Since then, one crazy campaign has been launched.

Packages began appearing in stores with either the “Ike” or “Mike” scribbled out, as if by a felt-tip marker. On the backside of the packages with Mike’s name crossed out, a handwritten message from Ike claims that Mike has been “spending way too much time on his music.” The packages with Ike’s name crossed out have a message from Mike saying that Ike has been “spending way too much time on his graffiti art.” All packages then tell consumers to visit the Facebook fan page.

Once fans reach the Facebook page they are greeted with videos and posts galore.

One of the videos features the shocking reactions from celebrities including N.B.A. player Lamar Odom, singer Greyson Chance, and actress Eden Sher. Posts on the fan page either discuss what Mike and Ike have been up to since the split or link to personal blogs for both of the former partners.

The response to the campaign has been quite a dramatic one with news outlets discussing it and many individuals posting on the Facebook page.

The response?
People are surprised. Some people love the campaign and others have been highly critical. The criticism most likely comes from people not fully understanding the campaign- these people are tending to believe that the company is going out of business, that the candy is being discontinued, or that the company is changing the name of the candy. All of these answers are incorrect. What Mike and Ike candy is doing is simply a funny campaign. There’s no rhyme or reason behind it other than to create buzz about the product- to revive two characters.

So what do you think about this campaign? Creative? Disastrous?

More information about the split:
Reviving 2 Characters By Tearing Them Apart
Mike and Ike’s Facebook Page

But what is EdgeRank?
Well, first let’s look at what the News Feed is. There are 2 options for how you can view your News Feed. You may choose either Top News or Most Recent. Top News is the default for 95% of Facebook users. It uses the algorithm to highlight relevant posts from your friends and pages. Most Recent is the option that shows updates from your friends and pages based simply on chronological order. This viewing method does not rely on the EdgeRank algorithm.

Now let’s look at the algorithm: Σ=Ue x We x De
1. Ue - affinity score between viewing user and edge creator. In plain English this means that this part of the formula looks at the relationship between the friend/friend or a fan/page.

2. We - weight for this edge type. Facebook applies a weight for each type of post (post, photo, event, etc.). Research has indicated that photos/videos pull the most weight followed by links and comments.

3. De - time decay factor based on how long ago the edge was created. Nobody wants to read the news from yesterday, so Facebook has included a time decay factor in the algorithm. This means that only the most recent content should appear in your news feed. A fun fact is that 70% of interactions occur within 60 minutes of the post.

Once again, EdgeRank is the reason that a person does not see every post in their news feed. So how does a marketer encourage fans to engage with it so that EdgeRank increases?

The task is not easy because it’s really up to the fans to increase EdgeRank. However, a brand can assist in the process by in 2 ways. First, by understanding its community. If the brand recognizes what its fans are interested in, then this brand can generate the most relevant content for those consumers. Second, it is important to remember what types of posts are the most engaging. Posting things like photos, videos, links, and questions are instant ways to ask for fan feedback. People like to see these things and they will engage with you as a result! In the end, this is no exact science—but if a marketer can truly understand the community and post the most engaging content then it may be possible for EdgeRank to increase!

Android users: Even though this app is currently only available for download to the iPhone, Burbn announced in December that the company was in the midst of developing an Android version of the popular app.

2. Postagram (by Sincerely)- free from the Apple App Store
Postagram is a new iPhone application that allows users to take their own photos and turn them into postcards right on their phones—real postcards that can be sent to family and friends anywhere in the world! How does it work? You simply open up the app on your phone, select any picture from your photo library, add your personalized message, choose your recipients, and send your postcard! The whole process takes less than 2 minutes.

When your recipient gets your postagram, there is perforation to pop the featured photo right out of the postcard so they can save the pictures you send prominently on their refrigerator.

More from Sincerely: If you’ve fallen in love with Postagram then you can check out the newly launched Sincerely Ink app—a new app that will give you access to more than just postcards. With Sincerely you can create cards for Valentines Day, Birthdays, and more.

