Design Revolution - Intrepid Partners in Modern Marketing http://designrev.com Intrepid Partners in Modern Marketing Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:53:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 Big Tobacco http://designrev.com/2011/07/big-tobacco/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=big-tobacco http://designrev.com/2011/07/big-tobacco/#comments Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:51:36 +0000 janelle http://designrev.com/?p=1264 Cigarette labels are about to get a drastic re-design courtesy of the FDA. The 2005 movie “Thank You for Smoking” seems to have hit the nail right on the head. New labels depicting a tracheotomy, a baby with smoke swirling, and smoke-stained teeth are just a few of the images that will be gracing almost HALF of the label on new cigarette packaging.

Do you think the new labels will deter potential new, younger smokers?

What about existing smokers?


Check out this article from HealthDay News for all the details…

TUESDAY, June 21 (HealthDay News) — In a dramatic bid to get more Americans to quit smoking, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday released nine graphic warning labels that will appear on all packs of cigarettes by no later than September 2012.

One image shows a man’s face and a lighted cigarette in his hand, with smoke escaping from a hole in his neck — the result of a tracheotomy. The caption reads “Cigarettes are addictive.” Another image shows a mother holding a baby as smoke swirls about them, with the warning: “Tobacco smoke can harm your children.”

A third images depicts a distraught woman with the caption: “Warning: Smoking causes fatal lung disease in nonsmokers.”

A fourth picture shows a mouth with smoked-stained teeth and an open sore on the lower lip. “Cigarettes cause cancer,” the caption reads.

In addition to the images, the label on packs of cigarettes will include a phone number — 1-800-QUIT-NOW — so smokers will know where to go for help quitting.

By law, the labels must appear on every pack of cigarettes sold in the United States and on all cartons and in all cigarette advertising. The campaign marks the first major change to cigarette packaging in the last 25 years, the FDA said.

“President Obama is committed to protecting our nation’s children and the American people from the dangers of tobacco use. These labels are frank, honest and powerful depictions of the health risks of smoking and they will help,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a news release. “These labels will encourage smokers to quit, and prevent children from smoking. President Obama wants to make tobacco-related death and disease part of the nation’s past, and not our future.”

Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, called the new warnings the “most dramatic change in cigarette warnings in the history of the United States. For the first time the warnings are large enough to be seen and graphic enough to catch the attention of consumers.”

The labels will fill the top half of all cigarette packs.

Myers said the images on the labels are exactly the kind of measure that has been shown to be effective in encouraging children not to smoke and getting adults to quit. But, to keep the message vibrant, the images need to be changed regularly because as people get used to them, the impact of the warning weakens, he added.

“For the first time we have labels that not only tell people that smoking is dangerous, but provide them the kind of information they need to now how dangerous it is,” he said. “The warning labels have the potential to dramatically reduce the number of our kids who start, but they will be most effective if they are complemented by comprehensive tobacco-control programs in every state.”

Many such programs have been curtailed in recent years as cash-strapped states have diverted funding from tobacco-control efforts to pay for constituent services or to hold down tax increases. In states that have maintained funding, the number of smokers continues to drop, Myers said.

The new labels are a part of the requirements of the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, signed into law in 2009 by President Barack Obama, who has struggled for many years to quit smoking. For the first time, the law gave the FDA significant control over tobacco products.

The FDA hopes these new warnings will have a “significant public health impact by decreasing the number of smokers, resulting in lives saved, increased life expectancy, and improved health status.”

The agency said it chose the nine images from 36 originally proposed. The agency also said it reviewed the relevant scientific literature, analyzed the results from an 18,000-person study and reviewed more than 1,700 comments from a variety of groups, including the tobacco industry, retailers, health professionals, public health and other advocacy groups, state and local public health agencies, medical organizations and consumers.

Dr. Jonathan Whiteson, director of the Cardiac and Pulmonary Wellness and Rehabilitation Program at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, is concerned that the images may be too graphic.

“The ‘fear factor’ of the negative message can lose its potency — we become immune to the negative warnings over time, and if too graphic, we often hide behind the denial wall stating, ‘This just can’t possibly happen to me.’ The more graphic the image, the more likely the message will become marginalized and thrown out as too wild and extreme a possibility for the smoker,” he said in a statement.”

Whiteson thinks that to get kids not to take up smoking, messages have to convey the idea that smoking isn’t cool.

