Ideas, Inspiration and a Creative Perspective on Marketing from Inside the Embassy


  1. Hm. More logo evolution! This whammy is set to hit stores late 2008/ early 2009.

    Not sure what to think about this news.

    "Pepsi has announced that they are undergoing a drastic relaunching of their branding and packaging to bring "new life" to their flagship brands. The most dramatic element is a redesign of the Pepsi Globe logo, which for some reason is now supposed to represent a smile."

    Author: Mike Hahn

     


  2. Carnival cruise lines builds the world's largest beach ball.

    "Not only did Carnival succeed in getting into the Guinnes Book of World Records, the company got a commercial and free tv time out of it."

     
    Everybody wins!

    The people of downtown Dallas, TX had an interesting lunch hour, to say the least.


    Author: Mike W.

     


  3. Found this great article that really flies in the face of all the "sky-is-falling" talk these days…

     

    Online ads defy slowing global economy

    Market expected to grow by 23% this year to $43.3 bil

    By Leo Cendrowicz

    Oct 9, 2008, 11:13 AM ET
    BRUSSELS
    – Defying a slowing global economy, the online advertising market is expected to grow by 23% this year to $43.3 billion, according to the Berlin-based European Information Technology Observatory.
    Despite the damage inflicted by the financial crisis, turnover with advertisement banners, sponsored links and other online advertising format will grow 13% to $18.6 billion in the U.S., still by far the largest market in the world.
    Although the Internet economy in Europe is growing from a smaller base, it is developing fast and is forecast to grow 31% in 2008 to $12.4 billion. The next biggest market, Japan, will surge 15% to $4.5 billion, while China will leap forward 46% to $1.6 billion.

    The 2008 forecasts come on top of a 26% jump in 2007 to $35 billion, and before that, a 33% rise in 2006 to $27.8 billion.
    The figures showed that the Internet had established itself as an advertising medium and is increasing in importance compared to classic TV, radio and print advertising, EITO chairman Bruno Lamborghini said. He pointed to forecasts for television advertising for 2008 — up only 8% to $189.6 billion — that offered far more modest growth.

     

    Author: Rodney M.

     


  4. A great example of a promotion – a challenge to dine at 30 different locations during the upscale chain's 30th anniversary — that started as a delightful challenge for the customers, and ended up as both that AND great publicity and market research for Ruth's Chris. A literal example of how it pays to pay attention to your customers. Plus, i think its a really engaging promotion idea!

     "The program was designed not so much to benefit the company as it was to benefit our customers," said Tom Cangemi, president and chief executive…
    "The promotion increased the company's exposure and generated new business. Diners trying to fill their passports often brought along business associates and friends who never had eaten in a Ruth's Chris. "We have made new customers from them," Fertel said.
    Through extensive interviews with the winners, Ruth's Chris also developed a profile of its customers, which dovetailed market research the company completed last year."

     

    author: Jennifer McCue

     


  5. Oh snap.

    Our neighbor, Schlafly Beer, came up with Election 08 candidate-themed beer taps.

    When the Schlafly Tap Room hosted
    a veep-debate gathering the other week, in-house graphic designer
    Troika Brodsky decided on a whim to “whip up some taps and posters” to
    coincide with the night’s theme. Thus, for one night only, Schlafly’s
    Hefeweizen was rechristened Hefe Biden. Pale Ale became Palin Ale. The
    seasonal Oktoberfest became Baracktoberfest (“with a distinctly hopeful
    aftertaste,” according to the poster.)

    And as for McCain? “I was completely stumped on McCain,” Brodsky
    admits. He finally settled on McCain’s Maverick American Pale Ale.

     

    A pretty hilarious take on politics and bar culture – whatever your politics may be. Also, it's not a bad take on crafting promotions that speak to current events. 

     

    Author: Lori E. White

     


  6. This is a must-download program — Cool Iris…it is a firefox plug-in.

    No more page after page, just one big wall of images.

     

     
    Author: Nick Becker

     


  7. Found a great resource that exibits just how much logos and branding evolves as the years pass. Things sure get a lot shiner. 

    Call me old-fashioned, but I like the old intricate ones. 

    The Apple logo from 1976 looks a lot like the Ford logo from 1903. What's up with that?

    logos

    Moose has made some logos in its time. I wonder which decade our logo experts here at Moose prefer!

    Got this in the great email newsletter, The VeryShortList.
    I would definintely reccomend checking it out and subscribing if you
    like what you see  – I love seeing the cutting-edge things they find
    almost as much as I like it when I find something before VSL does! ;)  

    Author: Lori E. White

     


  8. In addition to growing a spectacular beard, copywriter Eric Flinn has also developed a new moose tradition.

    This year we will start a company wide Pumpkin carving contest on the afternoon of the 30th.

    You can either develop your option on site, or you can spend weeks preparing an intricately designed pumpkin in your basement.

    The panel of judges will be published in a few weeks. Sharpen your tools.

     

    Author: Gus H.

     


  9. Check out Joe Bonwich’s blog about Mealchime.com.

    Joe is the restaurant critic for the Post-Dispatch.

    "The database appears to be pretty clean and relatively comprehensive; I
    did a couple of searches near home, work and neighborhoods I know and
    got lots of good information."

    Thanks, Joe.

    If you have not yet used Mealchime.com you should, and so should your family and friends. Check out Katie’s Pizzeria, across from the Esquire Theater and not far from the office. They have great pizza… and hot coupon deals for free drinks with lunch!

     

    Author: Sharon Ayres

     


  10. These great illustrations of the AMC series Mad Men have been bouncing all over the internets.

     

    One look at'em and it's easy to see why.

    Images include iphone backgrounds, Christmas cards, and all that — kept up-to-date for each episode. Browsing the illustrator Dyna Moe's flickr set is a real learning experience. She lists some of the mid-century advertisements that inspired her illustrations sometimes, and it's just so cool to see how she's translated that aesthetic into vector art.

    These are some classy illustrations. 

    found via Kung Fu Grippe

    author: Lori E. White