Idea Mensch » publishing

Allan Szacher – Owner and Creative Director of Zupi

mario — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:06:21 +0000

Allan Szacher was born in 1977 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He attended fine arts, painting and acting classes between the ages of 9 and 18. His first professional jobs were logos and corporate identities, as well as party and celebration invitations. His first job was at Sisgraph. He later began his second job (his first in an advertising agency) at Industrial Graphics.

Allan’s work attracted the attention of Ricardo Van Steen who invited the young designer to work with him at Noz Design (today called Tempodesign). In addition, Allan worked together with Cassio Leitao and Ucho Carvalho (all well known Brazilian designers) for clients such as C&A, Istoé magazine, Multishow & GNT cable TV channels.

Seven years of learning the principles of advertising and graphic design were enough for Allan to find the courage he needed to open his first business. In 1999, together with some other designers, art directors and writers, he led a creative studio in the field of advertising, design and the Internet.

He also dedicated some time to fine arts, and he held his first exhibition in June 2000.

In May 2000, Paleont Design, a major design studio, hired him, and he was integrated into the design team. There he created layouts and concepts for clients such as Motorola, Mizuno, Spontex, Cigna and many others.

In March 2001, Allan decided to set up his own studio called Zupidesign, focusing on visual and corporate identity, Internet and publishing. It was here that he worked for clients such as Publish magazine (idg), Cel-Lep English Center, Takano Institute, Unesco, Empowermed, Evidentia and Hunter Douglas.

In June 2003, Allan finished his education and received a bachelor’s degree in graphic design at Billy Blue School of Graphic Arts and Swinburne University in Sydney, Australia.

Today he is still running his studio and projects with designers all around the world such as zupi.com.br (a design online community and magazine) and is working on book projects, design exhibitions, courses, the Pixel Show design conference and is teaching design and advertising at Uniso University.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on several art projects such as “The Zupi Book,” a book with 160 pages featuring lots of cool Brazilian artists in graffiti, design, illustration, photography, etc., as well as the Pixel Show International Conference, the art combats in Brazil and the new www.zupi.org art portal. The most important project is our cultural center that we are almost finishing. We are going after companies and people that love culture to sponsor this space.

3 Trends that excite you?

There are two things that are really important to have new ideas. The first is architecture and the second is having a nice environment.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Everything starts as a dream. But first you need to really love what you do! Next, you need to put all ideas on paper and prepare strategies and plans to make it happen. The final step is always to get supporters and sponsors to make your idea happen and to work really hard in the production of the project itself.

What is one mistake you’ve made that our readers can learn from?

I tried to open a company with no business plan and with too many partners. Big mistake. The company closed in less than six months.

What is one book and one tool that helps you bring ideas to life?

I use my laptop and my notebook. I’m always writing about new projects that later will become a new job for me.

What is one idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Today we are searching for companies and people that can donate money for us to buy a space to build a great cultural center in Sao Paulo, Brazil. We hope we can become this a great place for everyone to visit. If you are interested in collaborating, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

What exactly do you do again?

I was born as a graphic artist, but lately I’m more of a project manager and creative director. It’s hard to find time when we run tons of cool big project at the same time. But, it looks like my artists are doing a great job, and it’s almost like I’m doing it all by myself as I used to do when I began — with the same quality and love.

What inspires you?

Well, this is something that is really easy to answer. All of my trips to all of the countries I’ve been to, different cultures in the world, noise, environment, music, shows and many more things inspire me.

Connect:

Allen Szacher on the web:

www.zupi.org

www.zupi.org/magazine
Design studio: www.zupidesign.com

Brian Fried – Inventor, Author and Radio Host

mario — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:29:07 +0000

Brian always has had a passion for coming up with new ideas. To date, he holds four patented inventions and has an additional three that are patent pending under his company, Think Up Designs. Brian’s inventions were brought to market through manufacturing, as he has appeared on QVC and also has done licensing for retail distribution products from kids toys and infant products to kitchen gadgets. Another specialty of his is to create and license brand art properties that target the teen/tween market. His brands have been placed in several retail chains such as Target, and other well known retailers in the U.S. and Canada.

