Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Mayhem Studios Featured in Social Media Today, "Forbes Top 50 Social Media Power Influencers of 2013 [INFOGRAPHIC]"


I was very honored to be included in "Forbes Top 50 Social Media Power Influencers of 2013 [INFOGRAPHIC]." It shows stats and figures of the influencers in the top 50. The Infographic was created Steven Sefton for Social Media Today.

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Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Mayhem Studios Featured in Forbes "Who Are The Top 50 Social Media Power Influencers, 2013?"


I am very honored to be included on Forbes "Who Are The Top 50 Social Media Power Influencers, 2013?" Along side some pretty awesome people I know and love.
#26. Calvin Lee - Calvin runs Mayhem Studios, a design practice in LA but has become perhaps better known for his social media work and social media advocacy.

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Monday, April 01, 2013

Love my Social Samsung Galaxy Camera

Disclosure: I won the Samsung Galaxy Camera at a Verizon #VZWBuzz event during #CES. All opinions are my own.

I really like the Samsung Galaxy Camera a lot, even love! It's a really fun camera! It's running on Android, Jellybean  4.1. It's basically a Samsung Galaxy smart phone minus the phone. You can download apps and share your photos to all of your Social Networks through a Verizon, AT&T plan or a wifi connection.

Most of the photos that were taken during my trip at SXSW was with the Samsung Galaxy Camera. Check out the photos on my flickr page. 

Samsung Galaxy Camera Specs.
  • 16.3MP backlight-illuminated CMOS sensor
  • 21x zoom with 23-481mm equivalent focal length
  • 1080p 30 fps video capture
  • 4.8", 308ppi HD Super Clear LCD, 1280x720 pixels
  • Android 4.1 'Jelly Bean' operating system
  • 1.4 GHz Quad-core processor
  • Wi-Fi and 3G or 4G connectivity
  • 15 'Smart' shooting modes
  • Voice commands
  • Manual mode
What I loved about the Galaxy Camera

1. The Samsung Galaxy 16.3mp photos are crisp and clear. The photos are incredible, even taking the resolution down to 300dpi, the size was still at 11"x15". I've even started using the Galaxy Camera more than my iPhone.

2. The 21x optional zoom is awesome for photos and videos. I have zoomed 21x during a concert taken from the nose bleed seats. The photos/video looked incredible and sharp, considering how far away I was.

3. It handles lower light situations pretty well, much better than most smart phones but still can't handle very dark situations.

4. Android camera combo. The ability to go online and share your photos directly from the camera to all of your Social Media networks like Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Linkedin.

5. Make new friends by using the camera. People love shiny new toys they've never seen before and want it. The quality of the photos help a lot!

6. I love how wide the lens is and the ability to capture so many people in one photo.

What I didn't like so much about the Galaxy Camera

1. It's a little too heavy and bulky. If you ever dropped the camera, it would not survive.

2. It has problems focusing in really dark low light situations even with a flash.

3. No force flash mode or the ability to lower the intensity of the flash, only in manual mode. The flash is too bright and sometimes the flash wouldn't fire.

4. It needs a view finder. Very much like most smart phones on sunny days. It can be hard to see anything on the display.

The bottom line

Even though the Samsung Galaxy Camera is the first generation combining an Android OS with a camera. It's still a pretty good one. With that said, it's not perfect. It still has a few bugs. 

The camera is a little laggy when the camera power save mode was turned on. Once I turned it off, it was pretty fast. Pulling up photos from the photo gallery to share takes a little too long. 

The price is a little high but I would still recommend the Galaxy Camera. The ability to get online and share from the camera is a big plus.

Samsung announced that they will be releasing a wifi only model with the same specs. and a lower price of $450. It will be available at the end of April 2013.

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Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Mayhem Studios Quoted in Forbes "12 More Ways To Be Legendary And Successful On Social Media"


I was quoted, number 4, in part two of the Forbes article "12 More Ways To Be Legendary And Successful On Social Media," written by TJ McCue.
“This is also what Calvin Lee, whose photo and advice graced part one of this post, and well-loved Twitter Master, espoused yesterday. Be genuine. Be nice. 
In addition to this, says Mr. Lee: “Know your audience. Many of my followers are small biz to medium size. Many can’t afford a designer like me. Articles on web design, color, inspiration and basics of design really helps them. Novice articles are the best — my audience doesn’t benefit from intermediate or advanced design topics.”

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Mayhem Studios Quoted in Forbes "19 Things Successful People Do On Social Media"


I was quoted, number 7 in the Forbes article "19 Things Successful People Do On Social Media." under Ideas for Successful Social Media Relationships and Campaigns written by TJ McCue.
"Calvin Lee, from Mayhem Studios in Los Angeles, is someone who has made his mark in actually “Being Genuine.” He told me that it may sound like a cliche today, but: “I’ve heard that for the past 4 years, since the first time I jumped onto Social Media, more specifically Twitter. [But being genuine...] It’s totally true!”
I believe in doing good deeds and not ask for anything in return. My goal is in helping others where I can, sharing useful information, answer questions, reciprocating and more importantly. Be NICE! When you do good deeds, it will be returned to you 100 times or more."

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Thursday, August 16, 2012

Mayhem Studios Completes Redesigned of MBDA Business Center Los Angeles Website

The MBDA Business Center Los Angeles

I just completed the redesigned website for MBDA Business Center Los Angeles.

