“Chaos often breeds life, when order breeds habit.” This intense observation made by Henry Adams emphasizes the complex process that underlines the phenomena of creativity. The world around us is studded with examples of order disintegrating into chaos and chaos giving birth to order. Until recently, such occurences as the oscillation of the stock market, or the random firing of neurons in the brain were considered too "noisy" and complex to be explored by science. But now, with the aid of high-speed processors, scientists have been able to penetrate a reality that is changing the way we perceive our universe. Their findings - the basis for Chaos Theory is one of the most exciting scientific search of our time. The now-famous chaos aphorism that the flutter of a butterfly's wing in Istanbul can change the weather in Santa Monica is a dramatic illustration of what Briggs and Peat describe as an "emerging science of wholeness," a growing scientific appreciation of how everything in the universe is intertwined. From the beating of our hearts to the formation of clouds, from the composition of a poem to the spread of a forest fire are all directed by the Law of Chaos. "Chaos suggests that instead of resisting life's uncertainties, we should embrace them. . . Painters, poets, and musicians have long known that creativity blossoms when they are participating in chaos."  

A car accident CREATES quadriplegic, cartoonist, painter, musician, John Callahan at the age of 21. "I've learned that circumstances are not happening to me so much as they are happening for me." He knew how to liberate his spirit and to be in the flow. ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) CREATES the brilliant astrophysicist Dr. Stephen Hawking. Again at the age of 21, just before his wedding he was given 2 years to live. He acknowledges that time travel is a scientific possibility. Perhaps, this explains how he lived to be 69 now.......

A creative mind is a highly "dynamic system". Irrespective of its surroundings a creative mind will have the audacity to dream, decode and devise. The creative process moves from this primal urge to create, through a period of seemingly utter disarray and disorder before it converges into harmonious unity. Johannes Vermeer, the 18th century Dutch painter created 35 paintings using "two smallish rooms in his house in Delft; they show the same furniture and decorations in various arrangements and they often portray the same people, mostly women". Yet, the limitation of his resources did not hinder him from having a tryst with glittering optics that he is so famously known for. He had a singular way of creating a mood with light and shadow.

The concept of Chaos is evolving from a scientific theory into a cultural metaphor. As a metaphor it allows us to question some of our most admired assumptions and emboldens us to ask fresh questions about reality. Engage in the Seven Life Lessons of Chaos and find organizing intelligence in chaos.

I believe it is our "collective consciousness" that leads us to follow trends. The simplest way to think of this phrase is to gauge an idea or style that we all share, whoever specifically "we" or the "tribe" might entail. A very good example is the Apple brand. It is associated with high design and intuitive purity. This trend has now made its transition into experiential marketing as well.

White is now the leading-edge sensation. Freshness, purity and new beginnings are the under-tone connotations of white. It is no wonder that white is the dominant color of choice in some trade show venues. It seems that the emerging Intersolar 2011 is a prime case study of white in the third dimension. The exhibiting brands were so focused on expressing cleanliness, clarity and wholeness so much so that they sacrificed their individual potential to be remarkable and distinctive. All to be part of a "trend". And that is outright feeble.

Trade shows and events are advantageous arenas for rendering your brand uniqueness. Like humans, each brand has it's unique DNA. In marketing terms it is called "Unique Sales Proposition". Designing a space that speaks to this uniqueness is a major advantage in developing a great messaging platform and a memorable encounter.

Over the ages, designers, artists, philosophers and thinkers have been guided by the Spirit of the Time Design Value. This design value is based on the conception that every age has a certain spirit or set of shared attitudes that should be utilized when designing. Clarity and transparency is in the collective consciousness of our current times. Hence, the dominance of white is profound. This is the reason why the challenge to be different is equally pivotal.  Introduction of surfaces, textures, hand-illustrations and lighting that confirms to this common consciousness but strides to be peerless is one way to foster brand memorability.

Always remember: your brand is a singular expression. It is unique and unrepeatable.

"Steve was among the greatest of American innovators – brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it." President Barack Obama, 2011

At EuroShop 2011, Strohbach & Krey Messebau Design GmbH & Co. KG was bold enough to execute the maxim "Think Different". It transforms the exhibiting space into a sand-covered beach. It even goes a step further. The space gives you the illusion of walking down right into the beach. The built-up pier being the corner stone of the exhibit design is very cleverly scaled. You walk on it and disappear into the large graphic wall mural: a magical union of the 2 dimensions. The running clips of the waves lapping at the beach makes a keen appeal to your limbic system. You are transported.

"Think Different" was the new campaign that was the turning point for Apple. It gave the brand much needed vigor and destined Steve Jobs with a cult-like euphoric followers. All because he designed different, so different that he altered our behavior. He propelled the human race forward.

Thank you Steve Jobs. You were a phenomenon.
Thank you Craig Tanimoto. You were the much needed vitality for the weary brand.

"Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward.
Maybe they have to be crazy.
How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?
We make tools for these kinds of people. While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

The Art of the Start got me started on the "Guy". Guy Kawasaki that is. I was intrigued by the 3 pearls of wisdom that he offered.

"Reboot your brain": Break away from old way of doing things and elect new ones, right in accordance with Rumi, "Conventional opinion is the ruin of our souls".  "Kill the Cash Cow": Apple killed Apple II in order to make way for the Macintosh. They could have continued milking it, but they would have eventually gotten passed up by everybody else. Clear away the old to make room for the new should be the on-going mantra. Skyline took this mantra to heart and re-defined trade show portability by introducing Arrive. "Polarize People": You obviously cannot be everything to everyone. Your goal is to create "high value, high uniqueness". What is so enchanting about these 3 pearls are its' strong bias towards contrarian belief system. Yet, it is firmly grounded in the perennial nature of our lives. You may use it to enhance your personal brand and escalate your professional career.

When Enchantment was published, it was all but natural for me to be bewitched by the "Guy" one more time. Of the 10 enchanting facets he talks about: Overcome Resistance, Chapter 6 was the enchanting factor for me. "Show People Your Magic". He cites an example: After automation, Waterford, the crystal maker in Dublin laid off more than 1000 craftsmen in 1987. Four years later, Dennis Ryan convinced three of these laid-off employees to move to Nova Scotia to preserve their craft. They opened a factory and showroom in 1996 and called the company Nova Scotian Crystal. During warm weather, the company opens a large garage door to the street so people can peer into the factory and watch the craftsmen at work. According to Rod McCulloch, the CEO of the business, enabling people to watch the manufacturing process “gets them into the showroom to buy eighty-dollar glasses”.

When people see how your magic works, they develop an interest in what you do and are more apt to buy your products, "support your ideas and join your cause." One a personal note, recently, Apple performed one such magic on me. When my G5 came to a crashing halt, I was crushed. I was equally enchanted by the magicians of the Genius Bar at the Apple store. My G5 is back, running like new at NO CHARGE. And of course, the machine was not under warranty. That day, some one in the Apple chain of command decided to cast the magic spell.

It worked! I am still spellbound.