Design Has Changed Our World

Posted by: Eric | Posted on: March 20th, 2013 | 0 Comments

Based off the book, Do Good Design by David B. Berman “Logos have become the closest thing we have to an international language, recognized and understood in many more places than English.” -Naomi Klein. (Do Good Design, by David B. Berman.) It has been said that the average human “can only identify 10 plans but recognize over 1,000 corporate brands.” It’s also estimated by researchers that “most people are exposed to over 200 logo designs or brand marks per hour.” For most companies, a logo plays a very crucial role in the success of their branding. Think about it. Your logo or company name goes on all your collateral- usually it’s the first thing people see and sometimes the only marketing tool they have to identify you with. At the risk of over stating the obvious, proper branding is essential for a business to be successful. Below are a few different logos that have had the colour removed and only shows a small part of the symbol. Can you name the brands?

Thirty Years of Nike Advertising

Posted by: Eric | Posted on: September 7th, 2012 | 0 Comments

Through advertising Nike has managed to create an ultra-stylised image that glorifies sport, contest and victory. Defining itself as an integral part of the worlds fitness and sporting regime; Nike has become a constant presence in our shops and on our televisions. Nike was founded in 1964 by running enthusiasts Bill Bowerman and Phillip Knight in humble fashion. Selling sports shoes out the back of their cars; the duo sought out celebrity endorsements as their first marketing technique. The first sports person who endorsed Nike was Romanian tennis player Ilie Natase. The modern sporting climate is littered with athletes endorsed by Nike. Almost every professional sport is represented by Nike endorsement from track & field to basketball to soccer. Global superstars such as Tim Tebow, Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Stamkos and Tiger Woods are just a few who are currently endorsed by the sporting powerhouse. Move to Television In 1982, Nike changed their advertising direction and made the move into the more traditional television advert. Their first advert which aired during the commercial break of the New York Marathon was made by Wieden & Kennedy. The eponymous Dan Wieden was the man who in 1988 went on to coin the now famous Just Do It mantra. The decade that followed saw Nike's market share rise from 18% to 43% and global sales increase from $877 million to $9.2 billion. With a strong product and an equally strong marketing campaign, Nike became the behemoth of the sporting apparel. The Just Do It campaign was central to this successful campaign. The strength of this advertising is perhaps best measured by the by this remarkable statistic: 80% of Nike sneakers sold in the USA are never used for the sport for which they are designed. This was a risky ploy; Nike were gambling that the public would see their products as fashion items rather than just sports equipment. This gamble paying off meant that they were able to target a much wider share of the market. Now rather than just appealing to athletes, sports enthusiasts and wannabes; Nike could market their wares to every corner of the market. It is now not uncommon to see an elderly lady in her Nike sneakers walking with her young grandson in his Nike sneakers. Rather than concentrating on their product, the advertisements focused heavily on the customer and the individual wearing the product. Seldom were the sneaker's or apparel's virtues explained and displayed rather the prowess of the athlete wearing them. Making themselves customer orientated, Nike attained an approachable, achievable image. No longer was sports attire just for the sporty, it was for everybody. Sporting Heroes & Beyond Nike's advertising has long depended on sports stars whose celebrity spans further than their sport. Bo Jackson, John McEnroe and Michael Jordan were three early examples; household names who were known beyond the fans of the sport. Even those who didn't play basketball wanted to wear the same sneakers as Michael Jordan. Nike didn't stop there, they ventured into endorsing movies, TV series and music. By creating partnerships with professionals in many mediums they furthered their appeal more so. Many of the biggest names in the arts have been attributed to Nike. Glee, Back to the Future, Eminem, Billy Ray Cyrus and Lady Gaga have all been endorsed by Nike and their appeal stretches across all demographics and audiences. Again these advertisements do not focus on the products, rather those endorsing them. Only the biggest stars are endorsed by Nike, their profile is so consuming now it can only be managed by the approval of the globes sporting, acting and musical royalty. Rather than using flat fee recruitment, Nike gives the biggest stars the most airtime and the larger royalties.   Groudbreaking Techniques Since their inception, the Nike television adverts have consistently been highly stylised and visually stimulating. Groundbreaking director and Monty Python alumni Terry Gilliam directed the sumptuous Secret Tournament focusing on 24 of the planets most famous soccer stars competing in a dystopian tournament. Sin City director Robert Rodriguez is one of the most celebrated directors of the past 20 years, his works have been praised for their visual impact and detailed storytelling. He leant his skills to Nike, directing Kobe Bryant in The Black Mamba to the tune of rap superstar Kanye West. Three men at the top of their respective games brought together by Nike. Nike have manufactured a separate world. A world where sports, arts, the visual and the sub-textual belong together, coincide and perpetuate the subtle message that Nike makes dreams and their customers live them.

Can You Name The Logo?

