But here’s what I do know:

I know Fat Tuesday is the last hoorah before lent, a sort of clash of interests where gluttony, excess and general debauchery are played out to their ultimate extent before a long period of self-denial and sanctity. This in itself sets up the dual mentality of this whole situation: The earliest customs involved chasing a fattened pig through town and using up the last of the butter. But from the looks of the New Orleans specific breed, I am expecting a little more than that.

I had my first slice of King Cake a week or two ago, anxious to get a taste of what lay ahead. I’ll admit to having never consumed such a bright combination of purple, gold and green. There’s another curiosity: those colors. I see that gold again in the colors of The Saints and the purple along too in LSU’s gear, both colors speaking to a sense of royalty and old nobility. Green less commonly so, but perhaps green signifies the fresh burst of life spring will herald? Or does it bring to mind money and excess?

Now Mardi Gras hardly seems to need to market itself. Almost all of the collateral I’ve seen needs to only display those colors and the message is clear, just as iconic as the Christmas red and green or Halloween orange and black. Treatment of those colors, and all those associated messages and images range from elegant to outright tacky: the event is, after all, being portrayed for evening ball goers along with party animals. From what I’ve seen so far, different parties have different aims. Perhaps a more well to do, older crowd would respond better to a mysterious image of a porcelain mask and champagne heralding their Mardi Gras celebration; while someone just looking for a boisterous good time might want to see less restrained images, with piles of beads and excessive décor.

This imagery....

....or this kind of image

As a designer, one has to determine what voice to speak in to reach a desired audience. This is what I’m out to learn about New Orleans Mardi Gras. I’ve seen a bit of how Mardi Gras is sold, but I feel I must experience all aspects of the event to be able to determine what methods are valid and what are not, and to be ready in the future to sell it if need be.

I have already witnessed a streetcar full of masked revelers, costumed drunks hanging out of the windows and tossing out beads. I’ve heard talk of Krewes, and exclusive parties and balls, prices ranging in the hundreds for entrance. The few floats and parades I’ve seen have been decadent, chaotic crowds circling around. And of course I’ve experienced the madness of Bourbon St. I’m expecting some combination of the above elements.

Check back up with me next month for a new perspective after the festivities have passed.

“There are now more people playing the Facebook game “FarmVille” than there are members of [the micro-blogging network] Twitter,” stated a turn-of-the-new year article published by SLATE. This summer, Facebook announced its 150 millionth member. (and we congratulate them!) Today, alone, 370,000 more will sign up to join. With a new movie released this week – about young mastermind Mark Zuckerburg, who began a movement of revolutionary social networking – I believe its safe to confirm…to confess…that our characteristically “Westernized” society becomes more technologically functional and dependent, everyday.

We are spending more and more time on the internet. Does this mean, then, that we are becoming more independent and isolated from the masses we tweet to?

Online networking keeps us attuned to the whereabouts and happenings of thousands; and yet we are intently unfocused on the outside world, only our computer monitor.  Smashing Magazine contributor, Paul Boag, wrote in the article, “Web Designers, Don’t Do It Alone,” “The downfall of the digital revolution is isolation.” (Read the full article)

For me, it’s at least two, white, apple-stamped cords that plug me into my 13″ completely mobile workplace, with all of  “255 friends,” and my thoughts. Therefore, fellow media socialites, as we progress further into this era (and rear up a technologically-saturated generation) remember to remain balanced. Your days of leaving the pen and paper on the catch-all table at home are behind. Work with your hands, use your mind and memory to draw something from nothing. Exercise your talent in other activities to broaden your borders a little. Try something new. Remember: all creative genius within your daily workspace must at some point generate from the “outside perspective” you receive from engaging in all other facets of daily life.

For designers, working in isolation may be a downfall, but let’s always look on the brighter side. Use your electronic real estate wisely. Entertain great ideas! Discuss trend and trade. Share tips and tricks. Think about it. At your fingertips, you have the opportunity and power to enlighten “500 million.” Take time to explore the expanse of creative freedom you have, wherever you are.

Twitter is another social media outlet that let’s you communicate with others without all the extra applications to download, pictures to browse and tag, favorite music, books or tv shows to add, pages to keep up with and organize, or even ads to stare at… all for free! Twitter only allows you 140 characters to answer the question ‘What are you doing?’ Only 140 characters you ask? Below are 12 ways to use 140 characters to your advantage:

01. Networking: I used Twitter to find people attending an event I was about to take part in. I met lots of great people who I’d previously befriended on Twitter. I’ve also heard of people meeting (via Twitter) before an event to discuss sharing costs for hotel rooms, cabs, etc. Which brings me to my next point…

02. Get Conference/Event Updates: So you couldn’t make it to the latest conference for financial reasons, too much work, or whatever excuse? Hop on twitter and search for terms relating to the conference. If it’s the least bit techy of a conference, you will find tweets! #AEA #WordCampNOLA. My buddy even won a ticket worth $895 just for ‘re-tweeting’ a sentence!! Congrats @geoffthibeau

03. Communicating: Want to join in a conversation about a related industry? Twitter is just like talking on the phone… but with a stranger. Who says you can’t communicate with people you don’t already know?

04. Just Listening: You want real peoples views on a particular subject? Open up Twitter and search away. You can get as serious as religion and politics, or as casual as food and art – probably even simultaneously.

05. Just Jotting: Sure, it’s okay to talk about where you just ate (maybe even a review), that you’re going to the beach this weekend, or that your lawn needs to be cut – I’ve done it. Maybe you’re using Twitter as a mini-blog and that’s fine – just don’t be too mundane.

06. News: Whether it’s local or national, you can get news updates via Twitter in small enough chunks to entice a read (or not).

07. Being Resourceful: I use Twitter on many occasions before going to see a new movie. I’ll check the buzz of people who actually saw the movie (versus critics) and decide what I’m seeing that night. You could do this for restaurants too.

08. Buying/Selling Products/Services: Well it hasn’t sold yet (as of this writing), but we’re getting rid of a printer and I tweeted it on Twitter. Still hoping for a bite… Do you need a laser printer? I’ve seen mobile food units using Twitter to Tweet their location and menu specials as well.

09. Promotion (websites, blogs, folio updates): Twitter is a great way to promote your own blog, website or client updates. Don’t plug yourself too much though – you don’t want to look like a self-centered-tweeter.

10. Be a Resource: Maybe you can offer great info on a particular subject you’re passionate about? This is a great way to be a resource, help others in the process, and network even more.

11. Get Feedback: Surveys, Polls, Questions – if you have enough followers, you can get great feedback in a short amount of time.

12. Hire People: Have people spread the work via Twitter that you’re hiring a position. It’s easier than you think to find (via search.twitter.com). Someone can search for terms like ‘hire’, ‘job’, ‘graphic design’ within 50 miles of New Orleans and see who’s hiring!

So, how about you – how do you use Twitter? How would you like to use Twitter? What do you wish Twitter could do?

Ready to get started? Go sign up (for free) and get to Tweeting!

Further Reading:

Essential Guide to Using Twitter for Inspiration

Super Basics (setting up a Twitter account)

Some Don’ts of Twitter

17 [more] ways to use Twitter

Twitter for Marketing & PR (via Hubspot)