 |
- You're branding me where?
- 06.23.2008
- Brand Tags
- It's Monday, which means another broadcast on POTUS08 (my XM Radio serious addiction) by my absolute favorite contributor--the branding sage Thom Mozloom from The M Network. Thom analyzes the political ads and PR du jour from a branding and image perspective; I can't get enough and think he really deserves an entire show. But, then again, I think storms deserve a first and a last name, so what do I know anyway? I do know that Thom is brilliant at explaining the principles and reasoning behind how branding a candidate, product or organization comes to be. As creatives, we can do many things to build a brand, through imagery, design, words, photos, consistency, message and much, much more. However, these things alone and the biggest budget do not make a brand. That probably doesn't make much sense, but a brand is actually created by those who consume or perceive your product, candidate, advertising, reputation, image and marketing efforts. A brand is based on a loose assocation of emotions, feelings, thoughts, messages, slogans, ideas, reputations, photos, products and people that compose the brand name and everything it represents. I found the best way to illustrate this to you in the Brand Tags project, and if you find these things interesting like I do, you will even have a little fun while you learn the concept of branding. Users can view brand logos and type in the first word or phrase that comes to mind when seeing that brand; users can play brands against each other in battle mode; and, for the really hardcore (I might or might not fall into this category), users can try guessing a brand by viewing only the user-submitted words & phrases. Test your knowledge of branding concepts in this sweet game that focuses on your ability to be observant of all those ways brands try to reach into your psyche and settle in for the long term.
- Creative inspiration through helping others (sung to the tune of "Happy Birthday")
- 06.20.2008
- give, give, give
- Today seems like the perfect opportunity to bring a new page and feature to aha creative. I am beginning a list of my favorite organizations that can benefit from your time, talent and generosity. I will certainly add more as we go, but for now I have listed 5 that are very special to me. Share Our Strength is near and dear to my heart for many reasons--I'm an amateur foodie whose dream job would be chef of my own restaurant and I have had the pleasure to help organize a Taste of the Nation event to benefit a local food bank. I hope I can be a part of another SOS event again someday. Good Works provides help to many people who need it most in our country, those in Appalachia. I have been to Good Works, just outside of Athens and am amazed at the wonderful things they have done in an area of Ohio that will forever hold a special place in my heart. Los Niños is a fantastic organization I have had the pleasure of knowing about through a friend who has traveled to Mexico numerous times and told me the stories of the women who, through the help of Los Niños, have become change agents and leaders in their own communities. The Women's Fund of Central Ohio, introduced to me by another friend, donates and promotes programs for women and girls in central Ohio and has my favorite annual fundraiser of any I have seen. I think Kiva is a great way to make a huge impact with a small investment; you choose a person and project you would like to help with and you loan them funds (even just $25) to help them with an endeavor to lift them out of poverty. And the best part is, when you receive the repayment of the loan, you can then loan that money to someone else! So, please enjoy looking into these terrific organizations and, if you find one you are passionate about, please give what you can—that can be your birthday gift to me!
- Batten down the hatches for Hurricane O.J.
- 06.12.2008
- I happened to be watching The Weather Channel the other day, though I am not obsessed with it like others I know, when they showed the entire list of the 2008 official Tropical Storm and Hurricane names. Fascinating stuff for a quiet night at home, and it got me thinking. What names would I really like to hear repeated over and over and over while Jim Cantore is about to lose his warm Gore-Tex jacket while bringing us the latest live report from some wind-whacked coast? I decided that the official names blow. Here are my recommendations for names that would sound much better on the TV news. A charge for a whole different day is my recommendation that storm names actually have a first AND last name, but maybe we'll save that for 2009.
- 2008 Official Names (My Names)
- Arthur (Amy)
- Bertha (Buddy)
- Cristobal (Christmas)
- Dolly (Danny Lynn)
- Edouard (Earnest)
- Fay (Florida)
- Gustav (Gale)
- Hanna (Harley)
- Ike (Ichabod)
- Josephine (Jackass)
- Kyle (King)
- Laura (Liberty)
- Marco (Madonna)
- Nana (Noah)
- Omar (O.J.)
- Paloma (Patience)
- Rene (Raine)
- Sally (Skye)
- Teddy (Teenie)
- Vicky (Veruca)
- Wilfred (Windy)
- Made in China, Assembled by Amy
- 06.11.2008
- I have now assembled 5 pieces of furniture since this journey began less than a month ago. I have conquered a secretary desk, a TV stand cabinet, a bed, a bookshelf and a dresser with 6 drawers. This is my decree, on June 11, 2008, in which I declare that I shall assemble no more particleboard & wood furniture that comes in a flat box delivered by the sweet, but sick-of-me, UPS man during this the year of 2008. At least not without cash payment--checks not accepted--and cold beer. So don't ask me to help you assemble something unless you can meet both of those prerequisites.
- Oh, to be 23 AND leader of the Sweathogs
- 06.05.2008
- Sometimes I feel nostalgic around my birthday. Okay, let's face it, I guess I just feel old, but "nostalgic" has a much nicer ring to it. It was a pleasure yesterday to have someone tell me (whether it is true or not doesn't really matter) I look much younger than my age....phew. Just in the nick of time too, before the impending numeral change soon. I thought today would be the perfect time to pull out one of the gems I promised you from the used book store.
 This is not quite as old as I am, but nearly as old. I have been waiting for just the right moment to pull this one out! My friend Mandy and I were fighting over this in the book store, luckily no one was hurt, and I'm sure she's been waiting for my special treat. Who doesn't love a little Barbarino-years John Travolta! And, yes, he really was just a mere 23 years old when this publication came out in 1977. As if seeing the cover just weren't enough to bring us all to tears of rejoice and pleasure, there is more. Click on the Dynamite photo or here to download my make-your-own poster. Certainly we were all envious of the fantastic hair stylings of JT in the 1970s, and now is your chance to make those locks yours! Download the file and either open it in your photo editing software and place an image of your face in the empty space, or, for my non-creative friends, print it out, cut out the white space and place your own photo in the opening. Or, even better yet, you could print this out, cut out the white space, hold it up to your face and wear it to the grocery store to see if anyone recognizes you. Who wouldn't like to see Grandpa as JT or maybe even a chocolate lab with the JT coiffure. Please do share them with me--if I get a great one I will post it here for all to see!
-
- (flog archives)
<< previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 next >>
|
 |
|
