Posts Tagged ‘branding process’
Brand New Inspiration
Recently, I attended the Brand New Conference in Chicago, a “two-day event on corporate and brand identity with some of today’s most active and influential practitioners from around the world.” I’ve been to countless design conferences, but it had been quite some time since my last. To me they had become tedious portfolio reviews offering little…
Read MoreReflections from NCAD 2017: Branding First
My reflections from NCAD? Branding first. Web next. While at NCAD, I noticed there is more chatter around branding today than there was two years ago, which is great! Though branding is part of the conversation today, many still aren’t sure where branding fits within the process of marketing a new or evolving organization. CEO’s…
Read MoreBusiness Card Brand Assessment
Every time I come back from a conference (and I go to a lot) I am more convinced that our brand assessment process is vital. The inside job — the uncovering of what makes an organization special and what the brand stands for — helps an organization become more efficient, productive and sustainable. Here’s a…
Read MoreDesign Debt: 3 Things that Create it and How to Avoid it
Design debt is very much about wasted time and money. That’s why we refer to it as debt. And why it’s a good idea to avoid it. Almost everyone has experienced a design process of some sort. Whether through a marketing plan and a design firm or an interior design solution for your kitchen, design spreads across…
Read MoreBehind the Design: Ohio Travel Bag Logo
Ohio Travel Bag (OTB): established in 1908 as a manufacturer of traveling bags and coin collection bags. The Industrial Revolution, with its locomotives and steamships and motorcars, had opened up travel to everyday Americans. Ohio Travel Bag outfitted those travelers with their luggage, including the timeless briefcase, which became an essential accessory for professionals on…
Read MoreThe Ins and Outs of Falling Up
Here are some of the ins and outs of falling up in our studio. It’s been been almost two hours and I’m getting hangry. The room feels stuffy, like a closet. The black dry-erase marker died, we had to switch to blue, and my OCD is on alert. The white board was full an hour ago and…
Read MoreThe Cube Logo Design: The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers
Here’s a rare peek behind how I create a logo design — in this case, the new logo design for The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP). The process began with our typical assessment. We interviewed key stakeholders, board members, vendors and members, and learned about NAATP’s history and their competitive environment. You can read more…
Read MoreA Brand May Be
Imagine what your brand is, and what it may be. It’s a healthy branding exercise. I often think about what may be. Since it’s May, a hopeful month, it seems like a good thing to do. I like to imagine what could happen and what may be in store for me, for dRC, and, of course, for our clients. It…
Read MoreThe Leap to a New Brand
How do you know if you are ready to make the leap to a new brand? There’s a reason the biggest brands are always working on their own brands, and that every brand of any substance has a brand manager, or a whole team, to care for it. It’s because a brand is a super…
Read MoreThe Leap from Words to Images
I’m often asked how we come up with logo designs from thin air. My answer? It’s never from thin air. It’s a process and it actually starts with words. Words? Don’t you just Google images and look through fancy designer swatchbooks to come up with ideas? Or doodle until something happens? Assessment Makes for a…
Read MoreHealthy Relationship = Healthy Brand
Whether creating a new brand or refreshing an old brand the ultimate success does not begin with research, interviews or focus groups. The foundation isn’t built in a brainstorming session or when pencil hits paper. The magic to building a healthy brand starts with the health of the relationship between the client and the branding…
Read MoreNeed to Know Production: Color Matters
Understanding your corporate colors is one of the more confusing and overlooked aspects of brand management. Here are some steps to help you along the way: 1. Yes, color is a big deal. “Color increases brand recognition by 80%.” (Source: University of Loyola, Maryland study). Choose your colors wisely. Color is critical to identifying your…
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