The Observation and Observations of Denuo

Lollapalooza 2009 Recap

Written by John Durbin August 20, 2009

music

Every year since 2005, Lollapalooza (a three day music festival) has taken place in Grant Park here in Chicago (Denuo's base of operations). Every year since 2005, I've gone to Grant Park to listen to bands, eat rib sandwiches, and spend more time outside than anyone with Irish ancestry should. Every year since 2005, I've written a recap of the bands I saw and the overall experience. The first couple years I would just e-mail the reviews and anecdotes of 20 hours worth of music to some friends, none of which are music fans. Last year, on an old blog, I took my reviews public.

This year, lucky denuology fan (go sign up for fan club), you get to read the recap here. Same gimmicks as last year, just a new home.

Campaign of the Future

Written by Saneel Radia August 12, 2009

advertising marketing trend

Recently, , one of our General Mills clients asked me over dinner what the “campaign of the future” looked like. The point was just interesting discussion (I should clarify that I make terrible small talk generally limited to reality TV and more recently, a review of my newly acquired Kindle), but it got me thinking. The below is what immediately sprung to mind while talking to Jim, but given the discussion that stemmed from it, I thought I’d share those thoughts on Denuology. And no, I didn’t just say “there’s no such thing.”

Top 5: Worst Fake-Celeb Twitter Pages

Written by Caroline Chen July 16, 2009

digiculture FAIL research social media

If you read The Superficial, watch E! in lieu of evening news, or hungrily flip through InTouch at the grocery only to gingerly return its battered pages to its shelf with your pride just slightly wounded, you’re my celeb-whore soul mate. And since we are such kindred spirits, you should already know that Twitter is the ultimate celeb-whore feeding grounds, where digital stalking thrives, guilt-free and fully endorsed.

But not everything is happy and healthy in the CelebTwittersphere. Once plaguing America Online chatrooms and LiveJournal communities, a renewed epidemic of celeb fakes is taking over Twitter. And this time around, it’s somehow more damaging. Tony La Russa was going to , and Sarah Palin was forced to start her own Twitter account. I, too, have been a victim — of following many a fake. Twitter deserves some credit for attempting to take action with their beta service, but so far it’s been used sparingly, at record-setting snail’s pace.

Thus, on my own weak vendetta to “research” and weed out the fakest of the fake, I’ve determined the Top Five Worst Fake-Celeb Twitter Pages for your viewing pleasure:

Culmination of a Paper Football Championship

Written by John Durbin July 13, 2009

Denuo random sports WIN

Bienvenido "Benny" Torres and Christian Kugel struck their fists to their flat hands in a rock-paper-scissor "coin toss" to see who would get the opportunity to strike first in the inaugural Denuo Paper Football Championship Game. There was tepid anticipation in the air as their various vanquished opponents from the previous three rounds surrounded them to watch. Once players, they were now witnesses to desktop sports history. Only one of them (Albert Kim) had predicted that Torres and Kugel would meet in the finals. At the end of the count of three, Torres threw two fingers into a V shape, proclaiming scissors. The tension in the cold room was only matched by that of Kugel's fingers. The maintained fist of rock signified the first victory of the day, and Kugel would receive the Torres kickoff to start the game.

Kickoffs are routine in just about every paper football game. But whenever Torres puts the edge of the paper football off his end of the table, preparing to slide the ball across the forboding black desktop, the crowd always sits with bated breath; each of them wondering if lightening would strike a second time.

Read more: Culmination of a Paper Football Championship

View Comments

Denuo is Full of Prudes & Whores

Written by Anisha Ahluwalia July 06, 2009

Denuo digiculture research social media

There's no denying that Twitter is an iconic poster child of the times. What gives the platform its real significance? Besides the bird, it's what Twitter enables, how people use it, and how these behaviors evolve.

Inspired partly by this and mostly by the opportunity to shed superficial light on the lovely employees here, I embarked on a rigorous analysis to diagnose the different Denuo personalities, based solely on their Tweets.

Below is a summary of findings. Huge credit goes to Sarah for synthesizing the results into this phenomenally frightening visual representation.

NARRATORS provide filtered color commentary. They observe and selectively share worthy nuggets that aren't corrupted by personal bias and judgment.

CRITICS rant, pick apart, reveal- but only when true inspiration strikes. Their self-musings are discerning, nuanced and often appeal to a more focused and limited group.

POLITICIANS promote, promote, promote. They tirelessly cater to an avid, broad following by frequently spotlighting their wisdom, travels, work and discoveries.

EDITORS curate and distribute content a la news outlets. They find inspiration from their large networks and Tweet/RT the best finds, often multiple times a day.

Read more to see the full details of the study.

Read more: Denuo is Full of Prudes & Whores

View Comments

Arcade Titles Need Love Too

Written by Trey Ho July 03, 2009

gaming

The classic Nintendo controller has 4 buttons and a directional pad. Today, there are exactly 12 buttons, a directional pad, and two joysticks on an Xbox 360 controller. However, the days of single-digit button gaming are far from gone and, in my opinion, have not lost any luster. Simplicity, approachability, and raw (uncomplicated) fun are some of the core characteristics you'll find in two upcoming Xbox Live arcade games that I'm personally looking forward to: 'Splosion Man by Twisted Pixel and Zombie Apocalypse by Konami.

The thing that's changed is, for the general population, new arcade titles easily get lost with all of the attention drawn onto today's mega blockbuster hits.