We designers are always looking for new ways to present information. We scour the internet looking for graphics that are beautiful, effective and, most importantly, compelling. So imagine my delight at finding Toby Ng Kwong To’s “The World of 100.” His posters combine elegant illustrations with some surprising information. It’s also a great way to gain some perspective! Enjoy!
On my way to work this morning, with all of the sleet bouncing off my windshield and the chill in my bones from just looking at people getting into their cars, I couldn’t help but think that a nice cup of hot chocolate, a book and a warm blanket on the couch would be a perfect way to spend the day. Well eMarketing is really insightful (reading minds in fact), as my daily email from AdAge was waiting in my inbox with the headline “Marketing’s New Red Hot Seller: The Humble Snuggie.” When I first saw the ad on TV, I had a similar response to Ellen’s. But, apparently, 4 million people and counting (as there is currently a waiting list to get your hands on one) felt compelled to act to the company’s quirky ad – which according to execs behind the project, made all the difference.
So perhaps I’m a little late to the party: all of a sudden I’m really into GOOD, despite the fact that I’ve known about it for a good (hah) while now. I just never really sat down and gave these people my full attention. That is, until yesterday (mid-informal-brainstorm) when Maya, Carter and I sifted through their site for inspiring infographics.
We found some:
It turns out they’re doing some other pretty cool things over there at good.is. continue reading
If you’ve turned on your TV, read the news online or flipped open your morning paper, you, like me, have been bombarded with nothing but repeats of the same doom and gloom message from the media about the state of our country and the current financial crisis that we can all officially (I think) call a recession.
Luckily, we Americans are a hopeful and enterprising lot, which is what a lot of marketers are betting on as they try to appeal to consumers trying to do more with less.
Here is a quick list of recent campaigns trying to shed a ray of hope through the dark clouds. Here at JHI, we’re more than ready to put our shades on.
Pepsi, Refresh Everything. The world watched as Pepsi launched their “refreshed” logo on New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Here is the video just in case you missed it. And, check out www.refresheverything.com, where just in time for Obama’s Inauguration, visitors can upload a “Dear Mr. President” video.
Allstate, Back to the Basics. Same spokesperson, same “are you in good hands” message with a new “back to the basics in life” theme. The commercial does a great job of connecting with viewers by touting a “remember the good old days” message.
Coke, Open Happiness. Known for many a happy message, such as “the Coke side of life” in the past, Coke is going toe-to-toe with Pepsi with a new “Open Happiness” slogan. No new creative to show, but be on the lookout in the next couple of weeks.
And, in news from Ad Age, Budweiser plans to run three Super Bowl spots featuring their famous Clydesdales. Talk about a company that recently went through a lot of change opting to go with the tried and true, a reminder to people that even in tumultuous times, some good things can stay the same.
Presenting Creative
We have a saying here at J H I: sending creative ideas to a client without protection is like sending a toddler out to play in rush hour traffic. Because the fact is, an idea is just that: an idea. It needs the support of the person or people who came up with it, who understand all of the nuances and details that lead to its conception, who know why it’s strong and where it can go, or what can be altered without weakening its core value.
Clients frequently ask us to send initial concepts as pdfs because they are too busy to meet and go over the ideas in person. Of course, technology has made everyone’s workday an accelerated rush from punch-in to punch-out, with packed schedules making it difficult to find even a few minutes to meet. So, unfortunately, despite our deep misgivings, there are times when we are forced to send original, embryonic conceptual ideas alone over the internet. What happens? continue reading
