Networking Events at The Loeries

The Loeries is in Durban soon and there will be plenty of networking opportunities for you. Many people from the advertising and communications industry will be in town to attend.

Loeries Creative Week happens from 19 to 25 August 2019.

These are just some of your options:

DStv Seminar of Creativity at the ICC

Master Classes  - learn from the world’s best brands at the ICC

Brand South Africa VIP Brunch – meet the who’s who in the industry at California Dreaming

DStv Beach Café – Network while sipping sundowners at the Elangeni Beachfront

Loeries Expo – discover the latest industry trends at the ICC

There are so many more options for you during Loeries Creative Week.

To book your tickets visit www.loeries.com

This edition by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton

Win Tickets To Decorex Durban 2019

It’s that time of year again.

Image courtesy: Decorex SA

Diarise the dates for Decorex Durban now!

Africa’s largest décor, design and lifestyle exhibition portfolio will extend the continent’s influence on global style with the first instalment, Decorex Durban, taking place at the Durban Exhibition Centre from 21 to 24 March 2019.

“Decorex SA is taking ownership of its role as a leader in décor this 2019 through our inspired theme, ‘Designing for Africa – feels like home’,” explained Sian Cullingworth, Portfolio Director at Reed Exhibitions. “All three shows will reflect the unique African essence of the individual province, with these varied styles all grounded by one undeniable fact - this is home. Visitors to Decorex Durban will be the first to experience this soul-replenishing theme through the numerous features and trends all curated by the region’s best designers.”

True to the Decorex brand, the 2019 exhibition programme boasts a number of inspired new installations which will speak to the upcoming trends. Some of the key features include:

Decorex Trend House 

InStudio Trend Theatre

Children’s Playroom & Décor Project

The Lighting Project

The Kitchen Trend Project

The Bathroom Project

The Design Project

Wine & Champagne Bar

The Secret Gin Garden

Global Trends

Rum & Beer Bar

StreEATERY

The Mint Café

The Wine Tasting Cellar

1-Day Pop-up Market

Visitors can also look forward to the latest design, build and lifestyle products from innovative trade leaders, working alongside Durban’s most dynamic artists. In addition, stylised restaurants and bars will be located throughout the exhibition space, offering quality food and drink menus.

Don’t miss out on the ultimate décor exhibition, Decorex Durban. Book your tickets now at www.decorex.co.za

Decorex Durban

Decorex Durban

21 – 24 March 2019

10am – 6pm daily

Durban Exhibition Centre

Trade-focused day: 22 March 2019

Ticket Prices:   Adults – R95

                        Student/Pensioners – R85

                        Kids U12 – R20

                        Trade – R85

                        Exhibitor – R85

For more information, email decorexinfo@reedexpoafrica.co.za

Visit: www.decorex.co.za         

Facebook: Decorex SA

Twitter: @decorexSA  

Instagram: @decorex_sa

LinkedIn: Decorex SA                  

Blog: http://www.reedexpoafrica.co.za/decorexblog/

The good folks from Decorex have given us 5 double tickets just for you. To get your hands on them all you have to do is answer this easy question:

Where will Decorex Durban be held this year?

Send your answer, name, email and contact details to umhlangalife@gmail.com

Good luck!

Giveaway closes on 15 March 2019.

Ts and Cs apply.

This edition by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton

5 Tips To Help You Find Love This Valentine's Day

Digital Oxytocin, Does Your Business Have It?

The Love Hormone & The D.O Effect

Oxytocin. Now there’s a thing. A powerful human hormone that caps as a neurotransmitter in the brain. It’s arguably the most popular of hormones in the neighbourhood, because it triples up as the bonding hormone, the trust hormone and the security hormone that keeps your relationship pretty much on the V.I.P list.  

The question is: does your business do the same? Digital Oxytocin, or fondly dubbed as The D.O Effect, is an instant user experience that benchmarks the initial bonding stage between consumer and brand. Just like the “love hormone” of the brain, Digital Oxytocin is the chemistry responsible for attracting your audience, exciting your audience and making your audience stick around for more.  

When it comes to designing websites, an ‘exceptional digital experience’ should be Number 1 on your strategy list. Getting your D.O levels correct in business, has everything to do with amplifying the user journey online, and focussing on human behaviour as the brand goal towards delivering a compelling brand-consumer relationship.

The D.O Effect is a guaranteed game changer, and can be divided into 5 superior impact

touch points that will help you land the ‘love’, first time round.

# 1: Know What They Want: Intuitive design is real my friends. Knowing what your audience wants before they do is not a skill, it’s a design strategy - and it could save your bottom line. Intuitive design is quite simply, a matter of meeting your online customer’s needs seamlessly, without an interrupted experience. The idea of answering all your customer’s questions before they ask, is D.O gold. Ask yourself: what is the task and can my customer complete it effectively? 

# 2:  Don’t Make Them Work for It: If you’re running a ‘bookings’ business, for example, and your objective is to sell as many tickets online in a short space of time, make it easy. Simple = Satisfaction. You’ll want to tell your user what to buy, what it looks like, why to buy it and how to buy it in a few easy taps. Airline and Accommodation brands like travelstart.co.za and Airbnb.com respectively have improved their D.O Effect for now, with an easy-flow experience that makes browsing pleasurable, the price-compare experience simple and ensures the user feels secure and at ease from check in to check out.   

