Talk:CoopaCraft International
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By nora the gypsy (CCAL30) (328), Sat, 28 Oct 2006 15:58:45 PDT Comment feedback score: 0 +|- (net 0 from me) excellent idea! keep at it!
By Lars Hasselblad Torres (3538), Fri, 17 Nov 2006 21:29:08 PST Comment feedback score: 1 (*) +|- (net 1 from me) hi darlene, this is cool (i am still working on salting away funds for your dress, too btw) -- i find myself asked to build websites often for npos ... wonder if there is a good space ie vox for these groups to connect (via say, friends and shared taxonomies etc) and boost their collective visibility by all linking to a 'main' page/account?
By Darlene Charneco (CCAL30) (609), Sat, 18 Nov 2006 22:51:12 PST
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It would be wonderful Lars- I haven't come across such a thing yet.
By Lars Hasselblad Torres (3538), Sun, 19 Nov 2006 07:32:30 PST
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it would be a somewhat different model than i typically think: instead of building the motherlode site, its harnessing the potential of a social network provider to raise the visibility of individuals with a shared interest/stake. each individual's page would use a common template, tools, taxonomies, etc.
remember back in the day, how when we just got finished with the 'mixed tape' craze, it was time to start creating 'web rings' ;)
By Darlene Charneco (CCAL30) (609), Tue, 28 Nov 2006 20:27:10 PST
Edited: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 20:28:15 PST
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Sounds good to me.:)how to start?
and then eventually this could become part of the larger site, yes? A site that facilitates connection in all ways...online documentation and communication between groups, development of the fellowship and awareness for artisan cooperatives worldwide...a growing database that is searchable by location or skills.
By Lars Hasselblad Torres (3538), Thu, 08 Feb 2007 05:41:37 PST Comment feedback score: 0 +|- (net 0 from me) sorry to drop away for a while -- lost track of this thread! where to start -- i think and email list: this can be a great way to get people excited, nurture that sense of responsiveness and connection essential to vibrant spaces. from that, perhaps some clarity around needs will arise - and you could carry out a little social network analysis (simple) to expand the circle (ie the Krebs method: ask them for six others who they look to as peers in their field or turn for advice on artisan matters)...?
By Darlene Charneco (CCAL30) (609), Sun, 25 Mar 2007 19:26:29 PST
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just a note. I've been thinking that the name CoopaCraft International will be better...as it is more intuitive and will integrate well into the alternative crafts movement.
Been researching sustainable development crafts that use recycled materials...think this is something in the 'what is working' category of uplift.
By nmw (1861), Sun, 25 Mar 2007 22:40:46 PST
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I'm not too much in the know about "brand-naming" (I would suggest chatting with MG) -- but from my perspective: short, simple, easy to spell (unambiguous spelling). Marketing/Advertising can cost alot of money (and/or time), but if you time is cheap and you can "do it yourself", then that's wonderful !!! ;D
Note that coop and co-op are two different concepts (though some/many people probably do use "coop" when they're searching for a "co-op"). However: do you expect that the persons you want to find/meet would step up to a computer and type in "coop"? (ideally, they would type in "coopacraft", but that is highly unlikely [see marketing/advertising comments above]). Also, there are problems with taking too general terms (such as "international") into your "keyword vocabulary" -- as in: you will never in your lifetime be able to compete with IBM (and/or hundreds of other "international things").
By Darlene Charneco (CCAL30) (609), Mon, 26 Mar 2007 16:19:20 PST
Edited: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 16:19:33 PST
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hey there nmw, thanks for reading and for your note!
with the name...mostly I'm concerned with the possibly ambiguous pronunciation...people saying coop as in 'chicken coop' instead of coOP. Other than that...I was going with coopa in following the most known/successful example of this type (designers working with cooperative) that I know of- which is the Brazilian cooperative Coopa-Roca. Both the 'coopa' part (I wanted to avoid the hyphen and to me it becomes spanish yet understandable) and the 'international' are to highlight that this is truly meant to be bridging countries outside of the US...I don't see it as needing to compete with IBM in any way at all. It merely means between nations, across nations. As a way to distinguish it from a national or local endeavor. The point of this is to connect someone from Texas with a cooperative in Peru, someone from London with a cooperative in Africa, etc. I suppose 'global' could work but it didn't sound that right...do you prefer global?.
there is a huge alternative/DIY craft movement going on right now here in the US..especially with the younger generation...my aim is to encourage that movement (one emerging designer at a time) to become symbiotically linked/connected to the movement of sustainable development projects globally. My grandest hope is that the experience of the trip and working with the craft cooperatives in developing countries would create ambassadors of sorts out of the young artist/designers who might have never previously understood the difference between our resources/situation/opportunities and the lives of many artisans globally. Similar to a peacecorps experience.
