“Often the identity of an organization that has many subsets can best be brought to life by the use of its supportive materials within the systems (promotion pieces, packaging, websites, signs, merchandising materials). This is an especially effective methodology because it can allow for a logo or identity system to gain resonance and recognition over time in connection to materials that are capable of being far more expressive than logos. For example the Nike logo, which has evolved over time into its current form, became a powerful symbol to the masses because of its effective use in advertising campaigns. The “cool” of the logo happened in connection to some brilliant campaigns by Wieden & Kennedy, and the effective positioning of the mark on merchandising materials. As pure form, if the “swoosh” appeared alone in a design school critique (or on a design blog) it would most likely have been dismissed as too thin, weak, and pointy, looking like a checkmark and not really conveying motion.”

Via Paula Scher’s article What they don’t teach you in design school, on IdentityWorks.com.

A lot of other sites have reviewed this movie far more eloquently than I could, and I’m sure I wouldn’t be adding much to the praise already given to this short film. Publisher of Adrants and film participant Steve Hall summarizes:

“Lemonade is a 40 minute documentary about how people changed their lives for the better after having been laid off. In the film 16 people, including yours truly, tell their individual stories. There’s the guy who got laid off and posed nude Burt Reynolds-style to find a new job. There’s the woman who lost her job and launched a yoga business. There’s the guy who went to an interview and ended up in a truth campaign commercial. There’s the guy who lost his job and decided to change his gender. And there’s the guy who lost his job, got colon cancer and started a little blog called Adrants.

Each story is unique. Each story is heart warming. Each story illustrates the fact there is life after the pink slip.”

Before we get to the movie links: if you’re a creative-type like me currently looking for work, be sure to check out Please Feed the Animals. You can create a profile, search job listings, and read a blog chock-full of useful information. Film (and PFTA) creator Eric Prolux points out some ways that you can support Lemonade.

Watch the trailer here:

Catch the full version on Hulu here (not sure how long it will be available).

The story is inspiring to anyone watching- if you’re currently employed, or recently-separated from your job, you’ll find something valuable to take away from the film.

Me? I made some posters based on some of the quotes in the film (after the jump):

Continue Reading…

Via AIGA.org.

I can finally sleep at night; Pantone has announced their 2010 color of the year, and it looks like it may have been inspired from a leisure suit.

From Pantone:

“In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”

(2009 color of the year, Mimosa is not happy about the success of Turquoise.)

Scott Belsky from The99Percent.com shares some tips from leadership guru, Stephen Covey on how to not let your concerns get the better of you.

Whenever I get frustrated with something, my stepfather always tells me to “just worry about the closest alligator to the boat.” Truer advice has never been spoken. Covey’s theory, similarly, is that there is a circle of influence around you: assess which concerns you have control over, and fix them!

Belsky takes Covey’s advice and applies it to designers:

“As creative people, our passion for our work makes it more difficult to worry selectively. Why? The more passionate you are, the more protective and perfection-driven you become. Any concern becomes exaggerated just based on your beautiful vision being obstructed. Regardless of whether or not you have influence, you will want to tackle every problem as it emerges.

This tendency is dangerous. Your energy becomes fractured as you start to obsess over details and situations that are beyond your control. Ultimately, your ideas and projects suffer.”

In my current job search, the last thing I want is for my energy to become fractured by runaway worry. By identifying what I can control, I will be ensuring that I can do whatever I can do to get myself noticed above other job applicants (the assessment). My resumes, cover letters, and personal brand will all be in order (the preparation). Finally, I have to remember that my drive, my abilities, and my talents yielded success at a previous employer- and that they’ll do the same for me at my new employer, too (the focus).

With the proper assessment, preparation, and focus, runaway concerns can be a thing of the past!

Some brands communicate to their customers via e-mail, or traditionally through direct mail. Some opt for online message boards or social media. Still, some brands like Harpoon (Mass. Bay Brewing Company) take it all a step further.

