Firebelly built a blog and microsite for easy syndication of news, updates and stories about the campaign to UWCI’s Twitter account, Facebook page, and LUGU microsite. The microsite also contained sharing functionalities that made it easy for vistors to share the page with their family and friends on their social networks and via email.

Firebelly also produced a video that contained Indianapolis area online influencers asking their networks to watch the video, share it with their friends, and donate.  Two versions of the video were made – one for distribution on Facebook and another on Twitter.

Below is the Facebook version of the video:

This video was inspired by a discussion with Mark Juleen, Eric Brown and Mike Whaling recently. Here’s my key thoughts:

1. Yes everyone can be remarkable to someone

2. Know your audience. Listen to what they are saying.

3. Be remarkable in the eyes of your customers and your market.

4. Fill a specific need.

5. Always add value.

- Duncan Alney

- Duncan Alney

What do you think?

Duncan Alney

I had an opportunity to talk to two design super stars lately. Two guys with vision and hutzpah. Two guys that collaborate and have big plans. Check it out.

- Duncan Alney

The Smashing Book is a printed book about best practices in modern Web design. The book shares technical tips and best practices on coding, usability and optimization and explores how to create successful user interfaces and apply marketing principles to increase conversion rates. It also shows how to get the most out of typography, color and branding so that you end up with intuitive and effective Web designs. And lastly, you will also get a peek behind the curtains of Smashing Magazine.

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-Zach Reed

Technology has really fitted itself around our lives. Apple makes it the core of their approach to make devices that are intuitive and easy to use with a primary focus on the user NOT the technology.Of course, they’re beautiful. And, of course, the fans become evangelists and they market the brand. Check it out here!

Reko Rivera (Left) John Savio (Right) — World’s first award winning “working” iPhone costume created by Reko Rivera and John Savio. Specifications are 42″ Display, 1.5 Hours of Battery Life, 85 lb and the “real” iPhone can charge connected to the USB on the display. The two costumes have 3 batteries each with a total runtime of 4.5 hours before needing to be charged overnight. Please email us if you need any more information about the costume.

BACKSTORY — This all started two years ago Reko Rivera and Bobby Hartman created a wearable large iPhone costume with a real 37″ lcd tv. An iPod was attached with a looping video of a real iphones screen in normal use. This time with the help of John Savio and John Matthews the team created yet another amazing rendition of the new iPhone 3GS. Savio loved the original idea but wanted to take it to the next level and make it thinner and actually work with user input! With some heavy researching and some solid determination Savio finally found a solution. He managed to modify the software on the iPhone to allow a live dual image output to the large 42″ lcd tv while maintaining the image in landscape mode. Reko originally came up with the idea and really pushed to see his vision come to life two years ago. This year John and Reko plan to compete in most of the local and online contest to win back all the money they invested in the costumes. The team has about $2000 into the two costumes and has no regrets!

Twitterese — The new way to speak online

Twitter users are using Twitter terms. Tweet is a popular verb. Twitter is a common noun. They’re used in their Tweets but also in everyday speak. But just because a Twit is using the lingo doesn’t mean he or she is using it correctly.

I’ve created a collection of Twitter words and their definitions to help make the Twitter lingo illiterate more able to walk the walk and talk the talk.

(List compiled with assistance from Twittonary and Twictionary )

• Co-twitterer: a partner that tweets on your Twitter account

• Dweet: tweet sent while intoxicated

• Mistweet: a tweet in which one later regrets

• Politweet: a political tweet

• Twaffic: Twitter traffic

• Twalking: walking while twittering via text

• Twead: to read a tweet from a fellow twitterer

• Tweeple: Twitter people, Twitter members, Twitter users

• Tweeps: Twitter people that follow each other from one social media/network to another

• Tweetaholic: someone addicted to Twitter, so much so that it may be an actual problem

• Tweeter: a user of Twitter

• Tweeterboxes: twitterers who tweet too much

• Tweetheart: that special tweeter who makes your heart skip a beat

• Tweet(ing): the act of posting to Twitter