Bright Ideas

Observations + Wonderings

Design Roots Run Deep

I’ve been a designer for almost all of my life, going back to the age of 9. All the back-to-school spirit led to me reflect on how deep in design my roots truly run. If I do the math right, my design tree has 32 rings. Here’s my origin story.

1012 1000 unkanny! Design
Design Roots Run Deep

Design Roots Run Deep

I’ve been a designer for almost all of my life, going back to the age of 9. All the back-to-school spirit led to me reflect on how deep in design my roots truly run. If I do the math right, my design tree has 32 rings. Here’s my origin story.

Keep reading
1012 1000 unkanny! Design
Who Remembers You?

Who Remembers You?

Business is cyclic so it isn’t uncommon to find yourself hopping from event to event, meeting to meeting, handing out your business cards (or asking people to scan your QR contact code). That’s all great, but who remembers you?

Keep reading
974 983 unkanny! Design
Words Hurt More

Words Hurt More

The truth is, words hurt—I mean, they can cut you really deep. In this age of social media, general audiences are no-holds-barred and brutally honest when a brand experience fails to deliver. Their words will hurt your brand.

Keep reading
900 900 unkanny! Design
Balance with Boundaries

Balance with Boundaries

I’m coming to the end of my third anniversary of choosing to work for myself instead of working for someone else. One of the steepest curves I had to learn was balance.

Keep reading
900 911 unkanny! Design
A Mercedes-Benz Dilemma

A Mercedes-Benz Dilemma

What do you do when your favorite brand sends one signal to your brain and an opposing signal to your heart?

Keep reading
1942 834 unkanny! Design
We All Judge the Cover

We All Judge the Cover

While it is novel to encourage others to not judge a book by its cover, the reality is that judging something or someone based on first appearances is something we all do. Now, not all of us will give our assumptions any merit, but in some rare cases, our assumptions will definitely prove true.

Keep reading
870 514 unkanny! Design
From the Bookshelf: Branding for Nonprofits by DK Holland

From the Bookshelf: Branding for Nonprofits by DK Holland

I just finished reading an excellent book Branding for Nonprofits, Developing Identity…

Keep reading
870 514 unkanny! Design
Making the logo bigger doesn’t strengthen your brand

Making the logo bigger doesn’t strengthen your brand

It's a running joke among design professionals—the client who always asks, "Can…

Keep reading
500 500 unkanny! Design
CBS’s Big Bang Theory displays poster design on set

CBS’s Big Bang Theory displays poster design on set

One of the greatest benefits of working for the American Physical Society is the opportunity I get to make physics look cool. This isn’t the first time an unkanny design has been spotted on the set, but each time is as sweet as the first!

Keep reading
870 514 unkanny! Design

Idea #002: How junky is your marketing?

I love my neighborhood simply because I have everything I need within a three-mile radius. I have all four major grocery chains, an organic market, a movie theater, most fast food restaurants, and a fair selection of retail offerings. When it comes to patronizing Target or Walmart, it has always been a toss up. I believe Walmart has the lowest price, but Target has better presentation. What is the determining factor?

Keep reading
150 150 unkanny! Design

Idea #001: Good marketing makes a splash, not a mess

If we can learn anything from this oil spill, I hope we come to realize that even a little bit of oil in the ocean is a bad thing. Too much of a bad thing can be devastating. Consider your marketing efforts. A poorly designed logo or business card is like oil in the ocean. The goal is to make waves with your efforts, not to pollute the water.

Keep reading
150 150 unkanny! Design