Funny thing crossing a border. It implicates that you’re about to spend loads of time outside your apartment. Okay, 30ºC helps also. Nevertheless, it’s more than the average inhabitant of Barca. Forget siesta, rent a couple of raggedy scooter, put on your sunglasses and start enjoying the environment. We’ve seen Barcelona from almost every perspective: cab, bike, pedestrian, car, bus, subway, tourist, in crowd, shopper, consumer. But nothing beats a scooter! A death race on a vehicle that goes faster than its specifications, cabdrivers who carefully avoid you, pedestrians seeing there lives flashing by. And you whooshing down Diagonal with the crackling of the paper Zara bags stuffed with shirts, shoes, sweaters between your legs. Destination Barcaloneta beach. No time to reflect on safety precautions. Next stop: Sitges. Isn’t sunshine and adrenaline a perfect combination! What should be the next mode of transportation? Or do we stay in the city centre and invest in Zara?

Laatst bezocht ik een zogenaamde Swop-party. Een ideale gelegenheid om eens goed mijn kledingkast door te spitten waarbij ik een harde selectie-procedure hanteerde. Met name de kleding die al een jaar opgevouwen op dezelfde plek lag of met een nog aangehecht prijskaartje eraan moest eraan geloven.

Met een grote gevulde kledingtas, sandwiches en een heerlijk wijntje ging ik samen met een aantal vriendinnen op pad richting Swop-party. Deze vond plaats in een ruim park, aangrenzend aan het huis van de enthousiaste organisatrice. Wij zagen daar bergen kleding, een royale paskamer en een grote tafel met teveel aangename versnaperingen en gezellige dames!

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Came back wednesday from Cologne: tired but satisfied. ULURU|Beagle has designed a (communication) concept on and around events for the Dutch Games Association.

It started on Gamescom Cologne, one of the bigger game events in Europe. In September the whole circus will go to Tokyo. Followed by San Francisco (in March).

In a business area of relatively many closed stands, DGA stood out with an open interactive area as their temporary home base in Cologne. A fine result, taking a tide timeframe and budget into account.

I have to say, the German Culture was more than OK: people muy simpático, hardy breakfasts, great tattoo’s!

Watch our movie below.

Last weekend I attended Hacking At Random 2009; a four-day open air hacking festival that is held once every four years under a different name somewhere in the Netherlands. The term hacking should really be taken in it’s broadest meaning: not just breaking into computer systems but any creative use or modification of technology beyond its original design and intent. Add to that some talks on the sociological aspects of the Internet, privacy, copyright and free speech issues and you get a bit of an idea of what HAR2009 was about.

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Last Friday, Mick Walvisch lectured at the DGA (Dutch Games Association) event in Hilversum to inspire Dutch game developers about the potential of ’social’ and ’serious’ gaming by presenting a vision of future technology and it’s application. ULURU/Beagle and gaming

Watch the video impression of the DGA Event:

Once every two years, Arnhem becomes the centre for fashion in the Netherlands. Last Saturday I was offered a special VIP treatment to visit the Arnhem Mode Biënnale exhibition under the guidance of a fashion expert and with a special introduction by Piet Paris, the man behind this year’s exhibition. I was amazed by the creativity that fashion designers show in their choice of materials and the way this exhibition is layed out. In brief, it’s a must for anyone interested in art and design: Until July 6th, make sure you pay a visit to Arnhem, you won’t be disappointed.
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Naast Tokyo, New York, Sydney en nog vele andere wereldsteden was gisteravond Amsterdam aan de beurt. Behoorlijk nieuwsgierig liep ik Paradiso binnen. Wat kon ik verwachten van een design battle? Entertainment of inspiratie…

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Yesterday at MoMo Amsterdam #10 a new experiment was held: The public had been asked previously to submit ideas for presentations to be performed in Pecha-Kucha style: 20 slides in 20 seconds each. In the end five presentations were selected by the MoMo organisers, amongst which my presentation on the future mobile loyalty platform.
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In our second hometown Barcelona we visited the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2009

During these 4 days the event showed us everything to do with mobile business. We shaked so many hands, met so much new people, some on behalf of our partner Gemalto, some later in town. ULURU was well represented by Maarten, Philippe and Mick. Next year our own booth?

 

 

I haven’t missed out on a single MoMo Amsterdam up to now. Already 9! The crowd and atmosphere were as usual very vibrant. The Rode Hoed on the Keizersgracht full up to the balcony, with young ‘mobilistas’ in their late 20s and early 30s, blogging on their MacBooks or twittering on their iPhone, amazing how Apple has now completely taken over the creative crowd. Quite a few G1 phones were also spotted, so this is not your average population in terms of market penetration.
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