Here's where you get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how we do what we do at the
world's most Plaid design and branding firm.
world's most Plaid design and branding firm.
Friday, April 27, 2007
plaid slogans
We've crafted a handful of fun Plaid slogans to use in some of our collateral materials, email signatures, etc. Trade them with your friends:
Plaid. It's the new black.
Plaid goes with everything
Plaid is so slimming
Once you go Plaid, you never go back
Go Plaid or go home
Plaid never goes out of style
Plaid means never having to say you’re sorry
The Plaid will set you free
It’s a Plaid, Plaid, Plaid, Plaid world
We’re Plaid as hell, and we’re not going to take it anymore
Have any other ideas?
Labels: collateral, plaid
posted by darryl ohrt @ 2:50 PM
7 comments
Thursday, April 26, 2007
voice mail talent found
We've found a voice that we like for our new voice mail system. You can listen to her reel here.
We plan on directing the read (and the script) to feel a little more sassy than the pieces on her reel, which we think will come off well. Similar in attitude to the Orbit Gum girl. The recording session has been scheduled for early next week.
We'll also build some light humorous lines deeper into the script - so that regular callers won't have to listen to the same jokes over and over, but some callers will get a cute surprise.
We have Melissa to thank for this - as it was her comment on our original post that prompted us to more seriously consider a female voice for the role. Thanks Melissa!
Labels: plaid
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:38 PM
1 comments
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
setback on our voicemail
We've had a setback on our voicmail system. I've mentioned that we need to re-record our company's phone greeting - so that when people call us, they are greeted with a Plaid greeting.
The process takes a while, as there are a couple of vendors involved. We had planned to use voice talent with a Scottish accent - thinking it seems random and unique to callers, and yet ties to the heritage of plaid fabric.
Today, we received an audition clip. The voice talent was fine, but hearing it live, we weren't feeling it.
So now, we're back to square one.
We need a voice mail voice, that feels appropriate for our brand (fun, creative) but yet won't get tired for people who call us frequently. We're convinced that the solution is in the voice itself - not the script so much, as script humor or accents will get REALLY tired and annoying for regular callers.
Any ideas? We really need to settle on this by end of the week, if possible.
Labels: collateral, plaid
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:56 PM
3 comments
plaid exists in hungary
We've posted about the custom messenger bags that we're producing for House of Plaid. Now, the design is really coming along. We had a real hard time finding a plaid pattern that we liked, and that was available in Hungary. Apparently, Hungarians don't wear a lot of plaid, these days.
Anyway - our supplier, Bagaboo, found exactly what we're looking for. A sample is pictured above.
Our prototype bag is being sewn together as we speak. Can't wait to see the finished product.
Labels: houseofplaid
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:43 PM
0 comments
Monday, April 23, 2007
resetting of the clock
We changed our countdown. Actually, Giuli did. Late last week, as the clock chimed down to eight days - eight days until the launch of our new site, it was pretty obvious that we had more than eight days of work left.
One nice thing about your own projects, is that (more or less,) the deadlines can be moved around. Of course, that's also a curse. Since the website is the foundation of all of our promotional materials, we can't begin to get the word out (aggressively) until it's live.
We've brought in some additional freelance help (thanks Rob!) to assist with the overload, and will be devoting hard time to it. This time, we're sticking with the clock.
Paul is coding up the home page, and Eliza and I are working out the remainder of the copy for the site. Meanwhile, David is finishing out the additional pages while we pull together pieces for the online portfolio.
Eighteen days, as I type this...seems so far away...
posted by darryl ohrt @ 9:06 PM
0 comments
Friday, April 20, 2007
more house of plaid & some nitty-gritty
Been working on some more cool limited edition items for House of Plaid. We just ordered some linoleum block printed moleskine notebooks like these, from Amy at papastudios. Never take a boring note again.
Started the process for re-recording our voicemail system. It's going to be so much more us soon. You'll call just to hear it again, then hang up on us when we answer.
And we're ordering new graphics for our door. We're plaid-ifying everything. Watch out. You're next!
posted by Giuli @ 1:23 PM
0 comments
Monday, April 16, 2007
final logo AND business card complete!
David completed the logo. He's made what looks like minor tweaks to it - although I'm on vacation, so I'm only paying half attention.
Regardless - Giuli's getting our business cards all ready to print. Should have new cards in hand in five to ten days. We'll have cards available in three colors - blue, green and orange. Each with brown. Sweet.
Labels: collateral, identity, plaid
posted by darryl ohrt @ 10:22 PM
2 comments
Sunday, April 15, 2007
logo chosen
We've chosen a logo. We needed to live with them for a few days, just to be sure - and we've picked the one featured above. We believe it suits us well. The "i" will be dotted in one of three different colors, dependent on the usage.
We're going to try making a couple of minor modifications - tweaking either the "P", or the "L," as suggested by Hugh, in on of the comments from a previous post. If we like the tweaks, we'll incorporate them - if not, we'll go with it as featured above.
As soon as the fonts are purchased and files complete, we'll post the final! Up next...ordering business cards.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:53 PM
2 comments
Thursday, April 12, 2007
introducing the house of plaid
We're going to be introducing a few new business units and service offerings with the launch of Plaid. One of these will be The House of Plaid.
Separate from our service offerings for clients, this is purely a fun, creative outlet. House of Plaid will feature limited edition design goods. Cool stuff that designers, marketing and brand managers, or other creative people might dig. We plan to continually offer new items - and each product will be produced in a limited, numbered production run.
One of the first items is going to be a messenger bag. We're working with this really cool company in Hungary, Bagaboo, that makes custom sewn bags. Really nice stuff.