In 2007, Brian, with support of Suffolk County, New York, Executive Steve Levy, founded the Inventors and Entrepreneur Club of Suffolk County. For the past three years Brian has served on the Board of Directors for the New York Society of Professional Inventors.

Since 2006, Brian has volunteered his time lecturing throughout many Long Island public libraries, various school districts, inventors groups, small business administrations and other groups on the subject of inventing. It was through these experiences that Brian began to recognize that there was a great need for solid information and guidance. This was the inspiration for his recently published book, “You and Your Big Ideas.” Proceeds from his book sales are donated to various charities.

Brian also started a live weekly radio show for inventors called Got Invention Radio, and has recently partnered up with Inventors Digest to host expert guests and resources for inventors.

Brian is from Melville, New York, and is 36 years old. He is married to his wife, Lisa, and has an 8-year-old daughter named Alana.

What are you working on right now?

I am working on a project called Inventor Relations that will be a portal for inventors to gather all the necessary information to help them bring their ideas to the next level and beyond — from the thought of their idea to seeing it out there — whether helping them to manufacture their product or products on their own or through licensees.

3 Trends that excite you?

1. I see more and more companies looking for new, fresh and exciting ideas from inventors.

2. I see more and more people looking to persue their ideas because of today’s economy, and they want to set themselves up to have residual income or start their new business.

3. I see more and more people needing great information to help them with their ideas, and that excites me to host the radio show, Got Invention Radio.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I quickly write my idea down to capture my thought. Then I do a quick search on the major search engines to see if it already exists.

I make a great prototype, get some patent protection and explore the options of manufacturing or licensing. I also keep exploring my options and getting the word out by going to trade shows related to my product and connecting with media resources. I keep exploring options until I make that connection that will bring my product to market.

What is one mistake you’ve made that our readers can learn from?

I have many mistakes that I learned from, but I have to say one major one is that you have to talk about your idea and connect with resources to get somewhere with your idea. Too many inventors don’t want to talk to anyone about their ideas. That was me, but not any more. Get some protection on your idea and talk about it!

What is one book and one tool that helps you bring ideas to life?

Can I mention my book? “You & Your Big Ideas” was written by me in order to help inventors. It’s all about you and your big ideas! I wrote it so people can have a resource guide that takes them through a step-by-step system, while giving them great tips and resources to save them time and money.

I also like books by Don Debelak. He has some great information that has helped me as well.

What is one idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Go to the store and then to the section that you see your product being sold at. Then look at the products that are there. Write down the company names that have a similar product to yours, and then go home and do research on that company, and call them to ask if they are interested in looking at your idea. You can find a partner that already has manufacturing and distribution, otherwise known as a licensee, and get a small percentage of a bigger opportunity, with little or no risk financially.

What’s next for you?

I would love to host a TV show for inventors. I was asked by inventors to work on a solid show, just like Got Invention Radio, interviewing top experts and resources.

How do you feel about inventing?

It definitely has its ups and downs both emotionally and financially, but it’s a passion of mine to find solutions to things that I can see being done differently or made easier. It’s just the most amazing experience to see your product out there for someone to buy and use it for the same reason that I came up with it.

Connect with Brian Fried:

You can find Brian Fried at Got Invention Radio every Thursday night live at 8 p.m. EST. He also is on Facebook and Twitter at Got Invention Radio, or you can e-mail him at Brian@gotinvention.com.

Terri St. Cloud – An author and artist offering her heart to the world

mario — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:25:58 +0000

Terri St. Cloud went on a search to find her passion years ago. The search led to her life exploding and her need to find a completely new way to live. Wanting to be able to stay home and support her sons, Terri started a home based art business. Soon her sons were an integral part of the company! What started out as a means to pay the bills has turned into an intention to touch the world. While they sell books and prints and greeting cards, they do much more than that.

Hearing daily from people around the country that have been affected by her works, Terri has become convinced that offering who we really are to the world is what matters. Having just released her book, ‘Fabric of Her Dancing Shoes,’ Terri is walking her talk. “It was really scary to put that out there,” Terri laughs, “but I believe who we are is what we have to offer. And so I offered.” The book is a walk through Terri’s inner search to ‘find the real in her life.’

