From business to politics – the word “transparency” has become a key word of the vernacular, representing an effort to be open about policy and strategy – and truly engage the audience by asking them for their direct involvement in decision making and other processes. Social media, such as blogging and twittering has been one way that the tech-savvy have incorporated transparency into their brand strategy. The act of maintaining a constant dialogue with customers and stakeholders keeps surprises at a minimum and buy-in and loyalty at a maximum.

But like any buzz word, transparency begins to lose its meaning when it over-saturates the media landscape. So when I came across this same transparency in the art and fashion world, the word was reinvigorated. Transparency is the theme of an upcoming issue of TAR magazine, an indie art / fashion publication. The cover brilliantly conveys transparency through an image created by artist Damien Hirst which features supermodel Kate Moss, with her skin pulled back to expose the muscled tissue. TAR’s editor Evanly Schindler describes the cover as tying in “both the conscious and subconscious levels of the beauty myth, tearing away the layers and looking at what’s below.” (Eric Wilson, nytimes.com)

This analogy of revealing the muscle is a great way to think about blogging and twittering. These forums allow us to peel back the surface and expose ideas or works in progress and become engaged in an exercise that ultimately strengthens our ideas through feedback and critique. Allowing our audience to see through the layers assures them that the organization underneath is just as attractive as the brand on its surface.