Smoking is the leading cause of early and preventable death in the United States, resulting in some 443,000 fatalities each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and costs almost $200 billion every year in medical costs and lost productivity.

Over the last decade, countries as varied as Canada, Australia, Chile, Brazil, Iran and Singapore, among others, have adopted graphic warnings on tobacco products. Some are downright disturbing: in Brazil, cigarette packages come with pictures of dead babies and a gangrened foot with blackened toes.

Currently, the United States has some of the weakest requirements for cigarette package warnings in the world, David Hammond, an assistant professor in the department of health studies at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, told HealthDay. The text-only warnings on packages have changed little since 1984.

Elsewhere, graphic warnings seem to be helping to drive down smoking rates. In Canada, about 13 percent of the population smokes daily, a 5 percent drop since graphic warnings were adopted in 2000, according to Hammond.

More information

For more on the warning labels and to see the images, visit this FDA website.

via Yahoo! News

]]> http://designrev.com/2011/07/big-tobacco/feed/ 0 http://designrev.com/2011/06/1258/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=1258 http://designrev.com/2011/06/1258/#comments Thu, 02 Jun 2011 22:10:57 +0000 admin http://designrev.com/?p=1258 Hey, summer is here! Get out of the house and re-join the land of the living. Consider this your official invite to a one of a kind First Friday Event as we bring together a talented, albeit unusual, compilation of artists from the worlds of craft beer, tattooing, specialty pizza and artisanal letterpress printing. Bring your friends, office chums, grandma, someone else’s grandma – it’s an open invite. Here’s a sampling of what we’ve got going on:

  • Introductory tastings of “Black Currant Stout” a new specialty beer from St. Boniface Craft Brewing, featuring label-design by Tattoos Ink
  • Hand-crafted flatbread pizza prepared in Penn Stone’s wood-fired pizza oven by their soon-to-be neighbor, The Fridge
  • Tattoo consultations by the imaginative artists at Tattoos Ink
  • Print your own complimentary coaster and release of a new Limited Edition Letterpress Art Prints from the folks at Paisley Dog Press

*Facebook Us! For a chance to win some letterpress wares; coasters, prints, cards, tote bags:) Drawings held Monday June 6th @ 5pm.

When:

This Friday – June, 3rd from 6pm to ????

Where:

PATIO at Penn Stone, Lancaster PA
http://www.patiopennstone.com

Artists:

Paisley Dog Press creates original letterpress works, utilizing a printing method not too far removed from that of Johannes Gutenberg over 550 years ago. They specialize in printing challenging designs and techniques not traditionally suited for letterpress, the crazier the better! Their approach combines newfangled ideas with century old equipment to tell new stories through unique, inspired, eco-friendly paper goods for individuals, designers, and businesses.  http://www.paisleydogpress.com

Tattoos Ink is a custom tattoo shop located in the heart of Lancaster, PA. Tattoos Ink prides itself on creating a customer-friendly and medical-grade sterile environment where everyone from the average Joe to suits to tattoo enthusiasts are welcome. Their artists specialize in bio-mechanical, organic and portrait tattoos, but mostly love any work that means something to their client. http://www.tattoosinkoflanc.com

The Fridge (opening Summer 2011) will feature Lancaster’s largest selection of specialty-beers and creative, hand-crafted flatbread pizzas made with the freshest, seasonal ingredients from local growers & suppliers. You can dine-in or take-out with your choice of a rotating selection of draft beers or mix-and-match 6-packs. http://www.beerfridgelancaster.com

Saint Boniface Craft Brewing Company is a nano-brewery located in Ephrata, PA started by two local brewers whom after years competitive brewing, decided to join forces and bring their talents to the masses. Naming their brewery for the patron saint of brewers, Mike and Jon aim to convert people from the false gods of the big beer industry to a better way of life, one full of rich, tasty, more satisfying brews. http://www.stbonibrewing.com

]]> http://designrev.com/2011/06/1258/feed/ 0 A Half Ton of Fun http://designrev.com/2011/05/a-half-ton-of-fun/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-half-ton-of-fun http://designrev.com/2011/05/a-half-ton-of-fun/#comments Fri, 06 May 2011 19:07:51 +0000 janelle http://designrev.com/blog/?p=1011 The gang in our letterpress shop just got a new toy!

