In the world of communication, innovation is always good. It attracts attention and sends out a great message about the product or service. And that’s exactly what you want from a street pole advert. This advert for ballet classes was spotted in New York. What makes it clever, is not just the fanned out tear-off labels, but the pink colour as well, just like a ballet tutu. Sure brings another meaning to the word ‘pole dancing’…
flavour of the week
updated every monday
Innovative pole dancing
Monday, 13 May 2013
Marketing economic nationalism
Monday, 6 May 2013
Years ago you would never have boasted, ‘made in China’. But these days, so much stuff is made in China. Since the early 1990′s economic nationalism in China has shifted from domestic – to international. And when China joined the WTO they joined the new flat world, where borders and nationalities finally surrendered to the competitive advantage. And as a result of this, billboards like this have sprung up everywhere. After all, even the billboards are made in China…
Using a distinctive shape for branding
Monday, 29 April 2013
This company has done such a fine job of branding the shape of their bottle, that we are not even going to tell you what company it is. And if you are struggling to guess, just call us and we will let you know. That is how distinctive the shape of this bottle is. And that’s what we call good branding. No words needed. No language barriers to cross. Enjoy…
An out of date buzzword
Monday, 22 April 2013
In the 90′s there was a proliferation of companies calling themselves something ‘solution’. Back then, it was the new buzzword that provided a value-added in the brand name itself. So one can just imagine companies such as internet solution, IT solution or conferencing solution. But a hairdresser? That’s weird. Well hopefully your hairstyle is not something that needs a solution. If it is, we know just the place…
Play on words
Monday, 15 April 2013
What a great play on words, especially these days when everyone is so environmentally conscious. In 1969, John Lennon wrote the Beatles single ‘give peace a chance’. The Oranjezicht City Farm has come out with a very clever play on Lennons words, reading ‘give peas a chance’. And when you think about it, we should give peas a chance. After all, peas are food and sustain life. Peas out man, peas out…
Breathing space
Monday, 8 April 2013
White space in design is also called breathing space. It is that space that allows the viewer to take a breath and not take in any information. Phew! In today’s world of increasing technology and the rise of messaging, it is important to just stop and take a breather. This very modest sign does something that not many signs do. It leaves some delicious white space above the logo. Most people would cram in some messaging, as they see it as an opportunity lost if they don’t. So the lesson is, don’t forget to breath…
A brand name represents a promise
Monday, 1 April 2013
What a strange combination. Its like ‘Cream Cake Video Shop’ or ‘Danish Pastry DVD’s’. Definitely the wrong brand name for that industry. Just doesn’t sound right. A brand name represents a promise to consumers. Why miss a golden opportunity for marketing your retail outlet? Rather use a delicious brand name for your bakery? Something that makes you drool. When giving your shop or product a brand name, try and represent your product or you may just eat your words…
Words as words, not a sentence
Monday, 25 March 2013
By default, people will automatically join words to make sentences. We have been doing it since we learned to read. So when you design your marketing signage, and you are stringing individual words together, make sure that the words don’t read as a sentence if they are not meant to. Otherwise, without meaning it, you may well be advertising chocolate pumpkin milk or rotisserie chicken biltong pizza, Sounds delicious, but unfortunately not available…
Aut-O-This, Aut-O-That
Monday, 18 March 2013
Do you fancy a painkiller with your chocolate bar? Just 5 South African Rand and we will make your headache disappear. And exactly how does this nifty little vending machine tell the world that it sells medicines that can cure common household ailments? With the name of course. Aut-O-Medic. Or the long version, Automatic Medicine. We take your money, we make you better. Never fear, Aut-O-Medic is here…
Branding should never date
Monday, 11 March 2013
As technology moves on, so does the terminology that goes with it. When emailing first came into our realm of communicating, the @ sign was very fashionable and current. But these days, the @ sign is certainly not fresh. Yes, twitter uses it, but @’s days of being hip are over. One of the golden rules of successful branding is that a logo should never date. So then why include symbols that will date? @CNA #oldfashioned #badbranding
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