It is NEVER about the candy

Posted by on Nov 8, 2016 in Brand Thinking | No Comments

sugar

Truth: It takes me for-ev-er to get through the grocery store. Same when I am at Target. I have to look at all of the packaging and critique it. Why that typeface? Why those colors? Why did this or that design catch my eye… and what do I like, or loathe, about it? What would make it better or why is it spot-on perfect?

When son would go shopping with me I would enlist his opinion about package design and get him involved in the conversation. He was only 7 but he got it and developed a dialog and awareness about how design effects our decision making. Our consumerism. (btw he is now 23 and is a brilliant vfx artist working in Los Angeles.)

How Design did a great blog post abut the most beautiful candy packaging created in 2016. Because we all know it is NEVER about the candy. It is all about the packaging. Go here now and check it out.

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The first rule of industrial chic: You do not talk about industrial chic.

Posted by on Oct 21, 2016 in Brand Thinking, Ipso Fabulous | No Comments

industrial_modern

Natalie Jacewicz (NPR, The Salt) asks “Why does every new restaurant look like a factory?” “… For the past few years, my friends and I have noticed two trends when dining. First, seemingly every high-end menu rebukes factory farming with an essay about locally sourced pork belly, and second, just about every one of these restaurants looks so much like a factory — with exposed light bulbs, steel details and brick walls — that I’m constantly looking over my shoulder for the foreman.”

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The Surprising Power of Small Habits

Posted by on Oct 7, 2016 in Abso-effing-lutely | No Comments

small_habits

All you need is a system for your goals.

What’s the difference between goals and systems?

If you’re a coach, your goal is to win a championship. Your system is what your team does at practice each day.

    • If you’re a writer, your goal is to write a book. Your system is the writing schedule that you follow each week.
    • If you’re a runner, your goal is to run a marathon. Your system is your training schedule for the month.
    • If you’re an entrepreneur, your goal is to build a million dollar business. Your system is your sales and marketing process.

Now for the really interesting question:
If you completely ignored your goals and focused only on your system, would you still get results?
For example, if you were a basketball coach and you ignored your goal to win a championship and focused only on what your team does at practice each day, would you still get results?

I think you would!

Read the full article here >

Dark Patterns

Posted by on Sep 28, 2016 in Brand Thinking | No Comments

dark

Users hate them. They are bad for business. So why do business STILL use them?

John Brownlee writes: “The reason dark patterns don’t work in the long term, explains Loranger, is that a loyal customer is always more valuable than a new customer. “Loyal customers are willing to pay more for your products, engage with your brand on social media, and recommend you to their friends,” she says. Dark patterns might result in a boost in new customers, but they’re less likely to be loyal customers because they’ll soon realize they’ve been tricked.”
Read the full article here >

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Ending a Text With a Period Makes You Seem Like a Monster

Posted by on Sep 15, 2016 in Abso-effing-lutely, Ipso Fabulous | No Comments

period

As a recovering Exclaimation Point abuser I knew this was a thing! Ending a text with a period will make you look angry and insincere. Periods convey finality in a pissy “done with you” kind of way. Read the full article by Cari Romm here >

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7 Learning Strategies to Borrow From Your Kids

Posted by on Sep 3, 2016 in Brand Thinking, Ipso Fabulous | No Comments

learnThey can’t tie their shoelaces, and they may not have that whole hand-eye coordination thing down just yet, but there are still plenty of life skills grownups can pick up just by mimicking little kids. The strategies children use to learn about the world around them are especially worthy of closer inspection. Read More >