A Vandercook Universal 1 proof press, circa the 1960′s. We couldn’t resist cranking out a few DRS pocket folders. We love the gold metallic ink on a black paper stock. Check em’ out!

]]> http://designrev.com/2011/05/a-half-ton-of-fun/feed/ 1 The Devil is in the Details http://designrev.com/2011/05/the-devil-is-in-the-details/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-devil-is-in-the-details http://designrev.com/2011/05/the-devil-is-in-the-details/#comments Fri, 06 May 2011 18:59:17 +0000 janelle http://designrev.com/blog/?p=969

Arizona State University has re-designed their logo and it’s pretty apparent they were looking to take a complete 360 from their longtime logo featuring a cartoon devil with a pitchfork. The new logo focuses on the pitchfork creating a lean, mean and much more powerful visual signature. However, it also is expected to be adopted by a major urban street gang in Chicago, we’re assuming that was an unintended market segment.

But not to worry, the University has gone on record as saying they would send the gang a cease and desist order to defend their trademark, that should do the trick ;)

]]> http://designrev.com/2011/05/the-devil-is-in-the-details/feed/ 0 Make a Deeper Connection http://designrev.com/2011/05/make-a-deeper-connection/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=make-a-deeper-connection http://designrev.com/2011/05/make-a-deeper-connection/#comments Fri, 06 May 2011 18:44:12 +0000 janelle http://designrev.com/blog/?p=1006 The messages you communicate to your prospective audience need to be focused on the “emotional payoff”. Think about it. How many times have you heard the tired old advertisements focused on a company being “the best, the biggest, the fastest”? If that’s all you’re basing your campaign on you’re setting yourself up for disaster, or at least wasting a lot of cashola. Dig deep, find out what really matters to your target audience and present yourself as the “logical” choice.

When you approach your audience from a real place with a real message everyone wins.

]]> http://designrev.com/2011/05/make-a-deeper-connection/feed/ 2 Media Interview Preparation in 6 Easy Steps http://designrev.com/2011/05/media-interview-preparation-in-6-easy-steps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=media-interview-preparation-in-6-easy-steps http://designrev.com/2011/05/media-interview-preparation-in-6-easy-steps/#comments Fri, 06 May 2011 18:38:05 +0000 janelle http://designrev.com/blog/?p=999 Ok, you arrive to the office and in your voice mail is a message from a journalist, and they want an interview. Great, but now what? A thousand thoughts racing though your mind. Relax, you’re prepared because…YOU READ THIS!
  1. Check Out Your Journalist - A quick Google search should yield at least some basic info about whom they write for and other stories they’ve written. Make an effort to get to know their style, types of stories they write etc. Don’t sweat too much though, most reporters a fair and impartial folks.
  2. Ask Questions - Just because you got the call doesn’t mean you can’t ask questions too. In fact this will help give you a better perspective on how to address the reporter’s questions. Guess what? You can call them back when you’re prepared! Politely let them know you got the message but want to set a time to talk when you can give them your complete attention. While you have them on the line, take the opportunity to gather some vital info. Find out what they are covering, type of story they are writing, why they called you, who else they’re going to call, what background info they already have and when the story will run.
  3. Practice Makes Perfect - Now that you have the information you need to begin preparing for the interview you can begin to predict their questions. But remember, you have a message to get across too. Figure out what questions you want to answer, questions you hope will be asked and what you want readers to take away from the story. Then prepare yourself to address these topics.
  4. Know Your Goal - Your goal is to deliver your message no matter what questions are asked by the reporter. Remember, you’re the one providing the material so don’t be your own worst enemy.
  5. Keep It On Track - Most of the time your reporter will have an agenda, a direction in which they want to take the story. That’s fine, so do you! You’ll have to be clever to keep things on track. Try a bridging technique to address each other’s interests in the interview. This is what you’ll do; answer the question, and then bridge/transition, to state your message. Example: Yes, Jane, I do agree that is an important point, but it is also important to note…..
  6. Keep It Simple - Maintain a good conversational tone to the interview, you’ll be surprised at the ease you’ll have working in your message as the conversation progresses. If your product or service is of a technical nature make sure to avoid industry jargon and keep things simple, unless your interview is with a  trade journalist or publication.
]]> http://designrev.com/2011/05/media-interview-preparation-in-6-easy-steps/feed/ 0 Case Study : Building Brands One Logo At A Time http://designrev.com/2011/05/case-study-brands-the-power-of-logos/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=case-study-brands-the-power-of-logos http://designrev.com/2011/05/case-study-brands-the-power-of-logos/#comments Wed, 04 May 2011 20:50:50 +0000 janelle http://designrev.com/blog/?p=796 The logo. It’s where your unique visual signature stems from, it’s the foundation. Doing it right requires design to become part of your brand’s DNA. At every visual consumer touchpoint it’s how you’ll convey your essence, your soul. It’s how small brands level the playing field to compete with larger more established brands, and how the large brands maintain and grow market share. Take a look at some samples below, you’ll see what we mean.

