I just experienced a strange case of brand deja-vu on a mini break at Silverwater Resort. I was struck by the similarity of the Silverwater Resort brand to that of Emaar Properties.
The resort is in an idyllic spot overlooking Phillip Island. It has a lot going for it, especially if you have kids. But the similarity of the brand identity made me feel like the whole experience was not authentic.
The world of retailing is changing and the bricks & mortar ‘only’ strategy is truly under threat. What is required from retailers is a new paradigm based on integrated retailing. That is where physical shops are simply part of the offer to customers – a new mental model that actively pursues online as well as off-line sales environments. An approach that seeks to use technology to enhance shopper experiences, that gives consumers the choice as to where and how they research and consummate their purchases.
For generations, parents have been trying to get their kids to eat healthier food. Is it possible that one brand has finally found a way to make it happen, at least at school?
Students lead the way in Ferrar’s future!
Ferrari World Design Contest is a competition that was launched by the team from Maranello in collaboration with Autodesk (the project’s technical partner and official sponsor) for schools and universities from the design and automotive sectors not only in Italy but around the world to create the Ferrari of the future.
The famous and annoying catch cry, “down, down” and the big red finger might actually carry far greater symbolism for Coles and their reputation than they realise. As the brand becomes more elastic and focuses on ‘stretch, stretch how far can we stretch’, could this strategy actually bring the brand down or is Coles setting a new benchmark for Australian brands?
Companies are always seeking new ways to grow and expand but when brands start to develop a bigger range of products, there is a danger of stretching the brand too far. Extensions can have a knock on effect that confuses the brand’s identity, its customers and can potentially leave the brand open to attack from more focussed competitors.
A great TED talk from Child prodigy Adora Svitak. Adora says the world needs “childish” thinking: bold ideas, wild creativity and especially optimism. Kids’ big dreams deserve high expectations, she says, starting with grownups’ willingness to learn from children as much as to teach. There are some great, big ideas in this clip - check it after the jump…
Chipotle has joined forces with Willie Nelson to create this beautiful animated short. Hauntingly covering Coldplay’s The Scientist, the short tells an emotional and beautiful story of the modern food production world. The message doesn’t directly advertise Chipotle’s product (creating hand crafted burritos that supports local produce and farmers) but rather supports their cause. While there are a growing number of organic, local farmer supported products, the cause is enough and this type of creative strategy is not only going to strengthen Chipotle’s brand but also their industry. And being a leader in a growing market is a good place to be. What’s more they have embraced the opportunity to create something lasting and with meaning.
Check out the beautiful animated short after the jump.
In a post last year I explained ‘Why the designer needs an EPS‘. A post to clarify the differences between Vector and Bitmap files and why one might be preferable to the other. Near the end of the post I mentioned that we provide all our logo art work as PDF and PNG files. Today I’m going to explain why we made that decision, and why it’s better for our client and their suppliers.
What Next for Rock-n-roll’s Branding Rockstars?
Rock Gods AC/DC have long been a major export brand for Australia. With earnings of more than $100m p.a. AC/DC are second only to U2 when it comes to earning the big rock-n-roll bucks. But contra=y to their hard rockin’ image, AC/DC are also the masters of leveraging their brand for commercial gain. The latest in a long line of band brand extensions see the release last week of AC/DC wine.
How bold can your brand gesture go?
I couldn’t help but notice this incredible bold brand gesture concept that I stumbled across whilst flicking through The Cool Hunter.