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center – Los Angeles, is operated by the University of Southern California (USC) in partnership with the City of Los Angeles, Mayor’s Office of Economic & Business Policy (OEBP).  They are one Center with two locations and are a part of the national network of over 40 MBDA Business Centers, funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce - Minority Business Development Agency. The MBDA Business Center-Los Angeles offices are located at University of Southern California and at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

They measure their results by working to serve minority firms throughout the Southern California region and nationally to win contract awards and receive loans totally $100 million annually. Since 2007 the Los Angeles center has successfully secured: Over $400 million in contracts, More $107 million in financing.

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Monday, August 13, 2012

Vizify: Create a Cool Infographic of Yourself

Vizify

Vizify is a pretty cool way to view an Infographic of yourself, by pulling in your personal data from all your social networks to create a snapshot. I first heard about it two weeks ago from one of my friends @EmbarkCreative on Twitter. She hooked me up with an invite. I loved it!

Vizify soon after set me up with my own personalized invite code, so I can share with all my friends. If you want to try out Vizify, use code: mayhemstudios

They also make another cool little tool called "Tweetsheet." It's your Twitter activity as an Infographic. Angry Birds + Your Tweets = Tweetsheet.

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Saturday, August 11, 2012

Mayhem Weekend on the USS Abraham Lincoln AirCraft Carrier

USS Abraham Lincoln AirCraft Carrier

It was an honor to be invited by the U.S. Navy and sponsored by Guy Kawasaki and Dennis Hall to stay over night on the USS Abraham Lincoln AirCraft Carrier.

We were invite to participate in the U.S. Navy's outreach program to social media personalities to participate in social media embarks, campaign to bring a better awareness of the U.S. Navy. The understanding of the role of carrier aviation, as well as demonstrate the high-level of training required to keep our Sailors ready to meet the nation’s needs.

It was such a great experience, we got to see rare first-hand look, at life aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, and witness the flight operations on the deck. The pride and professionalism of young men and women who serve our country at sea. I also have a greater appreciation for our service men and women that protect us from harm.

There were lots of bonding time with my other shipmates.

Damon Berger - What's Trending
Susan Etlinger - Altimeter Group
Lyle Fong - Lithium Technologies
Matt Harding - Where The Hell is Matt
Chip Heath - Stanford
Dan Heath - Heath brothers
Shira Lazar - What's Trending
Jeremiah Owyang - Altimeter Group
John G. Taylor - Community Medical Centers
Cara Renee - Cara Renee Photography
Raymond Leon Roker - Red Bull

Check out all my photos from my trip on the USS Abraham Lincoln AirCraft Carrier.

Suit Up Boys! Jeremiah Owyang - Lyle Fong - Matt Harding

USS Abraham Lincoln AirCraft Carrier

USS Abraham Lincoln AirCraft Carrier: Matt Harding

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Wednesday, August 08, 2012

Mayhem Studios New Twitter Master NYC Shirt Design

Twitter Master t-shirt

Check out my new Twitter Master NYC t-shirt design (larger version here) with the help of awesome illustrator Ricardo Gimenes. I'll will be bringing these with me on my first trip ever to New York City. If you want one, come find me New Yorkers!

I plan to meet with up friends, followers and have fun, fun fun! Also tour NYC and startups like Mashable, Foursquare etc. #mayhemNYC

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Monday, July 30, 2012

Mayhem Studios Speaking at V3con Panel: Social media's impact on mainstream media & blogging

V3 Digital Media Conference

I'll will be Speaking at V3con Panel: Social media's impact on mainstream media and blogging at V3con: Digital Media Conference August 25 - Japanese American National Museum.


Register at V3con - Use Promotional Code: V3-Mayhem (case sensitive) for $10 off Full-price registration. #V3socialmedia

The Panelist:
Garick Chan, Social Media Club LA - Modertor
Evan Bailyn, Evan Bailyn
Abe Kwok, AZ Central
Lisa Lee, Facebook

Is social media the future of news? More and more people are getting their news from social media — on their mobile devices. Journalists are finding that social media can be a valuable tool for research.

Social media’s immediacy drive the immediacy of news, but raise the hazard of inaccuracy. How are journalists and bloggers adapting to the new reality?

The V3 Digital Media Conference (V3con) will highlight and expand multi-platform Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communications by gathering thought-provoking AAPI online journalists, creative social media communicators, seasoned bloggers and those interested in engaging on digital platforms.

In this unique, one-day conference setting, all are invited to share their experiences, knowledge, endeavors, and visions with others during interactive panels and workshops.

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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Mayhem at San Diego Comic Con

Me and the Masters of the Universe. San Diego Comic Con

I had such a great time at the San Diego Comic Con this year hanging out with friend like SuperBen and Jess3. I loved all the Cosplay geeks, comics and toys.

I haven't been to a comic con in over fifteen years. I didn't have any luck in getting passes in recent years. Passes were usually sold out.

I was lucky this year that Sondra Drahos and Insight Editions sponsored me, it came out of blue. I was very happy about it! They invited me out to comic con for the Art of Blizzard Party!

Insight Editions is a publisher focused on creating superlative illustrated books on photography, music, and popular culture. Lavishly produced and visually stimulating, every volume from Insight is dedicated to the skillful interplay of word and image. 

Check out all my photos from the San Diego Comic Book Convention.

San Diego Comic Con 2012

Wolverine: San Diego Comic Con 2012

Star Wars: Darth Vadar: San Diego Comic Con 2012

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Thursday, June 14, 2012

Terranea Luxury Resort Weekend Getaway Klout Perk

Terranea Resort

Terranea Luxury Resort Weekend Getaway is probably one of the most awesome Klout Perks that I've received from Klout so far.

The weekend stay at the Terranea Resort was courtesy of Terranea Resort. They also included a $200 resort credit to do with however I see fit during the weekend.

