Fast Company

How The Grammys Went From Granny To Gaga

It wasn’t long ago that the Grammys were snarkily dubbed the Grannies. Notorious for performances from artists that you vaguely remembered from your parents’ LP collection, the show was teetering on the brink of irrelevance. But over the last five years, through its working relationship with its agency TBWA\Chiat\Day L.A., the brand has undergone a shift.

"It’s like a writers retreat for computer programmers."

David Albert, cofounder of Hacker School, which offers tuition-free computer programming classes. A separate arm of the company, Hackruiter, gets paid up to $20,000 when the students are recruited by companies including Airbnb. Read more->

The cold of your fridge is actually ruining a lot of your (expensive, local, bought at the farmer’s market) produce. An artist’s project finds ways to use the way fruits and vegetables spoil to keep them fresh, the old-fashioned way.

Read on->

This unintentionally awesome video is one of the examples in this story about how and why the ad industry is targeting the olds in a whole new way.

Rise Of The Olds: Advertising Catches Up With A New Demographic

The perennially ignored over-60 demographic is silent no more. From music videos to film, older people are everywhere. And now even the ad industry can’t ignore them.

Ingenious Infographic: U.S. Highways, Mapped Like A Subway System

The graphic language of the London Underground map is so iconic that “[insert any network or process here] visualized as a London Underground map” has become a design cliché. So why are we writing about the latest iteration, a Tube-style map of U.S. interstate highways, created by Cameron Booth? Because, clichéd or not, visualizing this particular system in this way is actually damned useful.

See more of the infographic->

20-year-old British bartender who wants to take the condom where no man has gone before (no, not space).

FAST COMPANY: So this all began with a series of bad dates…

RICHARD PESSALL: I went out with a couple of friends and I met these two twins, who were absolutely gorgeous. One of them really hit it off with me, and the next week we went out to a club. I used to breakdance with my friends back in high school. So I go down on the floor, I go to a handstand, and my heel connects to her face, and I knock her onto the floor. I’ve never felt so bad in my life. Her twin comes over and takes her to the bathroom, and while she’s in the bathroom I go to the bar, and this girl says, “I saw that, are you alright?” I end up getting her number as well. We ended up going on a date, and things were going really well. But then she got a phone call. She said, “Richard, I’m so sorry, but I’ve got to go.” This girl was 19, and she’d already had a child. She had to go back and pay the babysitter. I thought, “This is a joke, this can’t be happening.”

Read on->

…And Headed Back To New York

Looking forward to hearing your stories! 

journalofajournalist:

It’s been a hell of a week. The past few days were spent at a cybersecurity conference in Mexico — keep tuned for some kickass stories @fastcompany.

New York, I miss ya baby.

Today at Fast Company we decided to dress up like the Editor of Co.Exist without telling him! Morgan (pictured left center) likes to ride his bike so the pant rolling was essential. 

Don’t know Co.Exist yet? They’re our new sister site focused on world changing ideas and innovation. If you like futuristic tech stories and big ideas about how to live better you’ll love this site. Hit ‘em up on Twitter too, @FastCoExist!

Nike Unveils Ninja Shoes For Yoga Class

Master Class is a new Co.Create series where top talents from various creative fields explain, in detail, how they do what they do. Post Super Bowl XLVI is a great time for a Master Class on How To Make A Great Commercial. An in depth, step-by-step look at how to conceive, develop and produce a spot, from one of the art form’s top names, Gerry Graf.

MASTER CLASS: HOW TO MAKE A GREAT COMMERCIAL (PART ONE)

MASTER CLASS: HOW TO MAKE A GREAT COMMERCIAL (PART TWO)

Your profile photo is an important part of your online image, so if you still have an egg as your Twitter avatar or a blue-and-white silhouette for your Facebook page, it’s time to step things up. (Hint: This photo is a “don’t.”)

5 Ways To Put The “Pro” In Profile Pics

We’re big fans of @Jack here at Fast Company. You’ll find out why in our next issue.

bijan:

They have these super cool cabanas at the Square office

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