“Doyle [Rich Doyle, founder] wanted to ship a European tradition here to New England: the communal spirit that he and his friends saw at local breweries on the other side of the Atlantic. The concept of the brewery as a local meeting place, while popular in countries such as Germany, had yet to be embraced here.”

With their tireless charitable involvement in the community (Boston, MA and Windsor, VT- respectively), Harpoon not only brews an excellent assortment of beers and sodas, but they bring people together. Several times a year, Harpoon organizes community-centric charity events throughout New England and hosts festivals at their two breweries to celebrate their seasonal brews. The folks at Harpoon hit on something back in 1990 (when they had downsized to five employees) that continues to bring their customers together and show them that brands can be (are comprised of) people, too.

“Perhaps no one event has played a bigger role in that effort than Harpoon’s Octoberfest. Doyle, the company’s CEO, recalls planning the first Octoberfest party in 1990, calling it a “Hail Mary pass” because of the risk involved…

Fortunately, Doyle’s growing customer base provided the response he needed – and the first event was a success. The festival, which is expected to draw as many as 14,000 people for its 20th anniversary on Oct. 2 and 3, helped generate some extra attention for the company at the time. Eventually, Harpoon added several other festivals to its annual lineup.”

So how can Harpoon’s success translate to your brand? Easy:

1. Make sure your brand is cohesive. Know what your company/brand stands for, and stick by it. Live your mission statement, and abide by your company’s values.
2. Identify your customers. Use tools like surveys, coupons, social media (ie. twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc.), and customer database mining to see who is buying your product.
3. Make it personal. Invite your customers for tours of your place of business/factory and show them how your product is assembled/cooked/brewed/produced. Introduce your staff; let your customers see who it is that makes your brand tick.
4. Create a culture. Involve your customers in new product decisions/trials/samples, parties to celebrate your brand’s success, and charity events that bring your staff, your customers, and your community together.
5. Keep your customers engaged in your brand. Create a buzz and keep your customers talking about your brand. If treated properly, they’ll do a better job advertising your brand than any planned campaign.

Via Mass. Market/ EnterpriseNews.com.

Via Frank Chimero.

Since late 2007, I’ve been actively maintaining this blog. Though I don’t write every day, nor have a set schedule, I’d like to think that people are out there reading what I write. If something I’ve posted makes you laugh, sparks your interest, or gives you something to think about, I’ve done my job.

So if I have done my job, maybe you’ll come back again. Maybe you’ll add my RSS feed into your favorite feed reader. Maybe you’ll even be inspired to write something on your own. Maybe you’ll even think about hiring me.

Lance Haun of Your HR Guy.com explains, “The real value of blogging isn’t the content I create… The real value are the connections I make and the things I learn and apply to make myself better.”

Since I’ve started blogging (and tweeting), I feel as though I’ve learned a lot about myself, and about my trade (creative/marketing). Better yet, I’ve formed relationships with a lot of interesting and friendly people (yes, they are out there). Recently, some of these folks have even gone out of their way to re-tweet to their network of friends that I’m (currently) looking to relocate to the Boston area.

So why is this all important? Haun goes on to say,

“The principles that people use to get ahead are the same now as they have been for the last half century (if not longer). Sharing good ideas, helping people around you succeed, being a decent person and doing what you say you’ll do? That still works in social media and its impact is bigger than ever because the amount of people you can connect with is… well… a lot.”

Haun also mentions that these relationships just don’t happen overnight- you can’t just expect to start blogging on Monday and have the job offers pour in by Wednesday. Form relationships, cultivate them, and write about what you know; become an expert. Get out there and get involved- you might be surprised where your next job, customer, or friend will come from.

To my “virtual” friends who are out there spreading some good old-fashioned word-of-mouth niceness on my behalf, please know that I am deeply appreciative to have your support.

Via gapingvoid.

A little motivation has been brought to you via Daryl Furuyama at White Hat Black Box.