The service and people are top notch. I felt totally pampered and taken care of. The food at Bashi, Nelson's, Catalina Kitchen and Mar'sel Restaurant was absolutely delicious.

I was very honored to be invited to Mar'sel Restaurant for dinner by Chef Michael Fiorelli. Chef Fiorelli prepared a special ten course meal for me and my guest.

It was such a great resort and dinning experience. I would love to return to the Terranea Resort very soon. Check out all my photos from my trip to the Terranea Resort.

Terranea Resort Spa

LaLa and Gina by the adult pool

Cheers Shannon

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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Mayhem Studios featured in Mark Schaefer's New Book "Return on Influence"

Mark Schaefer - Return on Influence

I'm featured in Mark Schaefer's new book, "Return on Influence." It was an honor to be included in the book as one of the case studies; about online influence, social scoring and Klout.  It was also an honor being featured on his lectures and slide presentations during his book tour.

Return on Influence shows you how to measure, adapt, and grow your influence online using groundbreaking new technologies and field-tested marketing tools.

It's a step-by-step guide that shows you how to take advantage of social scoring systems to measure online influence, harness it, and leverage it for your business.

It was awesome meeting Mark Schaefer in person at SXSW. You can pick up Mark's new book at Amazon.

Calvin Lee and Mark Schaefer - Return on Influence #SXSW

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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Mayhem Studios featured in WIRED article "What Your Klout Score Really Means"


I am featured in the WIRED Article, "What Your Klout Score Really Means." Klout measures your online influence but not necessarily your real life influence. I believe it can lead to real world by building your online influences and connections. I 'm a big believer in Klout.

The article is broken down into several topics; How employers are using Klout scores as a factor in hiring, Klout Perks and the pressures of keeping your score up. I was interviewed about my experiences with the Klout perks and Klout in general.

You can read the full article over on the WIRED website, "What Your Klout Score Really Means."

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Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Small Trades: My Photo Shoot with Josh Ross


Calvin Lee - Klout

My photo shoot with Josh Ross from his new portrait series, “Small Trades.” You can check out the larger photo here.
The series is based on Irving Penn’s series of the same name. As with much of Josh's work it’s an exploration of the uniqueness of people and how that relates to the rest of their life.
By controlling the variables in a series of images he allow people’s unique character to emerge and contrast with the similarities that Josh have introduced.
In the past Josh have explored people who are yoga practitioners, people who are runners, and now he's exploring the trades that people are a part of.
The series is currently ongoing but you can see more images by visiting Josh Ross website, Josh Ross 
Creative.

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Monday, July 25, 2011

Mayhem Studios Interviewed (video) on the Buffer Tweet Café Series



I was recently interviewed by Leo Widrich (@LeoWid), Co-founder of the BufferHow to be more unique on Twitter (video). So check out the video above and/or head on over to the Buffer for more on my interview.

The interview is focused on four points.

+ What are your Goals on Twitter
+ How to be more authentic
+ Showing transparency
+ Will Twitter still be here in 10 years

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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Mayhem Studios Featured on Klout Series, Klout Stars


I was just featured on the Klout Series: Klout Stars. The series highlights top influencers and how they got to where they are today. You can check out the other Klout Stars on the Klout website.

@Klout and @Megan Berry asked me a few questions on how I got started.

+ How did you get started on social media? 
“In the early days, my first experience with anything social was AOL. I used to spend hours chatting online with lots of people. It sucked up lots of my time just like something else we all know called Twitter.

I’ve gone through life wondering what is my thing. I believe, I’ve found it, more like it found me. Twitter is really what started it all for me. I’ve never thought of myself as being in social media. It kind of just happened and I love it.

Twitter has really helped me become a social butterfly, once shy and still am at times. I really enjoy hanging out and meeting new people, especially my followers at conferences, events and out on the street. Yes, it does happen once in awhile.

It’s funny, I’m known better as a social media guy than a designer, which that is what I do for a living. My goal was never to become this social media person. I joined Twitter to make new friends, connections, help others and push out great info.

As an extra bonus of all this sharing and helping, it somehow created influence and trust for me. Brands have been reaching out to me; sending me on trips and asking me to try their goods, services and review their products.”

+ What’s your strategy for the content you produce and share on social media? “My motto is always to give value; be helpful and be nice. I’ve become almost like a news media outlet. I see myself as filter or editor of great information, a curator according to Klout.

Know your audience. Many of my followers are small biz to medium size. Many can’t afford a designer like me. I try to tweet articles on web design, color, inspiration and basics of design to help them. Novice articles are the best — sometimes intermediate or advanced design topics may go over their heads but I still throw those out there.

Recently, I have expanded my tweets to anything I enjoying in life; like food, movies and traveling. I take my followers on my journeys wherever I go.”

+ What advice do you have for someone who wants to take their social media influence and presence to the next level? “You have to really engage with your community and build those relationships. Be a resource for them. I’m a designer, so I tweet lots of design articles for beginners, intermediate and advanced. I also answer questions. If it’s not in my area of expertise, I try to find an answer for them.

Retweeting is a great way to build your network and say “Thanks, I like what you tweet. I want to spread the word.” Make sure the context offers value that is helpful to your followers, no selling.

The real big one for me is attending events, tweetups and conferences. You build a stronger bond after an In Real Life (#IRL) meeting. When you meet finally, It’s just like hanging out with an old friend.”

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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Mayhem Studios Featured on BNET: How To Build a Twitter Following


I was recently featured on BNET: CBS Interactive Business Network. They were interested on how I built my Twitter following. If This Guy Can Get 66,000 Twitter Followers, So Can You. I think this is such a bad title. Makes it sound like, it's all about getting as many followers as possible but it's really about building a Twitter following.

