2010 has been a very special year at Holtermann Design. As "juletid" and end of this year approach, I want to thank all of you for your loyalty, constructive feedback, genuine interest, giving us challenging tasks, trust, and helping us improve and evolve. We are delighted and privileged to have been part of so many interesting projects, with more in the works.
Best holiday wishes to all – and a special heartfelt thank-you to our growing pool of incredible talent worldwide that keeps Holtermann Design ticking!
Michael Henrik Holtermann, CEO
Brooklyn Bridge Promenade. Photo: Rick Shupper
The New York Times Magazine's December 19th issue is its “The Year in Ideas10th-Anniversary Special.” Looking at a range of new and influential ideas in fields including economics, biology, engineering, medicine, literature, sports, and music, the editors selected developments which have already had or were deemed likely to have a significant impact.
For the cover, The Times commissioned artwork consisting of balloons artfully arranged suggesting a celebratory mood while giving a major nod to the up-and-coming influence of QR-Codes. With only minimal directions, the Times implies that curious readers already know how to use their mobile phones.
It is of utmost importance to note that the average age of The NY Times reader is 48 years old – right on target for most of you who advertise. Those who seek to reach this demographic should take advantage of this technology without fear that it is only of interest to tech-savvy teens.
Those who follow through are rewarded with material formatted for smartphones. Five specially-commissioned videos cleaverly address some of the hot ideas of the year, with one documenting the creation of the cover art.
We keep up with technology by "trying it on" ourselves. Ways to use QR-Codes practically and creatively is still a focus. In our November newsletter, we covered QR-Codes basics and showed with a variety of samples how those codes can be used effectively.
Some clients have already implemented QR-Codes, and there are more ideas and solutions to come. The response has been very positive.
To try out one idea, we created our own modest sweepstakes campaign with prizes for winners drawn from participants. There will be at least two rounds of these sweepstakes. The first is now active.
How to participate in our Sweepstakes #1:
1. Scan the QR-Code to the left. You need a mobile phone with a camera and an app that reads QR-Codes. Visit www.mobile-barcodes.com/qr-code-software to find the right app for your phone, or use your favorite app store. (Example: the QuickMark app works well on iPhone 4.)
2. Now, you'll be taken to a screen where you can enter Sweepstakes #1. After entering your information, you'll get an email requesting that you confirm your "subscription." Click the link in your email, and you're all set.
3. Winners receive a limited-edition t-shirt with a unique QR-Code for Sweepstakes #2 that also has prizes that we're not going to reveal yet….
Help us try this out, and good luck. You might be a winner – some of you already are. Feedback is always appreciated.
The countries of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden have teamed up with Icelandair to create the Faces of Scandinavia website. Here, an ever-growing collection of "faces" share their favorite Scandinavian travel stories with the world.
The stories are from a wide range of perspectives. Norwegian voices include hip-hop sensation Madcon and superstar marathoner Grete Waitz. From Denmark, there is NFL record-holding top scorer Morten Andersen and “Angels and Demons” actor Thure Lindhardt. And from Sweden, top chef Marcus Samuelsson and NHL hockey player Henrik Lundqvist.
But these are not just the stories of famous people (as interesting as those folks are). Astrid Tollefsen, the daughter of a Norwegian fisherman who emigrated to America gives a vivid but simple account of her visit to her ancestors' village in Norway. With the large number of Scandinavians living in the U.S., the theme of going back to visit or investigate the old “digs” is one many can relate to.
Visiting the site and choosing one person to comment on makes you eligible to win prizes such as a trip to Scandinavia or an iPad. And who knows – a face familiar to you may be popping up there soon.
2011 Season Kick-off
Shabana Rehman, a Norwegian of Pakistani descent, entered the stage in Oslo in 1999. In the following years, she quickly built a reputation for groundbreaking and iconoclastic comedy. Her controversial and popular comedy style along with public political stunts such as Mullah-Lifting, and her body painted with the Norwegian flag as a performance artist, have given her a unique position in Norway and abroad.
With substantial international press coverage, she has been featured both by The New York Times and by Time Magazine. In addition to her profilic comedy career, Shabana is a highly-respected columnist, satirist, and public speaker in Scandinavia and in the USA. She regularly writes for major newspapers and magazines.
A frequent participant and contributor on talk shows and in public debates, she is among the most respected celebrities in Norway. Shabana has received several awards for her writing and fearless comedy. Outside Norway, she has performed in Canada, the USA, Denmark, Iceland, Faroe Islands, and Germany.
Shabana kicks off her 2011 season with "Homeland Insecurity" in Los Angeles (Working Stage Theater) and San Francisco (Shotwell Studios – The Garage).
Joyed by getting to know Shabana, and helping promote her 2011 season, we wish the "Nice Witch of the North" bundles of acclaim, fame, and prosperity.
Poster design: Holtermann Design LLC
Photography: Rick Shupper and Michael Holtermann
NEW VIDEO EQUIPMENT has arrived. Some of you have already seen our "UpBeat Stuff Videos" on YouTube. There are currently eight videos uploaded and more in the works, with better quality and sound. We have no shortage of ideas.
What might not be known to everyone is the fact that we already have video and sound editing software, the kind commonly used by television stations and film studios (Final Cut Pro, Adobe After Effects, and others). We have relationships with professional video and sound directors, producers, and editors who work in television, music recording, and production companies – with affordable access to recording studios and whatever else is needed.
Now, that we're becoming more self-sufficient in shooting our own HD videos – good footage is an essential part of good results – we're a big step ahead. Our solid backgrounds in music, photography, graphic design, and publishing blend perfectly for handling video projects – we're connecting the dots, and more so – we'll have great fun with our friends and clients.
UPGRADES Our computers are now fully upgraded to Adobe CS5. What that means to our clients is expanded and enhanced features that offer a wealth of interactive possibilties.
E-PUBLISHING is getting our attention. Self-publishing is all the rage, and there are many questions to be answered; the industry is changing daily and client projects we've had in our files for a while will be executed as soon as we feel we have a solid understanding of that industry.
We're closed on days marked in red in the calendar to the left which means that only two days will be added to the holidays this year. The Norwegian folk song with lyrics going "Now it's 'Jul' again, and 'Jula' lasting all the way to Easter," does not apply.
Holtermann Design LLC
254 East 3rd Street, Suite 14
New York, NY 10009
Tel: +1-212-677-3918
www.holtermanndesign.com
www.holtermanndesign.com/blog
www.holtermannphoto.com
www.youtube.com/holtermanndesign
info@holtermanndesign.com
