“If you’re competitor focused, you have to wait until there is a competitor doing something. Being customer focused allows you to be more pioneering.” – Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon.com
Vector vs. Raster? How To Choose The Right File Format
You’ve seen it before. “Fuzzy” looking edges, logos that have been distorted and stretched in a Word document or PowerPoint, blurry images. These are telltale signs of a problem we encounter often . . . vector vs. raster confusion. As an art director and designer, one of the most common problems that I run into when working with other people’s files (especially logos) is that the files are not optimized for their specific use. And, yes, it can be confusing! So we wanted to use this blog post as an opportunity to help educate readers on the differences between the most used file formats and when to use them. Using the right type of image file, you can make sure your audience views crisp, clean and beautiful looking materials.
New Beginnings after the Ellicott City Flood
And, a new year begins. Rather than sitting and remembering the devastation of the Ellicott City Flood one year later, we decided to celebrate new beginnings!
Staff News: Introducing our new Digital Marketing Coordinator
Insight180 is happy to introduce our new digital marketing coordinator, Caroline Cerand! We are excited to have her on board and believe she will be a great asset to our team! Meet Caroline:
Insight180: Coming Full Circle
On that Saturday night, I had been in downtown Ellicott City to show a guest from Slovenia, Karin, our quaint little town. My long-time friend Carol would be leading a Sierra Club trip in the fall to Slovenia, so I invited her along for an opportunity to talk to a native. It had been a beautiful summer day, with a slight chance of rain in the forecast. As we drove around Ellicott City, it started pouring; and as we looked for parking, it became torrential. Though we decided not to stay, I did swing by the office to put out the sandbags in front of the office door and that of our business neighbor — as I had done so many times for so many storms in the past 16 years. By the time I dragged out the sandbags and got back to the car, my feet were covered with water. As we tried to get to higher ground, many side roads were already closed.
Breaking Patterns to Create a Meaningful Brand Name
Ah, naming!
One of our favorite tasks here at insight180 . . . . most of the time. Naming and rebranding in the wrong hands, however, can be detrimental, even disastrous. How can you be sure not to undermine the process and come up with a successful name for your advisory service business, nonprofit business or brand extension?
How to Tell a Business Story Your Customers Will Love
Rudyard Kipling got in right when his 1902 poem from “The Elephant’s Child” opened with:
I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
6 Valentine’s Day Cards for Your Favorite Designer
Remember the Necco Sweetheart candy phrases from way back when? Here’s our take on those corny, sweet love sentiments from a design and typography perspective. Happy Valentine’s Day from insight180!
Love is love is love
Just Breathe. . . .
Who knew when we launched our new website in January of 2016 that the life preserver and hashtag #brandresuscitation would be so apropos?
Distinguishing Your Brand: The Power of Purpose
If it is your job to differentiate and grow your business, you own a tall task—especially in this environment of information overload, when all of us are overwhelmed with new platforms, media channels and ways to get noticed.
Branding and the Importance of Mouthfeel
“Windowsill. . . . Piccadilly Circus. . . ” every time I see those words, I also hear them in my mind being said by the eccentric and endearing fairy godmother-like character (played by Estelle Winwood) from the 1955 movie, The Glass Slipper. She loses herself in the sound of saying and repeating some of her favorite words.
