The space we're in

I've worked in cubes before. And a converted garage. An open loft, closed loft, and shared offices. I've co-worked, leased and coffee shopped. I've done the office space that was so amazing, you forget that people work there once you get passed the entrance.

That's the thing about space. It's different for every business. Every individual. No one lives in the exact same house, or drives the same car, but when it comes to where we work, often times we're in an environment not of our particular taste.

Part of branding is helping to create a space that reflects the company. Working with interior designers and architects, we partner together to create an environment that crafts non-verbal cues about what the company is about. Have you seen the google offices? They look like a playground. Then there's the corporate offices. Some designed to create awe and sophistication.  Others, let's face it, to intimidate. Law offices often go the traditional route. Hospitals seem to be getting better. Realizing that all white, while reflecting a "clean" feeling, feels sterile and does nothing for lifting the spirits.

So take a moment and look around you. What kind of space are you in? Does it connect to you? Is it an accurate reflection of the company you are in? Is it comfortable, or cold? It's a physical feeling we get from inanimate objects. What do you think others feel (or think) when they come to your space? Because the space we're in, tells a lot about where we are.

winter office signage

The Ghost Chair

Conference Room

Desk

Inspiration

Tools of the trade

Same name. Same product.

I've been vocal to my clients about domain names. No matter what, I tell them, don't buy a .biz or .net as your main address. Maybe in a few years, the trend for .com will shift, but we're not there yet.
It's second nature for us to look for a website with a .com, and if you're on a mac, you don't even need to type it in. It defaults to that address.

Case in point, I recently picked up some hand made soy candles. They're the best smelling things ever, and were reasonably priced. So today, I googled the name on the packaging. Which sent me to a company that also made the same product. Same name. Only difference was, I knew this wasn't the company. I recognized a different logo. (even the packaging had similar elements.) And while a designer would notice the difference, I don't think most people pay that close attention. To many similarities that it would have been easy to have gone to the competitor without realizing the mistake. The difference was the company I wanted had a .biz address.

Yes, it's getting more difficult to get the domain you want. Which means we as creatives need to be even more creative. But part of naming a business, a product, or service, and extending that marketing out to the public means being strategic. And thinking of all avenues that can be touched. Because you never want to send a potential client directly to your competitor. Let's make it easy. Even if that means taking a different path. In the end, you still want them to get there.

A support group for partners of designers

I'm feeling a little bad for my husband. Over the weekend we hung some shelves. And if we were a "regular" couple, it wouldn't be a big deal. But I'm a designer. And while my focus is on communication design, it doesn't stop there. Design seeps into every aspect of my life. And for some of us, it's a way of life. I can't go to the Shedd Aquarium and not be inspired by the color palettes of the Jellies. Or go for a walk and take pictures of the trees. I'm drawn to colors found in nature, but also textures, patterns, and shapes. Which leads me back to the shelves. They needed to be hung just so, with the objects placed in collections of 3s. Displayed with intention. Cluttered and organized is unacceptable. Because for some of us, it's the details in the details. We see things a certain way. Does it make it right? Maybe not always. But it does keep things interesting. And the shelves hung perfectly.