This is the blog presence of
MIYO | STUDIOS - a creative firm
specializing in Design, Branding,
and Identity.
In the world of brand development, it is important to stay current and the BLOG is the place where you can take a look at some of the interesting things going on around the world.
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A quick post:
Amtrak trains are now Wi-Fi enabled and the company released some great ads highlighting this new feature. The illustrations are crisp and modern; and the universal Wi-Fi symbol was nicely integrated into each scene. Nice job.
*cf
As a fan of the television show Mad Men (what designer isn't, really?), it should not surprise me that my Netflix genie suggested I would enjoy the documentary film Art & Copy.
Indeed, the genie was right. What an interesting film this was -- particularly in light of the recent death of Steve Jobs. I think those of us in creative fields have been doing more self-reflection than usual this week, wondering what our own artful legacies will be in this world. In Art & Copy, the contributors -- most of whom are some of the most prolific and pioneering figures in advertising -- speak to the impact their respective work has had in the world of business and brand-building.If you have any interest in learning more about the genesis of some of the greatest ad campaigns and agencies in the United States, I would recommend you take the time to watch Art & Copy. You'll hear about the 'Got Milk' campaign, Tommy Hilfiger's debut on the fashion scene, and the classic Volkswagen ads from the 1960s, among other interesting stories.
Oh, and you'll also learn about a young visionary's willingness to put his money where his mouth is, so to speak, in producing the ad to launch his company's new computuer in 1984.
*cf
These ads (real?) for Dockers are very cool. They have a rustic feel to them and the compositions are great, as well. I've never seen this anywhere in print, but...I'd like to.
*cf
It occured to me the other day that it has been awhile since I've seen a non-BP "energy" company television ad.
Admittedly, I don't actually watch much tv these days. That said, on the sporadic occasions when I have turned on the tube in the months since the Gulf spill, I've been bombarded with the faces of concerned BP engineers during every commercial break. But the thoughtful, trusty scientists of ExxonMobil...? *crickets*
That led me to ponder: Did the other oil companies pull their ads to avoid soiling their brand with the woes of competitor BP? If so, it makes sense.
In the minds of many consumers, the proverbial Oil Companies are all just variations on a theme. A disaster caused by one means guilt-by-association for the entire industry. It's an interesting situation to consider, not only for the oil industry but for others as well - pharmaceuticals, food producers, auto manufacturers, etc.
If the ExxonMobil ads were pulled immediately, was it simply part of a strategic disaster plan that was triggered into action? Do other industry leaders have similar plans in place? If not, are they now in development? And how long will ExxonMobil wait before reinstituting its ad campaign?
Perhaps in the future, we'll know the answers to these questions. For now, though, on a micro-level - what does this mean for your industry? What's your plan if your competitor screws up in a big way? Are you prepared to ride out the storm?
*cf
*Image via Huffington Post
It has come to my attention that certain words have certain meanings. I mention this because this information can be important - particularly when describing one's profession. Say, for instance, that you practiced in one of the following fields:
If you were asked to explain the difference between them all, could you do it? Go ahead. Think on it for 30 seconds... How did you do? Did you come up with anything? Or did you quit after you envisioned a car commercial, your frazzled company marketing director, the White House Press Secretary, and your favorite cereal?
Differentiating between these terms is surprisingly difficult because all of these disciplines are very much connected in their intent - that being the communication of "ideas" from one entity or organization to another. Where they differ, however, is in the measurements of success. Did the customer buy the product? Do more people know about our company this year versus last? Are we well-considered by the community? Does every aspect of our organization represent our company culture and value system?
As you can see, these questions are all somewhat related. But, the preferred answer to each can only be obtained in a particular manner, utilizing the tools of a particular discipline. The disciplines in question are, of course, Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations, and Branding.
And, in the spirit of meaningful words, the definitions of each discipline are as follows:
ADVERTISING
The activity of attracting public attention to a product or business, as by paid announcements in the print, broadcast, or electronic media. The business of designing and writing advertisements - (from Dictionary.com)
MARKETING
Marketing is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large - (from the American Marketing Association)
PUBLIC RELATIONS
- (from the Public Relations Society of America)
BRANDING
Branding is how you go about establishing your brand's differentiated meaning in people's minds...Branding is about signals - the signals people use to determine what you stand for as a brand. Signals create associations. (from BrandSimple by Allen P. Adamson)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Public Relations Society of America, American Marketing Association, American Association of Advertising Agencies, Brandchannel