Posted by: Eric | Posted on: September 5th, 2012 | 0 Comments

We live in an era where branding is everywhere. We can't escape it. Resistance is futile. Some logos have become so ingrained in our minds that they are more instantly familiar to us then some of our friends or family members. Coca-Cola came out with a new design for the diet coke can for their 125th birthday. Now we all know Coca-Cola's branding has been around for a long time and is easily recognizable, that's one of the reasons this new design works. With such strong branding, they designed a can that displays a cropped version of the words Diet Coke. I found this to be very creative and intriguing. It makes you want to pick up the can and look closer. I also found the case design to be quite clever. When you stack a few of the cases together it completes a picture of the can. Although this started out as a limited edition, it's still a very cool concept and will stay on the shelves if sales continue to rise. Check out the link below for graphics on the new design. Now go, enjoy a Diet Coke! http://designtaxi.com/news/353334/Diet-Coke-Makes-Redesigned-Cans-A-Permanent-Change/

10 Successful Advertising Campaigns in the Last Century

Posted by: Eric | Posted on: August 23rd, 2012 | 0 Comments

Everyday we are bombarded by advertising. But exactly how many of these images and messages will make a big enough impact on us to the point that we’ll remember them years from now? Here is a collection of advertising campaigns that have left a lasting impression on society in the last century: http://www.ddrewdesign.com/blog/index.php?cmd=article&id=136 These campaigns have employed tactics such as presenting straightforward honesty, establishing a specific image, integrating the product into a desired lifestyle and much more. Despite the fact that many of these campaigns were launched before some of us were born, we still witness a handful of them to this day as they stick in our minds. To create an advertising campaign that can stand the test of time is a huge challenge, so these companies are to be commended for their long-lasting accomplishments. We can definitely all learn a lesson from these examples.

Silk Screening – The Black Keys Poster Design

Posted by: Eric | Posted on: August 8th, 2012 | 0 Comments

We live in a world where if we find something cool or interesting, we 'like' it or 'share' it with anyone who 'follows' us. Thanks to Facebook, Twitter, or tumblr, our every discovery is documented and out there for all to see.

Who Won the Ultimate Marketing Makeover Contest?

Posted by: Daniel | Posted on: March 2nd, 2012 | 0 Comments

Well, its official. We have been running our “Ultimate Marketing Makeover” contest for the last few months and we are now ready to declare the winner. But before we do, we want to thank everyone who entered and all those who help spread the word. Everyone who signed up for our newsletter will soon be receiving monthly updates and news about marketing and the world of media. For those of you who haven’t signed up, we recommend you go to our homepage and do it already (it only takes a second!) Now, without further delay I would like to announce the winner…. (drum roll) Congratulations to Elizabeth Dawson from Markham Executive Office! Your business will be getting a facelift that includes: - One month of Social Media Management (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN) - Custom Graphic Design for your Social Media pages - Custom Graphic Design for a new Business Card OR Company Logo - Custom Graphic Design for your company newsletter - One Bio Video - 50% off Website Design For all of those who didn’t win or have seen this list and become envious, why not give us a call and we’ll see if we cant update your look as well.

Infographics: Pictures Say 1000 Lies?

Posted by: Daniel | Posted on: January 16th, 2012 | 0 Comments

Infographics: Graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly, such as in signs, maps, journalism, technical writing, and education (thanks for the official definition Wikipedia!) As you can tell from this description, everyone has been exposed to infographics at some point to help tell them where to go, what to do, and sometimes even how to think. Today we are focused on the latter, and the growing Internet marketing trend of using them to explain complicated issues and make compelling arguments using bite sized facts and very punchy graphics. This writer believes that they are a beautiful way to absorb information quickly and easily and are a tasty addition to any well-balanced information diet. However, some have deemed them in a less favorable light such as Megan McArdle who wrote an article in the Atlantic titled “Ending the Infographic Plague”. We have decided to let a jury of our peers decide and as such have included a list of 4 websites where you can view a collection of top-notch infographics covering various topics. Take a minute to peruse over the multicolored data and judge for yourself! dailyinfographic.com Every day dailyinfographic.com features the best information design and data visualization from the internet. coolinfographics.com Cool Infographics highlights some of the best examples of data visualizations and infographics found in magazines, newspapers and on the Internet. visual.ly The world’s largest community for sharing infographics and data visualizations. infographicsshowcase.com Infographicshowcase.com collects the best of the web infographics with a nod to some exciting graphic design.

Top 11 Historical Events for the First Week in August

Posted by: Eric | Posted on: July 25th, 2011 | 1 Comments

Everyone loves August. And why shouldn't they? Named in honor of Augustus the first emperor of the Roman Empire, August is a noble month steeped in history and tradition.
Speaking of history and tradition, we are breaking with both and taking the Top 10 List in a bold and exciting new direction: We are taking it to 11!
Just like Spinals Tap’s amps we go one step further and bring you a list that includes that one final bit of volume you have always been craving. So without further ado, here is our Top 11 Historic Events for the first week of August!