The times they are a-changin’.
This post seems to be older than 9 years—a long time on the internet. Dated info and offers may no longer apply. Some technical info might be outdated. Please feel free to post a comment with any updated info .
[portfolio_slideshow]
Maybe I’m a closet nomad but I like my art in an “African” sensibility,delivered in a utilitarian mode in my carpets, fabrics, utensils, furniture architecture tools. I am also an artist, I’m dying to get my hand into some pastels, or paint. For now that desire is translated in using technology to redefining the Canvas I and other artist have available to us. Still I shy away from the art community. However I am well aware that in order for “Innovation to really take root” the creative sector has to be prepared.
You cannot be within the art community and not hear,
“I’m an artist and I’m sensitive about my shit”.
Why should the customer buy your product?
The intersection of Art & technology is at the core of my exploration. I started with as “Artistmosaics” a project on collaborative show casing for artist. It was simply a way that artist could pool resources for a successful sale. I soon realized, space for selling was the least of our problems. Many had no idea who what or why,even the pricing structure for their art was non- existent. . The very concept offended them.
It was not till 4W circle where I met Kaaria Yero Mucherea (artist whose work is pictured) that I was able to test some of my theories with the sale of art. In a contextual world the artist story is vital… getting artist to share that story is a major challenge. My personal interest in technology with art evolves more around it’s suitability for research and info gathering as well as the development and licensing of products in a much more contextual manner. By this I refer to the development of merchandise and it’s use as a sales tool was enough to whet my curiosity on licensing possibilities of art.I choose to deal with the cultural context of Black creativity and in the sale of Black products and services. I’m fascinated in leveraging the Licensing rites of these images… art should be shared, not hidden in a vault or some private enclave.
on a personal level that means pursuing Canvazz and #SewOpen prestartups on the way to a viable solution.
I recently posted on the need for a startup to discover and acquire Black Art and support black artist… in a Google Groups “startups worth emulating” “. In this category I look at startups, the problem they address and seek to discover or (where none exist) jumpstart a black owned startup in this space.
Websites build from a 1.0 perspective an informational. brochure type. “Six pages 12 images ” . I you still hear web designers using this… RUN!In web 2.0 your web site needed to be functional… to do things… we expected to be able to search, make request, like , follow, share, print, buy, recommend, email and even host that static information.Even today many black web sites are still solely informational…
In a web 3.0 the word being used is “CONTEXTUAL WEB“… it’s no longer simply
WHERE… whether it’s on your own website or on a social network, Facebook, Google plus, or marketplaces and on digital device, app, tablet, mobile, laptop. In fact it is the age of multi channel and omnichannel presence.
Or what a simple WHAT. App Fb Page or website HTML Of “FLASH” (yes still popular among Black sites)
it’s contextual… you’ll see a lot more on this if you have not noticed it already.
a simplified explanation Contextual from CONTEXT;-
“the parts of a discourse that surround a word or passage and can throw light on its meaning.
We are entering the age of consumer intimacy… it is the type of intimate service delivery available from your local businesses person online. With a large company they get their info from data. Few really get how to correctly assess personality. I been told it’s machine learning…we’ll see. I have my doubts, whether machine can get to the “much more than data” aspect,
psychology, empathy, it is understanding micro cultures and correctly interpreting meaning”
In a local artist brings in a painting or jewelry into the local art collective, the curator, immediately does a mental flip of her customer’s and identifies a couple customers who she believes will like the piece, A couple calls later and one of the pieces are sold…
In web 3.0 art companies use data from visual quiz and other discovery tools to determine style and taste. They’ll employ social listening tools to reach you when their product is “in on your mind” (or at least your post.) the challenge and my personal aggravation is that I search for friends and customers… so their “listening” is like most eavesdropping way off course- Trust me I’m not a raw vegan.
A web 3.0 startup addresses, at it’s core, true customer service… why is your customer buying this product. What needs does it supply what pleasure does it give, what is their true pain. In the case of these new art sites… Frames and tools and return supplies are a core part of the business model, In some cases, services such access to style experts and professional installers are supplied.
I work with small local businesses. I’m on the lookout for tools that help me keep abreast of my client list… and my various consumers. few really do what I need or want. I still find the old fashioned conversation the best. I’m just using tele-presence a whole lot more to communicate across digital media. It takes patience to get past cultural and to mutual meaning. that is the core of what the contextual web seeks to solve.
My strength in the business framework is focusing on consumer context , 30 years in the custom design service and a deep level of empathy brings an intuition that never fails to surprise even myself. To help address this in local concept strategy sessions, we need to developed a practical business strategy outline that guides those with an idea through the process of discovery, and advised participants to question it each draft from the “opponents’ side of the table, same information but approaching your product from that point of view changes perspective and perspective affects context..
Know of a startup in this space please share and identify what sets them apart…
If not here’s an idea for you…