Over the years I’ve observed that one of the most critical elements in design is effective photography. When I say “effective,” I’m actually referring to several aspects such as: The photo conveys a sense of competence and professionalism The photo conveys the right tone for the business The photo feels unique/individual For today’s post, I’m […]

I think we’ve all got the memo: the economy is in the toilet. Yep, it’s more than just housing and automakers. The current recession has reached into nearly every nook and cranny of our diverse economy. Quick to React Many businesses have a knee-jerk response to a downturn – cut the marketing budget. Or, more […]

I love orange juice. In fact, nothing beats a tall glass of cold OJ with breakfast. So, you can imagine my interest when I learned that Tropicana had engaged a high-end design firm to redesign its line of juice products. What’s even more interesting is that I’ve since learned that they’ve decide to go back […]

As an artist, I appreciate a good pencil. In fact, I’m in the market for the PERFECT pencil. This isn’t just any pencil – it’s a $40 work of art that has a built-in sharpener and a clip allowing you to take it to meetings, brainstorm sessions, and any other place where pens are the […]

I receive a lot of email. I’d say at least 30 messages a day (not counting spam). Included in this potpourri (haven’t used that word since 1987) are client messages, job requests, and sales letters. I’d like to take a few minutes to focus on the last category of message, since many of our readers […]

The other day a client and I were discussing print vendors. Historically, the client had used one printer for their semi annual catalog project. My client, however, was new to her position as marketing director and wasn’t convinced that the printer could provide the high-quality product she expected. Fear of the Unknown Pressing further, I […]

A colleague sent me a link to a great site: BRAND NEW. It’s a comprehensive review of corporate “re-brands.” In other words, when companies try to refresh their image. What I like about the site is the side-by-side comparison of the “before” and “after.” In many cases, you see vast improvements, like with the example […]

With new camera in hand, I stopped by the local Best Buy to purchase a case. As you can imagine, there are a myriad of choices for camera cases. Neoprene, hard plastic, leather, leatherette (hah!) just to name a few. When I finally made up my mind on which case to buy, the decision was […]