We have commented on this blog before about the use of crowd sourced spec work (you can read one brief piece about our approach to the ethics of spec work here and another about crowd sourced design for bananas (yup!) here), so it interested us to see that a local business, Mutual of Omaha’s Midtown Crossing development, is seeking public designs for the official Midtown Crossing t-shirt, to be sold and promoted around the region.

In return, the artist selected as the winner will receive a goody basket valued at over $500. The artist will, however, be obliged assign to Midtown Crossing all rights in the design, which, according to the small print, “include the sole right to incorporate and use the Design in any medium, including the use of the Design on T-shirts, mugs, posters, Internet, print advertising, still photographs, and all other media and to reproduce, exhibit, broadcast, transmit, distribute or communicate the Design to the public.” In other words, Midtown Crossing will have the opportunity to leverage that design into a substantial amount of media formats and channels. That seems like great value for a small payment.

We are intrigued to see how the competition progresses, who wins and what happens with the design over time. Good luck to all who choose to enter.

Stellar “brandscaping” firm in Omaha is seeking team member who worships brilliant graphic design and knows how to break the mold to make it happen. (If “worship” sounds like a bit much to you, feel free to stop reading.)

Are you inventive and hungry to learn? Is great design a driving force in your life? Do you have a killer portfolio and want to thrive with one of the most passionate, experienced creative teams in the Midwest? Read the rest of this entry »

Quick Response or QR codes have been around for quite some time in the technologically savvy Japan. Their prevalence in Japan’s keitai culture is only just emerging in the mainstream here. Grab a QR code reader from your smart phone’s app store and read more about what QR codes are using the code above.

This article from Ad Week a couple of years ago talked about the potential innovative or prosaic use of QR codes.

I have not been surprised to see some banal use of QR codes as mere substitutes for a URL or as alternatives to print coupons.

What I love about QR codes is their instant ability to connect a user in a transient or mobile environment with a distinct message or form of engagement. It could be recipe tips or cooking “how to’s” in a grocery store; a free demo to a game to while away some time at a transit stop; a video of a band on a tour poster with a free ringtone download; additional audio/visual information in a museum exhibition, and so on.

Reporters without Borders went a step further and integrated the utility of QR codes into the channel and message itself, demonstrating the stunning innovative potential inherent in this technology:

There is also an essential beauty inherent within QR codes themselves, as well as a beauty in their utility. This has not escaped investigation:

Anyway. I don’t have any clever gimmicks with these QR codes, but pop along to one of the options below and post a comment on some suggestions you have or examples of great QR Code use:

The complex and arcane nature of heraldry might appear to make it redundant in contemporary visual communication. Yet for branding there are lessons to be learned from blazon, the vocabulary of heraldry.

The arms above are those of Catherine Middleton, being those recently granted to her father, but born by blue ribbons and in a shape that reflect her unmarried status. Upon her marriage this Friday, the shape will change to a shield. The blazon for this coat of arms is Per pale Azure and Gules a Chevron Or cotised Argent between three Acorns slipped and leaved Or. This description may seem unintelligible, and, indeed, for most of us it is. However, to me Russia’s Cyrillic or China’s character alphabets are equally unintelligible, as I simply have not learned them.

The use of visual elements to communicate comprehensive concepts and important meanings extremely rapidly is powerfully demonstrated by heraldry. There are numerous terms that articulate precisely the miscellany of colors, shapes, position, attitudes and components of every aspect of the coat of arms. It is not for the uninitiated. Fortunately, various heraldic authorities around the world will guide those of us entitled to the grant of arms in their design. The College of Arms in England states: Read the rest of this entry »

On Sunday night’s episode of Celebrity Apprentice (“Raising the Steaks”) contestants were challenged to create occasion-specific meals using Omaha Steaks products.  The entire episode featured Omaha Steaks products and paraphernalia, not to mention celebrities singing the brand’s praises.  It was amazing!

A few years ago, we wrote about the remarkable transformation of the Omaha Steaks brand position and all of the work that went into it.  We love our clients and are proud that “Oma-Ha Steaks” is receiving such great national recognition!

Sidenote: What dd|a spent countless hours researching and carefully crafting, celebrity contestant Gary Busey took to new heights about 15 minutes into the episode by suggesting a Father’s Day kite… “And on the kite it says ‘Heartland Quality Omaha Steaks Since 1917.’” Genius.

We needed to have a little fun with that and see it come to fruition:

We may not be celebrities, but we’re pleased to see our work getting the star treatment.