  

#3: Don’t Talk “Responsive” On the First Date: Or the second date. Or the third. Sadly, the term ‘Responsive Websites’ in business, has become as misunderstood as finding true love on the first swipe right. “Responsive Websites” means cross-screen compatibility – NOT necessarily cross-screen user-journey. The proverbial ‘cookie cut’ desktop approach is a fail in web design. Just because your site is ‘responsive’ across mobile or tablet devices doesn’t mean it meets the needs of the user. The truth is, you can’t have a responsive website without a memorable user journey. They need to exist together. If you want your customer to land on your website and stay, then your aim should be to have a ‘mobile first’ strategy in mind from the get go, to support your ‘responsive website.’

Consider this: if there are 3.7 billion unique users online globally (as at Jan 2018) and 49.7% are attributed to webpage viewing then you cannot, cannot, cannot purely rely on desktop stacking your website design. Design your website with a compelling mobile user experience in mind, FIRST – a design strategy that mirrors the same intuitive experience across all devices.

# 4: Spice It Up: Digital seduction is a key design strategy for Digital Oxytocin effectiveness. How to keep your user from straying? A. Your overall web design should be simple, balanced and aligned to your brand CI. B. Choosing a typeface that is easy on the eye and has a clear weight hierarchy is also must. C. To increase your chances on the D.O circuit, make sure to include visual imagery and video too. D. Whatever you do, DO NOT include  User Interface Animation (U.I) just because you think it looks or sounds cool. Nobody likes an “over-tryer”! Make sure U.I is only created for the purpose of enhancing the user experience, and not just for art’s sake.

# 5: You Have 3 Seconds. Go.: Quality, sex appeal and good conversation pretty much sums up the Richter scale of relationship “wants”.  Your brand has to present the same – and it only has 3 seconds online to determine whether your customer stays or strays. Your landing page should load and lure in your user within a 3 second speed span – telling them promptly that they’ve landed in the right place. Too much guess work on this one and you’ll risk losing them to Joe Soap in the adjacent tab. With an average of 200 ads being served to a user per day disruption is the new digital disease, and makes for a highly competitive landscape to play in. We recommend keeping your 3-second game plan strong.

SO….

Don’t let your plans of www domination stop at design. All things considered, the user journey should be high on the objectives list when it comes to strategising in the online space. Get your user to cuddle up to your brand by marrying form, functionality and intuitive strategy. It’s a non-negotiable. Your business just can’t afford the shortcomings of a negative user experience. Talk to So Interactive, a respected and seasoned digital studio based in Johannesburg, about your place in the market and establishing the touch points that will move your brand forward with Digital Oxytocin.

For more info visit: www.sointeractive.co.za 

Media Enquiries: Jacqueline Freer (info@jacquelinefreer.com)

#DigitalOxytocin 

The Consol Red Hot Sale Is Here!

The good folks from Consol Glass gave me an exclusive preview of what you can expect at their red hot sale. There are some fantastic bargains awaiting you so you better hurry.

The sale takes place from 23 July – 6 August 2018. There are some crazy discounts ranging from 25% to 50% off on select products across stores nationwide.

If you are a glass fan make sure you pop into the Consol Cornubia, Woodmead and Stellenbosch stores for the sale.

Did you know that glass is not only versatile but is sustainable as well, as all glass products are 100% natural and 100% recyclable? Glass is the perfect choice when making wise choices for the environment, your health, beauty and it is also durable.

The Consol Shop has something to offer for everybody; from the corporate executive to the home executive with an eye for décor – not to mention those creatives on the lookout for the latest picture perfect Insta-moment.

Are you thinking of something to buy your family or friend? Why not get them a gift in a jar? A good option would be the 3L My Jar. It’s on sale at a great price and now with 50% off you only pay R22.50. Plus remember, with glass the person gets two gifts: the Consol glass jar and what’s inside! A great option might be chocolates. Mmmm!

Are you a biscuit lover? Take a look at the 2L Square Cookie Jar on sale for R27.10. It’s the perfect jar for freshly baked biscuits. If you need to get organised for lunch the next day have a look at the Consol Jar in a Jar. You can get it for R34.80. There are so many options with Consol Glass gifts from picnics to school lunches, trips to the beach or even a snack on the go. With these jars the larger (500ml or 1L) jars fit a smaller (100ml) jar. The jars share a lid, which when closed, holds them securely together as a singular container. Glass containers are great for food storage as it is a healthier option and glass does not retain smells or leak chemicals into food or discolour.

Are you a smoothie lover? I love a good peanut butter and banana smoothie. Whatever your smoothie choice, whip it up and put it in the Consol 500ml Grip n Go for only R16.30.

Try the 150ml cute Yogi Jar at R6.90 for a shot of wheat grass.

If you need a sterilising jar for your baby’s pacifiers consider the 500ml Broadway Jar at R13.60. They are also great for stationery and crafting materials storage.

