity as a Vietnamese Australian. Obviously where we’re born and how we grow up has a major impact on our tastes and aesthetics.

So, if I had grown up in Saigon, it’s entirely possible I might find this garment (above, featured in Vietnam Airline’s latest in-flight magazine) attractive. I’d probably be wearing mini-dresses with puffed sleeves, and shoes bespangled with sequins.

I love Vietnam (I'm typing this from the Sofitel Saigon), but I am also thankful that I grew up in a country that has a flourishing fashion industry.

I also wonder this: how can a country that designs such immaculate recipes (like the betal leaf-wrapped beef rolls served at the Temple Club… I salivate as I type) also design horrors like this one? I blame the Communists, who stamped out fashion wherever they raised their red flag. And yet, their propaganda is excellent. Ponder that.

Right Angle Studio: tips on being a 'Betapreneur'

I have always been impressed by Right Angle Studio and its founder, Barrie Barton, who is one of the cleverest young digital publishers in Australia.

I recently interviewed Barrie for CreativeInnovation, and you can read the story here

I've known Barrie for years and am always surprised at what he turns his hand to next... this year, it was launching a venue, The Pond in Sydney to promote Pure Blonde, and a hotel room to promote Victoria, called The Lost and Found Hotel. All this without losing Right Angle's focus on publishing (Right Angle publishes 'The Thousands' online city guides including twothousand.com.au and threethousand.com.au).

Right Angle's founders (and brothers), are the lovely, enviably intelligent and imaginative Chris and Barrie Barton. They belong to a new generation of entrepreneurs dubbed ‘Betapreneurs’ by UK trend-forecasters LS:N Global.

Betapreneurs rely on online communities to beta test ideas quickly and cost-effectively. If audiences respond well, those ideas are expanded. If not, they can be collapsed quickly, minimising losses. It's a far more efficient way of testing new market opportunities, and is made possible by digital technology.

How to manage creative employees

I've met enough creative employees in my time as a design/advertising journalist to know they're not always easy to manage. People who are imaginative and full of ideas don't necessarily respond well to things that may detract from their creativity, like starting work on time, or wearing a suit and tie.

So, I recently put together this story about Creative Talent Management. I interviewed Patsy Peacock, CEO of fbi recruitment in Sydney and James McGrath, creative chairman at advertising agency Clemenger BBDO in Melbourne about what makes creative practitioners tick.

You can read the story on CreativeInnovation.net.au here

(Above: an illustration of Clemenger BBDO's creative department in Melbourne)

Alex Bogusky tells all: Fast Company

Why don't Australian business magazines write more stories like this one, an expose of advertising executive Alex Bogusky, published this month in Fast Company?

The article debunks the myth that Bogusky is one of the world's most brilliant advertising creatives, instead painting a picture of a deceitful, dictatorial and terrifying entrepreneur - albeit a highly successful one. Anyone with an interest in advertising should read it.