Archive for the ‘creativity’ Category
Posted by Eryn Willard on May 2, 2011
Words and imagery are the backbone of brand communication pieces – we preach that non-stop here at Studio 22, as you know. When the tone of your writing and the mood of your images come together, they convey the essence of your brand. (Well, they should. If your don’t, you should call us.)
Consider taking this concept a step further with a brand short – part movie, part commercial. For example, we collaborated with Ryan Smith Photography on one for our client, Naukabout.
click the link below to view the short
Naukabout on Vimeo
Being an aprés sports apparel line, parts of their brand “essence” were combined to create a story their target audience can identify with. In 30 seconds viewers get a solid idea of what the Naukabout brand is.
The client can then use the video for sales presentations, as a tool for sales reps, as a promotional piece to end-users, or on screens in its tradeshow booth.
Lululemon and Horny Toad are two other brands that nail the brand short. Not only are they fun to watch, but the audience gets to hear what the brand sounds like. Music adds the extra dimension to draw consumers into the brand story. Check these out for more inspiration: Lululemon‘s 2011 Summer Sneak Peak and Horny Toad‘s Prelude to a Dinner Party.
Tags: branding, fun stuff, ideas
Posted in branding, creativity, inspiration, marketing
Posted by Eryn Willard on November 12, 2010
During a week of falling yellow leaves, this week’s palette recalls a day at the crag in early summer. Look at those bright green leaves!
Eryn climbing at a local spot.
Climb On
Tags: design, fun stuff, ideas
Posted in color, creativity, inspiration, photo
Posted by Eryn Willard on November 3, 2010
This week’s color palette is inspired by a photo I took while taking an unexpected detour on Monday.
© Eryn Willard
I know that the weather was crisp and leaves were blowing around the street while I shot this. However, the resulting color palette is surprisingly refreshing.
Gated
Tags: design, fun stuff, ideas
Posted in color, creativity, inspiration, photo
Posted by Eryn Willard on October 28, 2010
I’ve been re-reading a book by Shakti Gawain called Creative Visualization. It was written in 1978 and published under Bantam’s New Age umbrella. Contrary to what most might think of new age material, it’s not all woo-woo and fairy dust. The principles of the book are basic – just out of most peoples’ everyday frame of thinking. The purpose of Creative Visualization is “to make positive ideas and concepts a reality”.
When I first read this book several years ago, it was difficult for me to put some of the methods to practice, since I can’t sit still long enough to get into a meditative state. (Which is why I would visualize before falling asleep.) Gawain’s Creative Visualization suggests following four steps: 1) setting a goal; 2) creating a mental picture of it; 3) focusing on it often; and 4) giving the goal/idea positive energy. You’ve heard of the Law of Attraction, right?
When I started reading through the book again last week, it dawned on me that since my first experience with it, I’ve been unconsciously applying this method to my design process. Each one of the four basic steps correlates with creating a client piece. Let me explain:
- Set a Goal: Meet with the client to determine project parameters and specifics and establish the desired outcome for the piece, i.e. build brand awareness, increase web traffic, etc.
- Create a Mental Image: I begin brainstorming solutions and sketching pieces of the thoughts I’m having about the project. I imagine what the outcome will be – what size, color palette, and shape it may have; how the intended audience will react to it.
- Focus On It Often: Brainstorming can happen anywhere, any time – on a hike, eating dinner, even in the shower. I’m always percolating on solutions. Allowing ample time (usually a week or so) in the schedule for this process always yields the best results.
- Give It Positive Energy: Doing the front-end work of brainstorming, visualizing and contemplating builds a really great creative flow for me that allows me to charge ahead with executing designs in digital form. Finally giving the idea life is one of the best parts of my job.
This technique can be applied to any challenge, and it works. Can you apply Creative Visualization to a challenge you’re facing?
Tags: ideas, working
Posted in creativity, inspiration, process
Posted by Eryn Willard on October 19, 2010
So, I missed out this weekend. My friend (and colleague) Ryan organized a short backpack trip along the Appalachian Trail and I didn’t go. And to rub it in, he sent me this photo from the camp site:
Photo courtesy Ryan Smith Photography
But instead of feeling down about missing out, I created this color palette instead. Called “Time to Camp” and based on the colors in the photo above, we’ll hopefully get to use it in an upcoming project soon.
Time to Camp
Tags: design, ideas
Posted in color, creativity, inspiration, outdoor, photo
Posted by Eryn Willard on August 12, 2010
‘Round here, fair season begins after carnival season, when school is about ready to begin. In our agricultural community, these can be major events. What’s great about these things (besides the food and demolition derby) is the musical entertainment – sometimes national acts.
We had the pleasure of designing promos for a near-and-dear band, The Hello Strangers, appearing tonight at the Mercersburg (PA) Fair. Great band, fun project:
Tags: fun stuff
Posted in client news, creativity
Posted by Eryn Willard on February 8, 2010
Well said, Mr. Bass.
For the non-designers out there, Saul Bass is an icon of American graphic design who created the well-known logos for Dixie, Continental Airlines and the United Way (just to name a few). You may have also seen his work in the titling sequences for the movies Psycho, Spartacus and Casino, among many others.
I came across some snippets of a documentary about his career on the web and was enlightened to hear him say,
“It costs every designer money to make it beautiful, because you have to spend more time, you have to futz with it, you have to noodle, you have to push…You’re eating up your budget.”
We’ve been asked many times if we could shorten our schedule for a logo design, or if we can reduce our price if the client promises one round of revisions instead of two. The answer is usually, “No.” Not because we like to be difficult or don’t like to commit to a delivery date, but for the reason Saul Bass stated above.
It costs time (and time = money) to make beautiful things. Things that are not beautiful don’t leave our shop. If you’re a client of ours, chances are good that our attention to detail and craftsmanship are why you arrived at Studio 22 HQ—and are also why you’ve stayed!
Tags: design, working
Posted in creativity
Posted by Eryn Willard on September 23, 2009
By now, most of us are familiar with word clouds. Right? Okay, maybe not, but there is a site on the web where you can create and customize your own in a few minutes. It’s called Wordle and you should check it out. I played around with text from our home page today for a mid-afternoon visual break and some inspiration.
Here are a few favorites:
Imagine using this to come up with word combinations for product names; or entering your brainstorming notes to see new combinations of phrases for a marketing campaign; or for creating a tagline. Anything that helps you look at something from a new perspective can give you a creative charge.
Tags: design, fun stuff, ideas
Posted in creativity, inspiration, short and sweet, tips, words