Android users: Both Sincerely apps are available for you too.

Real innovation requires disruption — it’s a reality of human nature. We do our best creative work when we’re willing to purposefully disrupt “the way we’ve always done things.” If my brain starts spinning its wheels, I need to disrupt my writing, stand up, pace, and then re-approach my writing, maybe with music on this time. Disruption. New Orleans didn’t have a choice. Their norms were disrupted by forces they could not control, and now they need to innovate in order to progress. I would argue that all of us — in this case I mean businesses — need to “disrupt” in order to innovate. But not all of us need to wait for the hurricane that hits from the outside. The best disruptions are the ones we invite — from the inside.

I’m impressed by leaders who have the humility to stay connected to what is actually happening inside and outside their companies. These are the leaders who can invite disruption; they look for ways to strategically interrupt “the way we’ve always done things.” And they listen for and value the perspectives of other people.

When the first iPod was selling like hot-cakes, Apple decided to introduce the next one. They disrupted the momentum with an idea and an item that consumers didn’t even know they wanted yet. Homerun. Southwest Airlines disrupted the airline business by defining a new reality: “Employees are our first customer.” The company buys birthday cards for each of their employees, all thirty-four thousand of them. It is innovation when you’re redefining reality and then actually building a culture (norms) that reflect that new reality.

We would do well to acknowledge that our businesses will experience disruption. The question is whether we’re willing to initiate a strategic disruption of the norm, or if we’ll wait for the hurricane.

Related reading and sources:
Sequencing: Deciphering Your Company’s DNA by Michael Metzger
The Brand Bubble: The Looming Crisis in Brand Value and How to Avoid It by John Gerzema and Ed Lebar

But the governors aren’t the only ones anteing up. Local credit unions have wagered similarly: native goods and charitable contributions promised by Pittsburgh, we mean, the losing team.

The area visitors’ bureaus are in competition as well. It’s Packers Nation vs. Steelers Nation. The VB website with the most registrants by midnight, February 6th, wins bragging rights to the best fans in the nation. There’s an incentive for you to sign up, if you feel so inclined. Register as part of the Packers Nation and you could win the drawing for two seats to the Packers’ 2011 opening game, among other prizes.

Now even the art museums have thrown down. If the Steelers win the Super Bowl, the Milwaukee Art Museum would loan Gustave Caillebotte’s “Boating on the Yerres” to the Carnegie Museum of Art. When the Packers win, the CMA will loan Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s “Bathers with Crab” to MAM. Renoir’s famous painting will certainly make a nice addition to our fine institution on the lake.

Packers Designs on Winning
All the Packers hoopla got us to thinking about the iconic and enduring Green Bay logo. So we investigated its origins and made a few remarkable findings.

For one thing, we always assumed that the G stood for “Green Bay,” but that isn’t the case. It represents “Greatness.” Designed by the equipment manager, George “Dad” Braisher, the organization first applied the G logo to Packers headgear in 1961. The team promptly won back-to-back world titles. Within the first seven years of the G logo, they won five championships. Eventually, the G became a part of the team’s letterhead and went on to be the main logo for the franchise.

If you watch college ball, you might notice a few schools with logos very similar to the Packers’ G, most notably the University of Georgia and Grambling State University, but Green Bay was the first. In fact, the Packers hold the trademark and, over the years, they have allowed other organizations limited permission to use comparable logos.

Another indelible part of the Packer brand is the Green and Gold, so we were surprised to find out that the original team colors were blue and gold. The change to green occurred in the 1950’s.

As we gear up for Sunday’s Super Bowl with our green and gold paraphernalia, we have a new appreciation for the Green Bay Packers logo and its tradition. We look forward to putting another mark in the win column, reaping the rewards from our counterparts in Pennsylvania, and remembering that the G stands for Greatness!

Here are a few things we’d like to see under our Christmas tree this year.

