My secret weapon: Do something different
Just because everyone's doing it doesn't mean that it works. Just because it works for them doesn't mean it's going to work for you.
I always look for a different tack. (Sure, some stuff makes sense to replicate, but lots doesn't.) If, for example, you are marketing a restaurant, think past what all the experts, blogs, websites, magazines, and so on, say you should do to market a restaurant. What, you must decide, will have the experts writing about you?
Good day,
Chuck
Have you seen my InDesign Ideabook?
315 template files in 19 different categories -- Everything from brochures, newsletters, and direct mail to packaging, calendars, and books (one CD works with both Mac and PC). Use two or three files and you'll pay for the entire book and disc...
For Adobe InDesign
For QuarkXPress
Maps, design, and quilts
Three things I love all in one. As the story goes, architect Emily Fischer, "...Made her first quilted maps to be wayfinding tools for the visually impaired".
Example 1: Constellation Quilt...
Example 2: The Chesapeake Bay Coastal Quilt...
Example 3: The London Throw...
The Haptic Lab Website...
The Haptic Lab Blog...
A Creative Mornings talk with Emily Fischer...
Some recent examples of experiential marketing
In an article from AdAge, Shareen Pathak defines experiential marketing as, "Messaging you can touch, feel or view in a physical space." Is "experiential marketing" the 2015 equivalent of "engagement marketing"? There are certainly some similarities.
What is clear is that experiential marketing is getting lots of play these days because, in many cases, it deserves lots of play. Creative people are finding imaginative, engaging ways of introducing and perpetuating brands.
Here are some recent examples...
Examples from Econsultancy.com...
More examples from Econsultancy.com...
Examples from XStudios.com...
Examples from Pinterest...
From AdAge.com: Just what is experiential marketing, and how can it be measured?
How is psychology used to manipulate and influence people in their daily lives?
That was the question posed to begin this fascinating, free-wheeling discussion of psychological manipulation at Quora.com.
Are graphic design, marketing, and advertising forms of manipulation? Sure. But is that necessarily a negative? Tell me.
A fascinating, free-wheeling discussion of psychological manipulation at Quora.com...
The next challenge for the graphic designer: "responsive logos"
You're probably already creating them-variations of logos for different applications and/or at different sizes. Ever created a "favicon"? The little website brand icon that shows up on the browser tab? Yup, you've created a responsive logo.
Graphic designer Jeremy Frank has created a nice little demonstration of how it works...
ResponsiveLogos.co.uk...
From Jeremy Frank: Responsive Logos, Part 1: Tips for Adapting Logos for Small Screens...
Responsive Logos, Part 2: Making Logos Truly Responsive with Inline SVG...
Joe Harrison designed the ResponsiveLogos.co.uk...
Hermann Zapf in all caps, bold
Today, one highly respected type designer brings us some sad news about another-Roger Black Tweets, "RIP Hermann Zapf. With sad and complete respect, we're remembering the designer who raised the bar for all of us in the type world."
Every graphic designer knows the name Hermann Zapf. He was a calligrapher without peer and a typeface designer who had an a truly appreciable effect on the entirety of modern day typography.
I've been fortunate to hear a few stories about Mr. Zapf from calligrapher, and typeface designer Micheal Clark-who, if I remember correctly, met Zapf when Micheal worked at Hallmark.
Hermann Zapf died yesterday at 96.
The Art of Hermann Zapf...
Zaph's lifestory form Linotype...
My first appreciation of Zapf came through my subscription to U&LC...
Fred Showker reviewed Rick Cusick's book What Our Lettering Needs: The Contribution of Hermann Zapf to Calligraphy & Type Designs at Hallmark Cards...
You'll find many of his typefaces on MyFonts.com...
Lorenzo Caputo edits a Hermann Zapf Pinterest board...
If you love witnessing the creative process
If you love witnessing the creative process, don't miss this interesting post about Saul Bass' design of the poster for Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining".
"Dear Stanley:
Here are the five designs which surfaced out of the work done since I returned. I am excited about all of them, and I could give you many reasons why I think they would be strong and effective identifiers for the film. But the one I think is strongest is No. 1. It's provocative, scary and emotional. It has size, and promises a picture I haven't seen before."
Thanks to Bob Staake for pointing us to it.
The designs and correspondence...
Film of Jack Nicholson preparing for "The Shining"...
Yes, of course, there is an entire website dedicated to the movie (caution, some of it is not for the weak of heart)...
A typeface designed for coding?
In the description of Input on his website, David Jonathan Ross talks about its origin, "My boss, David Berlow asked: 'Are monospaced fonts really the only solution for presenting computer code in a world with so much type technology?' Input was my response."
The story of Input...
A very cool, interactive preview of the coding typeface "Input"...
Input is free for private/unpublished use...
About David Jonathan Ross...
I've been a customer (and fan) of Font Bureau for many years, it was founded in 1989 by Roger Black and David Berlow...
I love this spot...
I received an important email from Katy...
"Hey PagePlane,
Your blog came up in a search I was doing for online graphic design influencers. I noticed you have a lot of followers and wanted to ask you a few questions.
My name is Katy ****** and I am the Creative Content Coordinator here at ******. We are an online platform for filmmakers and artists, connecting them with brands like Google, Nike, and Warner Bros. Right now, we're in the middle of a huge campaign with ***** ******** and we need some extra help.
***** is giving creatives the opportunity to design the next limited edition cans for their newest flavor - ****** *****. Based on the following you have, we wanted to ask you about sending out a simple tweet to help us promote the campaign to graphic designers and illustrators who might be interested.
The designs selected will ultimately be emblazoned on 1 of 3 limited edition cans to be distributed throughout the U.S., along with winning $7,500 in cash per can selected. The deadline is June 25th at 11:59 p.m. PDT. You can click here to see the detailed brief and read a little bit more about the contest.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about this campaign or any others you find appealing on the site. Thanks so much and I hope to hear from you soon!"
And I replied...
"Katy,
I assume you'd support having a contest to do Katy's job? So that, at the end of the month, the one who does the "best" job (by the subjective judgement of an unknown jury), is awarded Katy's paycheck.
Crowd sourcing the very time-consuming, difficult work of design is an insult to everyone who attempts to make a living doing it. A sham invented by those who survive on marketing to exploit the honest people who create it.
Pretty low.
Chuck Green"
Interesting new USPS page...
