Marketing 2.0

Italian Carry Out Logo Competition

Students have submitted their logo designs for Italian Carry Out. I have also included a couple of design treatments that I worked on when I first met with Tyler Salino, before he decided to set up the student competition. I'm posting all of the concepts here and encouraging feedback from everyone. You can leave a comment at the bottom of the post.

 

 

 

 

Dialogue on Design

I'm passionate about design and hoping to share that with students at Ithaca College. I'm working on a new course for the Ithaca Seminar program that will launch in Fall 2012. Here's a description and slideshow to preview the content.

This course explores how design informs the products we buy, the environment we live in, and the dialogue we create with other human beings. It focuses on an appreciation of modern design in the fields of architecture, industrial design, and graphic design.  More a dialogue than dissertation, we will explore the creative process through the work of iconic designers such as Louis Kahn, Richard Neutra, Dieter Rams, Steve Jobs, Paul Rand, and Milton Glaser.  We will learn about their principles of good design, reflecting on how these principles and processes can be applied in our lives to achieve our creative potential. We will understand that design encompasses both the aesthetic and the functional, connecting art and commerce, and elevating the human spirit along with the bottom line. Finally, we will look to connect our appreciation of design to our chosen academic discipline. 

Dialogue on Design from Kurt Komaromi on Vimeo.

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Jobs Day

Today, you can dress like Steve to honor his memory or better yet, make a donation to cancer research. As a country we spend so much money in other areas that it's mind boggling. Billions and trillions of dollars. Why can't we cure this disease that takes so many people before their time?

Studiocom Try to Instate Steve Jobs Day.

What Guy Kawasaki learned from Steve Jobs

With the passing of Steve Jobs, there's an outpouring of tributes and articles that attempt to define his particular brand of genius. Guy Kawasaki worked at Apple and now has written several books about strategy, startups, and building successful companies that enchant. On his blog, he offer some key principles that he learned from Steve.

How to Change the World: What I Learned From Steve Jobs.

Ok, we were just kidding about that Qwikster thing

Just as they were heading off the cliff by splitting the company up, Netflix has come to their senses and pulled back. While they might receive criticism for inconsistent strategies, at least they now recognize the folly of their original plan to separate streaming media from DVD's. Better to catch it before investing in a new brand and really upsetting customers. As the late Steve Jobs taught us, consumers like simplicity.

Netflix Aborts Plan To Separate DVD, Streaming Services | Fox Business.

Goodbye Steve

To the greatest marketer in my lifetime, I can only say thank you for the many great products that changed my life and the lives of millions of people. You showed us that with a clear vision, you can truly change the world.

Stupid branding tricks: Netflix becomes Qwikster

Marketers kill for brand recognition and top-of-mind awareness. That's why it makes no sense when CEO's flush this hard-won equity down the toilet by rebranding themselves. The latest example is Netflix. They recently announced a decision to split into two companies, Netflix for streaming content and a new unit with the abysmal name Qwikster for traditional DVD rentals. Problem number one - the brand name is stupid. I've spelled it three different ways just in typing this short post. Next problem - they'll have to spend a ton of money to promote it and build consumer awareness. Are there no bundling opportunities worth hanging onto with old and new media? 

Netflix CFO David Wells On Qwikster Rebranding, Lowering Prices, Subscriber Loss, Blockbuster, Starz | Fast Company.

HP shares jump on report of CEO change

Here we go again. The revolving door in the CEO's office at HP is spinning again according to news reports. The latest rumor involves replacing current CEO Leo Apotheker with board member and former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman. HP seems to have lost its direction recently and announced some questionable moves like divesting its PC business. They killed their tablet, sold off inventory at fire sale prices and that went so well they had to make more tablets to satisfy consumer demand. What the hell? To me it's just plain sad that an iconic company formed by Bill Hewlett and David Packard has lost its way and become disconnected from the core values and "HP Way" that its founders instilled. On the other hand, it could be a good time to buy the stock!

HP shares jump on report of CEO change - The Globe and Mail.

Cool Business Card Tutorials

Over at the Uprinting Design blog they've posted some great bus card designs and offer templates you can download. So this begs the question, are traditional business cards still relevant in the age of electronic communication? Oh yeah. At least in my book they are. I just love the professional image that a well designed card imparts. This is one of my favorite blogs for design ideas so check it out.

Cool Business Card Tutorials: Great Designs You Should Check and Learn | UPrinting Design Blog.

.XXX Domains

You can't turn around these days without a new top level domain being released. The latest is .xxx which should be reserved for pornographic sites. Of course, the potential for abuse is there on the part of cybersquatters or sites who are just looking to build traffic. Imagine yourname.xxx. To combat the use of celebrity names with the .xxx domain, the ICM Registry has reserved many and will not sell them to to buyers without the exact first and last names they are requesting. It gets a little messier for organizations, however. One tactic used by many major brands is to buy the new .xxx domain to keep it out of the hands of others and protect their image.

Not All Celebrities Protected From .XXX Porn Domain Shenanigans | Fox News.