Tabling & workshops @ festivals & fairs, & web site design, marketing

I've decided to crosspost this to 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BuildaCarFreeCity
and
http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/carfree_network

The most network-relevant parts are about ideas for
getting out to street fairs and festivals, further
down in the email after 'OK'. (and also at the very
end). 

It _would_ be more respectful to you all to break this
apart--

The first part is about web design in general and of
Carfreecity.us in particular (to David Ceaser).

This was provoked by planning to represent
carfreecity.us, worldcarfree.net, carfreeuniverse.org
at http://hopedance.org/new/greenfest.html
-----------------------------------

Great-
Your laptop idea is awesome (I wonder how long it
would have taken to dawn on me)--I'm now trying to
make it happen.

David- I really want to help, but it is hard to get
excited about promoting the site with its current
color scheme... I can't believe Matt would approve. I
don't think it looks professional at this point.

If you're going to play with funky colors at least
give me and others the option of displaying the site
in colors we like.

I did this for one of my sites at:
http://experienceart.org/cleath/about

If you're in doubt, use the default browser colors or
something close-- like at http://carfreeuniverse.org.

Black on white or off white is the standard for good
reason (ask microsoft research, personally I like the
reverse for CRTs).

Familiarize yourself with web site design guidelines
like at:

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9605.html
and
http://philip.greenspun.com/panda/

Above all, test your site for accessiblity -- does it
work on text browsers
(http://www.delorie.com/web/lynxview.html)? 

Remember, disabled (blind) & elderly are a key part
part of our audience. Above all it should be readable!
Does it work if people increase the font size? Does it
work in Mozilla and IE (and opera, etc).

Red text is not easy to read, and if I'm using it on a
display outside on a sunny day, that won't help
either.

Ok,

Second, and I mean to write carfree_network about
this, we/you should probably look at making a list of
festivals (earthday, http://greenfestivals.org) to
have booths at and have ideas of how to have
professional-looking booths. (I see on you already
have this in mind)

I'm planning to get some stuff from carbusters...(like
stickers and maybe a poster) but pro-carfreecity /
pro-pedestrian city design stuff is so much better
(and more beautiful and inspiring).

In addition, many of these festivals / conventions
have opportunities for workshops. With a projector and
a good slide set (like Randy's of Morroco), or simply
a web connection and lcd projector, and connection to
Carfree.com, we could put on a workshop on Carfree /
pedestrian-friendly cities and transitioning to them
from the way things are now.

Having books to sell and to display is also a help.
(do you have any to send down?)

I'd really like to have a big carfreecity.us poster
for a backdrop along the lines of your current start
page: http://carfreecity.us

however, I don't really like the illustration on the
right (it could be much more compelling). Perhaps it
would be better to use real photographs?


I really want to thank you--It is partly / hugely due
to your and Gus' leadership and big dreaming that we
all can get out to our various festivals and street
fairs and sell something positive... And I think you'd
be wise to play upon / make something of the effect of
advertising the carfreecity.us concept on local
planning departments and communities that are at least
somewhat aware of the car problem (like here).

BTW, I've started a topic on carfreeuniverse to
collect things I (and others) find related to this
whole concept of marketing...(topic name: "media
campaign / propaganda"). 

http://carfreeuniverse.org/s/media%20campaign%20%5C%20propaganda

Colin
http://carfreeuniverse.org
San Luis Obispo, CA, USA

PS: I really think we should look into getting
Carfreecity.us / World Carfree Network listed with 

http://www.apolloalliance.org/

Found by following links from
https://secure.ctsg.com/ourfuture/moveonregister2004/

Do any of you want to take the lead in that?


David / everyone,
 Any Ideas for a good backdrop / poster for a
carfreecity display by June 3? there's a kinko's in
town. 


------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar.
Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/icTolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BuildaCarFreeCity/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
     BuildaCarFreeCity-unsubscribe-hHKSG33TihhbjbujkaE4pw@public.gmane.org

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
     http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/