how big is 21?

That is a question we asked ourselves when we began working with Jack Clark, the Cal Varsity Rugby Coach.  He has won 21 national championships.  That sounded like a lot, so we began to do some research and realized what a tremendous achievement that is.  The most powerful way to tell Coach Clark’s success story is to paint a picture.

Good design elevates a message from a singular fact to a multidimensional story.

In this graphic, the ball for each sport creates a bar graph.  Because both the balls and the bar chart concepts are familiar, the message is both simple and powerful.

cool transitions without flash

Clients often confuse Flash with the only way to add some sizzle to their site.  We disagree.  There are lots of great Java Script and CSS components that can be combined to tell your story.

One story near and dear to us is the California coastline.  This beach is walking distance from our office.  We were, well, stunned when we noticed how much our coastline changed in a single winter season. We could tell this story by just showing a couple before and after photos stacked together (before is on the left).  But a slide show is much more effective method to tell our story.  Click here to watch the slide show.

This slide show solution has some nice bells and whistles.  The transition effects between slides add flair.  (We believe that less is more and opted to use a single transition effect in our example.  There are more transition styles available.)  Captions can be added for each image.  Oh, and it looks just as cool when viewed from a computer or an iPhone.

building your brand

One of our favorite clients, Randy Haykin, was interviewed about his personal branding. His story illustrates how important communication is to building his personal brand.

Naturally, we also love the part where he talks about his logo, the light bulb image. We loved working on this project. We sifted through what felt like countless ideas and images. When we hit the right look, we could feel it. The whimsical and creative vibe fit.  But the fit is deeper than that. As you read Randy’s story, you’ll learn how this image expresses a lot about his professional and personal passions. We love that.

What does your logo say about you?  Does the logo fit your values, passions, and business?  Your logo is often the first impression people get of your business.  Make it fit.  Make it powerful.

You don’t get a second chance to make a great first impression.

interactive galleries

There are so many wonderful ways to add zest to your website without using Flash.  Apple continues to sell zillions of iPhones and iPads.  (According to TechCrunch, Apple sold 3 million iPhones in just a few weeks!)  Neither of these devices can display Flash.

The trick is to find other solutions to present your message in a compelling visual way. We have one example in our graphic design gallery.  CSS + Java components = an interactive image gallery viewable on any internet device.

Unlike our home page, nothing starts moving around on the screen before you starting clicking.  You, the viewer, are in control.  You select what you want to see when you want to see it.

Flashy animation and graphics can be incredibly powerful…but only if your customers can see them.  Someday Apple may embrace Flash in their internet devices.  In the meantime, craft solutions that work for all of your customers.

the power of purpose

What gets you out of bed in the morning ready to greet a new day?  Having a sense of purpose is powerful incentive.  Enjoy this creative video which  illustrates the concept beautifully.

flashy without flash

A website home page feels flat without some pizazz.  Using Flash you can create some great effects…but you simply cannot view Flash video on all internet devices, including over 50 million iPhones.  The trick is to find other ways to add flash to your site with Flash.

We have one example now live on our home page.

logo logic

Your logo is your visual spokesperson.  It needs to be something that your customers associate with your business.

The PageSage logo is an example of a strong relevant image.  PageSage produces instructional DVDs for the hobby and craft industry.  The art mannequin is a universally recognized art related icon.  Art Mann became a great PageSage spokesperson.

The question is not if you see a connection between your logo image and your company’s mission.  What connection do your customers make (or fail to make)? If you have to explain your logo, it is time to consider an updated visual strategy.

simple yet elegant

The best logos marry images and ideas into a compelling graphic.  I found 20 very clever logo designs.  An effective logo communicates volumes about you, your company, and your products.  This image is clean and playful.  (I love the giraffe in the “g”.)

What does your logo say about you?

in the pink

It rained hard.  We don’t typically get rain so late in May.  Yesterday the sun shone brightly and spring was in the air.  Mother nature was in the pink.  I enjoyed a gorgeous walk along the beach.  I took lots of pictures…starting the minute I walked out my front door and stopped to smell the roses.

something old, something new

Creativity blossoms from unique partnerships.  As an iPhone junkie, I cringed at the idea attaching velcro to a beautiful iPad.  This video changed my mind:

What really inspires me here is how critical video is to communicating this experience. With just words, the images that come to mind are not pretty.  I envision junk dangling off of an otherwise beautiful device.  In seconds, the video transformed how I thought about  velcro and the iPad, both individually and together.  The results were completely unexpected: velcro increased my desire for an iPad!

Powerful communication transcends our initial impressions and biases.  This video is a perfect example of how communication can inform, influence, and inspire us.