andreafjeld

Project EVIE — a more beautiful world

2009-09-29T20:56:00.004-04:00

Many people have asked this. Why Project EVIE? Why now? Why have you suddenly taken on this mission?

While it’s always been important to me, I’ve reached a place where I understand how much my personal actions affect the planet. I’ve made small changes in my day-to-day life to reduce my carbon footprint.

But as I grow older and have wider eyes turned toward the future, I am more and more convinced that it’s not enough.

Even though I don’t drive, there are so many cars on the road. Transportation is the largest producer of CO2 emissions. Motor gasoline accounts for over half in this sector. And more cars are added every day. So what does that say?

This is the fear most often given by people willing to buy or curious about buying an electric vehicle: It won’t make it. They fear failure. Enter Project EVIE to prove them wrong.

But our mission means much more to me — and to all of us.

I’m excited about the outreach our project will accomplish as we drive through foreign territories. I think we can bring a lot of us closer together. We can help each other understand one another’s cultures and ways of life. Much of humanity’s fear stems from ignorance. I also want to go on this journey to help different cultures understand each other better. Good will and love. It may be a cliché, but I strongly believe that Project EVIE can make one step in this direction.

Again, without leaving a carbon footprint.

The world can be such a wonderful place. Let’s keep it that way — and make it even more beautiful. Join the mission.

Project EVIE — on the road to a more sustainable future

2009-09-25T11:28:00.008-04:00

It’s no secret. Humanity has a problem with its carbon emissions and we are ruining the planet.

According to a publication released by Environmental Defense, the US has just 5% of the world's population but produces a staggering 30% of the total global automotive CO2 emissions. Furthermore, all around the world the roads are getting more and more crowded. China adds over one-million cars each month to its already crowded roads, contributing an overwhelming amount to the global environmental crisis.

This is not how we want to contribute.

If more cars out there today were electric vehicles, carbon emissions would be cut drastically.

At Project EVIE, we’re tired of imaging that world. And we’re dedicated to bringing awareness to the increasing demand for electric vehicles. To accomplish this, we are leading the first expedition around the world in a commercially available electric vehicle. Yes, one you can buy at your local car dealership. Our journey begins in New Zealand. From there, we travel across Asia and through the Caucasus before turning toward Scandinavia. After driving from the ArcticCircle and down Finland, we continue south, tracing the west coast of Europe, our eyes next on the Middle East. Then the length of Africa. South America. When we reach the US, we drive up California’s sunny coast into the Pacific Northwest, Canada, and Alaska. That’s where we turn around and head home, to New York. During the entire journey, you can watch our progress as we keep the world updated online and talk with media professionals at every stop. And, of course, we’ll purchase carbon credits to offset the energy we use.

Six continents. Fifty countries. Seventy-thousand kilometers. Eight months on the road. Without leaving a footprint.

We face deserts, mountain ranges, rainforests, and volatile territories. But if an electric car can take all that, it can take you to the grocery store — or anywhere you want.

No gimmicks, no emissions. Just one mission. That is Project EVIE.

Maintaining the present will not sustain the future. The movement has already begun, but we must fight harder.

Join us.

On your mark, get set, and Project EVIE is ready to go!

2009-09-22T20:59:00.004-04:00

So have I told you about Project EVIE yet? It's a mission my friends and I dreamed up and developed to spread awareness about electric vehicles and living a more sustainable life, reach out to countries around the world, and, y'know, have some fun with it!

Our mission: Project EVIE will lead the first expedition around the world in a commercially available electric vehicle, taking one big step for a sustainable future and leaving no footprint. When we are done, there will be no doubt left that plug in cars can brave the open road with form, force and full functionality.

Visit our website.
Follow @ProjectEVIE on Twitter.
Become a fan on Facebook.
View our Flickr album.

New posts, different style

2009-09-07T23:27:00.007-04:00

I haven't been drawing recently because I've been reading too much (Hamsun! Nin! Bukowski! More clichés!) but I felt like doodling tonight. As you can see I'm having not the best time. Not that anyone cares but emo shit is the most fun.

They are stupid. I don't care; this is my blog...blag...blah. You can view them here, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Not everyone thinks I suck

2009-09-03T20:55:00.005-04:00

Look, the dinosaur over at Apokalips made a drawing based on my fake webcomic:

It's so much better than mine. View it here.

Not like any of you cares or reads this thing, but I will be drawing more soon-ish. I've been reading too much and producing little. But I'm better at reading than making things.

I'm with stupid

2009-08-14T18:58:00.002-04:00

Don't think I don't know what you are thinking.
thescrappaperblog

Wrecked at the Wreck Room

2009-07-17T15:16:00.004-04:00

I went to the Wreck Room last night to draw but instead started talking to these two chaps next to me and drinking whiskey like the well was running dry. And cans of High Life because I am a classy broad.
On Wednesday, however, I did manage to get three drawings done: the start of The Internet Series and this one that details my feelings on the creative process.

Or just view the whole blog.

The substance abuse series

2009-07-13T13:11:00.004-04:00

Don't do drugs, kids. And if you do, at least behave yourself. (And don't skimp on the wine.)

