AngelSpeak

This coming Sunday, the service at First Unitarian Universalist Church will focus on peaceful speech, with a message by Gail Seavey called "Angel Speak." I'll be sharing Buddha's principles of right speech and a meditation, and the congregation will be invited to take the Harmless Speech Agreement, which began here on this blog a year and a half ago! In honor of this special event, I've rewritten the agreement with a seasonal theme, fitting in with the advent angels' message. I'm taking this vow for the holidays, and invite everyone to join in.

The Harmless Speech Agreement

Today I vow to use my voice for peace, not harm.
May I be impeccable with my word, not lying.
May my words support peace between others, not division.
May kindness pervade my speech, not harshness.
May my speech be meaningful, not wasted in frivolous gossip.
Words have the power to destroy or heal.
May my voice be used for peace on earth, good will toward all.

If you decide to take this vow, I'd love to know. Please leave a comment below.

New Exhibit Backdrop for McMinnville Electric

McMinnville Electric System wanted a display that was bright and eye-catching without being TOO busy. They wanted graphics that would pull people in to see more, yet the design needed to reflect their professional style. This display will be used both to represent MES as well as the city of McMinnville, so the right side of the display focuses on the community and integrates with the entire display.

The client is very happy with the result. Fun fact: the stone architectural detail is from their historic building, taken from a photo I snapped when I went to visit them.

How to Change Your Business Logo without Confusing Your Customers

Click HERE for an insightful article regarding logo changes. I currently have three customers who are contemplating changes. One is the possibility of a complete name change, one a name modification and new logo, and the other? Well, let's just say that the business owner did a remarkable job given he's not a designer. In each case, we need to maintain all the good will that the companies have built under their current identity.

I recently refreshed a brand logo for Paris Foods, tightening up their type and updating the Eiffel Tower icon. It brings the logo into the current time without sacrificing brand equity. See what you think:

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B2B2C: Are We Not All Marketing to People?

B2B2C: Are We Not All Marketing to People?

Tracking similarities and differences between business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketing.

Intro:
I read a blog posting recently by Marketo, which postulates that there is no longer a difference between B2B and B2C marketing.  Since “our jobs are our lives and our lives are our jobs,” we should be using communications that speak to them the same.  Are the lines now blurred so far that they really have merged into a B2B2C reality?  Taking a look at other recent articles, I want to explore further how they are now same and what may forever be different.

Before/After Eblast

When a new client called asking if I could redesign their e-blast and turn it into a template, I said "Sure! Let's get together. I'd like to talk with you and find out more about your business, your audience, and the message you'd like to get across." So within a few days I was touring this company, which is one of the best nametag manufacturers in the country. Someone on staff had been designing the e-blasts and they were ready to take it to the next level.

Here is the former e-blast:

Upon talking with the company owner and marketing staff, I discovered that the e-blast is sent primarily to people in the promotional products industry. From experience, I knew that this demographic is attuned to things that are attractive, hip and cool. So a hip/cool approach was called for. Furthermore, we needed to grab their attention at the very top of the page or else the recipient might click right past it without reading it.

Here is the transformed e-blast, using almost exactly the same copy, only slightly edited:

Now the look is very clean and modern, the message is clear and friendly, and the eye travels easily where it needs to go. All those different graphic elements such as logos and video are grouped so that the page overall is easy to understand at first glance.

The result? Here it is in the words of their marketing director:

Just wanted to touch base with you on the flyer you made for us. We submitted it to our email blaster that we've been having some better success with, and it was blasted on Tuesday. We have received the most feedback and inquiries than I can ever remember from one blast. Just wanted to let you know that we've had allot of initial success with it. Thanks for the work, and job well done so far!

Hurray!

Design Tip: Just because desktop publishing is widely available doesn't mean you should do it yourself. There is alot more to design than meets the eye, and the way your materials look communicates way more than you might imagine, and not necessarily in your favor. If the eye doesn't know where to go, chances are your materials won't be looked at... at all. The small investment you make in professional design can garner big results for your business. And that, my friends, is the point of advertising and design. To make more money for you.

I hate to say "I told you so," but...

I couldn't resist. Here's a new design to catch the zeitgeist. Now available in the form of bumper stickers, lapel stickers, pins, t-shirts, signs, and other fun items at http://www.cafepress.com/dakini_arts — or just click on the headline above.

Stumble upon yourself

When was the last time you Googled yourself? C'mon, don't tell me you haven't done it. 

Well, I was pleasantly surprised tonight to find that my humble online abode for Dakini Graphics has been listed twice as a favorite advertising website at stumbleupon.com, a networking site for discovering and sharing cool sites.

Hey, thanks!