Brand Identity: Studio Inspire Logo
Our logo design for Studio Inspire
Google's Branding Issue
In the philosophy section of Google’s corporate website at www.google.com/corporate/tenthings.html, Google publicizes 10 statements that articulate their general principals of behavior with which they try to operate. It’s a great thing to have in a website. We’ve recommended it to many clients. It tells your customers and potential customers just who are you are what you stand for. It gives them concrete information that goes deeper than a specific product or service offering, that helps them understand who you are as a company behind the scenes. It gives customers a reason to become fans, to believe in you, to develop loyalty to you.
Google Earth: Secret Weapon
According to Wired Magazine, Haiti Relief has a secret weapon: Google Earth. Days after the earthquake in Port-Au-Prince, a small group of Haitian set up a tent camp in an open field not far from the U.S. Embassy and a helicopter landing zone.
UNBRANDING?! WHAT?!
A little more than 6 months ago, Starbucks experimented with what was being coined as an “unbranding” experiment. Faced with a high level of saturation in its Seattle, Washington market area, Starbucks dropped its brand name at an existing location, and replaced it with a descriptive “15th Ave E Coffee & Tea.” Starbucks was concerned that its growing monopolization of the market was creating resentment among its loyal flock. Was it in Starbucks best interest to be perceived as the giant now, beating the smaller, local, unique coffee houses out of business? Is this the double edged sword of huge success?
"Less worse is the new excellent."
Just a quick post here about an economic development forecast I attended yesterday for members of the business community in Howard County, MD. Attendees were enlightened and entertained by economist Anirban Basu of Sage Policy. Mr. Basu, smart and sought after economist — also completely entertaining, had even the most serious folks chuckling with sections of his economic forecast titled after popular reality TV shows (American Idle [sic], The Biggest Loser, Survivor and HC’s Next Top Model, etc.). Though all the news wasn’t great, hence the quote in this article title above, there were some positive signs about the future of business, particularly in the Baltimore-Washington region. Overall, the panel that represented real estate, retail, small business and hospitality was cautiously optimistic, and a survey of local businesses was as well. Even Mr. Basu, who last year predicted a much longer recession, provided glimmers of hope.
Solar's Rise
Has solar energy’s time finally come? The field has grown exponentially in recent years. As brand consultants in the green world, we’ve certainly seen amazing growth take place. Even President Obama is a believer, having just approved $200 M of funds to solar research to help expand the industry.
Microsoft and the ipod
We recently came across an amusing illustration of branding gone wrong. It’s a parody on how Microsoft might have created the ipod package. If you can look past the clear mac bias (they are pretty good at branding after all), it’s a great example of what NOT to do in both design and brand thinking.
Take a look, here, at our blog. We got a chuckle out of it. We think you will too.
I recently came across an amusing illustration of branding gone wrong. It’s a parody on how Microsoft might have created the ipod package. If you can look past the clear mac bias (they are pretty good at branding after all), it’s a great example of what NOT to do in both design and brand thinking.
Low carbon economy?
A recent survey (The Financial Times, Sept 18, 2009) shows that low carbon products and services are now generating more revenue than the global aerospace and defense sectors. “Climate sector” industries include renewable energy, nuclear energy, energy management, waste and water companies. The global revenue for these industries was $534 billion in 2008, a 75% increase. It seems that, despite the global recession, green is growing.
Check out woofer! The anti-twitter.
A new twitter is born. It’s not really a new and improved version. Nor is it the next best thing. It’s pretty much the same thing but different. It was created for those who like to delve more deeply into their thoughts. Those who find twitter to be too restrictive. On woofer, you’re required to have a minimum of 1,400 characters in your post. (Twitter limits you to a very brief 140.)
Using The Color Wheel
Being that we are currently doing some logo and branding for a client in the wine industry, I thought that exploring the world of color might be a fun topic. We have just about finished up our black and white logos for the client and it is almost time to show them some color options. However, the color options are a little tricky since it seems like most companies in the industry use the same old color palate. I know that when people think of wine they think of red, white and blush (pink) but the question is are these are only options and how do I get away from them?
Thinking outside the box?
At a panel discussion for enterprising women that I attended last week, I heard a particular sentiment that resonated with me. The point that was being addressed was that changes in the economy, in technology and in the way we work have contributed to a paradigm shift — it’s no longer enough to simply “think outside the box,” because the “box” is no longer there.
Pizza Hut Logo Revamped
Over the past two years Pizza Hut has begun a massive brand-repositioning to modernize. With the tough economic times and people eating out less they have introduced, “The Hut” which aims to introduce fresher and more abundant toppings. It’s an effort to get back those consumers who have opted to eat in for healthier options. This new image, the red pizza boxes and their new menu items like multigrain pizza are part of Pizza Hut’s effort to reconnect with consumers.
