It is amazing how this representation of a magnified snow flake has become so famous. This elementary symbol is recognized everywhere. And what does it mean? It means cold, simple as that. That is why it makes such an ideal icon. Here in this signage, the icon is placed next to a supermarket trolley filled with goodies. Just by the association of the snow flake and the supermarket trolley, it implies that the goodies are cold, the goodies are fresh. This icon is so good, that it’s hot…
flavour of the week
updated every monday
Getting your plastic foot in the retail door
Monday, 16 January 2012
Using a full size mannequin to display a woman’s dress is normal. Or using a plastic man to display a two piece suit. But using just a plastic foot to display a sandal is quite frankly, bizarre. Do you look at it and pretend that the plastic foot is your own. Mmm, my foot looks good in that cheap Chinese shoe, so I think I will buy the shoe. It certainly does differentiate it from the other shoes, and getting attention is a winner in a retail environment. And of course the best thing a salesman can do, is to get one foot in the door…
Capitalising on whale watching
Monday, 9 January 2012
Hermanus in South Africa is known to have some of the best land based whale watching in the world. So as you can imagine, every business is Hermanus tries to squeeze a whale into their branding somewhere. For example there is the guest house Whale Cottage which advertises rooms awhalable. There is the Whale-Med Health Centre, Whale Haven Winery and the list goes on. This particular restaurant logo of the Victoria Eatery in Hermanus however, takes it a whole step further and harpoons a whale on a fork. The graphic is unique and memorable and is in essence, a great logo. Surprised however, that the animal rights activists haven’t yet thrown in their two cents worth. But judging by the fork, the whales are rather small anyway….
So simple, so effective
Monday, 2 January 2012
You get on to a train in England and peer at your ticket. You shuffle down the carriage looking for your seat. Eventually you come across two seats alongside each other, one at the window, one on the isle. Your ticket says that your seat is number 49. Which seat do you sit in? Well, with this easy graphic of a window placed next to the number 49, there is no question. You are in the window seat. No matter what language you speak. This is the joy of using simple multilingual icons. No words required. No language necessary. Ooops, right seat, wrong train….
Tripease sounds like striptease
Monday, 26 December 2011
For most of us, the word striptease conjures up a woman (or man) slowly taking of their clothes and revealing a naked body. Stripping has entertained men (and women) for centuries. The word striptease in itself, is a combination of strip and tease. Strip – to remove and tease – to tempt. It is a word that conjures up sexy and fun. These homeopathic travel sickness tablets very cleverly capitalized on the positive fun aspect of the word ‘striptease’. On their packaging we see ‘tripease’ but subliminally we associate it with striptease. The words trip and ease are also brilliant, because they cleverly describe the benefits of this travel sickness remedy. Who would think, that traveling naked was the solution to nausea…
3D gets attention
Monday, 19 December 2011
Flat signage is one thing, but 3D is another. This optician in Spain takes full advantage of the sidewalk and places a huge spectacle frame outside his shop. As a pedestrian or if you were driving by, there is no way that you would miss this. Whereas you could easily miss a regular flat sign on the front of the shop. Three dimensional reaches in to your space, whereas flat just sits there, using every device it can to get your attention. So the tip is, make a spectacle of yourself if you want to be noticed…
Monday, 12 December 2011
The brand name ‘Moov’ seems to be just a meaningless word. Maybe it has something to do with cows. That is until you add the strapline ‘like never before’. We then recall the phrase ‘move like never before‘ and ‘moov’ starts to mean ‘move’ and our imagination does the rest. Maybe it is a removal company, maybe an aerobics class, maybe a school for playing chess. This South African company however, moves petroleum from one place to another. Weird. How can petroleum be moved like never before? Anyway, moooving on….
Increase your marketing vocabulary
Monday, 5 December 2011
Restaurants pretty much sell you food and the experience of dining there. Their marketing to the public is usually centered around this. After all, you are going there for the food, good service, a great environment and reasonable prices. So their marketing vocabulary is pretty limited. This restaurant however, regularly chalks up a philosophical message on their blackboard. This creates that very important point of difference. If you identify with the message, you are much more likely to dine there. And you won’t dwell on your misfortunes…
Flushing your brand down the toilet
Monday, 28 November 2011
One would think that businesses would try and drive traffic into their front doors rather than sending the people to the toilet. This signage found at Makro, the South African superstore does exactly the opposite. In reality, this sign for their in-store coffee shop, should have been twice the size. It should overpower the toilet sign. In fact the toilet sign should really have been placed elsewhere, as it should never appear so close to your logo. Otherwise people will associate your coffee shop and the toilet together which ultimately erodes your brand. Brand erosion is basically flushing your brand down the toilet…
Google uses postal mail for marketing
Monday, 21 November 2011
It’s amazing! The worlds largest online search engine company, Google, uses the good old fashioned postal service to market Google AdWords. It just shows you that a mailshot received in your postbox is still very powerful. And Google recognizes this. And Google is the giant of giants when it comes to adverting. One would tend to think that they would focus on online marketing only. After all, that is what they do so incredibly well. Just goes to show, print will never die. And there is still nothing that beats getting a handwritten letter from your mum…
- get our
flavour of the week
emailed to you... - simply add your email address:
our friends
CAPE TOWN -
World Design Capital 2014