Startup

Seattle Job Opportunities

Hi Seattle! I have had a couple of job opportunities come on to my radar that I wanted to share with my network. Specifically, the following roles: assistant to a jewelry designer, junior, senior & associate designer (fashion), fashion intern, and executive admin at a local tech startup.

If you are interested in any of these positions please message me at info@uncommoncartography.com with your resume and I can connect you with the hiring managers.

Best,

Esther

9e2 Seattle Exploring the Intersection of Art, Science, and Technology

As you all know I have been passionately exploring the realm of art and technology as of late. I recently applied for a grant to develop an Artist In Residence program for technology companies, and now I am excited to announce that I am collaborating with 9e2 Seattle to do a social media push for the upcoming event! If you have not heard about it, here is a little bit of information:

 9e2 is an art exhibition and performance series commemorating “9 Evenings: Theatre & Engineering,” an iconic exhibition 50 years ago in New York that sparked a new era of collaboration between artists, scientists, and engineers.

The original 9 Evenings was organized in 1966 by Robert Rauschenberg and Billy Klüver, and featured artists creating performances in collaboration with engineers from Bell Labs. Fifty years later, 9e2 embraces that same spirit of experimentation and collaboration with a new series of projects. Installations, nightly performances, and other events will explore the intersection of art, science, and technology. 

"The year 1966 saw a legendary and pivotal event in the history of technology-driven art. Called “9 Evenings: Theatre & Engineering,” the project brought together 10 artists and 30 scientists and engineers from Bell Telephone Laboratories.
 
Flash forward to 2016, the fiftieth anniversary of this iconic event: 9e2 teams artists with scientists and engineers, in a festival of performances, installations, exhibits, and discussions. By examining contemporary themes that are poised to change the way we experience life on this planet, 9e2 will shine a spotlight on the next 50 years.
 
9e2 draws together artists, engineers, and scientists from across the United States, as well as from Seattle’s art community, technology companies, and schools. We highlight and celebrate Seattle’s place as a center for creativity and exploration of new technologies, build connections between artists, scientists, and the community, and commemorate a half-century of the artistic traditions engendered by the original 9 Evenings. At the same time, we expect 9e2 to leave a forward-looking legacy: new work, new bonds between artists and technologists, new ways of looking at and using technology, and a new awareness of the interconnections between science, technology, and art." - About 9 Evenings and 9e2
 

HOW TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

With Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram, we expected there would be changes and the recently announced updates definitely have artists, startups and small businesses concerned. Many articles have covered the changes (here, here and here). All I will say is that I believe that this could have a very negative affect on artists, startups and small businesses who may not have a sizable “corporate marketing budget”. Because these individuals and businesses might not be able to afford advertising or boosted posts - the concern is whether their content will continue to be seen and engaged with. Just like we have seen a diminishing use of Facebook by artists and small businesses, this change highlights a growing need for a new platform. I am watching and waiting as I am sure are many of you. Will the new platform be SnapChat? Or is some grand disruptor incubating in a unicorn startup out there? Btw: Has anyone found a way around the fact that Instagram does not let you search hashtag + location for engagement with your target audience?

“Being original doesn’t require being first. It just means being different and better.” - Adam Grant

Until The New Platform Arrives, What Do We Do? You take advantage of every resource at your fingertips to develop rich engagement with your audience. Also, don’t put all of your effort and engagement into one location. Experiment with other platforms such as twitter, snapchat, and periscope.

Highlight Momentum  People want to know influencers, follow trend setters and be a part of innovation. Invite people into the story of you and your brand. Keep your audience updated on the cool stuff you are working on, by sharing your process (not just the final product).

Share Rich Content  Many small businesses, fashion bloggers, etc. cannot afford photo shoots to keep their social media fresh. If you can’t afford a photo shoot, consider supplementing your feed with stock photography.

Stock Photo Websites - Pay  Twenty20: $225 a month (billed annually), 25 images a month Stocksy: individual images that cost between $10 to $100 Adobe Stock Images: limited time offer - Get 10 free Adobe Stock Images iStockPhoto: 25 images a month, between $65-$149

Stock Photo Websites - Public Domain & Creative Commons Zero - Free  Public Domain Archive: free for personal or commercial use. Pixabay: large database of public domain images New Old Stock: vintage photos Unsplash: 10 high quality photos released every 10 days. Flickr Creative Commons: make sure to select “public domain

Experiment With Hashtags Before posting take the opportunity to review trending hashtags and see if your content fits into any of the trending categories. Experiment and test which hashtags increase engagement with your content. Some hashtags that are currently trending: #thatsdarling, #darlingmovement, #darlingweekend.

I hope you find these tips to be helpful. Wishing you a wonderful a week filled with growth + momentum!

By: Esther Maria Swaty