Here are few of my tips on building a Twitter following.

+ I’m just being me
, engaging with my community. I try to be a resource for them. I’m a designer, so I retweet lots of design articles for beginners, intermediate and advanced.

+ Know your audience. Many of my followers are small biz to medium size. Many can’t afford a designer like me. Articles on web design, color, inspiration and basics of design really helps them.  Novice articles are the best — Sometimes intermediate or advanced design topics may go over their heads but I still throw those out there.

+ Answer questions. If it’s not in my area of expertise, I try to find an answer for them.

+ Make sure to retweet others and share great content. Retweeting is a great way to build your network and say "Thank, I like what you tweet. I want to spread the word." Make sure the context offers value that is helpful to your followers, no selling. That’s how I’ve become friends with people like Chris Brogan, Guy Kawasaki, and key persons with Brands, small and large companies.

+ Be transparent. I share what I enjoy in my life and I’m very transparent about everything I do. I tweet photos and check in on foursquare. People feel that I am a real person and part of their lives.

+ Take online connections to the next level. Attend tweetups and conferences. You build a stronger bond after a In Real Life (#IRL) meetings. It’s just like hanging out with old friends.

+ It’s all about them. Be nice and courteous. Help your followers any way you can. Building a following is like providing great customer service. I'm always there to help a friend, the small guy, charities and my community.

+ Always give value. My followers know I like trying things out.  Many brands and companies have offered me trips, products, etc.  Often I’m already using the products or schwag I receive, but either way I’m honest and fair about how I feel.

I always stay true to myself.  If I am given a product to review, I trust my community knowing they won’t doubt my choices. I focus on giving my followers real value; when you do, you’ll always stay on the straight and narrow.

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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Samsung Droid Charge on the Verizon 4G LTE Network


Disclosure: The Samsung Driod Charge was provide to me by Samsung for me to test and keep.

I've been pretty much a mac and iphone guy my whole life. Using an Android phone never crossed my mind until now. A friend of mine, Alana Joy
working with Samsung  approached me about testing the Samsung Droid Charge and giving it an honest review.

I was very excited to take the Samsung Droid Charge for a test drive before it was officially released. Here are some features of the phone.

+ 4.3” Super AMOLED Plus Touch Screen Display
+ 8MP camera: Front-facing camera
+ HDMI
+ 1GHz processor with Android™ 2.2 platform
+ 4G LTE speeds on Verizon


The feel and look of the Samsung Driod Charge is very similar to the iPhone. Even  playing around with the Driod Charge for a few hours, it felt very comfortable. It would be a smooth transition from the iPhone to the Driod Charge, if I decided to switch. 

I have to admit, the larger 4.3" super Amoled screen on the Droid Charge is pretty nice compared to the iPhone's smaller 3.5" screen. The screen itself is so clear and vibrant, that is one of the biggest selling points for me. With That being said, the screen is also a big battery suck.

Having a 8mp camera doesn't mean it will take better photos. The Droid Charge takes some pretty decent photos but seems a little muddled. I have seen better photos with less mega pixels. I wish the colors and white balance was a little better. 

I like some of the default settings on the camera like Panoramic. Pretty awesome how it can stitch together eight photos and pretty seamless.

I found the Samsung Driod Charge to be pretty responsive and quick with the 1GHZ processor, being on the Verizon 4G LTE network helps a lot. Speeds are blazing on Verizon 4G LTE, anywhere from 3mb-18mb down and 3mb-5mb up depending on your area. The average I got around town was 10mb/5mb.

The battery life was a big negative for me. The Droid Charge battery only lasted four hours and it took a long time to recharge. 

My final word, the Samsung Droid Charge is great phone on the Verizon network, which you can't go wrong with. It's very responsive, fast and a great value.

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Monday, May 02, 2011

HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation Review and Giveaway

Disclosure: HP provided me with two, HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation to review and to keep afterwards.

I would to thank HP again for allowing me to review the HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile WorkstationPlus HP gave me a second one, worth $4,899 to give away to my one of readers and followers. The details of  the HP Giveaway will be below after my review.

I have used both macs and pcs my whole life. I prefer macs as I find them to be smoother running and trouble free. I was exciting to test out this supped up EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation. Here is a little recap on the specs on the HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation.

+ Intel Core i7-740QM (1.73ghz, 6mb L3 Cache)
+ 8gb DDR3-1333
+ 17″ WUXGA (1920×1200) LED-backlight DREAMCOLOR display
+ NVIDIA Quadro 5000m with dedicated 2gb DDR5 workstation-class GPU
+ 500gb 7200RPM HD
+ 2.0mp integrated webcam
+ LightScribe DVD +/- RW burner
+ Full-sized backlit keyboard
+ Three button trackpad mouse

The Body Construction
The HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation is a BEAST! It has a metal casing; very heavy, very well protected, very much like a tank, which is a good thing but with that said. It's also too heavy to take it on the go. The battery is also huge and heavy, like a giant brick. The combination of the HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation and the battery would make it impossible to carry around all day.

The Goods
I said, earlier that the HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation is a beast and a very powerful machine. People forget that the video card makes a big difference on the speed and how fast something renders. The NVIDIA Quadro 5000m video card on the HP does an excellent job of 3D rendering, animation, video editing and graphic design.

I ran it through some tests on Photoshop. It didn't have any problems rendering a 30 mb file with a bunch of other apps opened. I also advanced a video streaming video forward and it didn't stutter at all. I tried it my mac book pro too but it had to rebuff before the video would start playing again.

