Because you have to just sit around and eat everything up that is (or might be) inspirational. And pack it all into one little space until it starts to get bigger and soggier and more full and fatter. And eventually, after holding on, and holding out for the right mojo for so long: BOOM! It either shoots upward into glorious fruition, or it poops out.
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Found this ramble as I was going through some old files. Sorry if it’s a bit raw.
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Don’t focus on the competition, but be aware of them so that incidental design or symbolic crossover confusion does not occur. Don’t focus on cultural downfalls or what “should” be done that isn’t being done because of the potential for cynicism to become the prevailing tone, although possibly subtle, of conversation or conveyed content.
Focus on goodness. Focus on distinction, but only the good things that create distinction. The goodness should come from the essence of the company represented. Whatever is good needs to be highlighted. If it’s many things, then those many things need to be part of the identity of the company. If there are a few good things, then those few things need to be highlighted and communicated. It is about character. And character comes from trial, perseverance.
So, as a business, the clients I should hope to work for are those who understand something about the the world, and have made up their mind to hope for goodness. My business should reflect this concept, and should, leading by example, communicate this concept, of goodness prevailing, in the midst of brokenness and everything wrong, in not only its essence, but in every extension, theoretical and practical, conceptual and visual, in thought and action, spirit and word.
Some friends have got me thinking. Thinking about the past, about history, and thinking about the now. I live close to the campus of Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. They’ve recently built the new, state-of-the-art, Paul Barret, Jr. Library. If you drove a car down my street going east, and kept straight onto Rhodes campus, you’d hit the new spire and entrance to this amazing new building. I saw it go up. Brick-by-brick. And it is truly awe inspiring. I think it’s the most beautiful building in Memphis. But perhaps the most beautiful aspect of the new library, built in the colleges’ time-tested standard limestone (talk about solid branding), is the seemingly seamless combination of old and new. It’s not a stodgy, old, stinky building. It’s new, and technologically advanced, and fresh, and full of people being really productive. And that, is a wonder to behold.
Speaking of confusion. Ever make out a weekly to do list and not know where to begin?
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Sometimes we’re confused. But that shouldn’t keep us from sharing. That’s what “White Noise” is all about.
We went to a book reading and signing last night of Kevin Sessums. Kevin, a native Mississippian, lives in New York and is a contributing editor at Allure magazine. He’s currently touring the south promoting his new book Mississippi Sissy.
Kevin read an except from his book last night. And the way he read was awesome. Rumor had it that he, himself, narrates the audio book version of Mississippi Sissy, so I checked into it and found an audio excerpt here. While some parts are graphically explicit, Kevin knows how to tell a story, and that’s what kept me on the edge of my seat. And the cover design is genius.
Kevin is pictured here at the signing with his cousin Janice.
You may have noticed that something’s wrong. The parent URL for this blog, that’s what’s wrong. Something else is wrong. SlyBrand is sputtering. The reason for the lack of information is because were going from zero to 1. We’re rethinking our website, our purpose, our methods of communication (among other things) so we can do the most, with the least. This hangup is largely due to the development of the Fox Design Co. website.
At this point, we don’t know exactly what it will be. But we can only hope it has some of the graphic appeal that this does, with the usability and update-ability that this has. The sketch on the left may help, or add to the confusion (and if it does, you may get a little taste of what has been hanging me up lately).
There have been some enlightening things that have bubbled up to the top of my mind throughout wrestling with this project. I’ve learned better who Fox Design Co. is. For example, instead of just implying “we’re a graphic design firm that does advertising, environmental & sign, logo & symbol, print, screenprint & web design,” we’re gonna say: “we tell brand stories.” It was there all along, it just took the creative process, the struggle, to bring it out.
Sorry for the lack of new posts. The future’s bright, spring is in the air.
Here’s what’s on the ol’ board this week.
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