History of Icons
A quick informative history lesson on the icons that we've become so familiar with but probably know so little on. My favourite probably has to be the story of the Bluetooth icon. Check it out.
Pampering in Pantone
A new hotel recently opened in Brussels that is both branded and designed using Pantone colours. On top of the usual hotel amenities such as lounges, rooms and meeting rooms this colorful construction also offers professional colour consulting from large retailers. They also have an area called the "Pantone universe" that allows users to test drive new products that showcase the latest use of color. I have a feeling that a hotel like this would strike with the "dorky bone" in any visual designer - I know it has with me.
Right on brand
The better a brand understands itself, the more capable it is at connecting with its users.
I recently stumbled across the Method website. After the initial "Ooos!" and "Aaahs" from the visuals of the site, what I realized I stumbled across was a great sense of brand.
There is no denying the site has a fluid, gorgeous product oriented visual style. The experience is airy, intuitive and easy to navigate (minus a few quirky menus). The visuals are stunning, massive and focused. Naturally, this all added up to a great VISUAL experience. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but get a sense of "deja-vu" when I was browsing the site. Interactive carousels, ajax overlays, floating product shots and tons of white space is quickly becoming standard practice on the web and for good reason - it creates experiences like these. But the deja-vu didn't end there. After a short period of clicking through the product pages what really struck me about this experience was how well it reflected the BRAND of Method.
I had never seen the Method website prior to this, but I have come across their products numerous times (I even own a few). From the products alone I had a great sense of the Method brand. The products are simplistic, eco-friendly, great smelling and come in beautifully designed packages. So when I come across a site that exuded the same feelings that I get from the products, that's when I realized how much of a hit it was. Anyone can create a great website, but it's nothing if it doesn't reflect the identity of the brand. A solid brand identity isn't just smart business practice, but it greatly informs a businesses need to extend itself into a variety of advertising forms. Once this is executed properly it results in an experience that a user can relate to, enjoy and develop an even deeper level of familiarity with the brand in question.