26/04/2013
25/04/2013
My MORE TH>N icons out in the world
When I arrived at MORE TH>N in 2010 they didn't have a set of icons suitable for online use. A mixture of stock, bespoke and print icons were being used across the e-commerce journeys. I set myself the task of creating a new suite of icons, which went in to immediate use.
Each icon was specifically designed for use at a small size on a screen, however since they've been in use by the web team I've noticed them popping up in various offline marketing material.
Here they are in internal signage.
They even make the briefest appearance in MORE TH>N's recent TV spot. Can you spot them?
08/04/2013
The completely brilliant @joulee being brilliant - A Manager's Manifesto
Taken from her blog
A Manager's Manifesto:
10) Always get the full story before making a decision.
9)
It's incredibly easy to 'flip the switch' and start writing people off
after a few bad experiences. Resist at all costs. You were bumbling once
too. You made poor decisions. You learn and grow, and so does everybody
else.
8) Sweep up the crumbs. Wipe
the tables. Turn off the lights. Plug the holes that need plugging—even
if it's menial, even if nobody will know you did it. Do it in service of
the product, the company, and this wondrous, magical thing you are all
building together.
7) Recognize you can't do everything. Close your eyes, fall backwards, and learn to trust.
6) Clearly, there is a more efficient way to do the things you do. How? Ponder that on your daily drive home.
5)
Figure out which people rely on you and how you can help them be
self-sufficient. You may feel important having a monopoly on salmon
provisions, but if the whole village learns how to fish, it'll free you
up to do something else. Like figuring out how to grow wheat. Or how to
domesticate those cute wolf-pups.
4) Don't say anything if it's not actually contributing to the discussion. Your voice is not so melodious that it absolutely must be heard.
3) Making the best decision is not as important as putting in the right processes to ensure that the best decisions get made.
2) Dole out thanks and encouragement like you dole out opinions.
1) Above all, this: never, ever get in the way.
It's better to twiddle your thumbs and squint up at the clouds than to
obstruct progress for the sake of that stupid, childish thing called
ego.
- - - - -
Number 4 is sog good I'm going to repeat it, but bigger:
Don't say anything if it's not actually contributing to the discussion.
Your voice is not so melodious that it absolutely must be heard.
Your voice is not so melodious that it absolutely must be heard.
05/04/2013
Spotify's brand shift
Spotify is an awesome product. Maybe it's not as graceful as Rdio and maybe some of the Facebook sharing features are over zealous, but it's a vast pool of music that allows you to listen, share and discover music without downloading tracks or buying a landfill CD.
Initially the visual identity was playful, almost childlike with nice little handrawn illustrations and tiny graphic details. But recently it's moved in to a far more emotive territory. Now it's putting the effect of music at the front and using those small, but meaningful moments in life to connect to particular songs (or artists). In this recent TV spot there is no mention of the streaming service or the URL or in fact any real call to action. It simply (and quite beautifully) associates the Spotify brand with warm memories.
It's a very mature and enlightened brand strategy that will no doubt pay off. Just check out the stunning new spotify.com for further evidence of the new brand tone of voice at work. I've yet to discover who has taken the creative lead at Spotify since the departure of Rasmus Anderson, but I think the brand is looking better than ever and I hope to see the new direction find its way in to the product design soon.
Initially the visual identity was playful, almost childlike with nice little handrawn illustrations and tiny graphic details. But recently it's moved in to a far more emotive territory. Now it's putting the effect of music at the front and using those small, but meaningful moments in life to connect to particular songs (or artists). In this recent TV spot there is no mention of the streaming service or the URL or in fact any real call to action. It simply (and quite beautifully) associates the Spotify brand with warm memories.
It's a very mature and enlightened brand strategy that will no doubt pay off. Just check out the stunning new spotify.com for further evidence of the new brand tone of voice at work. I've yet to discover who has taken the creative lead at Spotify since the departure of Rasmus Anderson, but I think the brand is looking better than ever and I hope to see the new direction find its way in to the product design soon.
04/04/2013
A lovely ident for Picturehouse/Duke of York Cinemas
I'm a big fan of Picture House cinemas, particularly the Duke of York venues here in Brighton. I've been going to their events and screenings for a long time and I've always enjoyed how the organisers fill each experience with character and charm. Which is why I am particularly impressed with this ident. It really does capture that character and experience. Hats off to the Creative Director for letting the venues come to the fore.
08/03/2013
Thomas Cook creates "digital advisory board" from external suppliers
Travel organisation Thomas Cook has proudly unveiled a "digital advisory board" to help guide its digital strategy. The board is certainly an impressive collective of minds. The group of people they've managed to pull together will no doubt create a formidable amount of insight for Thomas Cook. If a brand is committed to the outsourcing model and wishes to rely on external suppliers to keep its management team up to date with emerging trends, then an advisory board seems like a good idea.
However the unveiling appears to be somewhat undermined by the second part of the press release which announces the newly established "E-ccommerce Centre of Excellence (ECE), creating a hub of talented individuals to provide strong functional expertise and support for the Group". This is confusing to me. If a brand has chosen to build a centre of excellence internally, what purpose does the advisory board offer? Surely the presence of both equates to an undervalued internal team. If a group of "talented individuals" have been given the task of providing support on digital matters to the organisation, then their insight and knowledge should be industry leading. It should truly be a centre of excellence made up of the best talent/experience available - much like the advisory board.
From my perspective, Thomas Cook's management are saying all the right things about their digital strategy, but not acting accordingly. If they really understood the importance of the web to their business, they would be writing press releases about the newsworthy promotions and hiring of industry heavyweights.
06/03/2013
Michael Jordan "Maybe It's My Fault"
Beautifully written spot for the latest Jordan campaign. He was a hero of mine, when I was young and this brings it all back. Art direction is cheesy, but the script is just right.
05/03/2013
Simple Muji Camera Concept
Beautiful camera concept, for Muji. I like the hidden touch gestures across the camera's surface, although I'm not sure how ergonomically friendly the form is or how easy it would be to hold the camera, whilst applying the gestures. However it remains a very well executed creative concept and another example of software and hardware design working together.
21/02/2013
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