Saturday, April 24, 2010
Marketing, Social Media
this is pretty interesting, very relevant for what we do and what we've been doing all semester.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Blog 3
Old Spice
So this company recently grabbed my attention with its use of commercials and its branding around the "Man". This is a company that has been around since 1938, making male grooming products. But as of recent its been working against other companies such as Axe. The design is sticking with the whole ideal of what a man should be, as it helps build around the marketing and branding of the company. They use humor in the design around it, to the basis of the old ideals of what a man should be, and use their experience and longevity as such by keeping the label the same. Since Old Spice is a very distinct smell to it they use that and compare it to "feminine" smelling body wash to their company http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE
Bad Company 2
Although still relatively new out of the gaming market Bad Company 2 is a game in the Battlefield franchise which has been hyped up against the high selling Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The design behind the branding is very evident giving a definite militaristic feel from the colors to the obvious grittiness and imagery. Just by comparing the BC2 site to the Army site you can see the obvious influences and feel its trying to get to the consumer. On top of that the multi-player is the large selling point for this game, and as such the branding around it is evident in the commercials by trying to sell the idea of squad play and the narrative behind it.
Droid
The Droid being mostly known more to be Verizon's Iphone (even if they aren't marketing it that way) is probably one of the more designed branding campaigns I've seen this last year. From the juxtaposition of the Apple Music/Aesthetic to what Droid represents being more of a gritty sort of underground type of feel. On top of the head on attacks, it goes by telling the other selling points of what the Droid can do, and how the software differciates itself from its competetors. For me it seems like they are less trying to sell the phone and more trying to sell this design of being anthesis of Apple.
So this company recently grabbed my attention with its use of commercials and its branding around the "Man". This is a company that has been around since 1938, making male grooming products. But as of recent its been working against other companies such as Axe. The design is sticking with the whole ideal of what a man should be, as it helps build around the marketing and branding of the company. They use humor in the design around it, to the basis of the old ideals of what a man should be, and use their experience and longevity as such by keeping the label the same. Since Old Spice is a very distinct smell to it they use that and compare it to "feminine" smelling body wash to their company http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE
Bad Company 2
Although still relatively new out of the gaming market Bad Company 2 is a game in the Battlefield franchise which has been hyped up against the high selling Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The design behind the branding is very evident giving a definite militaristic feel from the colors to the obvious grittiness and imagery. Just by comparing the BC2 site to the Army site you can see the obvious influences and feel its trying to get to the consumer. On top of that the multi-player is the large selling point for this game, and as such the branding around it is evident in the commercials by trying to sell the idea of squad play and the narrative behind it.
Droid
The Droid being mostly known more to be Verizon's Iphone (even if they aren't marketing it that way) is probably one of the more designed branding campaigns I've seen this last year. From the juxtaposition of the Apple Music/Aesthetic to what Droid represents being more of a gritty sort of underground type of feel. On top of the head on attacks, it goes by telling the other selling points of what the Droid can do, and how the software differciates itself from its competetors. For me it seems like they are less trying to sell the phone and more trying to sell this design of being anthesis of Apple.
Blog Post #3 -
Gorillaz -
This one may be a bit of a stretch but I believe it to have merit. The group Gorillaz is an example of design playing a key role in branding and communication in music today. The 'band' is the creation of two men, one a successful musician and the other a successful comic illustrator. They were discussing the lack of substance in music (especially in the 'MTV community') and decided to create a fake band consisting of cartoon characters creating real music. This fake band of fictional characters were a commentary on MTV and the music community. From its inception, the Gorillaz has used design to give its music a persona and a message. Their designed four band characters have been a major focus, each having a distinct persona. There was even a biography book created for the characters. With this fictional premise, mocumentary material, and viral marketing have driven the Gorillaz to international fame. For their 2006 album release they used this marketing to drive a campaign not only to promote their album but to criticize modern celebrities. That campaign being: Reject False Icons Website .