Interested in putting our unique methodologies to work for you? Start a conversation with us today.

CLIENT: Total Work Place Solutions Group
PROJECT SCOPE: Logo, Stationery, Brochure, and Website Design & Development

CLIENT: KEF Consulting, LLC
PROJECT SCOPE: Logo, Stationery, Brochure, and Website Design & Development

<< Back to WORK

]]> http://designrev.com/2011/05/case-study-brands-the-power-of-logos/feed/ 0 Case Study : Letterpress Love http://designrev.com/2011/04/case-study-letterpress-love/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=case-study-letterpress-love http://designrev.com/2011/04/case-study-letterpress-love/#comments Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:38:08 +0000 admin http://designrev.com/blog/?p=390 CLIENT: Paisley Dog Press
PROJECT SCOPE: New Product Design, Creation & Implementation, Brand Identity Development, Web Strategy/Design

Paisley Dog Press, the latest edition to the DRS family takes a giant step back in time…about 550 years or so, back to a time before instant prints, copy machines, and home based ink-jet printers. A true separation you might say from the fast-paced “need it now” society we have created, this my friends is a return to true craftsmanship in printing…this is letterpress.

Letterpress printing is the relief printing of text and/or images using a type-high bed printing press and movable type, in which a reversed, raised surface is inked and then pressed into paper obtaining a positive, right-reading image.

Our introduction to letterpress came while working on a client project. We decided to follow our hearts (instead of our heads) and bought our first printing press. Armed with ink, an oil can, and ton of paper we dove head first into all things letterpress.

Combining the skills from our countless experiments, knowledge from formal instruction, and some really old dusty books we developed our own unique style, opened our doors, and the orders began pouring in. Our projects range from all types of custom work for individuals, designers, and commercial printers, as well as our own line of paper goods. Here we print by hand using the finest inks and 100% recycled paper to create something with warmth and life.

The tactile nature of letterpress is a designer’s dream. Each piece starts with an inspiration board, that inspiration comes from everything around us absorbed like a giant sponge. You can find our team digging through antique markets, taking photos, or sketching ideas that evolve from a song or feeling that pops up throughout the day. That’s the beautiful part of the creative process, you can’t reign it in, inspiration can strike at the strangest times.

We believe this so-called dying art is still very much alive and the need to unplug from the world and make something from scratch, something human is crucial.

Visit the website for more info: http://paisleydogpress.com/

<< Back to WORK

]]> http://designrev.com/2011/04/case-study-letterpress-love/feed/ 0 Shark Focus Group http://designrev.com/2011/04/shark-focus-group/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shark-focus-group http://designrev.com/2011/04/shark-focus-group/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:43:20 +0000 admin http://designrev.com/blog/?p=356 We love an interesting focus group, but I think we’d have a hard time finding people to participate in this one!

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]]> http://designrev.com/2011/04/shark-focus-group/feed/ 0 Liberation from the conventional http://designrev.com/2011/03/freedom/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=freedom http://designrev.com/2011/03/freedom/#comments Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:39:06 +0000 janelle http://designrev.com/blog/?p=230 Tired of the BS you’re getting at your current firm? Are they damaging your brand instead taking you to the next level? Is their brilliant solution to your unique needs; buy a mailing list, run a billboard, send out a press release, and take out a newspaper ad? When the same-old, becomes well…old, give us a call. We believe that there are smarter more efficient ways to engage consumers by making lasting emotional connections. We listen to the needs of our clients and understand their market. We treat our clients with respect, do great work, and get results.

The way we see things we’re in the business of building relationships so why should the client be left out of the mix?

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