I notice that when you work the HP hard, it gets really hot. It can be used as a heater in the winter months.

The HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation comes with a DreamColor display, meaning it displays billions of bright and vibrant colors. I thought the display looked great and the colors were really saturated and bright. Sometimes, a little too bright for me but I couldn't find the option to reduce the saturation.

The Final Word
The HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation is a great machine for anyone in the creative field, that needs a powerhouse for 3D rendering, animation, video editing or graphic design. It's a great value for the price, if you don't already have a mac. The HP EliteBook is more of a desktop workstation than a mobile one. It's just way too heavy to be carry it around with you, which also goes for the battery.

For a more in depth review. Check out @FuelYourMotionHP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation Review and @PrimeSuspectThe HP EliteBook Mobile Workstation project

HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation Giveaway

The HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation is a great machine for any creative individual and worth $4,899. I didn't want to just pick a random submission. I want to give the HP to someone that is creative and can use the power of this machine.

I am going to make you guys work for it. The most creative story of why you want the HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation wins. Good Luck!

The Rules

1. Follow Twitter account @HP_PC
2. 400 words, give or take
3. Email to mayhemstudios [at] gmail.com
4. Submissions must be received by May 18, 2011
5. Creative retweet of this blog post which includes "@HP_PC" and the hashtag "#HPelite"

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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Mobile World Congress and Barcelona! Here I Come!

Disclosure: LG Mobile is sponsoring my trip to the Mobile World Congress 2011 and to Barcelona, Spain.

The Mobile World Congress represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry. The Mobile World Congress conference is held this year in Barcelona, Spain from February 14th-17th. Its mobile industry's "must attend" event with more than 49,000 visitors in 2010.

As an integral part of Congress, the conference agenda will feature speakers representing the leaders of the world's most innovative companies, both from within our industry and from the growing number of adjacent market sectors joining our expanding mobile ecosystem.

I can't believe in couple of days I will be in Barcelona, Spain! Two years ago when I started using Twitter. I would never thought, I would end up traveling to Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress 2011. Twitter has opened up so many avenues for me. It was one of my dreams to visit Europe one day, that dream has arrived!

I would like to thank LG Mobile for offering me this great, once in a life time opportunity by sponsoring the trip and covering all my expenses. I'm excited to start this journey with LG Mobile. I will also be accompanied by two other great guys; Alister Cameron and Will Francis on this trip.

I'm not sure what to expect at the Mobile World Congress, since this is my first one. I'm excited to take in this new experience. I look forward to using the LG Optimus 2x during my time at MWC11, provided by LG Mobile. I'm an iPhone guy but this gives me the opportunity to try out an android phone. I'm also looking forward to checking out the LG Optimus 3D phone and the LG tablet, LG G-Slate.

I hope to enjoy Barcelona's; culture, food, architecture, people, etc while I'm in town. I will have one whole day and most nights to explore Barcelona. I'm sure you'll be seeing my stream of photos as I live tweet and blog through out the course of the week. I can't wait!

Finally, follow the hashtag #MWC11 for the latest on the Mobile World Congress Conference. Make sure to follow us on twitter. Check out our updates during MWC11 and our activities in Barcelona. @LGmobileMWC @Aliam @WillFrancis @mayhemstudios.

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Monday, January 17, 2011

HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation Unboxing




Disclosure: HP provided me with two, HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation to review for free and to keep. The second HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation will be a Giveaway after my review. Stayed Tuned!

Thank you very much HP for the opportunity to try out this badboy!

Until then, check out the unboxing and features of the HP EliteBook 8740w Mobile Workstation

+ Intel Core i7-740QM (1.73ghz, 6mb L3 Cache)
+ 8gb DDR3-1333
+ 17″ WUXGA (1920×1200) LED-backlight DREAMCOLOR display
+ NVIDIA Quadro 5000m with dedicated 2gb DDR5 workstation-class GPU
+ 500gb 7200RPM HD
+ 2.0mp integrated webcam
+ LightScribe DVD +/- RW burner
+ Full-sized backlit keyboard
+ Three button trackpad mouse

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Monday, January 03, 2011

Mayhem Studios Featured in Forbes Article: Twitter Marketing Phenomenon


When I started Twitter two years ago. I never thought I would end up being interviewed for Forbes Magazine. I guess it's true what they say. If you do what you love, everything will fall into place.

I have to admit that I'm a Twitter Addict. I love sharing information and being a resource to others. I also enjoy building strong relationships with my followers online and in real life (#IRL) at Tweetups and conferences.

I have built up friendships and trust in my community through Twitter, which also have lead to other benefits like: Audi allowing me to take the new A8 on a San Francisco road trip. A free round-trip flight on Virgin America’s new route from Los Angeles to Toronto. Test driving the new Toyota Prius for a week and trying out a new high end laptop from Hewlett-Packard.

The article suggest a shift, word of mouth advertising from a regular joe like me is more valuable than from a celebrity. You would trust a friends opinion over a celebrities.

So head on over to the Forbes website. Check out my interview," Twitter Marketing Phenomenon Calvin Lee."

Also check out Forbes article "Klout: The Biggest Popularity Contest Of All." It's an interview with Klout CEO, Joe Fernandez. I have a little mention in the article.

I would like to thank Victoria Barret for interviewing me for Forbes Magazine. Victoria Barret's Twitter is @VictoriaBarret.

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Friday, February 19, 2010

Game Changer: It’s The Little Things!



It was an honor and privilege to be asked to participated in Sarah Robinson's "30 Days To Changing Your Game." The idea; 30 bloggers, 30 blog posts and 30 ways to inspire others to create new habits and new ways of thinking to changing their game.