Sunchips-
Sunchips has positioned itself as the healthy chips alternative. Now Sunchips is pushing their brand from focusing just on being healthy, to being healthy for you and the earth. Sunchips' new bag design is created from plants, and is thus 100% compostable. They are now employing innovative product design to push their brand towards sustainability. They are using design to spread the message that we need to take care of our bodies and the earth, and that it can be done at the same time. The brand is perfectly positioned for this kind of innovation. Their demographic is much more likely to care about the environment than the average joe (this may be a stereotype, but I would venture a guess that if you eat at McDonalds several times a week you don't exactly recycle much). Compostable Bag Design.
Oskar Blues Brewery -
While OB's package design may not be as innovative as SunChips' their message is similar. Oskar Blues is one of the only local breweries that exclusively uses aluminum cans for packaging. One may not take this into much consideration until you consider their philosophy behind the package. Being that Colorado is a popular camping destination, OB specifically uses aluminum cans because of their ease of disposal. For campers, weight is an issue, aluminum cans are light and lend nicely to the 'Pack it in, Pack it out' mentality. National parks and camping spots are often littered with broken glass bottles. OB is pushing for a cleaner Colorado through responsible drinking and recycling. Oskar Blues Brewery
Products designed with your future in mind
Its great that it’s becoming cool that design responsibility is coming to the forefront to help save the world. It’s a complex problem with what should have been a simple answer had we not decided to waste so much to get there. Lets chalk it up to creating better production methods that we can now adopt to sustainability and use the pipelines set up by big business. We are making small strides in the right direction and every part fits into the puzzle but the largest pieces need to buy in, getting Coke and Nike and Starbucks really on board not just making a token effort will go a long way.
US Green Building Council
Architecture as a whole practice is a huge influence on our culture and is the space we live. With the new LEED certification program and the efforts of the US Green Building council there is hope of living in a greener future. USGBC doesn’t just greenwash projects, they look into every aspect of how a new building will operate and with the guidelines, buildings will be cheaper to operate and the owner will recoup the cost in a fraction of the time with the cost savings in energy usage. It is a win/win proposal. As a System UC Denver has pledged its support of sustainability leading the charge as part of a system wide charge to be the national leader for higher education!
Bike Furniture
Bikes are fun to ride, yet who wants to sit on a bike for more than a few miles. I do, now that I know about bikefurniture.com this innovative artist has bridged the recycling gap for a use for a bike once it’s past its street life. This design driven project is hip modern and has allowed people to sit at and on a bike at their leisure. It is simple direct and prices are stomach able ranging from $80-$200 for a piece of furniture that is oozing with cooltural responsibiz!
New Belgium
Now who doesn’t like a tasty beverage after all that green talk? New Belgium offers beers that have been produced. Their product is designed for you with your future in mind this process was conceived to offer the best product with the smallest carbon footprint. Using the beetle killed trees of Colorado to build their new buildings. The use of the most advanced brewing technology requires less material with the same result. Next time you order up a frosty beverage remember that you are supporting a healthy planet that enjoys a beer once and a while!
US Green Building Council
Architecture as a whole practice is a huge influence on our culture and is the space we live. With the new LEED certification program and the efforts of the US Green Building council there is hope of living in a greener future. USGBC doesn’t just greenwash projects, they look into every aspect of how a new building will operate and with the guidelines, buildings will be cheaper to operate and the owner will recoup the cost in a fraction of the time with the cost savings in energy usage. It is a win/win proposal. As a System UC Denver has pledged its support of sustainability leading the charge as part of a system wide charge to be the national leader for higher education!
Bike Furniture
Bikes are fun to ride, yet who wants to sit on a bike for more than a few miles. I do, now that I know about bikefurniture.com this innovative artist has bridged the recycling gap for a use for a bike once it’s past its street life. This design driven project is hip modern and has allowed people to sit at and on a bike at their leisure. It is simple direct and prices are stomach able ranging from $80-$200 for a piece of furniture that is oozing with cooltural responsibiz!
New Belgium
Now who doesn’t like a tasty beverage after all that green talk? New Belgium offers beers that have been produced. Their product is designed for you with your future in mind this process was conceived to offer the best product with the smallest carbon footprint. Using the beetle killed trees of Colorado to build their new buildings. The use of the most advanced brewing technology requires less material with the same result. Next time you order up a frosty beverage remember that you are supporting a healthy planet that enjoys a beer once and a while!
