Published in Upskilling·Jun 20Five components every strong brand should possess: A Marketing StrategyLet’s say you have a service to sell, and you want to create a brand that customers will remember and come back to again and again. So, you tell a few people, email one person, and after a few weeks and make a flyer and post it on your Facebook…Branding4 min read
Published in Upskilling·Jun 19Five components every strong brand should possess: Consistency and ClarityHave you ever looked at a web banner or watched a commercial and did not recognize the brand? How about when you see a company’s name or logo, but can’t recall what they sell? Both of these are examples of inconsistency, and something that should be avoided when building a…Branding3 min read
Published in Upskilling·Jun 18Five components every strong brand should possess: A Defined Target AudienceEvery business wishes they were able to message everyone with a single design, and everyone would engage, share, and buy their stuff. That’s simply not reality and not a strategic way to sell. Imagine if Coca-Cola didn’t have a specific target audience. They would have to come up with a…Target Audience4 min read
Jun 14Five components every strong brand should possess: Brand PromiseNike ran an ad during the Super Bowl that told the story of young girls who, despite all odds, play football. The ad was an instant hit, and it wasn’t just because it was a great story. It was also because Nike’s brand promise is “to bring inspiration and innovation…Branding5 min read
Published in Upskilling·Jun 13Five components every strong brand should possess: The WhyOne of my favorite companies is Patagonia. Their “why” is to “use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” And they do this by making high-quality, durable outdoor clothing and gear, while also advocating for environmental causes. Patagonia is effective in messaging their “why,” evident by the…Branding4 min read
Published in Upskilling·Jun 11Design Philosophy: Worse is Better — The Rationalists vs. The PragmatistImagine that you’re a new lawyer, starting out, and working in a public defender’s office. There are two approaches you could take to your job. The first is to be a “paper lawyer.” You focus on the rules, and on precedent. Every case is different, but if you know the…Design4 min read
Published in Upskilling·Jun 11Design Philosophy: PostmodernismPractically every liberal idea, dating back to the early seventies, has been labeled as postmodernism when it comes to anything that doesn’t follow social norms. This includes all fashion, art, music and even ideas. …Design4 min read
Published in Upskilling·May 28Design Philosophy: Form Follows FunctionForm follows function is a design principle that dictates that the form of an object should be based on its purpose. In other words, the form of an object should be dictated by its function. This principle is often used in the design of products, buildings, and other objects. Imagine…Design3 min read
Published in Upskilling·May 28Design Philosophy: PlacemakingPlacemaking is a type of urban or community-driven design and is meant to align with resilience and quality of life. Where this concept might add value for a digital designer is in knowing how aesthetics also play a role in placemaking. Creating a sense of place is key to placemaking…Design2 min read
Published in Upskilling·May 23Design Philosophy: EmergenceA snowflake is an emergent design. It is the result of simple rules and neighbor interactions. So is a flock of birds, or a school of fish, or a beehive. These are all examples of what is called “emergent behavior”. To understand the design philosophy emergence, try imagining where you…Design2 min read
