I saw an interesting article in the Dec 12^th Adweek, “A Holiday Tale: The Christmas Tree Wars.”

The article does a good job of framing the business and marketing aspects of the competition between “mom-and-pop” tree sellers vs. the “big box” stores that sell fresh trees in their garden departments. What’s missing in the discussion is what may be mom and pop’s best advantage: tradition. No other time of year is so built on maintaining tradition like the Christmas season. We don’t even like most new Christmas songs, although we also complain that there are so few Christmas songs. Why? Tradition.

What buying a tree from a “big box” store offers in convenience, it lacks in the ability to reinforce good old heart-warming traditions. I’d hate to see mass retailers kill the Christmas tree tradition and I think this might be one case where emotion will win out over practical convenience.  Merry Christmas!

Judson Luke | Post a Comment

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“Words have meaning and type has spirit,” says Paula Scher. “And the combination is just spectacular.”

Typography is used in advertising and marketing to give “meaning and spirit” to a company’s brand identity.

Part of the PBS web series, “Off Book,” is the short film “Type,” exploring the diversity of typographic expression through conversations with iconic graphic designer Paula Scher, font designers Tobias Frere-Jones and Jonathan Hoefler, the experimental young designer Eddie Opara, and cutting-edge info-graphic creators Deroy Peraza and Julia Vakser.

Watch the full episode. See more Off Book.

Type is the visual representation of our language. It adds shape, texture, mood and feeling to our messages, creating subtle layers of nuance and meaning. As it shapes your brand identity, it also enhances its emotional intangibles. Next time you look at an advertisement, a sign or a logo maybe you’ll see it a little bit differently.

Julie Meidam | Post a Comment

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Who doesn’t love free stuff? CreativePro.com writer Pariah Burke recently posted an article in their “Free for All” series offering 10 InDesign table styles, 12 sans serif fonts, 13 letterpress Photoshop layer styles and three color reference infographics. All for free. Well… almost.

If you want the tables, you’ll have to pony-up with a tweet. StockInDesign service is looking to build their Twitter following with the promise of 10 free table design templates.

This is a great way for any business to help build their brand online. Offering items of real value to a target audience is great way to show what you know and establish credibility and buzz. In this case, tweet cred.  This strategy works well with Facebook and other social media outlets. It also works as a way to drive visitors to your website. That’s a lot a mileage out of a very small investment. It’s a win-win situation. InStockDesign gets increased exposure for their brand on Twitter and you get the free stuff. (more…)

Julie Meidam | Post a Comment

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Examples of proposed barcode designs, from left, depict a hand mixer, jelly beans, skyline, school bus and trousers.

I recently read an interesting article by Sarah Nassauer at WSJ.com about vanity barcodes on product packaging. Marketers and package designers have finally made the utilitarian bar code part of the package design and brand message.

One product featured in the article has taken the concept a step beyond by creating a vanity mobile code that consumers can scan using smart phones, providing a direct link between marketers and consumers.

Watch the video below highlighting some of the brands now using vanity barcodes on their product packaging.

Julie Meidam | Post a Comment

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I love to work out. In fact, I’m kind of a freak about it. My goal is to have a very diverse workout routine for three reasons:
1) It prevents me from getting bored
2) It keeps my body “guessing”
3) It ensures I’m constantly using new muscle groups so that I can see results for my efforts. (more…)

Angela Mork | Post a Comment

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For the past 5+ years I have been meeting two of my good friends most Fridays for a Classic Milwaukee Breakfast at George Webb — a great start to the weekend as we all fuel up with copious amounts of caffeine and “smart” dialog. Sounds innocent enough, right? (more…)

Gregg Kerttula | Post a Comment

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Hey, good news – I can now add photographer to my list of talents here at the agency.

A few weeks ago I received the latest copy of Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine at work. After thumbing through it I went to the back cover and saw an ad for Rockwell Collins. The ad did its job – it stopped me for sure, not because of the messaging, but rather for the photo of United Nations relief supplies with an Air Force C-130 aircraft in the background.

I think the photo in the ad looks awesome, due to the way the composition and lighting focuses in on the supplies in the foreground and slightly blurs the aircraft behind them…but also because I took it. (more…)

Steve Staedler | Post a Comment

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Here’s the beginning of a multipart tutorial that will culminate in a functional WordPress blog.

Chris Spooner’s post, Creating a Stylish Blog Design Layout in Photoshop, shows how to concept a blog design using Photoshop.

Check back at Line25 for further installments of the tutorial.

Julie Meidam | Post a Comment

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June issue of IMPO

Nothing beats a cover.

I worked to get my client profiled on the cover of Industrial Maintenance and Plant Operation’s (IMPO) June issue. In the business-to-business world of Public Relations, landing a cover is gold. When our clients are on the cover, their competitors aren’t. (more…)

Steve Staedler | Post a Comment

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I promise that I won’t stay on my alcoholic beverage theme much longer, but I thought I’d share this commercial for Sapporo Beer. 

Sapporo Beer Commercial (more…)

Judson Luke | Post a Comment

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