The excerpt from my article is below. You can read the full article; It’s The Little Things on Sarah Robinson's Blog, Escaping Mediocrity.

There is no secret to being a success on Twitter; it’s the little things that count. The same principles can be applied to your daily life as well.
A few things I did that changed my game and it can for you too.
Value - Sharing your knowledge, expertise and helping others with it, adds value. You will be the trusted person that everyone will go to.
Be Nice – Being nice is very easy to do and don’t expect anything in return. It doesn’t take much to show kindness, that kindness will be returned in full when you least expect it.
Community – Contributing and being part of a community; helps build relationships and trust. It will also give you the sense of belonging, like family. When in need, you can call on your community for support.
Share Your Life – Take a chance; Open up and share something about your life. People are more willing to do business with someone they know something about, builds trust.

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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Mayhem Studios On Judging Panel For Mediabistro's First Annual Logo Awards



It's an honor to be asked to sit on the judging panel for the First Annual Mediabistro Logo Awards. The impressive jury includes famous names, ground-breaking newcomers, and mid-level creatives who know all the factors that make and break great design, including; Calvin Lee, Mayhem Studios, Armin Vit, Underconsideration, Rob Janoff, Robjanoff.com, David Airey, DavidAirey.com and Fa’eq Al’Olaiwat, MadinaB

Mediabistro First Annual Logo Awards Contest celebrates and promotes the best in logo design. Builds buzz for your work, your firm, and your client.

Winners will be promoted to millions around the world through several websites such as Brands of the World.com, Ads of the World, Graphics.com, Graphic Design Forum, Unbeige, Liquid Treat and others.

So head on over to Mediabistro's First Annual Logo Awards and submit your logos NOW!

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Sunday, November 08, 2009

How To Network On-line For Your Next Big Project



These days I do a lot of my networking and marketing on-line. The web reaches more people than any brochure or media kit, with less time and money. The two that really helped me are: On-line networking/directory web sites and posting in forums.

Having a profile/account/portfolio on any free networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, or Creative Hotlist will get your name out there. Posting on forums will also help to build relations and trust that may bring you new clients and projects.

That's how Create Magazine contacted me to design their 5 page featured article. I have a portfolio on their site. After looking at my work. They thought I might be a good fit for the magazine.

I post on design forums pretty often and have built many relations. As a result, Jeff Fisher, Jeff Fisher LogoMotives, asked me to submit some of my work for his new book, Identity Crisis! 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities Into Successful Brands.

Another example, Steve Gordon, Jr., RDQLUS Creative. Asked me to submit my work for his book, 100 Habits of Successful Freelance Designers: Insider Secrets for Working Smart & Staying Creative.

Twitter is really a great place for building connections, relationships and interactions with brands and high profile people like Chris Brogan or Guy Kawasaki. In the off-line world you wouldn't have these opportunities, or would be very difficult to get in contact with them.

I've been talking (bantering) with Guy Kawasaki on Twitter for some time. He must really like my style, because Guy approached me to do some design work for him and Alltop. He's a really cool guy (no pun intended) to work with. He actually, listens and are open to suggestions.

If you get a chance, take it to the next level by attending Meetups, Tweetups and Conferences, where you actually meet "In Real Life (IRL)." It's like meeting an old friend, which helps to really build a bond with the relationships you have developed on-line, then off-line into the real world.

So get out there! Start networking, connecting and building relationships.

Here are a few resources that will help with your networking.

Business Networking Web Sites

Twitter
Biznik
LinkedIn
Ad Holes
Naymz
Fast Pitch
Facebook
Plaxo
Myspace
Start Up Nation
Meet Up

Design Networking/Portfolio Web Sites

Veer
Carbon Made
Design: Related
Creative Hotlist
Design Hide
Designer ID
Coroflot
Graphics
Logo Pond
Logo Lounge
Behance
Flickr

Design Forums

HOW Design Magazine
Freelance Switch
About.com
Graphic Design
Graphics
Estetica Design
You The Designer
Designers Talk
All Graphic Design

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Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Winner of the UPrinting Give Away: 500 Free Tri-fold Brochure Printing & Shipping



Mayhem Studios and UPrinting are proud to announce the Winner of the UPrinting Give Away: 500 Free Tri-fold Brochure Printing & Shipping.

Thank You @UPrinting and @Youthedesigner for sponsoring this giveaway in support of the creative community.

Congrats to Andrew Moon, @amoon66 | WINNER of 500 Free Tri-fold Brochure Printing & Shipping


Winners in the United States and Canada qualify for free shipping. Shipping fees will apply to winners outside these areas.

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

UPrinting Give Away: 500 Free Tri-fold Brochure Printing & Shipping



Mayhem Studios and UPrinting are teaming up again for another awesome give away. This time around, an even sweeter deal! 500 Free 8.5 x 11 Trifold Brochures on 100lb gloss or matte printing + free ground shipping within the United States.

ONE LUCKY WINNER will be chosen at random from all the entries.

I would like to thank @UPrinting and @youthedesigner for sponsoring this give away in support of the creative community.

ABOUT UPRINTING

UPrinting is a leading online printing company that provides high quality printing at the most affordable prices including; Canvas Prints, Business Card Printing, Brochures, Postcards and more.

For over 25 years, UPrinting has been a trusted leader in online printing, featuring its signature easy-to-use website and the famous Free File Review, a complimentary proofing service which requires no upfront payment.

UPrinting offers convenient marketing support services such as design, lists, and direct mailing to help grow small and medium-size businesses nationwide.

