Blogs I'm Glad to Have Discovered in 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
This is the second year that I've put together this best-of list. It's just as much fun this year as it was last year; and it's a great reminder of how vast and awesome the blogosphere can be.
In addition to some great blogs written by my co-workers, Bud Caddell, Julia Roy, Eric Tabone, Lauren Puglia, Nina Yiamsamatha, and Josh Spear, these are the extra-special blogs that made me say "Ooo," "Whoah," "Hmmm," "Wow," and "Ah Ha!" in 2008:
Zoomdoggle - http://zoomdoggle.com/
Birthed from the imaginative mind of my friend and some-time office-mate Jake Bronstein, this blog is an endless fount of fun. Everyday this blog delivers a slew of entertaining online diversions, without the usual pettiness or cynicism you find on so many other similar sites. They've even created a TXT service: text "NEED FUN" to 30644 - try it now!
Buzzfeed - http://www.buzzfeed.com/
I'm sure I'm not the only one who noticed this site this year, but seriously... how do they do it?! Buzzfeed shocks me every day with its breadth of information and its ability to discover emerging ideas, links, videos, across the web as they begin to bubble up. Buzzfeed saves me the trouble of visiting other pop-culture blogs, and enables me to spend that time digging deeper into the more thought-provoking blogs out there.
Fubiz - http://www.fubiz.net
This French design blog has become one of those few feeds that I make a point to never miss a single post from. They curate a remarkably consistent collection of beautiful videos, industrial design, graphic design, advertising, and art. Almost makes me wish I was a designer again...
The Dieline - http://www.thedieline.com/blog/
Graphic design blogs can sometimes get a little tiresome, but The Dieline's focus on packaging design is just the right frame to keep things interesting. The examples collected on this blog are a great perspective on all of the various aspects of branding, from the name to the logo to the product to the messaging to the personality to the brand's point of view on sustainability, etc. Seeing products from such diverse assortment of markets is a great reminder that any product, whether it's from a major corporation or a small indie one, is competing with every other product out there.
Tavi, a.k.a. Style Rookie - http://tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com/
Regardless of the fact that this blog is written by a 12 year old, this is the freshest fashion blog I've come across in years. Tavi's vision, her knack for discovering unique looks, and her ability to tell a great story in a single blog post make me feel optimistic about the future of fashion.
Helge Tennø - http://www.180360720.no/
I wish that I could give proper thanks and credit to the person who introduced me to Helge's awesome online marketing blog, but alas, that source has evaporated into the digital ether. Helge Tennø is a Planner at ScreenPlay in Norway, and his blog has become my new model for success. Helge pulls from excellent sources. He has a healthy curiousity about futuristic reality-altering technologies. He designs beautiful slides and presentations. And most importantly, he always leaves his readers with at least one clear important thought to take with them.
The Toad Stool by Alan Wolk - http://tangerinetoad.blogspot.com
I met Alan briefly at the Blogger Social event back in March, and unfortunately we've yet to have a proper sit-down in real life, but he's become an inspiring online colleague. His blog is always full of intelligent and thought-provoking stories, tempered with a bit of humor and a healthy dose of new-media-cynicism.
Hee-Haw Marketing by Paul McEnany - http://heehawmarketing.typepad.com/
I was also introduced to Paul at the same Blogger Social event, and have since become a devoted reader of his blog. There are only a few online marketing blogs that actually have anything unique to add to the conversation, and Hee-Haw Marketing is one those special few. Paul's posts are thoughtful and substantial. He's got a great sense of humor, he knows his sh-t, and he's got good taste in music.
I hope that you get as much out of these great blogs in 2009, as I did in 2008.
What are the blogs that you're glad to have discovered in 2008? Link them up in the comments.
