Apr 19A strong choice for the 2023 Pantone Color of the Year.I am fascinated by color and the power it has to shape perceptions. When you think of branding, you might consider the message or the focal image, but what often goes unrecognized is the strategic use of color to drive desire and make you “feel” something. When Pantone released its…Colorism2 min readColorism2 min read
Feb 21Is AI really coming for the creative class?The launch of ChatGPT and DALL-E in late 2022 produced a tidal wave that crashed through society in the same way that the reveal of the first generation iPhone left the globe quaking. We collectively stood up and said, “ooh, shiny new tool!” Then the hot takes started pouring in…AI3 min readAI3 min read
Feb 17Why Millennials love the entry of Gen Z into the workforceA wise marketing sage told me once that to understand language and its rapid permutations, look to the arbiters who shape it - middle school girls. Through smart phones and texting, these language pioneers shaped/are shaping culture itself. Condensing it. Simplifying it. …Millennials3 min readMillennials3 min read
Feb 172023 is the year I say goodbye to minimalist brandingTrends in branding shift faster then a Gen Z-er swiping up on TikTok. What worked last week in branding was to build a bold minimalist identity that worked well on digital channels and was serviceable for print. Clean UX trends pioneered by Apple and curated Millennial personas on Instagram reshaped…Branding3 min readBranding3 min read
Feb 7The 2022 PANTONE color of the year couldn’t be more perfect.Written for Scout Digital May 31, 2022 Say hello to Very Peri (17–3938). Pantone developed a brand new color formula for this one to represent the unprecedented change we experienced last year. Some kids grow up to be just like their parents, some kids are a reaction. Very Peri is…Color Theory2 min readColor Theory2 min read
May 30, 2019Member-onlyVoice-enabled brands are so hot! Introduce voice into your brand for deep, natural communication with your audience.Today the smart devices in our lives are all integrated with voice recognition software. It’s on your phone “Hey Siri!” and it’s in your smart speaker “Alexa!” The ubiquity of these devices makes for powerful marketing opportunities for voice-enabled brands to build deep and personal engagement with their audience. The numbers don’t lie. According to a 2018 study in collaboration with National Public Radio and Edison Research:Small Business2 min readSmall Business2 min read
May 21, 2019Member-onlyEmbrace your weirdness and build a unique brand that stands out in a crowded field.All the geeks and dropouts from grade school and college are today’s changemakers. These unaverage trendsetters who buck convention and question standards are succeeding in an ocean of copycats and me-too's. …Small Business2 min readSmall Business2 min read
May 8, 2019Member-onlyStock photos are omnipresent. Our favorite stock image alternatives to tell your brand story.Visuals are a powerful expression of your brand story that should be thoughtfully crafted and curated to ensure your brand is effectively portrayed. Stock images are so ubiquitous today that they often fail to capture the true essence of the brands they represent. Photography can be a fantastic tool to…Marketing3 min readMarketing3 min read
Apr 24, 2019Member-onlyPrint isn’t dead. It’s rad! Old school print marketing ideas to build fresh engagement with your customers.Digital natives might perceive print as antiquated, but the tactile sensation of a printed piece yields a more intimate experience than a cluster of pixels ever could. Print marketing is alive and well. …Print2 min readPrint2 min read
Apr 3, 2019Member-onlyBuild an online community that is aligned to the values of your audience to insert your brand into the conversation.Remember when social media was for connecting people, not getting sold to by advertisers? Ad targeting has corrupted the original intent of the mega social platforms, but a modern brand need not engage in traditional advertising to leverage the value of these channels. …Small Business3 min readSmall Business3 min read
