Here is a blast from July 1993, supporting my theory of the New England business client in July & August.
A Little (Local) Summer Fun.
With New England’s summer in full swing and clients headed to the beaches, for those of us in the marketing communications business, it is NOT time to panic. More work will begin to roll in shortly.
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Hand Fan design for Andover Newton Theological School
Personal Analog Air Conditioning Device
Inside sources, have told us that operating one of these PAACDs will not only provide a refreshing breeze, they will register solid progress in your Fitbit or other human movement tracking device.
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Corporate Mark, recently designed by EYMER for VizSafe's BLURPIN iPhone App.
Recent Work: Blurpin Corporate Mark
Easily post photos and short video clips from your phone, all mapped for others to see where and when.
Read MoreHoliday Greetings have come home to roost!
EYMER BRAND Laboratories + Think Tank has spent many pre-holiday hours, preparing for the deliver of client holiday greetings. CIEE, the education and international exchange company, sent out a printed card, as well as an email linked to an online holiday greeting.
CIEE's multi-fold, printed holiday card. Finished size: 4.75" x 4.75". Fits into 5.0" x 5.0" envelope
CIEE email greeting that is linked to an online, animated greeting
CIEE's animated holiday greeting
For national law firm, Sullivan & Worcester, we also created an animated greeting–linked to an email greeting sent to clients and friend's through the company's email system.
Sullivan & Worcester's animated holiday greeting
Finally, for Boston Intellectual Property law firm, Wolf Greenfield, we developed a printed recipe card box, complete with enough (4.0" x 6.0") cards to create a wonderful 7-course holiday dinner. Of the 14 recipes, half will actually yield palatable results. The other 7 are merely futuristic IP concepts developed by specific practice groups within the firm.
As you can see, it has been an extremely busy early winter–hopefully, an indication of steady work ahead for 2015! –Cheers! Happy Holidays! Doug.
Don’t Allow Ill-Fitting Taglines to Sink Your Company Ship.
Obviously, I have been in the marketing communications business way too long. I know this because I now have the tendency to dissect taglines–searching for hidden meaning, as well as the reason for their existence.
Here are two prime examples.
I was recently visiting Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. On the door of their Facilities Management vehicles, the slogan beneath their iconic shield is: “We Care”. To my occasionally cynical business mind, this tagline/slogan was developed only to combat a popular feeling amongst those familiar with this fine Ivy League Institution, that this particular department really didn’t care — or worse, couldn’t care less.
I am not saying that this is true, it’s just the way that marketing mind has been reconfigured over the past three decades.
Although, when you really think about it, why would an organization spend the time and resources developing such a communications device — if it wan’t attempting to squelch a popular belief amongst the general population? Why wouldn’t they care? Why is there the need to announce it? If I am paying a gazillion dollars for a college education, I would only hope that they care-even just a little!
I recently found another example of “sketchy” marketing copy on the label of a gallon of spring water purchased at a local convenience store. Not only is the plastic jug’s content spring water, it is “Select” spring water. This begs the question — are there multiple grades of spring water, as in gasoline? What determines which is regular spring water, mid-grade spring water or select? Does select spring water carry more important vitamins and minerals? Or is the regular variety more likely to contain leaf particles and pollywog residue?
My marketing copywriter pal, Jim Montgomery often describes taglines (or slogans) as barnacles that often grow on the bottom of a boat. From time to time, they just need to be scraped off. – Doug.
CONTENT (the marketing term and why it needs help)
Lately, I have been kept awake at night, considering the word CONTENT–as it applies to business success generation (marketing). There are many times, when used without a descriptor, CONTENT begins to sound like either polyester pillow stuffing, or the foam insulation that is blown into attics. Here are 3 sketches that may at some point, find there way into a CONTENT MARKETING presentation.
Instantaneous Hotel Room Chic from Marriott
(I write this with my “snarkasm” filter cranked up to 11)
If you are like me, while on business travel, you are hanging around your corporate hotel room and suddenly it dawns on you. Hey! Wouldn’t it be great to have an exact replica of this room carefully tucked within my very own residence!
Marriott's In-Room Catalog
Sure this would be great–but think of the time involved in tracking down the exact bed runner, shower head, table lamp, the slightly used terry-cloth robe and the aromatherapy personal care products. Who has the time?
But wait!
The marketing wizards at Marriott have developed their own in-room catalog–providing an easy-to-follow online shopping roadmap–making this far-fetched dream an easy-to-obtain reality. Prices range from $40 for the projection alarm clock up to $3642 for the Complete King-sized bed package (Euro Sham, Euro Pillow, Accent Pillow, Duvet Cover, Matelasse Deluxe Bed Skirt).
If you are like me, your fingers will want to immediately run (not walk) to www.shopmarriott.com. Enjoy! – Doug.