Magda Nieto

Designing and living Experiences

London 2012 Olympics through the eyes of a Colombian September 7, 2012

Filed under: Colombia,Entertainment,Events,Experience,Olympics 2012 — magdanieto @ 12:14 am
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An article that I wrote about my experience of London 2012, and the Olympics was published thanks to Kim Masters and her blog Dream on Masters, who was invited by Blogs Metro, to write about the Olympics.

 

Here it is what I wrote:

I first came to England five years ago, when I decided that I wanted to be an Event Manager. I found a Masters on the Internet, signed for it and was accepted. Since day one of that Masters we had conversations and lectures about how London won the pitch for 2012.

It is amazing that an event that lasts just 20 days is able to change lots of people lives and bring together a whole world.

Just a year before that, I realized what I wanted to do as my career goal, my big dream. I want to bring cultural events to my people of Colombia. BIG events can change the perception of people and bring development to a specific place. And in Colombia we need to change the perception of people about how cool it is to go there, and attract development to get us away from being a third world country. My big dream is to bring the Olympics to Colombia in 20 years.

So, I came this year to be a part of London 2012 and take that back with me to Colombia.

It has been incredible to see everything from the signage on the streets directing people to the venues and the Tube, to the amazing volunteers smiling all the time helping people and communicating what is going on. I have watched the Opening Ceremony, but it will take me another blog just to write about how much I enjoyed that. I have been all around London to watch the events (I love the idea that London has used the existing venues for some sports, and also to make people go all around the Capital. What better way of showing the city to tourists.)

The gymnastics and synchronized swimming are the first two sports I will always remember watching in London 2012.

It has been great to see the British people being such proud hosts of the Games, and also to witness the support they give to their players.  I have so enjoyed all the people around, wearing their flag’s colours and supporting their countries. My favourites have been the Dutch wearing bright orange.

From a logistics point of view, I love the idea of portable structures and that only the stadiums will stay there forever.

To be honest, London is not nearly as crazy as I thought it was going to be.

I am very proud of my country, knowing that even though we are not yet brilliant at getting sports medals, we have managed to get three silvers and two bronze.

It has been great being able to experience London 2012 live and to be able to see how London is leaving an Olympic legacy through sport and community and nationwide participation. It is amazing that an event that lasts just 20 days is able to change lots of people lives and bring together a whole world. And it gives me goose bumps just to think about it.

 

And here is the link so you can read it from Metro Blog.

Love the experience of being able to write something about the Olympics, and more that it was published.

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COLOMBIA – BUCHANAN’S TIEMPO PARA COMPARTIR – BUCHANAN’S SHARE YOURSELF April 10, 2012

Filed under: Bogotá,Colombia,Concerts,Entertainment,Events,Experience — magdanieto @ 3:28 am
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We have completed a month of Buchanan’s Tiempo Para Compartir in Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela.

Speaking from the inside of how this program has been, we are extremely proud of what we have achieved and how Colombian people have responded to donate 4 hours of their time helping the community, meeting new people, and building good things. I personally have to say that has been a busy month, but full of enjoyment. Working with the charity partners has giving us a tremendous energy of good things and we want to keep working. And you know what? The people who have been volunteering want to come back, and not because of the concert or artist (which by the way we still don’t know who it is), but because how good is to feel that you are helping other people and doing something good for the community.

We are almost there, but for now wanted to share with you some videos of what we have been doing.

This is our first project, building a community centre in Ciudad Bolívar with the charity Un Techo Para mi País:

 

With Arcángeles, we are building a technology centre, with recycled bottles (pet bottles). This project has taken us a lot of work, but is amazing how is coming together, and we are looking forward to see it finish.

 

So how is going to work now! May 24, 2010

Filed under: Architecture,Birmingham,Experience — magdanieto @ 8:56 pm
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Hello everyone, sorry for taking again so long to post something here. Things have been quite hectic the last couple of months (mom visiting from Colombia 3 months, change of city Birmingham to London, starting a great new job as Senior Production Executive at RPM Ltd, touring my mom all over England and Europe, and changing again house). So basically I have been very busy, and make me very sad that haven’t been able to write, but the good news are that now I have return with lots of ideas of how to make this blog better, with selected topics to talk about and take you to things that I know, think or impressed me. I have decided to write about some topics related to experiences, that had happened in the past, are happening right now, and some great people are working hard to make it happen. The topics are:

  1. History in Events – because there has been an amazing experiences out there that we might don’t know and want to know more about it
  2. What’s on – because is always important to know where is your next experience
  3. Job opportunities – People has helped me to move forward in my career, so I want to retrieve this and help those that are willing to go better in life like me
  4. My opinion about….. something
  5. Something that happened to me……. want to be a little bit personal here and share something with you
  6. Something interesting, because there is always something interesting out there
  7. Architecture and events – because how events would exist without structures, locations, spaces
  8. Personality – Someone who inspire me and will love to meet
  9. Colombia – because for you who haven’t been there will invite you to make it one of your life experiences and for those who have, to remember you how beautiful it is

There will not be a specific order for these topics, will come out as my inspiration comes. Something that I need from you (please!) is that you help me to build this space with your comments, will love to know more about what do you think. So check this space because here we go.

 

What I found and love at the MET March 19, 2009

Filed under: Architecture,Creative,Design,Entertainment,Uncategorized — magdanieto @ 1:45 pm
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In my continuing search for looking of things that are designed to create experiences, to change and influence people in their behaviours, attitudes and ways of seeing life, I found in my last visit to New York at The Metropolitan Museum of Art two designs that not only inspired me but brought me back to my love of space.

Creating experiences, change or influence people behaviours through the things people do, have been always something that I have feel passion about. At the MET, I re-encountered one of my favourite architects and found another one that express through his design the passion of wood.

Frank Lloyd Wright in his Living room from the Little House, Wayzata, Minnesota, designed 1912-14.

Lloyd Wright

What do I like about this room? Well the whole concept of the design express in the different objects in the room. Is a family of objects that correlates together making a whole. The furniture looks as the windows, as the lamps, as the sealing. Is a room that have a continuity of the design that will let the natural light enter and become part of the space as another principal actor.

Another thing that I like about the space is that the design is not only reflected in the interior but also in the exterior. The Museum is thinking to reconstructing the exterior facades in the side passageways and let the visitors enjoy the view of the Central Park through the room.

The other architect, which I found at the museum and I didn’t about his existence but reassure my interest in Japan and its interesting way of appreciating nature is George Nakashima, an American Japanese architect and wood maker.

nakashima-george

The image is an example of his work, unfortunately my camera ran out of battery and I couldn’t take a photo of the room at the museum. But the room and the furniture are amazing. Love the idea of how nature is express in his beauty itself and the way of imperfections become the principal beauty of the furniture, as well, as the simplicity. If you are interest in get to know more about his job to can find more information here.

If you have a chance to be in New York, go to the MET and see these two rooms. George Nakashima is in the H Room, Japanese Art in the Second Floor and Frank Lloyd Wright is in the first floor in the American Wing Exhibition.

Just remember that in America the first floor is the ground floor in UK.