By nmw (1861), Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:24:04 PST
Edited: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:27:55 PST
Comment feedback score: 1 (*) +|- (net 0 from me)
It doesn't really matter what I prefer -- what matters is what your target audience types when they are looking for information that you might be able to provide. Would they type in "international"? Would they type in "global"? Would they type in "coopa"? ...?
Here are the keywords I see in your post:
sustainable development
alternative craft(s)
DIY craft(s)
alternative movement
DIY movement
cooperative
cooperatives (quite a different animal than the singular form)
cooperativa (spanish)
coop (problematical, because ambiguous)
co-op
co-operative (alternative spelling to above)
co-operatives (alternative spelling to above)
Perhaps you can work on focusing on these things some more -- figuring out how they are related, and/or where your project might be "situated" in this space?
[added coop keywords]
By Brent Timbol (CCAL30) (138), Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:28:43 PDT
Comment feedback score: 0 +|- (net 0 from me)
Norbert,
The analysis in your 'demographic perception projections' never fails to intrigue me. You always leave me wondering which corporate megolith marketing algorithms you have managed to decipher, dissect, and frankenstein back together!
Darlene; All,
Reviewing this thread has me thinking that, in addition to nailing down keywords and search citeria, a focused mission statement would help this idea to coalesce a bit.
I especially felt the momentum behind (and could see benefit in meshing into an 'About Us' area) the above: "...My grandest hope is that the experience of the trip and working with the craft cooperatives in developing countries would create ambassadors of sorts out of the young artist/designers who might have never previously understood the difference between our resources/situation/opportunities and the lives of many artisans globally...".
Nice Wishes,
Brent
By nmw (1861), Sat, 28 Apr 2007 02:50:54 PDT
Edited: Sat, 28 Apr 2007 02:52:04 PDT
Comment feedback score: 0 +|- (net 0 from me)
haha -- thanks, Brent!! ;D
actually, it's not "corporate speak" -- what I focus on is more like "street talk".
This is indeed intriuing: there is a large divide between "supply" and "demand" for vocabulary (from both sides of the equation). Let me give an example: Mick Jagger, when he sang about "Satisfaction", took a middle ground between "how white my shirts can be" and <something else>. Likewise, corporate-speak may use flowery 50-cent words versus the dime-store vocabulary that "rolls off the fingetips" of not only teenagers but also middle-managers (and other "unsatisfied" users).
Your idea WRT mission statement is great -- focus !!!. Note, however, that I rarely read and/or pay attention to mission statments. The best things in life are "mission statements", but I want "satisfaction"!
- D nmw
By Darlene Charneco (CCAL30) (609), Sun, 06 May 2007 23:24:42 PDT Edited: Sun, 06 May 2007 23:25:11 PDT Comment feedback score: 0 Thanks guys, will work on it on the workspace:). Here's a good example I came across when researching: The Bridge of Hope Fair Trade Project grew out of a partnership between the Centro de Desarrollo Urbano and the "Uniendo Manos Contra La Pobreza" project (Joining Hands Against Poverty) in Lima, Peru. "Uniendo Manos Contra La Pobreza" is a network of 15 Peruvian non-profits organized by the Presbyterian Church USA which is working to address the root causes of poverty in Peru. Over 150 artisans in 20 different artisan groups are receiving help from the network in the areas of product development, business skills, and export procedures. For example, the 5 women who belong to the Grupo Mano from the barrios of Lima, have increased their family incomes by 350% through the sales of tote bags made from mantas, a traditional cloth used by Quechua women to carry their babies. http://www.agreatergift.org/Arti sansFarmers/LatinAmericaCaribbea n/Peru/BridgeOfHope.aspx
By Lars Hasselblad Torres (3538), Mon, 21 May 2007 07:37:08 PDT
Comment feedback score: 0 +|- (net 0 from me)
heya darlene - very re-energized after receiving your letter and have just written back. one thing that would be neat is a way to share popular product patterns among a network of artists that could be made locally. the idea of the artist exchanges intrigues me as well. there is a wonderful group called ENDA Tiers Monde that uses craft as a way to promote microenterprise and creativity among young people. I recall an Appalachian network of craft persons as well - will look that up. More soon...! Maybe Rory Turner will have some ideas for you - connecting to state arts councils would be a great route to grow here in the US.