At these prices this is also the perfect time if you are a bargain hunter to start your Christmas shopping early.

You can find many more options just for you at the Consol Shop. So experience that Red Hot Sale yourself. The Red Hot Sale is at all 3 Consol shops: Cornubia, Stellenbosch and Woodmead.

This sale is only on at these 3 Consol shops.  

Prices include 15% VAT

Discount percentage is colour and size dependant

While stocks last.

Ts and Cs apply.

Get there early!

Address:

Consol Cornubia Store: Shop U93, Cornubia Shopping Mall, Cnr Flanders & Tacoma Drive, Mount Edgecombe – Telephone – 031 393 0035

Consol Woodmead Store: 16 Waterval Crescent – Woodmead – Telephone – 011 603 2080

Consol Stellenbosch Store: Cnr Rand & Stoffelsmit Street – Plankenbrug – Telephone 021 – 888 – 4023

For more info visit: www.consol.co.za

Find Consol Glass on Social Media:

Facebook (Consol Glass)

Twitter (Consol_Glass)

Instagram (@consolglass)

#ConsolRedHotSale

This edition by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton

Call for Submissions - Visual Campaign for DIFF 2018

The Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) is hosting its 39th edition under the theme “Evolution: No Filmmaker Left Behind”.

The DIFF team is looking at creative ways to represent the festival and expand our reach to attract

more attention from the public, media and global film community.

Designers and agencies are invited to pitch for the DIFF 2018 campaign. Pitches should include the

following:

A concept rationale of the visual campaign presented including reference.

A near to complete poster design artwork in your own style.

Anything goes (illustrated/photography/hand rendered/vector etc.)

Present an execution plan that shows possible roll out to:

A1 Poster and A5, A6 publications

30 second moving video/animation promo (concept and treatment only)

Landscape website banner

Tshirt design

Campaign guidelines:

The target market is very broad, so the campaign should be something that speaks clearly across cultures, maintaining a local edge while speaking to an International audience in a visual language that is understood by all.

You should review and react to international counterparts. Find out what they are doing right and

wrong. Examples include Toronto, Cannes, Tribeca, Dubai and Berlinale.

They are looking for something completely new. Check out the festival archive of posters, and

what has come before, and how that legacy can be reinterpreted for today’s audiences.

HOW TO SUBMIT:

Please submit your design in a PDF file (less than 3mb) to mthembug@ukzn.ac.za or diff@ukzn.ac.za

along with a short written rationale to explain your design. All entries must have the subject line DIFF

2018 Campaign Submission

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 15 FEBRUARY 2018

SELECTION:

The selected campaign designer will be paid R10 000 for the use of the campaign concept and the

handover of the final poster artwork.

A further R15 000 will be paid for the rollout of finished artwork for associated elements which

include:

TShirt design (front graphic and layout of logos and funders text)

Adaptation of A1 poster to A6 programme and A5 catalogue

Adaptation of artwork for pull up banners (various specs)

Web banners (various specs)

Creative direction of the 30second video/animated promo. Depending on the medium chosen,

this will inform the means in which it is produced, be it animation or live action. The costs of

production of this video will be covered separately, but we are looking for an idea that is simple

and cost effective.

www.durbanfilmfest.co.za

Win Tickets To Decorex Durban

DIARISE DECOREX DURBAN NOW

KwaZulu-Natal’s leading décor, design and lifestyle exhibition once again promises to be the

destination of choice for those committed on turning house into home.

Decorex Durban 2016 – a comprehensive showcase of the latest décor and design trends,

products and services – kicks off on 18 March 2016 and runs for four days, until 21 March, at the

Durban Exhibition Centre.

In keeping with its new theme, ‘Take it Home, Make it Home’, the Durban exhibition promises

visitors infinite takeaway ideas and inspiration for their interior and exterior spaces. Covering every

aspect of your home and offering the ultimate shopping experience, this year’s theme taps into

the very latest global design and décor trends, among these, a fresh focus on the quality, detail,

layering and timelessness of the “Considered Home”.

A pop-up market, hosted by I Heart Market, promises to delight the senses of all shoppers, running from 10am – 4pm on Saturday only.

Foodies, too, will get their fill of the fun with delicious culinary experiences and endless dining

options, from casual cafés and full-service restaurants to the perennially popular gourmet market.

For a great family day out, don’t miss Decorex Durban 2016.

Trade focused days will be on 18 and 19 March 2016.

Decorex Durban is open from 10am to 8pm on 18 to 20 March and 10am to 6pm on 21 March.

Ticket prices are R75 for adults, R65 for trade, pensioners and students and R20 for children.

For more information, e-mail decorexsa@ThebeReed.co.za

Visit: www.decorex.co.za

Facebook: Decorex SA

Twitter: @decorexSA

Decorex Durban forms part of the Decorex SA portfolio and is owned by the Thebe Reed

Exhibitions.

The wonderful folk at Decorex SA have given us 5 x double tickets just for you.

If you would like to get your hands on one of these just answer this easy question:

What is the theme this year?

Simply send us your contact details with the answer to falconscove@gmail.com

Tickets only valid for Friday 18^th March.

Ts and Cs apply.