We're in the process of designing the bag as we speak. The photo above is some other bag made by Bagaboo. Ours will be cooler. So far, it's black, with some really sweet Plaid elements. There will likely only be 50 of these bags manufactured (still working on the numbers). Each one will be a hand-sewn special slice of art. That you can keep stuff in.
We'll keep you updated as this progresses, and as other House of Plaid products materialize.
Labels: houseofplaid, plaid
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:06 PM
3 comments
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
new logo work
We're playing with some new logotypes. This is so difficult, when it's for your own company.
If we don't make a decision by the end of this week, we're going to blow a few of our deadlines. Nearly everything related to our name change requires a logo, and some of these items will be at a standstill until we make a choice.
We've narrowed down three options today. We're split between them, and agreed we'd sleep on it, and revisit tomorrow. Thoughts? Opinions? Ideas?
posted by darryl ohrt @ 9:06 PM
6 comments
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
new voice mail greeting
When we first decided to rebrand, it sounded so simple. "Everything's digital," we said. "It'll be easy." Then as we really started to dig in, we realized what we where in for.
One of the kabillion and two things that we need to update to reflect our new brand is our voice mail greeting. This is the first thing clients hear, when they call us. For some clients, this is their first impression.
So, we've been toying with a few ideas. It's a real challenge, because you can't create something that's funny the first time, but annoying as hell the 300th time a client calls us. And we like clients who stick around past the 200th call.
Eliza suggested we get an older male, with a deep Scottish accent to read for the part. At first we laughed, but the more we talk about it, the more we like it. Kind of like having Fat Bastard as your receptionist.
He could read the primary greeting straight, and we could work some funny lines into the more obscure phone mail functions. And Fat Bastard does wear plaid real well. Not that everyone with a Scottish accent is like Fat Bastard. At least, I'm pretty sure. I've never been to Scotland, now that I think of it.
Labels: plaid
posted by darryl ohrt @ 10:28 PM
3 comments
Monday, April 9, 2007
new website conceptual design
The first stage conceptual design for what will become our new website is pictured above. (The site this will replace, for reference: www.viaworldwide.com)
The top panel (with the bobble heads) will be an animated Flash program, which will showcase a couple of A-list projects, or whatever we think is hot at the moment.
The column on the far left will feature copy detailing our core service offerings. The middle column will feature recent developments or things we need to shout out loud.
The panel on the far right will include flexible promo areas, that we can swap out, dependent on what mood we're in at the moment.
None of the copy has been written yet - but will be in our typical dumb-ass style.
Navigation is simple, short, and runs across the top bar. Logo is placeholder for now, as we're still working that out.
Overall, you'll see a lot of flexibility, which is key, so that we can grow into this, not out of it. We only have time for a redesign every couple of years. ;)
posted by darryl ohrt @ 10:41 PM
5 comments
Friday, April 6, 2007
revised business cards
After overwhelming input from email, comments and friends calling for "all plaid", we've updated the back of the business card design to feature nothing but a plaid pattern. David says: "Told you so."
We're still not 100% on the logo/type treatment. We've dropped the circle for now. We're playing with some other type treatments, and will share ideas next week.
Personally, I can't stand brown and orange - but you can see the other schemes from our plaid pattern post. I'm partial to the green, or blue. Or purple! What about purple?
Labels: collateral, identity, plaid
posted by darryl ohrt @ 4:34 PM
8 comments
revised home page wire frame
David's updated the wire frame for our new home page, to reflect the more recent discussions we've been having about content and organization. Can't wait to show you his conceptual work.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 2:20 PM
0 comments
Thursday, April 5, 2007
there's no turning back now...
We just sent an email blast out to our clients and friends, officially announcing the changeover of our agency. VIA will become Plaid in the next few weeks.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 9:39 PM
0 comments
new website wire frame
We've completed (mostly) the planning phase of our new website design. The wireframe for the home page is pictured above.
For clients and noobs: A wireframe is a tool we use for planning and organizing a website design. This allows us to understand content hierarchy, and how the page will be structured.
David's already knee deep into the conceptual design based on this wire frame, and we'll share his ideas as soon as he's comfy with them. We're hoping to get to an in-house critique of his work on Monday.
Labels: collateral, plaid, website
posted by darryl ohrt @ 9:32 PM
0 comments
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
business card designs
We're still playing with logo ideas (and welcome your input), but in the meantime, David put together a business card concept. Here's the question we always ask in our in-house critiques: How can this be better?
posted by darryl ohrt @ 4:19 PM
7 comments
Monday, April 2, 2007
introducing PlaidTV
Just when you think there's nothing on.....Introducing PlaidTV
We have so many fun and exciting things planned for Plaid, I'm about to pee my pants. Here's one we can tell you about today. We've initiated some pretty awesome partnerships to push the level of talent in our studio through the roof. One of them involves film and video.
We've struck a deal with Director of Photography Brian McAward and Producer/Director/Editor, Colin Russell, two accomplished talents from the film and television world, to help us realize what will become PlaidTV.
We will now offer full production for episodic programs, commercial and music videos, and of course 'viral' style video and film production. BRAGGING ALERT: You've seen Brian's work in television commercials for Ethan Allen and Goodyear, and a host of cool indie films like "Zombie Prom," "Blackmale" and "Far As The Eye Can See." Colin's reel is equally impressive and boasts producing, directing and editing credits. We're impressed and we're in the biz! END BRAGGING They're both pictured above, at a recent shoot of ours.
Television is morphing into a new form as we speak. The viewer has become the programming exec. Media distribution outlets are growing exponentially and are hungry for content to distribute. All this adds up to an unprecedented opportunity for brands. We're ready to fill that need and capture the moment with television content that generates attention, audiences and results. Just wait.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 2:19 PM
0 comments