The Glif. At first glance, the Glif doesn’t look like much. When mounted to your iPhone, however, you can easily video conference, use it as a tripod, watch videos or simply give your hands a break. It also feels good knowing your twenty bucks goes towards two average guys whose dream came true because of the massive support of the online community.

The Paper Pot. Speaking of tissue holders, the Paper Pot definitely makes a common item way more attractive. The $38 price tag is a bit high, but these fun little pots make a statement with their bright colors and sculptural shape. They’re sure to liven up any work or home environment.

The Tengu. On the less practical end of the gift spectrum is the Tengu. Fresh from Japan, the Tengu is a fun little gadget that can be powered by your USB. Sound makes Tengu’s face move in time to music or any other sound out there. Impractical? Maybe, but it will definitely add some fun to your desktop.

App Magnets. It must be the Apple geek in us that makes us love these App Magnets. They are simply fun and make a colorful statement on a ho-hum fridge.

Washi Tape. Finally, to decorate your gifts, why not try using specialty tape? Washi Tape exists in a ton of patterns and colors to make gifts more unique. Those lacking the patience to wrap an ordinary gift will be relieved. This tape encourages tearing, layering and writing on it.

With the many creative gifts available today, it’s difficult to choose a favorite for our Christmas list. It’ll be fun to see what we find under the tree come December 25th. And what will emerge in 2011 to top them!

In the case of the Hipstamatic app, however, it was seeing vintage, hazy-looking photos across Facebook and the Internet and wondering where they came from. I soon found out it was the product of one of the most popular camera apps available: the Hipstamatic.

Its popularity has produced more than 5,000 followers on Twitter. Flickr groups now share photos taken on the Hipstamatic application. There’s even a site where you can enter your “print” into a monthly contest to win prizes:  http://community.hipstamatic.com/

From a design standpoint, the app is as vintage looking as the actual camera it’s based on. It uses retro typography and colors reminiscent of days when people still thought Apple was just a fruit.

As for the images produced, the possibilities are endless with the standard equipment—from a vibrant red glow with the Kaimal Mark II Lens to the dark frame of the John S Lens to the random pops of light from the Dreampop Flash. If you spend a little money, though, you can add a number of “lenses,” “film” or “flash” to your collection. Buy a Hipstapak for 99 cents and you get a bundle of gear—including gels for added colors—for even more variety in your shots.

So who would have guessed such a popular app would have its origins in Central Wisconsin. In 1982, two brothers attending art school, Bruce and Winston Dorbowski, wanted to make a camera cheaply and in mass quantities. They created a mold for their camera and began pouring plastic—yes, even the lens was made from plastic. The Hipstamatic 100 camera was born.

A mere 157 cameras were produced, and only a few of the originals exist today. Like the app, the lens and film format could be easily swapped. Unfortunately, the brothers passed away before their camera could be mass-produced, but their influence lives on in one of the most successful iPhone apps ever.

So what’s next for the Hipstamatic app? Its creators envision that users could order prints of their photos from the app itself or even organize exhibitions of the prints. Not only can people be creative, they can also experience some of the old-school excitement of not knowing how their photos will look until they’re “developed.” How often do we think that anymore with the instant gratification of digital cameras?

As far as cool apps go, it’s exciting that an old—but brilliant—idea has been brought back to life, especially one with such a rich history.

What’s the difference, you might ask? It’s the tipping point of just enough yellow before bluish-green becomes greenish-blue. Pantone 3272, Teal is the color of Miami’s hippest TV series as well as popular 80’s bridesmaid dresses that required poofy sleeves and too much hairspray.

The great thing about color is everyone can have an opinion or feeling for a particular hue. You can have a favorite and you can have one you loathe. Discovering color trends and applying them to life is how we, as designers, energize people about a particular product or give an impression of a particular business or industry. As one of the most important design elements, color reflects both mood and style: assertive black, provocative pink, refreshing blue, happy yellow, stimulating red, healthy green, elegant purple and pure white.