Finishing up raising her sons, and watching them spin off into businesses of their own, Terri St. Cloud is turning more and more towards writing. She works daily on listening to her heart and following it.

You can find her work at www.BoneSighArts.com

What are you working on right now?

Not too long ago, I figured out I was in a ‘mid-life awakening’ period. I did a lot of inner searching. Things quieted down, I got busy with the business and finishing the new book. Recently some deep stuff has been coming up with the theme of darkness and light – of how I cope when I see ‘darkness’ win over ‘light.’ I want to offer my heart to the world. How strange that sounds. And yet, that’s what I do with my business. To do that, I have to know it. I have to know my heart. And right now, I’m not real sure about some of the stuff whirling around in it. I want to understand how deeply I trust the process of life, how much I really can offer, knowing that light doesn’t always win. I feel like I have to do some searching within. And that’s where I am right now.

3 Trends that excite you?

Trends that excite me are the do it yourself things that are so available now! If you want to make a video, you can! Publish your own book, start your own record label, sell your art, spread your news, share your creativity! I love, love, love things like youtube where anyone can post anything and the really creative stuff goes wild and spreads so fast! I love the internet for that and all it has to offer. The do It yourself stuff lights my fire. I see a great video, and I want to make one! I see a great anything, and I want to do that! I’m laughing here as well, it takes talent, but more than that…it takes creativity. And I think the doors are open more than ever now for creativity.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I don’t know any other way to explain this, except that I have a lot of the ‘fool’ in me. I just dive right on in. With my whole business, I had no art background, no businesses background, I just dived in. I do things hands on. If I have an idea, I just sit down and try it. I remember when I very first began, I would have an idea and wonder can I do this or can I do that? And every single time, EVERY single time, a little voice in my head said ‘Just try it.’ Every single time. That was new for me. I never had that before. It became my mantra. Then I forgot about it, but it had become habit. When I was working on my book and nervous about how to put it all together, the voice was back! I’d question and I’d hear it! JUST TRY IT! And that’s what I do.

What is one mistake that you’ve made that our readers can learn from?

Not listening to my heart. Sometimes someone would come through that I knew wasn’t going to be good to work with. But the money would call me. And I’d go for it. Do that a few times, and deal with people you knew you shouldn’t have dealt with, and you start to listen more closely. You really deep down do have the answers and know what you should do. Don’t block that out!

What is one book and one tool that helps you bring ideas to life?:

‘Women Who Run With the Wolves’ is like a bible to me. It reminds me that I matter, and that I have so much inside me. It reminds me to believe in myself. It reminds me of the importance of being authentically myself. And then in the practical sense, Adobe Photoshop has been the software I wouldn’t live without. And believe me, I dragged my feet on learning it. And now I can’t believe I lived without it.

What is one idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Okay, I’m not sure if it’s supposed to relate to what I do or not, but I do have the idea that will make someone a fortune. And since I know I’ll never do it, and would so love to have one of these, I offer it to you. A knob on a toilet seat! Yes! On the side of the seat so that you can just lift the seat up and down without having to deal with the seat itself.

Can you tell I have three sons? I really think the world needs this.

What kind of training have you had?

And the answer would be “None.” I think that’s so important for people to know. What I had was complete desperation. I had to make this work. And I did. I learned along the way. On the job training. You do not need to be an expert to succeed.

You have a business based on pain and struggle (it was born from a divorce) and you hear daily from people with very real, deep pain. Has this dampened your belief in the joy and goodness of life?

And the answer so far is “I am finally learning that life is struggle. And it is joy. And it is happiness. And it is everything. I am finally learning that it isn’t a storybook line that we follow and that that’s more than okay, that is a good thing. The opposites are there constantly. We need to learn to balance the holding of both of them. And it is completely our choice if we are going to be bitter or not. I choose not.”

Connect:

Terri St. Cloud ‘s blog: http://bonesigharts.blogspot.com/
bone sigh arts on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/bone-sigh-arts/76611786370?ref=ts
bone sigh arts: http://www.BoneSighArts.com