Do you take the time to point out typos and the user interface issues you encounter when surfing the web? Unfortunately, in my experience, getting such a heads-up is a rare, but welcome, occurrence.

As a long-time website designer, I can tell you I really appreciate it when someone takes the time to mention an issue with one of my sites or that of a client. In a few cases, a problem that has existed for not days but years.

Personally, I try to send such messages whenever I encounter them. Just last week, for example, I pointed out two glaring typos on the home page of a marketing website--ouch.

In every case, the folks I've contacted over the years have been grateful and, when it comes to a usability issue, I'm guessing my pointing out a problem has even impacted one or two company's bottom line.

Won't you consider being a contributor next time you see an issue? I can't guarantee big rewards, but you'll certainly help others to solve the worst kind of design/marketing problem you can have--the one you don't know about.

Be well,

Chuck

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

Here > http://www.ideabook.com/the_indesign_ideabook_59.html

For QuarkXPress

Here > http://www.ideabook.com/quarkxpress_templates.html

As the years go by I am continually astounded by the amazing images photographers are able to capture. This is some epic work.

What is even more astounding is that it was captured by police officer Jeff Boyce during his time off. In his first year of doing time lapse photography.

"This entire timelapse sequence," Boyce explains, "was recording between May and June of 2015. During this time, I managed to arrange about 5 weeks off from my regular job as a Police Officer in California, and set out in my truck with no particular destination in mind. I had only picked up photography as a hobby within the last couple years, and this was my first year ever recording or producing timelapse videos. Having always been very interested in severe weather, nature, and traveling, I picked up storm chasing during spring of 2014. I spent a few weeks in 2014 traveling and photographing storms, but without a solid goal or understanding of the concepts of photography. My interest in timelapse photography of storms stemmed from seeing Nicolaus Wegner's "Stormscapes" videos around this time..."

Example 1...

Here > http://www.negativetilt.com/Storms/i-ntGqKtN/A

Example 2...

Here > http://www.negativetilt.com/Night-Sky-and-Stars/i-nqzWc8x/A

Example 3...

Here > http://www.negativetilt.com/Storms/i-Pd4DH6p/A

A video compilation titled: Edge of Stability (be sure to read the accompanying description on Vimeo...

Here > https://vimeo.com/133202655

Nicolaus Wegner's "Stormscapes" referred to in Jeff Boyce's introduction...

Here > https://vimeo.com/nicolauswegner

Here's an excellent example of someone who carved out a niche and made a career of it.

Meet copywriter Valerie Haboush. Her B.A. in Journalism led to jobs in public relations, corporate communications, advertising copywriting and, ultimately, she found her way into the specialization of writing about real estate.

Is there some aspect of design, writing, marketing, photography, or illustration (that you are particularly good at) that might provide a similar opportunity for specialization?

Valerie Haboush's website offers many examples from her portfolio...

Here > http://www.valeriehaboush.com/index.htm

I found her when searching for real estate agent marketing copywriting examples. Here's one (546K PDF)...

Here > http://www.valeriehaboush.com/gutterman-agent-brochure.pdf

An article about Haboush from the New York Times: The Poet of Property...

Here > http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/realestate/24cov.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all

I see lots of "infographics" that are anything but. When I first saw "Deconstructing Successful Logos," on the Adweek.com website, I was hoping it would hold some valuable insight. But having read it, I think it is meaningless-its assertion is, to my way of thinking, tantamount to claiming that having a list of the individual notes used in last years top selling songs will somehow equip you to compose next years hit.

The fact that a greater percentage of logos are rectangular, for example, does not necessarily mean that making a rectangular logo would somehow result in a "better" solution. How would you apply that piece of trivia? By designing all of my logos combining the top attributes? Of course not.

Why do I care? Because this is misdirection-filler content, published by a seemingly respected source, that holds out that there's some magical shortcut to doing the complex work of creating a useful, memorable mark for a specific company. It doesn't clarify the process, it confuses it.

Why would Adweek.com of all places publish it? I have no idea.

Deconstructing Successful Logos...

Here > http://www.adweek.com/files/imagecache/node-detail/deconstructing-successful-logos-01-2015.jpeg

The associated article: Here's What the Most Popular Brands' Logos Have in Common Deconstructing successful insignias to see what customers like best By Katie Richards...

