Author Archive

Every girl wants a new do!

February 14, 2011

 

Today is the day! Time for a new hairdo. Something fresh, contemporary, inspirational, reflective of the times, yet respectful of tradition. So, when Gamma Phi Beta decided to update their Foundation brand, the appointment was made. All it took was a collaboration of shampoo, conditioner, a clip here and a clip there, a touch of color and a final blow-dry. Oh! how a new hairdo makes you feel. A renewed spirit and soul. In this case less is more, as there was no need for an overhaul, but to simply refresh what was fundamentally good.

 

Anatomy of a Sub-Brand. KBR Technology

August 30, 2010

In this case HOW does a small group of a big brand company make itself known in the world of its customers?

Make it powerful, simple, and about the client’s technologies. This was hard – as we set out to design nothing “technical” looking. We worked to find images that had just the right expression: Activity, growth, things in motion, people on the street – well, life.

We needed vivid and engaging colors to tell the story but not conflict with any brand standards. We selected colors from within the photo images. Each color choice is part of its environment, not part of a brand palette.

This campaign has five stand-out elements…

1. “HOW IN YOUR WORLD” – it’s the customers’ world

2. World photos – big local images

3. Colors – a palette from within the photos

4. Feature box – subject specific text

5. Small insert photo – KBR Technology professionals

And, strategically, two big brand tie-ins…

6. “Know-How Delivered” – a tagline extension of the big brand
is “We Deliver”

7. The logo is big brand, of course – the business unit TECHNOLOGY descriptor is nearby for the sub-brand customer

The creative team started with Richard Laurence Baron, Signalwriter, and included the Prism beans of Stacy Allen, Terry Teutsch and Susan Reeves.

Inspiration delivered by the clients at KBR Technology, of course.

KBR Technology: more examples.

KBR Brochure design

KBR Banners: Tradeshow display and Web advertising.

KBR Print Ads, plus a PowerPoint template. There is a post on Signalwriter, by Richard Laurence Baron about the development of this KBR Technology sub-brand.



We’ve moved! And are painting today.

March 9, 2010

We moved our Prism studios “about one minute away” sites Google maps. It’s a nifty location just north of Memorial Drive in an early 1980-ish style building. Here’s our new address to copy/paste:

Prism Design, Inc.
99 Detering Street, Suite 106
Houston, Texas 77007
713-871-8376 (same phone)

We’re specifying paint for every wall in the place. Gotta love this challenge. But why aren’t paint colors identified the same as PMS colors? Who cares with names like Grandiose*, Aqua-Sphere, Melange Green and a most powerful accent – Show Stopper red. All of these beauties will be strutting their values on our new studio walls this week.

Thanks to paint providers Sherwin Williams and the construction crew of The Finger Companies we’ll be ready for guests in just a few days.

*Yes, it’s a lot like our blog background. Hey, Sherwin Williams has a cool iphone app for color.

We made a resolution – on billboards.

January 27, 2010

If you were going to say something about yourself, which all of Houston (Dallas is next) could see – what would it be? Oh, and please express it in less than 10 seconds while folks are whizzing by in cars.

Champion Energy Services wanted to say a lot… and look smart, and show up from hundreds of feet away, and stand out from the competition.

Concept first: Put the computer tricks aside. If the idea doesn’t work in a sketch it’s not going to work in the sky. We’re talking about Champions here – the stakes are high.

Image: We resolve it will be powerfully simple.

Color: We promise to break the corporate PMS rule and adjust for viewing of this outdoor media.

Text: We commit to emphasize what’s most important.

Logo: We resolve to make it known.

Action: Find us on the web, call us from your car. We’re here to help.

Thanks to the folks at Champion Energy Services and Elizabeth Fordham of Quill & Ink who’s words are featured in this billboard, for allowing us to make this resolution.


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