HOW TO ENTER

1. Follow @UPrinting and @youthedesigner

2. Tweet: UPrinting Giveaway: 500 Free Brochure Printing & Shipping http://bit.ly/12srL3 @uprinting @youthedesigner

3. Leave a comment with your Twitter ID and email address

4. Deadline: Sept 23, 2009

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Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Winners of the UPrinting Give Away: 1000 Free Business Cards and Canvas Print



Mayhem Studios and UPrinting are proud to announce the Winners of the 1000 Free Business Cards and One 18x24 Canvas Print Giveaway. Thank You @UPrinting and @Youthedesigner for sponsoring this giveaway in support of the creative community.

Tru Shots, @thetrudz | WINNER of 1000 Free standard size business cards


Justin Woods, @jsw0984 | WINNER of one Free 18x24 rolled canvas print


+ Winners in the United States and Canada qualify for free shipping. Shipping fees will apply to winners outside these areas.

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Wednesday, July 15, 2009

UPrinting Give Away: 1000 Free Business Cards And One 18x24 Canvas Print



Mayhem Studios and UPrinting is teaming up to give away: 1000 Free Business Cards and One 18x24 Canvas Print to two lucky winners. I would like to thank UPrinting for sponsoring this give away in support of the creative community.

ABOUT UPRINTING

UPrinting is a leading online printing company that provides high quality printing at the most affordable prices including; Canvas Prints, Business Card Printing, Brochures, Postcards and more.

For over 25 years, UPrinting has been a trusted leader in online printing, featuring its signature easy-to-use website and the famous Free File Review, a complimentary proofing service which requires no upfront payment.

UPrinting offers convenient marketing support services such as design, lists, and direct mailing to help grow small and medium-size businesses nationwide.

HOW TO ENTER

Leave a comment at the end of the blog post, describing what you would use the free business cards and/or canvas print for.


PRIZE

+ 1000 Free standard size business cards for one reader
+ One Free 18x24 rolled canvas print for one reader.

*You can choose from any of their stocks for these items.


RULES

+ Give away will end July 24, 2009
+ Winner will be announced on July 27, 2009
+ Must leave contact information, email or Twitter name
+ Winners in the United States and Canada qualify for free shipping. Shipping fees will apply to winners outside these areas.

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Sunday, June 21, 2009

Layers Magazine: Twitter Round Table Discussion With Mayhem Studios



Nancy Masse of Layers Magazine asked a few who were active on Twitter, to participate in a two part Twitter round table discussion; Jacob Cass, Just Creative, Andy Sowards, AndySowards.com, Adam Nollmeyer, Acme Photography and Calvin Lee, (myself) Mayhem Studios who work in the creative industry to share our insights from an individual’s point of view on Social Media.

In Twitter Round Table Part 1: We were asked a set of questions regarding Social Media through Twitter, back in January.

In Twitter Round Table Part 2: We re-visit the participants in our first round table discussions to see exactly how much has changed in the four months since our last discussions.

Follow me, @mayhemstudios @NAPP_News @JustCreative @AndySowards and @AcmePhoto on Twitter.

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Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Billings 3 Giveaway: Time Billing and Invoicing Software



I'll be giving away 2 licences of Billings 3, sponsored by Marketcircle. Billings is a time tracking and invoicing application for the Mac, targeted at designers & freelancers.

Billings generates the most professional looking invoices anywhere and includes 30 professionally designed templates to choose from. Simply add your logo and contact details and you are ready to invoice out of the box. You can get your first invoice out in 5 minutes.

It was just announced that Billings won an Apple Design Award at WWDC 2009

UPDATE: Congrats to Winners Adrian Mironescu (@mironescu) and Tim Rodgers (@timrodgers)


HOW DO I ENTER THE GIVEAWAY?

It's Simple! Just leave a comment below. That's It! I will announce the two winners on here in a week. Good Luck!


I would like to also thank Ryan Cash, Marketing + PR Co-ordinator at Marketcircle for helping with the giveaway. For more information about Billings 3, head on over to Marketcircle.

Follow me, @mayhemstudios @marketcircle and @RyanACash on Twitter.

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Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Web Designer Magazine: Five Questions with Mayhem Studios



I had the pleasure of Dave Harfield interview me for Web Designer Magazine: Web Design for Real People and defining the internet through beautiful design. I was asked, "Five Questions with Calvin Lee of Mayhem Studios."

The Five Questions Were Fun Yet Informative:
+ Describe yourself in five words?
+ Which design tool makes the biggest contribution to your creative output and why?
+ What do you consider to be the most useful technique in the design/development process?
+ Web creatives love designer fonts. What’s your favourite and why?
+ One tip that you would give anyone trying to get into the industry?

So head on over to Web Designer Magazine to find out what my answers were to the, "Five Questions with Calvin Lee of Mayhem Studios."

Follow @mayhemstudios and @WebDesignerMag on Twitter.

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Monday, May 04, 2009

Mayhem Studios Featured in 100 Habits of Successful Freelance Designers



Several of my tips and my work will be included in a new book about freelancing, "100 Habits of Successful Freelance Designers: Insider Secrets for Working Smart & Staying Creative," published by Rockport and authored by Steve Gordon, Jr. with Laurel Saville.

Good habits are found in every part of the design process, from promoting yourself well in order to land the client, to working with that client, to achieving the desired results on press.

"100 Habits of Successful Freelance Designers" reveals solutions from a wide range of freelance designers whose years of experience have helped them find not only the most creative solutions for their clients’ design needs, but also the most successful solutions. The book also focuses on the daily habits that inspire these designers to stay creative, and business strategies to be successful when working on your own.