A seven-image series in The Scrap Paper Blog details proper substance abuse etiquette.

Since Blogspot sucks so badly, I can't upload the images, so read all of them here.

This is my aproach to art

2009-07-12T07:08:00.002-04:00

(via)

Girls I wish I were part 1

2009-07-12T02:31:00.002-04:00

She looks just lovely.

(via)

The Nightmare Series on The Scrap Paper Blog

2009-07-10T12:42:00.007-04:00

I have a bunch of new pictures up on The Scrap Paper Blog, including The Nightmare Series.

Nana

2009-07-10T11:07:00.003-04:00

Filed under: pictures I stole from my mother. This is my grandmother. Isn't she beautiful?

Please, it was a joke, you guys.

2009-06-13T13:46:00.005-04:00

I am way too poor for drugs.

This means I have a semi-recent post up on The Scrap Paper Blog.

My apartment sucks

2009-06-10T00:03:00.003-04:00

The title says it all. I am actively hunting for a new apartment — somewhere in Brooklyn. Here, I make a desperate plea for help. I also will review the shitty apartments I view in my New York search to find my home.

DO DRUGS

2009-06-09T23:52:00.003-04:00

That "high on life" stuff is BULLSHIT.

(Just kidding, kids; don't do drugs. But I have new "webcomics" online.)

Digital noise

2009-06-09T23:33:00.005-04:00

Too much.

I don't have attatchment issues

2009-06-04T12:29:00.005-04:00

So my newest e-xperiment is a webcomic-ish blog, The Scrap Paper Blog on WordPress (which I realize I like much better than Blogger — I might be abandoning this one soon). Anywho, I put up a new picture yesterday; check it:

Cheers! It's almost Friday...

Viral dancing (not in the STD way)

2009-06-04T01:13:00.005-04:00

Now, there's been some debate over whether or not this is genuine or if it had been staged by a group. In truth? I don't care. If an organization had orchestrated this, they were a small fraction; most of the people who joined the dance party must have been, in my opinion, organic, willing participants. Ashton Kutcher tweeted about it this evening too, so you likely have already seen it. In any case, don't poo-poo wom/viral marketing. If it works for dance parties, it can work anywhere.

View the video here.

Live. Love. Enjoy!

I am just saying...

2009-05-29T01:09:00.003-04:00

Let's talk.

I don't have a high tolerance for alcohol; I have a low tolerance for sobriety.

Sometimes I'm funny. Usually, I'm not. Here it goes anyways (updated when I give a shit).

the scrap paper blog

2009-05-25T21:08:00.002-04:00

On Friday, I was inspired to set up another blogging project. Introducing, the scrap paper blog. Read about it (and me) here. It's a crudely drawn, sporadically updated "webcomic." If you don't like it, don't read it.

I want to sit in my room and not have to be anything anymore.

2009-05-22T13:23:00.003-04:00

Everything seems to pile on at once, you know? But fight though, and things will improve. The payoff will be extraordinary.

New Post on Shouldn't But Do: Being Star Struck

2009-02-06T12:57:00.001-05:00

If you live in New York, you are expected to remain somewhat ambivalent when you run into a celebrity. That’s an Olsen over there? Meh. Is that Leonardo DiCaprio? Whatever. Celebrities walk among us like “musicians” in Brooklyn, cowboys in Dallas, or fake tits in LA. Asking for an autograph is a complete faux pas. Don’t even look at them. In fact, the only acceptable celebrity to get worked up over is Barack Obama. “Our savior.”

[Read more at Shouldn't But Do.]

New Post on Should But Don't: Vegans

2009-02-04T13:36:00.000-05:00

I don’t have a problem with what they eat—just as I don’t with the eating habits of omnivores or regular, run-of-the-mill vegetarians (like me). But I hate vegans’ smug, condescending approach to people who want to have their animals, and eat them too.

[Read more at Should But Don't.]

What OK Cupid Can Teach You about Marketing

2009-02-02T00:10:00.000-05:00

For the past month I’ve been on the popular dating site OK Cupid. It began as an experiment in social media: I wanted to examine how people used the 2.0 web for dating—how they communicated on this platform versus others, with which I am already comfortable, like Facebook and Twitter. It turned into a research project on best practices in personal marketing. What I took away from these profiles I think teaches a lot about advertising in general.

1. Set realistic expectations

If you join looking for the love of your life, you’re going to be disappointed. If you want to meet a few people and have good conversations, you’ll be happy. I’m not a fan of the “shoot for the moon; you’ll end up in the stars” philosophy, especially when it comes to dating. If things turn out to be something special, I’ll just be pleasantly surprised.

2. Brevity

You’re not Faulkner. I don’t want to read your 100-page autobiography. The longer the profile, the less likely it is I’ll finish it. If no one reads the content, you won’t receive any results.

3. Mystery

If your profile details every aspect of your life, you leave no opening for conversation. Without room to engage, your audience won’t be interested. The most common opening line I received was, “What kind of experiment is this?” Let the quirks garner interest, not your resume.

