Posts Categorized: Articles

To be more interesting people, we need to be more interested in people

As the 2012 instalment of Interesting Vancouver fast approaches (only a scant few tickets left I think), I’ve found myself explaining a few times recently why I invest the time and energy to co-produce this annual event. I’ve been to enough corporate sponsored, for profit, theme focussed, over structured conferences to choke a pig. Having […]

On Pablo Ferro, Movie Title Design Magician

I was honoured to be invited by SPARK Animation 2012 to give the introductory remarks before the North American premier of Pablo, a documentary by Richard Goldgewicht about legendary title designer Pablo Ferro. Below are those comments: Good evening. My name is Kyle Cooper. No, no it’s not…I’m just kidding, but the person up here […]

Your business seems shallow: an attempt to explain the curse of social media marketing

There is no doubt that social media networks have immensely changed our lives. We are able to communicate with each other at the click of a button and can capture and share moments that we previously couldn’t. However, something about this interconnectivity is still unable to reach its full potential. Why do we find ourselves scrolling through oceans of Facebook status updates before bedtime like zombies? Why are our Instagram feeds little more than a bland collage of cats, dinners, and feet on beaches?

How to start your own design firm and end up with night terrors.

I was recently honoured to publish another article on Design Edge Magazine’s website, this time entitled Rushing into starting your own design business can turn a dream into a nightmare. To my surprise and delight, one of my industry heros and mentors, David C. Baker, republished the article on his blog under the title Should […]

You Won’t Get a Job After University—Unless You Intern First

Let’s face it: if you want a job after you’re done school that doesn’t involve writing down pasta orders or spilling Americanos all over yourself (been there), you have to do an internship. No ifs, ands, or buts. Our generation is not our parents’ generation. A formal education doesn’t guarantee you a job—or even a […]

You Have to be SMART With Social Media

There’s no denying it. There’s no hiding from it. There’s no escaping it. Social media is everywhere. And in some cases, social media can make or break a business. When was the last time you went to the little bar around the corner from your office? Not since an army of Yelp reviewers made sure […]

Meet Me in Chicago

As an experienced graphic design, branding consultancy and communication firm, we’ve had the pleasure of working with a whole variety of clients. From schools to restaurants to yoga studios, we’ve worked with ‘em all, and have truly enjoyed getting to know many industries. Our expertise, however, lies within servicing likeminded creators and designers in professional service firms. Specifically, we’re talking about architecture, engineering, and construction firms. That’s why we decided to try to expand what we do to a different city; a city with a reputation, a history, and a strong design community. It only made sense to pick Chicago.

Looks Matter More Than You Think: How We Respond to Beauty in Design

A couple of months ago, I stumbled onto a surprisingly impressive, tongue-in-cheek blog called Hipster Branding. Although the concept is old hat (aren’t people tired of the word ‘hipster’ yet?), the point behind the blog is articulated skillfully. The designer, Dave Spengeler, took famous, bloated corporations such as McDonald’s, Nike, and Fedex, and redesigned their logos in a way that would appeal to a supposedly frame-wearing, cocktail-drinking, Kafka-reading subculture. The results are astounding: every single logo feels smarter, classier, boutique, and appealing to that type of person – all because of a few new typefaces and shapes.

Why is it that appearance makes such an immediate impact? Why is it that it can make or break so many of our decisions, create or destroy brand loyalties, and tap into our strongest instincts? A few theories and some wise words by Don Norman begin to explain the reasons behind it all – and even prove just how far appearance can go.

Are Calls To Action really that important?

Yes, they are. By now we all know that every website should have a Call to Action, ideally there should be one on every page. Recently I compiled a short summary (from both a marketing as well as design standpoint) that outlines some different types of Calls to Action and why they are important. Here […]

How brands respond when stuff blows up—literally

Let’s face it. Shit happens. Things go wrong. Hopefully not too many times over the lifetime of a company. But it’s in the critical moments after a serious failure of a company to meet its promises where brands can be built or destroyed. It’s terribly easy to point fingers, rant and criticize mercilessly when a […]

Odds are, you won’t succeed as a designer

The following article by Mark Busse was published in June 2012 in Design Edge Canada Magazine.   Most of you won’t make it in the graphic design industry. Sorry if that stings, but it’s time someone told you the truth. The odds are stacked against you. Colleges and universities are churning out more design program […]

Should I trademark my business?

As a brand strategy consultancy, we regularly name companies and create logotype and logomarks for our clients. Some who have never gone through the process before haven’t considered the legal implications of their new name and brand—avoiding treading on another company’s property, and protecting their new creation. That’s why, early in the process we involve […]