Plus Factory brought on the food, drinks, and fun with our holiday company party at Essex Restaurant.
Ed and Mehmet, Katherine and her friend JJ.
Warren and Christine, Fred, Rachel.
Plusfactory
NOTEBOOK
This is our blog. Over the years, Plus Factory has put out some exciting news about ourselves or shared tips or updates on cool things happening in the industry. Now it's all here for you to read at your leisure.
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December 7, 2011
Plus Factory Holiday Party 2011
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December 6, 2011
AdKeepers: Commiting to Banners
We all have our favorite commercials that we always get a good laugh from. (My personal favorite is Maria Bamford preparing for Target’s two day sale in 2010 commercial). I can always view my collection of commercial favorites on YouTube and then share with friends.
This was what this new start-up AdKeeper was trying to relate to- except instead of TV commericals it would be online banners. Founded by Scott Kurnit and currently being tested by companys such as Walmart, Verizon, and Macys, AdKeeper allows users to click an icon that will save the banner for later viewing and enjoyment.
That is where things go downhill. Who are AdKeepers audience? As much laughs as I get from commercials- there are just as many that are a nuisance and not suitable for repeat viewing. In the case of banners, that’s unfortunately the majority of the creative ads out there. The ones I do notice and click through is mostly for promotions or product interest, not amusement.
With that said, someone who can truly appreciate banners and the blood and sweat behind them are the Agency creative and developers that create them. This community I can see saving and sharing amongst with appreciation. But growing beyond that demographic seems like a big reach. And this article confirms that most of the market already feels that way. Click here to read the article.
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December 1, 2011
Adobe vs Google?
Adobe, the alternative to Google??? It has a long ways to go. Yet, Adobe is playing catch up with a purchasing frenzy. It’s still a stretch before everyone’s “dark horse” comes forth from the shadows to show it’s true potential.
With purchases of Omniture, Demdex, Auditude, and most recently the ad buying platform Digital Frontier, Adobe is slowly stitching together a complete ad infrastructure. Can Adobe rival Google with an integration of their newly purchased and home grown goods?? Achieving innovation and efficiency, or will Adobe fall in line with Google offering as many problems as well as solutions?
With a market yearning for an alternative to Google, Adobe will at least have an optimistic audience cheering them on. As much as I would love to jump onto that band wagon, I do not see Adobe surpassing the experience Google has created in the last decade in shorter time.
To read more on Adobes ventures check out this Digiday article.
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November 28, 2011
Top 5 Cyber Monday Deals
In the spirit of the holidays, Plus Factory came up with our own list of Our Top Five Cyber Monday Deals:
1. VAIO S Series 13.3″ Laptop Bundle
Looking for a PC laptop? Look no further then this state of the art Sony Vaio available at a cheap price!
$339.98 Savings2. BestBuy’s Samsung 55″ HDTV
Ok, we know HDTV are the deal of this holiday season, and this Samsung is a beaut! And at 55 inches, it works in any living room.
$800.00 savings3. 50% off entire Zagg site
Great if you are looking for some great gifts.4. Microsoft Kinect Sensor and Games
This is the way to play if you have an Microsoft X-Box. Just as engaging as the Wii, but instead of a joystick, you just use your body.
$50.00 Savings5. Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 Digital Camera
CNet considers this one of the best point-and-shoot cameras are the market today. And its a great buy at Amazon.
$169.00 Savings -
November 23, 2011
New Painted Walls
We painted the walls at the Factory NYC offices. Check out the new red.
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October 31, 2011
PM Meeting on Halloween
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Happy Halloween Folks!!!
Have a safe and good Halloween 2011. And don’t forget, if you ‘like’ Monsters for Kids, Plus Factory is giving away one printed Monsters for Kids book to a lucky fan! Just “like” monsters for kids FB page and be entered to win a free book or monster poster!
To get more info on the Monster for Kids, click on this link.
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October 18, 2011
Monsters for Kids Halloween Edition – Now FREE!
We are proud to announce the launch of the latest Monsters for Kids Book – the Halloween Edition. Play with the latest Halloween monsters including the Vampire, Werewolf, the Mummy and much much more. Great app to read to kids plus great, scary sound effects. And for a limited time only, its free to download. Get yours today. -
October 6, 2011
Email to Recent Grads – Don’t Give Up
I got an email from a design candidate I meant a few months back, and she asked me for some advice on how to find work in NYC as an illustrator/designer and if there was any advice I can give her. I myself came from a Fine Arts background when I graduated from Art School, so I totally understood where she was coming from on finding the right ‘path’ in a career with the degree you have.
This is my email to her, and after reading it, I thought it would be a good thing to share with other recent grads or individuals who want to break into the world of digital design.
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Hi _______,Thanks for reaching out.
So I read your email and I wish I had better news to say. When I started out in your shoes 20 yrs ago I was in the same boat. Unfortunately the market for an illustrator wasn’t so strong then, and I don’t think in time it gotten that much better.
The positive: there is work for illustrators. Your friend is right. But it’s all about networks and connections. The work for illustration is so small, that you need to know the right angles/connections to get that kind of work from the direct source – I would say for instance magazines, print publications, etc. They don’t hire full time but commission these work out, and the only way you can connect is to build a resume/portfolio of work, and hope that one day you make some good connection with people who know to come to you for your ‘style’ of illustration.
Another track to take is find a rep or creative headhunter who specializes in illustrators, and can offer you to their clients when they are looking for a particular style that matches your own.
With that said, if you really want a career you have to focus on another design field. In my POV the places where you will 100% get work right away is:
- Design for HTML/CSS: learn how to design for HTML/CSS websites or platforms that ultizies this technology. This includes Facebook, Tumblr, WordPress sites, etc. Pretty much everything. Adobe Flash is being totally downgraded these days.
- Application UI design: there is no bigger/hotter field right now then to design for applications on smartphones and tablets. If you have that skillset, then you will have a job for a long long time.
- Design for HTML5/CSS3: again, sort of taking both HTML/CSS and the app path, but HTML5 is the future of web and internet technologies. If you can be seen as a professional in this field, you will get a job quickly.
There are many technologies I would recommend you look into to help you on your way:
- WordPress. This is the premenient blogging/CMS software out there in my mind for the majority of people, and if you can master this, you are set.
- Adobe Edge. This is a new product from Adobe that allows none coders to create animations and features in HTML5. I think this will be a big hit in the future and if you learn the tool now, you will be a pioneer in that field.
I hope this helps a bit ______________. Keep on trying things out and play with things. Your career is just starting and you will eventually hit a path that will take you where you want to go.
Best of luck.
Warren
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October 5, 2011
Rest in Peace – Steve Jobs – We Are All Going to Miss You
Was shocked when I saw a news alert on my iPhone. Steve Jobs pasted away. Rest in peace Mr. Jobs, we are definitely going to miss you and your vision.
