So, unless you’re living under a reaaaaaally big rock, you probably know that the economy isn’t doing so well right now.  And it’s not getting any better, with news yesterday that the Government’s financial bailout package didn’t make its way through Congress - Immediately sending the Dow down almost 800 points.  Yikes.

With all this trouble in the financial markets, there are tons of businesses that are going through some pretty tough times.  Many of these businesses, once well-respected brands that consumers craved, are now offering bargain-basement discounts and incentives out of desperation in order to move the needle.  You name it, they’re trying it.  I even heard a radio commercial on a Washington, D.C. radio station two days ago that advertised ”20% off” on a newly constructed luxury home!!!

Relying on these knee-jerk tactics can be detrimental to a brand that has built its reputation on being a cut above the rest.  Unfortunately, desperation and panic can make these type of brands go there confusing a consumer who has come to know them as a brand above the fray. But then on the other side of the spectrum, there are some that don’t panic and stick to their guns.  These brands stay true to what has defined them over the years in better times, and make it work in their favor.

I was reading a blog post written by Chris at Fresh Peel, about a brand that did just that.  Harley Davidson recently started a campaign that touted its solid fuel economy while still reinforcing what makes their brand unique.  Check it out:

I love this campaign and I love this strategy even more.  I think it definitely speaks to Harley Davidson’s unwillingness to compromise the brand, regardless of the economic conditions - and the undying patriotism (with the red stripes) speaks volumes about what Harley stands for.  I think it’s going to be a strategy that will pay off for the company.

Garret Ohm
http://www.orange-element.com

Orange Element is the design + communications firm responsible for all aspects of promoting the Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity brand.  Phi Sigma Pi is the nation’s only National Honors Fraternity and has more than 30,000 members across the country from approximately 100 chapters.  Want to learn more - go HERE. 

As part of our work for Phi Sigma Pi, we redesigned their joint publication - The Lampadion and Purple & Gold.  This publication is actually two magazines in one with a cover on the front and a cover on the back. Each side is intended for a different target audience:  The Lampadion side is meant for Alumni and the Purple & Gold is meant for current Brothers. This not only creates efficiencies for the organization, but it gives both audiences a taste of what the other is doing (Brothers get a sense of what is in store after they graduate and alumni feel more connected).

Check it out - I think it’s really great work.  Nice job team:

Special thanks to Mitch from Prestige Color for doing a great job on the printing of these magazines.  

Garret Ohm
http://www.orange-element.com

Welcome to Friday - a rather dreary one if you’re in or around Baltimore. Today’s Freebie Friday is an awesome tool for anyone who uses Photoshop regularly, whether they’re an amateur or a professional photographer or graphic designer.  Courtesy of Design Reviver, the link below provides you with over 400 free Photoshop Action downloads. 

Some of you might be asking, what is a Photoshop Action?  Here’s how Visual Blast Media defines it:

An action is a series of tasks that you play back on a single file or a batch of files - menu commands, palette options, tool actions, and so on. You can create an action that changes the size of an image, applies a filter to the image for a particular effect, and then saves the file in the desired format.

I hope you enjoy the free Photoshop Actions available for download HERE. Have a nice weekend!

Garret Ohm
http://www.orange-element.com

I came across a bank Web site that I found to be pretty amazing.  Not so much because the Web site did anything innovative, but because the brand identity did something I’ve never seen before in a bank: Used virtually no color. 

Check this out:

I applaud First Direct for taking a bold approach with this brand identity.  It signals a bank that really DOES want to be different, not just say it. I think it’s stunning, bold and refreshing.  I’d bank there, but I’m guessing since the currency is in GBP, I probably can’t….Too bad.

Via brandflakes. Thanks Darryl, good find.

Garret Ohm
http://www.orange-element.com

It’s probably safe to say that there aren’t many computer programs that are hated more than Microsoft PowerPoint.  Its limited functionality and customization abilities and inefficient user interface have been responsible for some of the worst presentation atrocities (I don’t know what else to call them) in the world. Don’t believe me?  Then check out this LINK.  

Enter SlideRocket.

The folks at SlideRocket have built a better mousetrap. The things you can do with Slide Rocket are astounding.  Here’s a little bit of info from their Web site:

SlideRocket allows you to create stunning presentations, manage them intelligently, share them securely and then measure the results. SlideRocket also includes an online marketplace where you can find all the content and services you might need to make your presentations great. SlideRocket goes beyond traditional presentation tools by harnessing the power of the Internet and making everything available to you in an integrated and intuitive online interface. SlideRocket is provided in a software-as-a-service model in a variety of price points starting at free.

Thanks to Wendy from Scherer Cybrarian for the find.  It was recently in her market research and consulting firm’s 3.5 minute enewsletter.  If you haven’t signed up for it, you’re really missing out.  Go here to sign up: http://www.scherercybrarian.com/.  If you need information, they are the firm to hire.

Garret Ohm
http://www.orange-element.com

Ok, this couldn’t have been in Microsoft’s game plan…The Microsoft/Seinfeld/CP+B saga continues with new claims that someone uncovered proof that the new ad campaign was created on a Mac! Here’s the scoop, courtesy of Roughly Drafted Magazine:

Flickr user LuisDS found that metadata on the creative copy of the “stereotyped PC user” and other photos appearing on Microsoft’s “I’m a PC” website revealed that they were produced using Macs running Adobe Creative Suite 3. One might expect that Microsoft would use Windows PCs running its own Microsoft Expression Studio software, which as the company advertises, “takes your creative possibilities to a new level.”

Apparently, neither Windows PCs nor Expression Studio are up to the task of taking on Apple and destroying its globe enshrouding “Get a Mac” campaign. The image of John Hodgman as a troubled PC struggling with Vista-related problems has pushed Microsoft to defend itself with a $300 million campaign to take control of the “conversation about Windows,” using Macs as needed to get the message produced.

When LuisDS checked on the photos again this morning after publishing the metadata details on Flickr last night, he found that Microsoft has scrubbed the revealing details from the work, an effort that also resulted in the 272 KB photo ballooning to 852 KB.

Yikes.  PR nightmare anyone? It certainly doesn’t help to reinforce the authenticity of the message Microsoft is trying to convey. 

Garret Ohm
http://www.orange-element.com