Brands Are People Too
Branding is not a superficial activity or the application of some kind of veneer. You are talking about work done by people so that a brand can connect in various ways with people. For more, read the ChangeThis manifesto.

Cool Friends interview at tompeters.com
The Cool Friends section of the Tom Peters site highlights business thinkers and other cool friends who have influenced Tom. They are interesting to read, and we’re honored that Joy has been included. Read the conversation with Erik Hansen about design, some projects we’ve done with Tom, and using your powers for good.

Design connects. email series
Many clients have similar issues to solve as they work toward connecting with their constituents. The landscape of solutions continues to shift along with various underlying technologies. Design connects. shares info, resources and ways we’ve approached work. Sign up for our email list and, if there are particular topics you’d like to see addressed, drop a note. Take a look at past emails in this series:

Where’s the best place to hide a body? (A quick digital marketing update.) | A couple weeks ago, I attended a terrific event from 312digital that provided a quick filter and update on digital marketing — specifically SEO, content strategy, and social media marketing. A lot of territory was covered. Here are a handful of quick take-aways from three of the sessions, helpful tips on how we can help get your content on page 1 of Google search… Read more.

Video | A well-crafted video can help you accomplish many things, a few being: extend your brand vocabulary to use more emotion-rich elements, position someone in your organization as a thought leader, provide how-to information that’s clearer and more engaging than text…  Read more.

Summer reading edition. | Recharge your communication batteries with three favorites for great summer reading: 1 | Do you matter? How great design will make people love your company. This book, by Robert Brunner and Stewart Emery with Russ Hall, explains how design helps you make an emotional connection with your audience… Read more.

Short essays & observations:

Connect from the outside in. | When developing a new marketing campaign, it’s good to remind yourself of an obvious fact: Your target audience is not you. Read more.

Design is… | I got an email this morning with this Tom Peters quote: “Design is … an understanding that all the senses were created equal.” It’s true. And it’s interesting to think about what on earth that might really mean. Read more.

Why I’m a branding missionary. | A technology start-up co-founder’s point of view on how embracing branding gives a company a strong sense of direction. Read more.

Create an identity with legs. |  A healthcare marketing VP’s point of view on the importance of building an identity system with a rich vocabulary. Read more.

Drawing explanations. | Sometimes a picture (or a drawing) truly is worth a thousand words. A visual can explain a process or describe relationships. Making a drawing can help you generate ideas. The act of putting pen to paper can help your brain sort things out. Read more.

Words vs. Images | Once you have established your brand’s visual language, how do you know which elements to use when? Read more.