VSA Partners Unveil Chicago’s Olympics 2016 Logo

VSA Partners unveils the 2016 Chicago Olympics logo. Seems like Chicago's history as the city that burned to the ground is maybe consciously or unconsciously displayed in this logo. Wonder if they thought about that?
Posted on October 26th, 2006 in Stay Connected by Stefan | Permalink

Student Portfolio Prep Day 2006

"The Student Portfolio Prep Day will feature open-forum Q&A sessions for sixty students. A group of top-notch professionals from varying experiences will assist students in understanding what to expect from interviews, the elements to a great portfolio and the current job market."
Posted on October 23rd, 2006 in Stay Connected by Stefan | Permalink

Shift + Option + Drink

The Indianapolis chapter of the AIGA is hosting another Shift + Option + Drink event on October 26, 2006 at the Bourbon Street Distillery. Join other designers in a no pressure evening of good drinks, great atmosphere and great company.
Posted on October 23rd, 2006 in Stay Connected by Stefan | Permalink

Good Branding Advice With Bad Aesthetic Appeal…

I found this site today by a guy named Dave Young, a "Wizard of Ads Partner", whatever that means, he seems to know his branding pretty well, but unfortunately he has missed the importance of aesthitics on his site. While I know that the design/logo/tag etc. are not the "Brand" those elements certainly help outsiders become connected to a brand, make first contact, if you will. If you can't attract a consumer to your brand, how are consumers going to gain enough of a knowledge to make a decision of whether they are going to be walking billboards for your brand?

More and more today, design is what gets people in the door, so to speak. When your design is poor it begins to give the impression that you aren't willing to make your product/service the best it can be. In the case of a branding expert, I would most certainly pick someone who seems to understand the value of making great design a part of their brand statement, or at least I would certainly check them out before one who doesn't showcase great design.

What it really comes down to, is will that brand add significance to my life enough to make me proud that I am associated with it?

Which leads me to my next thought, great design does not always package a great product. Sometimes all a product will have is great design to its favor, and while it will certainly get some people to buy into it, they will quickly learn that its quality is only skin deep. Which is why it is imperative that you back up your promises and your great design with a great product/service. You will have far greater results if the two correlate than if one or the other are inconsistent with your message.
Posted on October 19th, 2006 in Stay Connected by Stefan | Permalink

Cheaper Not Always A Better Route

"Here's what I think: Cheaper is the last refuge of the person who's not a very good marketer. Cheaper is easy and cheaper is fast and cheaper is linear and cheaper is easy to do properly, at least at first. But cheaper doesn't spread the word (unless you are much cheaper, but to be much cheaper, you need to be organized from the ground up, like Walmart or JetBlue, to be cheaper). They are, you're not." Via Seth Godin.
Posted on October 10th, 2006 in Stay Connected by Stefan | Permalink

Design Competitions

Below you will find a list, probably not exhaustive, of upcoming design competitions, their due dates, submission categories and links to their respective pertinent information:

Semi-Competitive // Graphic, Motion/Film and Fashion // by January 15, 2007

A+C=D, PRINT’s International Art and Commerce Design Review // Graphic, Motion/Film and Fashion // by January 15, 2007 // Print & Motion // by November 1, 2006

HOW Promotion Design Awards // Illustration, Photography & Design // by March 19, 2007

ID's Student Design Review // Industrial, Graphic, Interactive & Misc. // by February 1, 2007

ID's Annual Design Review // Consumer Products, Graphics, Packaging, Furniture, Environments, Equipment, Concepts, Interactive // by December 1, 2006

Unknown Competitions // Design of all kinds // Dates Vary
Posted on October 10th, 2006 in Stay Connected by Stefan | Permalink

Church Marketing Sucks

Church Marketing Sucks

Church marketing does suck. Check out churchmarketingsucks.com to learn why new technology and methodologies are reaching more people. Then call Bean Graphics. We can help your church reach more people and give it's leaders a better understanding of how to become more relevant. Call or email us. We'd love to help get you back on track!
Posted on October 2nd, 2006 in Stay Connected by Stefan | Permalink

HOW’s New Blog

Everybody's doing it. Check out HOW's newly-launched blog.
Posted on October 2nd, 2006 in Stay Connected by Rhaya | Permalink

False Advertising

Mouse Print.org looks at the fine print of todays advertising in order to let us know when we are being fooled.
Posted on October 2nd, 2006 in Stay Connected by Stefan | Permalink


Gee’s Bend Comes to Indy in October

This exhibit is not just for the quilting elite, but anyone interested in learning a little more about the history of the South as well as those interested in the minimalism of modern art. Gee's Bend: Architecture of the Quilt will be on exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art from October 8–December 31 in the Wood Special Exhibition Gallery.
Posted on October 2nd, 2006 in Stay Connected by Stefan | Permalink