Speaking of Creative Briefs...

...creative freedom is one thing, but it's best not to leave room for misinterpretation... lol. Walk? Wok?... :o)

Variable Data Innovation

A pilot project exploring the possibilities of customized publications, by email or by print, via data collected either by database or by on line information gathering. This site, developed with the expertise of designer extraordinaire, Simon Oakley, gives one demo of what is possible. ROI on this customized database publishing opportunity rises from a traditional 3 - 4% to a possibility of 12 - 15%. We've come a long way since landfill quality direct mail.... for the full demo site please visit http://media.mcmaster.ca/variable/

A New Look at Care for Seniors

A recent initiative for the HHS regarding senior care, chose the pearl as an appropriate symbol: recognizing each pearl is ‘one of a kind’ and one that becomes more beautiful and iridescent as it develops. This approach paved way to allow the introduction of strong character-orientated messaging.

Please Stay Tuned...

In our childhood pajamas we would sit in front of the television test screen, hands in chins, waiting patiently for the channel to return.

For the past week Rand's Place has been uncharacteristically quiet. I've been the one watching the test screen, living through a minor illness by prescription, sleeping and small sips of cold water... waiting for life to return to normal and programming to resume.

See you all soon!

Ladybug

Ladybugs, or ladybirds, have long been the favorites of children.

Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home
Your house is on fire and your children are gone
All except one, and that's Little Anne
For she has crept under the warming pan.

In parts of Northern Europe, tradition says when children capture a ladybug, make a wish, and then "blow it away" back home to make the wish come true.

In Italy, it is said by some that if a ladybird flies into a bedroom, it is considered good luck.

In central Europe, a ladybird crawling across a girl's hand is thought to mean she will get married within the year.

In Russia, a popular children's rhyme exists with a call to fly to the sky and bring back bread.

Similarly, in Denmark a ladybird, called a Mary's hen, is asked by children to fly to 'our lord in heaven and ask for fairer weather in the morning'.

In Turkey, ladybirds are called luck bug. When a ladybird lands on children, they wish something and sing "Fly fly my bug, your mother will buy you slippers and shoes".

In France, ladybirds are considered to be bringers of good weather.

May you all have good luck today, wherever you are. Times six.

The Look and Feel of Event Graphics - Update

Bottom two images: Options for a logo/event graphic for a yearly conference (IT providers in a higher education environment). Even honoring a historic maple leaf shape and name, the task of updating an event graphic from year to year often comes down to typography, effects, color - all affecting look and feel in different ways. Here, two options demonstrate the various "feels" that can be achieved.

Top image: some tweaking of the font and addition of a tag line, or theme. We're getting closer!!!

Friendly Patient Education

A project in development. Thoughtful communications are important for all sorts of different reasons and often the most valuable is found at a one-to-one level. Information between docs and young patients are helped explained with visual aids. Here, a demonstration of the process involved in the successful, healthy intake of food through the stages of providing sustenance to muscles, and one where lifestyle, diet or other medical issues may interfere with the process...

Pick Your Plum...

The Elephant In The Room...

(click to enlarge)

Personal Positioning

Just when you thought it was safe to come back to Rand's Place, another moral dilemma... how to address the issue of large egos without appearing egotistical... lol

Ongoing Sustainability

One of the benefits of a great client is the ability to move a concept forward through different applications. Here, new collateral for an persona previously posted here: a pull up banner for trade shows (showing the technical template with bleeds, etc.) and, below, an easel poster for local events.

Yellow Budgie In Dramatic Action

Animated Messaging

When it comes to communicating change to a young target audience, a friendly message that puts the blame on inanimate objects is often a good strategy! :o) In this case, the traditional use of cards to pay for photocopies is being replaced by an online management system where users will sign into an online account using their unique password. This message is being put up on computer screens, electronic message boards and posters throughout the facility far in advance of the switchover.

Working in Small Spaces

From the archives, an assignment for a suite hotel with three major benefits: amenities, size and location. Rather than listing the three benefits in one small space ad, running three ads in rotation and highlighting one benefit per ad proved more effective.

1+1=5?

Creating the illusion of the improbable is the art of many who are far better than I. Photoshop offers talented artists the opportunity to change the visual story from one that is "everyday" to one that may help deliver a message by prompting both interest and retention. (If you're interested, I've added the original photo below...)

How to Keep The Aliens Away :o)

Turtle Time

Storyboarding the Message

While looking though the archives I came across these two 30 second television spot storyboards: one for the Red Cross and the other for Health Canada/Family Service Canada.

The purpose of a storyboard is not to be a work of art (a good thing in my case) but to sketch out the concept, and to present how the audio and visual elements can work together to deliver the message. Once approved by the client, they are used to invigorate the production process from accessing talent, planning locations, lighting, prop and sound needs, and act as a script and a visual guide to shoot and edit through to the final product.

Kudos to mentors and team members Steve Williams, Stephen McGill and Michael Hicks, amongst many, many others...

Scripting Radio - Tell a Story

From the archives: a draft script for a thirty-second radio spot for a telephone company which draws on the history of the country and highlights the efficiency of modern services – in this case, the Bermuda telephone company, Quantum.

Radio is an opportunity to tell a story in 30 seconds. If set up properly at the outset, a spot like this, by subtly mixing in an ongoing, consistent flavor of sound effects and character roles, can be taken over the long term, and be spun off into a long term "brand personality" for the client in order to present updates to the benefit messages.

The Whoosh You Hear...

Reaching people in order to 'plug' (sorry) a good cause and enlist support and donations does not necessarily mean a picture of a woeful child with tears in their eyes. That tactic got old decades ago but remains a mainstay for charities. Fresh approaches can look past that and break through the charity clutter to demonstrate to target audiences 1) the need, and 2) that the viewer can be a part of the solution. Here, hard statistics from a reputable source provide the impact. Imagery provides a depiction of issue/solution.

All that's missing in this rough concept is the contact information. Or maybe it's not missing and is just an overall thought meant to give people the opportunity to choose their own path... hmmm...

Fresh Air...

Capturing a common memory can be an effective way to celebrate the spirit behind a current event. But it's tricky. You can easily overdo it and collapse into stereotypical imagery and sentiments. Plain language helps. Telling a simple story can break the bonds of the predictable. Thanks to Rick for the image that sparked the idea...

An Analogous Communication Technique

In trying to reach busy minds with a new, somewhat complex approach, it is sometimes handy to offer an analogy. This technique, demonstrated here in a somewhat humorous way, allows the viewer to 'see' what may be a challenge in a more friendly, interesting manner and may spark more interest, understanding and buy-in than a normal checklist of factors or benefits would. Photo courtesy of NASA

An Angel Singing

A neighbor of mine passed away this week. It made me think about things. And you know what happens when I think about things...

(Fun) Business Process Mapping

Back to business... Flow charts and lengthy step-by-step business process documents are very important, but when it comes to encouraging the enthusiastic participation of the team, sometimes a fun approach will enable quick reference to the process and overall buy-in of a new initiative. Here, a variation of rough draft of such a process map, prepared for a large organization. (Click on image to enlarge.)

Let The Games Begin

A quick look within to witness Canadian Olympic heart.