Sustainability Acts of a Different Kind

A personal thought that one's own perception is often a good place to begin in developing a better personal environment.

A Rare Editorial

A concept prompted by one particular group's recent pie-in-the-face incident in Canada and today's rants against Groundhog Day in the US...

Sunday Playtime

Often, a concept begins with the question "what if..."

What if personal batteries were available and came in flavors to charge you up with your own motivator? Would it be a good book, a scintillating conversation, a night with the inlaws, a tall glass of cold milk, the color yellow, or the ever popular coffee fix? Mine happens to be meatballs. I lust after meatballs. And after getting some, I'm totally charged! (Okay, I'm weird, LOL!)

Coping Playtime

Three-Dimensional Effectiveness

One of the pleasures of my work with academics is being able to help express a complex concept in a graphic form. I've learned, through my work, that evaluating effectiveness is often not a two-dimensional thing, but it is often a three-dimensional 'matrix', where all factors come together to create a whole. Where missing sectors are able to be charted, identified and addressed. (Click on image to enlarge.)

Here, a personal expression - a work in progress and your comments, suggestions and tweaks are welcome. I'd be glad to add the revised version to this post! Have fun!

Web Concepting Deux

How to present a service with a diverse set of offerings? Our own microsite, developed in Flash, borrows the concept of our Service Desk. Scrolling back and forth along the "desk" reveals the different services, represented by various icons. Mousing over the images reveals the service title in the right corner of the top banner. Clicking on the icon sweeps the image to the end of the service desk to reveal a page with specifics... with an animated hand popping in with a post-it note with contact info for each service. See the site here: http://mps.mcmaster.ca

Heartfelt thanks to Steve, Simon, Martin and Tara for their many hours of gnashing of teeth, tearing out of hair and general sweat and toil...

Web Concepting

Linking the visual set up of a website to the concept behind the organization gives you the opportunity to consider abandoning the traditional menu bars and creating an unique experience for the viewer. Here, an early site for a member network, (designed to link researchers from different regions, to share documents, discussions and collaborate on development). The site is clean, showing a menu of interconnected orbs. When moused over, the choices for that section are revealed and the thematic pic changes inside the center of the menu. Clicking on the orb takes the viewer to the general section, while mousing down and clicking on a menu item takes the viewer to that particular page.

Ode to Patrick Nagel

Yakyak Playtime

Retro Moment

Empty Chair

A study for an annual report for the CCSA, highlighting harm reduction and the value of helping keep people with difficulties in the system.

Mixed media on canvas.

New Year Playtime

Pending Playtime

Playtime (b)...

2009

My own thought for this time of the year attempts to present an example of a 'marriage' between a visual and the copy. Apart, the photo or headline can be interpreted in any number of ways. Together, they support each other to define both the personality of the piece, and deliver the message.

Caption/Headline Collaboration?

Post your thoughts about what caption or headline might make this visual (created so long ago I forget what for) pertain to a timely concept for a worthy cause, be it a personal development or not-for-profit message... Have fun and keep 'er clean!

Above, a contribution from a custom lettering designer Alan Ariail, from the Chicago area, who wrote and designed this phrase to go along with the visual. A splendid mix! You'll find Alan's blog here.

Thanks to all the ideas submitted both from here, LinkedIn and FB. Not a bad one in the bunch! And keep 'em comin'!

Redo Playtime

A rough concept from a two-page spread, originally written and designed in the 90's, updated to pose a message of support for Canadian athletes in the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. (Click on image to enlarge.)

May I Wish You Hope...

Unscare Tactics

A work in progress. A different take on preventative medicine messaging. After all, why scare people when there may be no need?

A Playtime Urge

Capturing a thought about motivation and the value of asking the right question...

Convergence

A commission from FSC for their "National Family Week" poster... With the scattering of family members that is prevalent today, this mixed media on canvas depicts individuals coming together and the ongoing importance of the family "gathering".

Sustainability

I have recently had the honour of participating in a campaign for our new Sustainability Office. In a world full of environmental messages a very simple icon seemed to be the right strategy. One that could be used in many collateral pieces, and become, instantly recognizable as an icon for sustainability.

Establishing Presence

A new brand identity, designed by friend David Smith, launched a new internet authority in Canada. This full page Marketing Mag ad provided a rationale on the purpose behind the organization, and outlined benefits for "buy in".

Envisioning the Future

Setting the stage for the future of an industry and capturing the imagination of consumers helps build consumer loyalty...

Philanthropy is Academic

There's not much need for loud pleas for donations to charity if the target market is credited with a little intelligence - in this case learned professionals.