The design of Sydney's new public transport ''brand'' - a hopping ball with a multi-coloured shadow - might have been arrived at with a few strokes of a calligraphers's pen. To be fair the design part of the budget was 'only' half a million, or $599,500 to be exact. The remaining was taken up by research and consulting fees. Having worked for government departments and knowing tortuous route, and the endless committee meetings it takes to come to a decision I understand how the time and costs can quickly add up. Still, a couple of swooshes with dot and word mark does seem a little extravagant at that price. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/bouncing-ball-branding-cost-transport-1mplus-20130819-2s7bc.html#ixzz2ceFwq0Sv Legendary Australian rockers Cold Chisel have today announced the formation of their very own label imprint, which will be the new home for their iconic catalogue of classic albums, effective from Tuesday 1 October. This new imprint sees the band leaving Warner Music, the label they signed to (when it was WEA) over 35 years ago, as their label Cold Chisel Music will be distributed through the Universal Music Group. After all this time (and over six million album sales) the rights to their catalogue have reverted to the band, who believe it is time for a fresh approach to the marketing and promotion of their music. http://themusic.com.au/news/all/2013/08/21/cold-chisel-start-their-own-label/ Yes, you heard it here first. Shoalhaven Council are paying a consultant to develop a brand for Milton and Ulladulla."However Ms Watterson said she was keen to hear back from the wider community about any branding ideas. A mock up picture of a giant sausage on the poles at Ulladulla’s entrance recently generated plenty of discussion, and Ms Watterson said it was interesting to see the way people responded and the suggestions they raised. “It’s only when you put an idea out there that people suggest an alternative,” she said." Full story… The new Roxy women's surf ad has copped a lot of flack for being dumb and sexist. See JaneCaro's comment in Marketing Magazine where she labels the ad as sexploitation. After watching the ad it seems an over reaction to an ad carefully pitched to its target audience. One only has to watch any number of self produced youtube videos to see that many young women are choosing to represent themselves in a way that is sexualised. You tut tut and shake your head and say that this shouldn't happen. But it does. There is nothing that is especially offensive about the ad and it even manages to show range of summer beach wear. Perhaps what is more interesting is the additional product placement throughout the ad, I can only think that these companies are co-sponsors in surf comp. Sometimes this is the t-shirt I feel like wearing to a meeting. Often one of the first questions a prospective client will ask of a designer is "how much will it cost?" This usually comes up even before there is any comprehensive brief. It's a bit like saying to an architect. "I need a house built, how much will it cost?" In the case of a house there are many variables - the number of bedrooms, the number of bathrooms, the structure; concrete, timber, glass. etc. etc. Likewise in the case of a new brand design there are many variables. But because many of these variables are intangible they are not understood or given the full recognition they deserve. Some of these include:
"How much will it cost?" There's no easy answer to that. For many social media looked like the free ride to marketing. Speak directly to your target audience. Engage with them and then channel them into a sales pipeline. But nothing in this world is free, and business has found that social media is fickle and rarely free. And it takes time. A lot of time. many are beginning to wonder if it will supply a ROI. Read about some of those who are stepping away from social media.
http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/startup/the-death-of-social-media-20130623-2o_q89.html |
Archives
July 2014
Categories
All
|