GDUSA Newsletter
SOMETIMES YOU COME UP WITH ZIPPO
I like thinking and writing about branding. It’s at the intersection of design, marketing, psychology, culture and sales. So I especially enjoyed a new survey by branding firm Parham Santana which identifies the best and worst brand extensions of 2012. The “bests” are easy to fathom. For example, the Duracell Power Mat Wireless Charger and NyQuil’s ZzzQuil Sleep Aid. No explanation needed. The “worsts” generally try too hard — Dr. Pepper meat marinade or Smith & Wesson clothing. First of the worst in the poll is Zippo The Woman perfume which comes in a container that looks like the famous Zippo lighter. I would like to meet the person who thought women might like to smell like lighter fluid or douse themselves with a liquid that comes out of such a device. It’s so wrong on so many levels that I change my mind. I would not like to meet that person.
— Gordon Kaye, editorial@gdusa.com
Graphic Design News
BRIGHT LIGHTS SHINE ON EIGHT
John Bielenberg. Stefan Sagmeister. Lucille Tenazas. Wolfgang
Weingart. William Drenttel and Jessica Helfand. Jonathan Hoefler
and Tobias Frere-Jones (shown here)…READ MORE >
GLASER. RAND. BASS. VIGNELLI. LOIS. SEE GDUSA’s 50TH ANNIVERSARY SURVEY.
VISIT >
BILLBOARD CHARTS TURN B&W
The 60-ish Billboard magazine masthead – evoking spinning
records and mod colors – has given way to a simpler and
more serious look…READ MORE >
MOXIE AND THE ANGEL OF MERCY
And they say God is dead. Nightlife enthusiasts who are also
health conscious drinkers can now ask for a can of Mercy
that, quite simply, protects against hangovers…READ MORE >
BONNIE SIEGLER SPELT BKLYN RONG
Since 1896, Brooklyn Public Library has provided the people
of the borough with free and open access to information for
education, recreation and reference…READ MORE >
‘EVOLVE’ AT THE UN-CONFERENCE
Consultant Emily Cohen, along with fellow design practitioner
Sheri L. Koetting, and research-driven educator, Jennifer Rittner,
will lead a new “unconference” for the creative
community…READ MORE >
CORE77 DESIGN AWARDS
Recognizing excellence in all areas of design enterprise, the
Core77 Design Awards celebrates the richness of the design
profession and its practitioners…READ MORE >
FIGHT POVERTY: ONE THING WE AGREE ON
Whether you’re liberal or conservative, a dog person or cat lover, a Yankees or Red Sox fan, you’re invited to take part in a multimedia contest that brings opposites together to change the world. ONE, a global advocacy group that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, and iStockphoto, a major source for user-generated imagery and multimedia, are partnering with Zooppa to launch a competition to raise awareness of the plight of the world’s poorest citizens. The contest runs through February 26, and challenges for creative minds to develop a video or print piece that showcases rivals uniting to fight issues such as poverty, famine and disease. Entrants are encouraged to think outside the box and submit in-your-face, edgy, fun and/or funny briefs. ENTER >
PRESS PRUNES BACK THE IVY
Harvard University Press has turned in its ivy-encircled,
shield-shaped insignia for a simplified look in a digital
age…READ MORE >
PUSHING IT TO THE BREAKING POINT
Parham Santana has declared the Best and Worst Brand Extensions
of 2012. Over 11,000 respondents participated in the first annual
online poll, done in conjunction with Adweek, where they were
asked to pick their top three from a list of 10 best and worst
identified by Parham Santana…READ MORE >
FREE STUFF FROM COMPANIES NOTED IN GDUSA MAGAZINE
VISIT >
Take Five! Career Tips From The Creative Group
REIGNITING PASSION FOR YOUR JOB
If you’ve been asked to put in longer hours, take on additional projects or keep up with new business demands, there’s a good chance you may have lost that loving feeling for your job. Following are five tips for restoring enthusiasm for your work:
1. Appreciate What You Have. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have (a higher salary, for example), consider what you do have, like a great manager, challenging assignments or a flexible schedule.
2. Learn Something New. Expand your area of expertise by taking on tasks outside your typical realm of responsibility. New challenges can reignite interest in your position or alert you to areas where you have a hidden passion.
3. Find The Significance In Your Work. When you’re focused on the minutiae of your day-to-day job, it’s easy to forget about the big picture. Reminding yourself of your larger contributions can increase your sense of personal satisfaction.
4. Always Do Your Best. Taking pride in the quality of your work can help build enthusiasm for your job ‒ and being known as someone who always produces top-notch work can enhance your professional reputation, too.
5. Take A Break. It’s hard to be passionate about anything if you’re burned out. So get away from the office on occasion, if possible.
The Creative Group specializes in placing a range of highly skilled interactive, design and marketing professionals with a variety of firms. For more information, please visit creativegroup.com. Connect with The Creative Group at facebook.com/thecreativegroup or twitter.com/creativegroup