The brands of Tesla Motors, Burt's Bees, and Pom all utilize a combination of the 7 spokes of the Sustainable wheel as well as some of the 5 key design trends that will change the future according to the David Report. The combination of these design elements results in the creation of successful brands.
Tesla Motors has produced one of the first completely electric roadsters. Telsa Motors utilizes a combination of environmental influence, responsibiz, sensuctive, aesthetics, and breaking boundaries to create a unique and modern brand identity as well as successful communication in the marketplace. The environmental influence and responsbiz elements originate from the idea that the Tesla roadster is run 100% off electricity. The roadster can travel about 250 miles on a single charge. This quality is attractive to people who are looking to be less destructive to the environment but also get distance out of their car. Tesla also advertises roadster designers that are 'sleek' and 'alluring'. The designs of the vehicles do not cater to the stereotypical idea of what a hybrid or electric car should look like. In fact, the car looks like your typical luxury sports car. The combination of an attractive car design as well as environmentally friendly functionality are taking the market of luxury vehicles to another (more modern) level.
Burt's Bees is a brand that produces 'green' beauty products that range from shampoo to toothpaste. The products are made from organic materials and packaging is designed to be minimal and easily decomposable. Just like the Tesla, Burt's Bee also incorporates the responsibiz and environmental-implact design elements. The brand also plays into the cooltural element as well in that Burt's Bees is only available at beauty stores and smaller gift shops. This branding strategy gives the brand an original and authentic feel. However, I find this brand to be a good example not only for its quality products, but also for its involvement in the community. Burt's Bees participates in both the Greater Good Foundation and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. The idea that a brand participates in organization outside itself is appealing because it demonstrates that it is truly a brand with good intentions in mind. It also demonstrates that the brand is not just one of those brands attempting to follow the "green" trend that is popular today. Thus, Burt's Bees has an honest and trustworthy reputation based on solid products and community involvement.
Another brand that distinguishes itself within the market through the use of aesthetics and environmental influence is Pom. Pom grows pomegranates and then sells the fruit or makes a variety of products from the fruits such as vitamins and juice. The company primarily utilizes design as a brand through its packaging. All the Pom juices feature an hour glass-like shape (that the brand has deemed the "bubble bottle") that also resembles the shape of a pomegranate. The same packaging shape is used in the shape of its iced-coffee bottles and vitamin containers. This use of design plays into the sensuctive element in that the designs are visually appealing and distinguish Pom juice from any other type of bottled beverage. Through the use of the pomegranates as antioxidants, Pom has defined themselves as a symbol for health and wellness. Thus, the brand also focuses on community involvement such as blogs from health experts and recipes on their website. The brand strives to communicate their central idea that health is important and that antioxidants can help an individual have an overall better quality of life.
Blog #3
I enjoyed the many pictures and little type of these David reports (I’m a simple guy) and a few things that resonated with me were the responsible business trend and the sensuctive trend.
Fallout 3 (PS3 Game)- Everything about this game puts the audience/player into a welled themed and design world to indulge and “live” in. Leading up to the games release there was an entire campaign to sell the narrative of an alternate world that was stuck in the cold-war era due to nuclear fallout (hence the name). Everything was designed to tell the story of this fantasy world, even the commercials were stylized so in a hilarious way. This was the best use of narrative that I had seen in some time in the video game industry, and would neatly fit into the sensuctive category. When the game did finally hit shelves its design and delivery mirrored the efforts of its pre release branding campaign making Fallout 3 one of the most successful games of all time and the best selling game of 2008.
Smart Cars- these eco friendly cars have environment, efficient, affordability and youthfulness as the cornerstones for its design. Smart Cars are a company concerned with sustainability, specifically for fossil fuels and clean burning vehicles that do not leave a large emissions footprint. The physical design for the Smart Car is counter cultural norm of our times by not trying to mimic popular cars but to create a sub culture of cars more aligned to the new wave of hybrid/eco friendly cars such as the prius.
