Work in context: visual thinking for STEM change makers
Work in Context series: How is visual thinking used in real-life situations? Today’s client collaboration conversation is about using Visual Thinking for Change Makers in STEM in Higher Ed.
Category: visual identity
Passion, entrepreneurship, and the Stone Soup story
When the Stone Soup story is interpreted through an entrepreneurship lens, the full flavors of community and collaboration unfortunately go to pot. I am often asked how I came up with the name Stone Soup for my business. I refer to the popular children’s book, first published in 1947, which was based upon an even…
Collaboration with an award-winning graphic design agency brings high-level brand strategy to their clients
Julia was great at keeping the conversation focused and not swaying opinions and worked great with both our internal team and our clients. She was organized and professional – not to mention, clients really enjoyed the workshopping process. I was hired by an award-winning creative graphic design agency in New Jersey this past year. Two…
Increasing the value of visual note-taking
Heading into the new year, I have two concerns: one professional, one personal. Call them resolutions, if you will: How can I continue to use large-scale visual note-taking to channel my passion for helping people enjoy meetings more, and increase the value clients receive when they hire me? Give me all the carbs: Flying in…
10 things you should know about logos if you’re a nonprofit communicator
Can you answer ‘yes’ to any of the following problem statements about your logo? My logo has too many colors and it’s difficult to see or make it look good on different backgrounds My logo has a complicated colorful gradient which is too expensive to reproduce My logo looks blurry when I try to print…
30-day minimalist cat drawing challenge
For 30 consecutive days during Nov–Dec 2017 I drew a minimal cat picture using a 9-in x 12-in sketchpad and a black sharpie. (It wasn’t always easy since I was looking at a small cell phone screen and usually had cats and a dog trying to climb all over me.) Then I posted the original photo +…
4 steps to knowing your brand: the story of one small arts organization
A few years ago, a small performing arts organization in California was having an identity crisis. They were asking themselves the question: Who are we – really?! Background Pacific Crest Youth Arts Organization was founded in 1993. Back then they didn’t want to be known only as a drum and bugle corps, an organization that…
How to create an Ideal Audience Persona: three reasons & a worksheet
Knowing who you are as an organization and how you are perceived is a critical part of the branding process. Once you’ve got a handle on your mission, vision, values, and messages (congrats!), you’ll want to start disseminating your brand identity to the world. But do you really know who you’re trying to reach? A…
With branding, history matters
We know that branding is a great way to uncover and define an organization’s authentic self. But did you know that some of the most authentic stories may come from the past? A group that’s growing its brand reputation and perception should consider not only look into the future, but backwards, too – to identify and honor…
In the mood for a mood board
A Mood board is a tool that can be used during branding to help organizations get a sense of how their brand is evolving. Mood boards are a collage of: Colors Textures Patterns Images I’m a creative person and graphic designer. Even if I’m not working on a project that involves designing visual identity, I’ll start to…