Color surrounds us and defines our world—from our wardrobes to our home or office decor. The next time you go into a medical facility take a look around. You’ll notice the decor is pretty calm, classic and pure. This is intentional—the last thing you want anxious patients to view is bright red, which might make them think of blood but it also stimulates. So bright red is reserved for Vegas casinos that want you up all night, gambling until dawn.

Showcasing the latest color trends in fashion, beauty and home, Pantone is the number one resource for everything color. You can find them at www.pantone.com. They just released their new “Plus” series, adding 566 new colors—and endless possibilities—with more than 5000 color choices in all.

For paint color trends, stop by www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/color_trends/

And for a little fun, check out www.colorstrology.com. There you’ll find that your birthday not only carries a numerological vibration but also a very specific color value and meaning.

One thing’s for sure: there are tons of unique and credible color choices out there. Much to my chagrin, Teal has made a revival as a recent color trend, along with a refined version of throwback leggings, hot fluorescents and yes, the side-ponytail.

Perhaps the best thing about some trends is they’ll soon be in the past.

JQuery allows mere mortals to use Javascript. You can create super cool slideshows, photo transitions, sliders – with amazingly small pieces of code that are compatible with all devices. CSS3 and HTML5 sound scary, but are really just modern interpretations of the code we’ve been using to make the web for years. HTML5 lets us play video in your browser without any plug-ins. Remember Real player? CSS3 allows you to create gradients and other objects with code. It has the potential to replace a lot of graphics on the web, thereby significantly speeding things up. iPhone and iPad love JQuery and friends. Seem too good to be true? Certainly these technologies have their share of limitations… it can be difficult to develop complex animations and not a lot of tools exist to make development easier… yet.

So when should you Flash and when should you not? Really, it’s up to you and what you’re trying to produce. If you want to create a game and need it to play on the iPad, JQuery is the ticket. Need a complex animation, soundtrack and interactivity to boot, Flash is your answer. Either way, it’s nice to have options. Now you don’t have to stick to chocolate ice cream, you can have vanilla as well. And in a consumer-based world where we like to have options, Flash, JQuery and friends are all very palatable solutions.

I don’t have many magazine subscriptions. In fact, I only have one, and it was a gift. I could pay a fee and wait for weeks or I could simply view my favorite magazine online. It’s fast, saves trees and offers me instant gratification. I love the feel of a magazine in my hands, but when I hear free wi-fi and instant, that sentiment goes out the window. It’s no wonder traditional magazines suffer in a world dominated by people like me.

So, can magazines be saved? If anyone has the answer, it might be WIRED magazine. WIRED is a shining example of traditional media trying to survive in this new world. They’ve created an app for the iPad that has transformed their entire magazine into a digital, interactive experience. Viewers can watch a trailer for Toy Story 3 on one page and spin a 3-D model of Iron Man on the next.

Not only is the user introduced to a whole new way of viewing magazine content, but advertisers now have options to present their ads in ways never thought possible. One ad that took full advantage was Fidelity Investments. In the ad, numbers line the bottom begging your attention. As you touch each number, the image on the ad changes, revealing one of the ten “Innovations for Investors.” It’s like ten different ads in one! Not only that, but on an iPad, TWO orientations of the ad have to be considered and produced. With a flip of the wrist, a vertical ad becomes horizontal. So while it may be more work for advertisers to create two different layouts, consumers now see the ad in two different ways, giving them double exposure.

I’ve read reviews criticizing the app for being no more than a glorified pdf but, considering the amount of interactivity allowed on WIRED, I think otherwise. In fact, the interactive elements lead me to believe that WIRED may have found a solution to keep magazines alive. There are still little glitches to work out, however. For example, there’s no indication if an article has more content underneath it unless you view a zoomed-out version of the page layout. Also, consumers might grumble at paying $5 for each edition of the Wired app, considering it only cost $10 for a yearly subscription to the printed version.

All I know is I’m excited to see how other magazines respond to the challenge, and maybe even solution, that WIRED has created.