Yele Haiti – in the wake of the recent disaster in Haiti this group led by founder, native, and spokes person Wyclef Jean have been in the forefront of the media circus that surrounded the tragic event. This jettisoned the recognition and popularity of the charitable foundation who’s goal is to change lives positively in the “desperately poor, but optimistic” nation of Haiti. I have actually followed Yele Haiti much longer than just recent times and feel that they are a perfect group that can be considered a “responbiz” according to the 5 key design trends. Wyclef Jean (grammy Award winning artist) creatively and sincerely ties in his Hatian roots to his music to raise awareness and inform. His music is a proclamation of Yele Haiti through its design, from island-influenced tracks, to socially conscience lyrical treatment. The design and brand of the charity is backed from the top company, which I remember was important for innovative design companies such as Apple to strive and exist; it must be done from the top down.
Blog #3 - AGW
Upon reading both David Reports, I noticed a trend in keywords. One repeated keyword was "timelessness". Design is integral in making a brand "timeless," especially in brands such as Levi Strauss & Co., Google, and John Deere. Perhaps one should notice that all of these brands were innovative and really the first of their kind; Levi with denim, Google with archival of the Internet, and John Deere with tractors.
Levi Strauss & Co., a denim/clothing company around since the 19th century, focuses their brand on their rugged, durable denim. Levi's was the first to put metal rivets in denim, which thereby created their style. What is interesting about Levi's is that, though their product hasn't really changed, their marketing campaigns change by what's in style. They have a distinct style that is timeless enough to be able to fit into whatever is "in". If one goes to levi.com, s/he will notice that the site is very contemporary and targets a younger demographic despite their historical significance. Following the other design principles outlined in the David Reports, Levi is stylish, experiential, and has soul due to their historical impact.
Google has probably one of the most simplistic designs out there, but is unbelievably recognizable and effective. Their commitment to simplicity with all of their products allows it to be timeless. Google will be one of the newest "timeless" brands in recent history because it is easily adaptable due to its simplicity, and Google is always innovative as well. Google's simplicity of design has become a standard means of communication and collaboration - new products and operating systems are being developed on the premise of Google's design. Google is stylish through its own simplicity among an Internet full of overcomplicated sites, is honest in that they have very little (if anything) to hide behind in their designs, and is very distinct, all of which are outlined in the David Reports.
John Deere has stood the test of time as a timeless brand as well. Their logo has barely changed over the years - the green and yellow of their design bleeds into their products and merchandise and is easily recognizable. To a degree their brand is stylish mainly because it is all its own, but at the very least it is distinct, and obviously their designs are intelligent and logical because they are the industry standard. Overall, John Deere is a timeless brand that has needed little to no help in being the standard in their industry.
Levi Strauss & Co., a denim/clothing company around since the 19th century, focuses their brand on their rugged, durable denim. Levi's was the first to put metal rivets in denim, which thereby created their style. What is interesting about Levi's is that, though their product hasn't really changed, their marketing campaigns change by what's in style. They have a distinct style that is timeless enough to be able to fit into whatever is "in". If one goes to levi.com, s/he will notice that the site is very contemporary and targets a younger demographic despite their historical significance. Following the other design principles outlined in the David Reports, Levi is stylish, experiential, and has soul due to their historical impact.
Google has probably one of the most simplistic designs out there, but is unbelievably recognizable and effective. Their commitment to simplicity with all of their products allows it to be timeless. Google will be one of the newest "timeless" brands in recent history because it is easily adaptable due to its simplicity, and Google is always innovative as well. Google's simplicity of design has become a standard means of communication and collaboration - new products and operating systems are being developed on the premise of Google's design. Google is stylish through its own simplicity among an Internet full of overcomplicated sites, is honest in that they have very little (if anything) to hide behind in their designs, and is very distinct, all of which are outlined in the David Reports.
John Deere has stood the test of time as a timeless brand as well. Their logo has barely changed over the years - the green and yellow of their design bleeds into their products and merchandise and is easily recognizable. To a degree their brand is stylish mainly because it is all its own, but at the very least it is distinct, and obviously their designs are intelligent and logical because they are the industry standard. Overall, John Deere is a timeless brand that has needed little to no help in being the standard in their industry.
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