4. Clean content

If ur riting makes me LOL (or vomit), im nto gonna message u.

5. Personalized messaging

I received a few generic messages, like the following: “Hi, I noticed your profile and you seem really interesting. I'm Matt, 26 years old, living in Park Slope and in real estate. If you’re interested, message me back.” That doesn’t make me feel special. You have to realize that your audience isn’t a homogenized group; we’re all individuals who want to think you’re speaking directly to each of us.

6. Confidence

Don’t say it’s hard to sum yourself up in a paragraph. It’s not. Or another way to look at this is that it's not a summary, but an introduction. You want engagement. You don’t want to detail what you do, where you live, your history, your passions, et cetera upfront. You want to give me a reason to care. Tell me why I should be interested.

7. Paying attention

Read my profile before you message me. For example, I state, clearly, that I don’t use the site’s instant message system. If you IM me, I’ll know you didn’t read my profile. Your audience isn’t stupid. We know when you just looked at the pictures.

Also, being undeniably handsome never hurt anyone.

A 23-Year-Old's Advice on Running a Better Company

2009-01-30T17:48:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, my company held a agency-wide meeting to kick off the year. The idea was simple: get our two East Coast offices together to meet each other and discuss our brand and future. We spent all afternoon in the Brewhouse discussing who we are, what we do, and how we can do it better. Plus, everyone loves lunch on the boss.

At the end of the presentations, each employee gave a way we could improve as a company. Many were predictable (raises, beer cart), and some of the insights from people who have been working far longer than I got me thinking about best practices in running a business. I’m not exactly a savvy businesswoman (yet), but let’s see if I can outline a few of my own.

1. Less hierarchy

While structure is vital to efficient company management, the more rigid it is, the more employees are confined to their roles. This means that if someone is sick or otherwise unexpectedly out of commission, fewer people are able to fill in. A project comes to a standstill. Or worse, it falls apart.

I think a company is most secure when multiple people can wear multiple hats. In my experience, it also improves creativity. People thinking outside of their roles approach projects and problems differently than those trained in the subject. It’s forced “thinking outside the box.”

2. Let us do what we want

We understand ourselves better than we’re credited. We know our strengths and our passions. If we’re not given adequate opportunity to pursue them on a professional level, we’re going to be less motivated and less efficient, which produces a negative work environment overall. And there will be no black clouds in my office!

For example, I was hired as a strategist, but I come from an editorial background. I work with words. I love them. So I am allocated sixteen hours a week to work with the editorial department: I contribute to the company blog, copy edit, write short articles, and get pulled in on creative brainstorming sessions. This side of things invigorates my other work. This is the difference between "job" and "career."

3. Tear down boundaries

People separated physically are separated emotionally. Creatively. Professionally. I am a firm believer in the idea that low cubicle walls lowers inhibitions—in terms of befriending your colleagues. You should form the kind of relationships where you want to grab a beer together after work, not get the hell out as soon as the clock ticks five. Or six. Or nine.

Which leads me to my fourth point…

4. Let there be…noise

I once read an article about surrounding yourself with inspiring people as the best way to improve creativity and increase your productivity. Lively banter around the office turns into a healthy exchange of ideas, which turns into action. Colleagues should be conspirators and collaborators, too.

Because we’re always conspiring. We want to create the next new thing. We want to get famous.

Have you heard about Should But Don't?

2009-01-30T17:03:00.001-05:00

I should mention the two newest additions to my life. No, I didn't have a kid or anything stupid like that. Jeff and I started Shouldn't But Do and Should But Don't as forums to admit all the things we're slightly guilty about liking...or not. It's fun for us and obviously entertaining some people out there: in three weeks we've had about 4,000 hits. Not bad, considering we only advertise it through Facebook and Twitter. Everyone's a marketer!

My favorite thing is to look through the stats and see how people stumbled upon it. Recently searched terms: "indie plaid wear," "how dare you show respect," "my friends have started treating me badly," and "TV affects brain." This should be an interesting project.

Surrendering

2008-11-23T15:49:00.000-05:00

I lied. I'm surrendering to the Blogspot world. I've tried many times to establish a blog unsuccessfully of course, mainly because I have a tendency to reveal too much on the internet. Basically, who cares? However, after reading Chris Brogan's recent post about diving into social media, I realize that it's important to contribute to the dialogue more than microblogging nonsense and Facebook updates. As the future of PostAdvertising.com and my role there are uncertain, I want to keep creating some "noise" in the digital world. Let's see if anyone will listen.

While I haven't given much thought to the direction this blog will take, expect me to talk about music, advertising, social media, art, fashion, drinking, love, and trying to make it in this big, bad city. And, of course, random "webcomics" I create. I expect the purpose and personality will become clearer the more engaged I am.

Welcome

2008-08-20T15:56:00.001-04:00

Blogspot isn't really my thing, but here's where you can find me:

In the post-advertising world, I am sleeping in my party dress.
The world around me Flickrs.
Hello, Internet. It's all Tumblrrrrring down.
This is MySpace. Where is yours?
Tweet, tweet! Twitterific, Twittertastic!

Love, Andrea