Here > http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/heres-what-most-popular-brands-logos-have-common-165884

Heidelberg, the printing equipment manufacturer, has launched a new brand and a collection of themed icons...

Here
 > https://www.heidelberg.com/global/de/company/press_1/press_release/press_release_details/press_release_39616.html 

If you agree that marketing is about inviting people to step into your world, Graubunden Tourism knows marketing.

This spot, "The Great Escape", created a live feed with a man in the mountains. Watch what happens.

Thanks to my friend Bruce Schneider for pointing us to it.

The future of advertising is in innovations such as this...

Here > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8Y5MDVhZDQ

The agency is Jung von Matt/Limmat AG...

Here > http://www.jvm.ch/en

"Bond" could be a brilliant idea-a service that converts your text into a fountain pen-on-paper note that is mailed to the anyone you choose.

Or it could be 1990 comedy that speculated about what the world would be like 25 years in the future, when we've digressed to the point that we're too lazy to (or are incapable of), handwriting a note.

Haha... in the Bond promotional video the CEO actually says, "An organization can add the personal touch that they've never been able to do before." Which makes me wonder if that's just a poorly turned phrase or if he's to young to remember a time when handwritten were a common occurrence?

The big question, of course, is: if a robot writes it, is it a personal note?

All that jabbing done, it does seem like a useful, well executed service.

The idea...

Here > https://vimeo.com/101932145

The Bond website...

Here > https://hellobond.com/

I'm fascinated by the various formulas writers us to communicate marketing messages. As of late, I'm obsessing about bullet points. A brief introduction...

Thanks to Karla Humphrey for pointing us to the VITO letter.

Tony Parinello's VITO (Very Important Top Officer) Letter presents benefits in bullet form...

Here > http://www.vitoselling.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/CORRESPONDENCE.jpg

The VITO Letter formula...

Here > http://www.vitoselling.com/blog/business-letter-format/

Mail Online, one of the most often visited websites on the planet, begins each article with summary in bullet form...

Here > http://www.pageplane.com/images/mail-online-bullets.jpg

Brian Clark talks about bullet points here...

Here > http://www.copyblogger.com/little-known-ways-to-write-fascinating-bullet-points/

And here...

Here > http://www.copyblogger.com/bullet-points-for-bloggers

Here > http://www.myfonts.com/search/tag%3Afree/fonts/?refby=ib

That's the tag line of Mohawk, a paper manufacturer that's been around since the early 1930s. They publish The Mohawk Maker Quarterly, "...Stories of small manufacturers, artisans, printers, designers, and artists who are making their way in the midst of the digital revolution."

If you love print, you're going to want to sign up to receive it by mail (free to designers and others). Thanks to Jim Deady for pointing us to it.

Mohawk Maker Quarterly Issue #1: Heritage and Innovation...

Here > http://issuu.com/mohawkpaper/docs/mohawk_quarterly_comp_final

Mohawk Maker Quarterly Issue #2: Mastery of Materials...

Here > http://issuu.com/mohawkpaper/docs/m3_1153_mohawk_quarterly2_8_16_13_e

Mohawk Maker Quarterly Issue #3: Pride in the Details...

Here > http://issuu.com/mohawkpaper/docs/m4_1153_mohawk_quarterly3_12.20.13_

Mohawk Maker Quarterly Issue #4: Community...

Here > http://issuu.com/mohawkpaper/docs/final_quarterly_4_lores

Mohawk Maker Quarterly Issue #5: Perception...

Here > http://issuu.com/mohawkpaper/docs/mohawkq5_comp_large_9.24.14

Mohawk Maker Quarterly Issue #6: Impressions...

Here > http://issuu.com/mohawkpaper/docs/mohawk_maker_quarterly_impressions_

Sign up to receive hard copy versions of The Mohawk Maker Quarterly publications...

Here > http://www.mohawkconnects.com/marketing-page/cultureofcraftsignup

A history of Mohawk...

Here > http://www.mohawkconnects.com/company/history

The Mohawk Fine Papers website...

Here > http://www.mohawkconnects.com/

Here > http://www.ideabook.com/tutorials/1_view/chuck_greensdesign_briefing_ar.html