About Steve Gordon, Jr.
Steve Gordon, Jr. has been a professional graphic designer for the better part of a decade. He’s run the full range of the career path with experience from in-house design at internationally recognized Fortune 1000 companies, agency and studio work, to now working as an independent designer and creative consultant, RDQLUS Creative.

He frequently lectures on how small studios/freelance designers can stay competitive in the design field at conferences such as the HOW Conference.

Follow @mayhemstudios and @RDQLUS_Creative on Twitter.

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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Mayhem Studios Interviewed on Inspiredology



I was lucky enough to be interview by Chad Mueller, owner of Inspiredology, an awesome website about inspiration for all things design.

Chad asked me a few fun and interesting questions like:

+ Where do you look for sources of inspiration?
+ What is your favourite aspect of logo design?
+ Who do you look up to in your field?
+ How has using Twitter helped the popularity of you?
+ What sort of social media tools have you found most successful?
+ What advice would you give to someone looking to specialize?

Head on over to Inspiredology, and read my interview to find out a little more about me.

Follow me, @mayhemstudios and @chadmueller on Twitter.

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Sunday, April 05, 2009

How to Brand Yourself with a Twitter Background



I recently wrote an article for Twitter Backgrounds Gallery website, "How to Brand Yourself with a Twitter Background."

In the article, I talk about when marketing and branding yourself, you want all pieces to look similar and cohesive: logo, business cards, letterhead, envelope, website, brochure, media kit, marketing materials, signage, etc.

And how Twitter profile backgrounds is another tool in helping to market and promote yourself. The background should match your existing brand or look. Twitter backgrounds get noticed if they’re: unique, fresh and stands out from the crowd.

I also go into topics about

+ What size should the Twitter background be?
+ Type of Twitter Designs
+ Tile or not to tile
+ Contrast and readability

The article is up on Twitter Backgrounds Gallery website now. You can read the full article HERE.

Follow @mayhemstudios and @TwitterBGallery on Twitter.

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Thursday, March 26, 2009

Mayhem Studios & Jumeau Help Prevent Child Abuse One Tweet at a Time



Todays blog post is different from my normal design related posts. @mayhemstudios is teaming up with @jumeau to help spread the word and bring awareness in preventing child abuse in America.

Prevent Child Abuse – America (PCA America) affects change at the governmental and community level. PCA promotes better child development process and provide parents with better conditions to be the kind of parents they want to be. Check out the PCA Website & blog for more information.

For the next 3 days, please help us to spread the word about preventing child abuse and be automatically entered to win 1 of the 5 free Bags/Belts (your choice) from Jumeau.

So how do you enter?
Simple! All you have to do is send the following Tweet on Twitter:

Enter To Win 1 of the 5 Free Bags/Belts From @Jumeau http://tr.im/hN0L #PCA-America

Rules
+ To enter, Tweet this message!
+ Enter multiple times! (10 entry max with extra 5 entries for every 1,000 followers you have)
+ More you Tweet the message, the better your odds of winning!
+ Entries will be accepted until 11:59 PM, EST on Saturday, March 28, 2009

But Wait there’s More!
Everyone that DONATES at least $10 directly to Prevent Child Abuse America will be entered to win one of ten $50 gift certificates from Jumeau – picked at random by PCA on Saturday.

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? DONATE NOW!

Jumeau has pledged to donate 25% of all sales between now and Midnight on Friday to PCA. All you need to do is go to the Jumeau online store and use coupon code – “TwitterPCA” during the checkout.

Direct costs associated with child abuse and neglect including foster care services, hospitalization, mental health treatment, and law enforcement total more than $33 billion. Indirect costs of over $70 billion include loss of productivity as well as expenditures related to chronic health problems, special education, and the criminal justice system. To learn more about the PCA America report, please visit, www.preventchildabuse.org.

Jumeau routinely supports: non-profit events, school fundraisers, sports fundraisers, church/religious fundraisers. If you have an event, please contact Jumeau about participating.

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Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Mayhem Studios Featured in Video: How To Turn Twitter Followers into Friends



Jesse Newhart, Digital Media Explorer and owner of JesseNewhart.com has a really great video on his blog "How To Turn Twitter Followers into Friends." Jesse takes you through how to becoming friends with your followers and succeed in building relationships on Twitter.

Jesse uses me, Mayhem Studios as an example of how I built relationships on Twitter, by helping others out, participating, interacting, tweeting using information, retweeting others, being part of the community, replying to questions, having good manners and sharing part of your life.

Another great video, "Now Your Followers Are Friends. Now What?" from Khayyam Wakil, I am Khayyam blog. A follow up to Jesse's video, "How To Turn Twitter Followers into Friends."

Khayyam goes over how to use Twitalyzer and what all the numbers mean. Twitalyzer is a unique tool to evaluate the activity of any Twitter user and report on relative influence, signal-to-noise ratio, generosity, velocity, clout, and other useful measures of success in social media.

He also talks about how Twitter is mainstream from ABC News, "Tweet Like a Bird: Your Guide."

So check out all the great videos and free to follow us on Twitter, @mayhemstudios @jessenewhart @iamkhayyam

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About me

  • Mayhem Studios is a small award-winning design firm located in Los Angeles, California, developing identity and brand recognition for the business sector across the nation. The Studio uses strategic and creative design with effective messages targeted to the client's specific audiences to produce identity and branded collateral pieces, annual reports, brochures, logo design, advertising and interactive web sites. Calvin Lee, Principal & Creative Director of Mayhem Studios is a graduate of Platt College and serves as a member of the Platt College Advisory Board for the Visual Communications Department, NO!SPEC Committee and on the Creative Latitude Management Team.
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