In addition to some great blogs written by my co-workers, Bud Caddell, Julia Roy, Eric Tabone, Lauren Puglia, Nina Yiamsamatha, and Josh Spear, these are the extra-special blogs that made me say "Ooo," "Whoah," "Hmmm," "Wow," and "Ah Ha!" in 2008:
Zoomdoggle - http://zoomdoggle.com/
Birthed from the imaginative mind of my friend and some-time office-mate Jake Bronstein, this blog is an endless fount of fun. Everyday this blog delivers a slew of entertaining online diversions, without the usual pettiness or cynicism you find on so many other similar sites. They've even created a TXT service: text "NEED FUN" to 30644 - try it now!
Buzzfeed - http://www.buzzfeed.com/
I'm sure I'm not the only one who noticed this site this year, but seriously... how do they do it?! Buzzfeed shocks me every day with its breadth of information and its ability to discover emerging ideas, links, videos, across the web as they begin to bubble up. Buzzfeed saves me the trouble of visiting other pop-culture blogs, and enables me to spend that time digging deeper into the more thought-provoking blogs out there.
Fubiz - http://www.fubiz.net
This French design blog has become one of those few feeds that I make a point to never miss a single post from. They curate a remarkably consistent collection of beautiful videos, industrial design, graphic design, advertising, and art. Almost makes me wish I was a designer again...
The Dieline - http://www.thedieline.com/blog/
Graphic design blogs can sometimes get a little tiresome, but The Dieline's focus on packaging design is just the right frame to keep things interesting. The examples collected on this blog are a great perspective on all of the various aspects of branding, from the name to the logo to the product to the messaging to the personality to the brand's point of view on sustainability, etc. Seeing products from such diverse assortment of markets is a great reminder that any product, whether it's from a major corporation or a small indie one, is competing with every other product out there.
Tavi, a.k.a. Style Rookie - http://tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com/
Regardless of the fact that this blog is written by a 12 year old, this is the freshest fashion blog I've come across in years. Tavi's vision, her knack for discovering unique looks, and her ability to tell a great story in a single blog post make me feel optimistic about the future of fashion.
Helge Tennø - http://www.180360720.no/
I wish that I could give proper thanks and credit to the person who introduced me to Helge's awesome online marketing blog, but alas, that source has evaporated into the digital ether. Helge Tennø is a Planner at ScreenPlay in Norway, and his blog has become my new model for success. Helge pulls from excellent sources. He has a healthy curiousity about futuristic reality-altering technologies. He designs beautiful slides and presentations. And most importantly, he always leaves his readers with at least one clear important thought to take with them.
The Toad Stool by Alan Wolk - http://tangerinetoad.blogspot.com
I met Alan briefly at the Blogger Social event back in March, and unfortunately we've yet to have a proper sit-down in real life, but he's become an inspiring online colleague. His blog is always full of intelligent and thought-provoking stories, tempered with a bit of humor and a healthy dose of new-media-cynicism.
Hee-Haw Marketing by Paul McEnany - http://heehawmarketing.typepad.com/
I was also introduced to Paul at the same Blogger Social event, and have since become a devoted reader of his blog. There are only a few online marketing blogs that actually have anything unique to add to the conversation, and Hee-Haw Marketing is one those special few. Paul's posts are thoughtful and substantial. He's got a great sense of humor, he knows his sh-t, and he's got good taste in music.
I hope that you get as much out of these great blogs in 2009, as I did in 2008.
What are the blogs that you're glad to have discovered in 2008? Link them up in the comments.
1 Comments:
Dude, you kick ass. Made my day, for sure.
And I've got to second you on both Helge and Alan. Helge just has this unending flow of great thinking and great finds, and Alan gets me agitated like few can. And of course, I mean that in a good way. :)
A few of my favorites from the past year:
http://www.murketing.com/journal/
http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/
http://garethkay.typepad.com/brand_new/
http://paulisakson.typepad.com/planning/
And of course, you're on fire with great stuff Mike, but it's probably a little ridiculous to link to you from your own comment section...
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