I've noticed a huge trend lately with a new technology called Augmented Reality. Wikipedia's definition: Augmented Reality (AR) is a term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical real-world environment whose elements are merged with (or augmented by) virtual computer imagery - creating a mixed reality. Or as I like to call it - really, really fancy 3-D without the dorky glasses.

Esquire Magazine was my first glimpse into this world. With the use of your home web-cam and Esquire magazine you can experience a live, talking Robert Downy Jr.; control the weather, environment and clothing of a style article; and hear a joke told from Jillian Jacobs. You can watch an overview of the Esquire promotion below. ...read the rest of this post»

Lane Wallace's TheAtlantic.com article on why fact can't compete with belief was summarized in The Week, the best of the U.S. and international media magazine. Lane asks, "why do people cling to an opinion even after they're presented with contradictory evidence?" In a new study, social science researchers have found that people employ 'motivated reasoning' to fend off any evidence that their strongly held beliefs are wrong. Many people feel they are their opinions, and hate to lose arguments. As Vince Lombardi once said, "Every time you lose, you die a little."...read the rest of this post»

The design process has many important steps from beginning to end. To me, the part most critical to the success of the project as a whole is the very last one: file prep.

As a designer here at Disciple Design, one of my responsibilities is getting the finished file formatted and to the printer. Without careful and meticulous attention to detail on my part, this step can make the difference between a successful end-product and one that is not as great as I or the client intended.

There are a few simple rules that must be followed in order to make the finished piece successful. Whether it is a brochure, catalog, billboard, business papers or any similar project – the requirements are the same each and every time.

#1 - Verify each linked image is saved as CMYK, which is the printing format preferred by 99 percent of printers. In rare cases, I will be asked for RGB images, but that is certainly the exception to the rule....read the rest of this post»

By now, you’ve no doubt heard the buzz about Google Buzz.

Google Buzz is Google’s latest foray into the world of social media. Unveiled Tuesday, Google Buzz is a service within Gmail, Google’s popular e-mail service, which allows users to share messages, pictures, videos and links from the Web.

Buzz is very similar to Twitter and FriendFeed, with elements of Facebook mixed in.  Early reviews are mixed, but I really want to know – how can Google Buzz be used strategically by marketers?

Google itself provided some insight when it said to look for an enterprise edition of Google Buzz soon. In the meantime, here are some observations I have about Buzz as it exists now that may be helpful to marketers:...read the rest of this post»

All of us have read or participated in polls and discussions this week about "which was the best Super Bowl ad?"  Here's a question for you:  are the best ads the ones that "were most liked" or the ones that more viewers "recalled seeing?"  As marketers and ad people, we'd like to have the best of both these worlds, wouldn't we?  Here's another question:  are the ads that are "best liked" also the ones that are "recalled the most?"  Many of us would say "heck no" for we can easily think of ads that we really hate. But, we would also say that if you are at the top of both lists, you really hit one out of the park.

Yesterday Nielsen IAG published the top 10 "Best Liked" spots, and the top 10 "Most-Recalled" spots that aired on the 2010 Super Bowl.  Check out the list by clicking on the link below....read the rest of this post»

In a climate marked by recession, many name-brand products are taking serious hits. In an attempt to save money, some consumers are passing over previously purchased premium items for generics.

According to a Sanford C. Bernstein survey of 834 consumers in December, about two-thirds of consumers had traded down to less-expensive consumer goods over the past 12 months. More than three-quarters of those consumers said the cheaper products were "as good or better" than the more expensive items they replaced.

Proctor&Gamble, the world's largest consumer-product manufacturer and seller of premium-priced household products, is a prime example of a company that has suffered from a serious decrease in consumer spending. (P&G markets many of the brands we have grown up with and trust. Some of their products include Crest, Mr. Clean, Tide and Pampers.)...read the rest of this post»

The Monday morning ad execs are out in full effect. EVERYONE has an opinion on what Super Bowl ads rocked, and which ones fell short. brainwoo ad execs (and creatives, and account coordinators, and so on)  love a good discussion about advertising any time of year, but especially on Super Bowl Sunday. For many advertisers, it’s a big spotlight with big risks – about $2.6 million worth of risk, to be exact.

We love the debate over the ads, and the fact that everyone is talking about advertising. But, at brainwoo, we know that advertising is more that just a funny 30-second spot. Who really resonated with their audience last night? Who told their brand’s story effectively? Who fell short?...read the rest of this post»