Archive for the ‘Branding’ Category

The Logo that Almost Was

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Can you recognize the logo that didn't become a timeless classic?Can you recognize the logo that didn’t become an indelible part of our culture?

Maybe it’s just because I’m currently trying to beat one rusting bucket of a 1974 F100 into shape, but I was drawn to this story about Henry Ford II hiring 20th century American design legend Paul Rand (IBM, ABC, UPS) to revamp the Ford logo in 1966.

The modernist design that Rand came up with is interesting to behold, but one has to wonder how it would have gone over with the car-buying public. It doesn’t exactly scream “Built Ford Tough,” does it?

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Too Much Truth in Advertising?

Monday, January 4th, 2010

Domino’s is certainly embracing the new “honest and open” parlance of marketing that the Social Media age has ushered in. Anyone that spent much of New Year’s Eve/Day in front of the boob tube probably saw the ill-reputed pizza chain’s new “Oh Yes We Did” campaign, in which the company’s  employees address real consumer complaints about the terrible, terrible food-like products that they sell.

In a corporate feel-good moment, Domino’s resolves to make their food better, but will this newfound openness pay off, or are they overplaying their hand? The campaign, which began several weeks back, already has its critics. Among them is Adweek’s Barbara Lippert, who praises the video’s “weird, earnest honesty,” but also labels the spot “cringe inducing” for its graphic depictions of the just-as-gross-looking-as-before new recipes, as well as the hammy team-building that occurs among the chefs as they set about righting decades of culinary wrongs.

Ultimately, Lippert and others ask if the campaign – which includes the requisite landing page and Twitter presence – will really work. Do Domino’s core customers really care about the taste of the pizza or are they more concerned with the chain’s real unique selling propositions: the low price, ready availability and fast delivery?

Perhaps 2010 will tell. In the meantime, I believe it’s your move, Monsieur Hut.

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Great Minimalist Ads

Friday, November 13th, 2009

A fantastic collection of minimalist ads is up at creativebits. From the cute to the risqué, there’s a lot of memorable work in there–and dig all the white space!

FedEx_Statue-of-Sugarloaf.preview

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Buick to Lexus: "Ya Burnt!"

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

buick-vs-lexus-billboard-

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Awesome Moments in Corporate Branding/Intellectual Property Management

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

I was making my way over the Vincent Thomas Bridge yesterday en route to the LBC, when a container truck bearing an unusual logo for MOL shipping caught my eye:

MOL_Gator1Pretty cool, right? I mean, a wide-eyed gator hoisting a nondescript (but surely valuable) shipment over one scaly/burly arm? And did you notice his tattoo? Because he has a tattoo. Let’s face it, you’re not likely to find a sweeter corporate emblem…not on a semi truck, anyway.

Naturally, my first thought was, “there has to be a t-shirt of this somewhere.” A quick Google search (internet skillz!) was fruitless–not even an unauthorized Cafepress knockoff to be had. What I did find was a cool story on John Young’s blog about his own quest for an elusive MOL gator tee.

John went a little more all-out than I did, going so far as to get in touch with MOL’s manager of corporate communications, who was delighted to offer up hi-res art files for John’s personal use. It’s a nice reminder that not every company is as fiercely overprotective of its IP as, for instance, a certain mouse-eared company that I don’t have to name (but it’s Disney).

And if anybody sees an old MOL teamster’s shirt on eBay, please drop me a comment here.

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Techno-tainment Weekly

Friday, August 28th, 2009

Entertainment WeeklyIf you subscribe to Entertainment Weekly and you live in New York or Los Angeles, then you’re in for a special technological surprise this September. The EW issue will include a small video display developed by Americhip that is 2.7 millimeters thick. This nifty gadget will play ads for both Pepsi Max and the CBS fall prime-time lineup.

It should be pretty neat. We’re wondering what the next phase of interactive inserts will include. Food samples in Bon Appétit? On second thought, maybe that’s not such a good idea. The poor mail carriers already have enough dog issues. Carrying a magazine around that smells like steak and gravy probably wouldn’t help.

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Where did this $20 come from?

Monday, August 24th, 2009

Sneaky!Frequent visitors of Leicester Square, Oxford Street and the Tube should check their pockets—they may be in for a pleasant surprise.

A British telecom firm, the TalkTalk Company, has enlisted 20 former pickpockets for an unusual promotional campaign. Wandering the streets, the “put-pockets,” as they are coyly named slyly put money into the pockets of unsuspecting citizens along with a business card for the firm. The company will be giving away more than $150,000 during the campaign.

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