Cut

Recent findings from a number of large scale studies of consumers and their habits suggest that less choice equals more sales.

Interestingly, secondary conclusions for this hypothesis suggest that less choice converted to quicker decision processing and therefore greater sale conversion.

Could these findings be due to the time poor nature of consumer habits or that branding and advertising has reached saturation point for consumers and there is now a need for desaturating by keeping it simple.

Take a look at the following link: Sheena Iyengar: How to make choosing easier.

Yours by choice,
Amber van Sloten

         
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Posted by Amber van Sloten on January 27, 2012


   

Thinking outside the box

As we all know in branding and in life, first impressions count. Of course we all ask the question… “How we can do this?” Then in business you also have a lot of competition and it’s important to not only make a good first impression, but to also stand out from the crowd. While browsing the web I came across some inspired business card designs that I think hit the mark and leave a lasting impression. These guys have thought outside the box and gone that extra step, to create some outstanding concepts that I had to share.

So here goes, my top ‘thinking outside the box’ inspired business cards.

 

cargo box business card

Tam Cargo: A quirky play on a card that turns into a box. After all the cargo they transfer predominately goes in a box.

 

Stretch Business Card

Poul Nielsen: Again, another quirky card that has you working out, to see that this card is from a personal trainer. He’s got you working before you even book a session.

 

DJ Business Card

DJ Mohit: An entertaining card you have fun with, by rotating the record, to read the info. A fun way of giving a client the thrill of being a DJ on paper, while demonstrating simply what the person does.

 

Money Business Card

Ricky Richards: A UK Graphic Designer developed business cards that looked like £20 and left them lying on the streets, with a fun message on the fact that he was sorry it wasn’t £20, but if you hired him you may find some extra cash in your pockets. I love this concept of grabbing the attention of an unintended audience and having people you would probably never meet, pick up a card and become a potential client.

 

Grow Business Card

Another Bloomin’ Designer: Jamie Wieck treats its recipient to an extra feature you do not expect from business cards…life! Simply soak the bottom of the card, wait four days and you get cool green! The card works as a miniature house-plant, growing alfalfa or cress when dipped in water.

 

Bike Business Card

Broke Bike Alley: One way to grab peoples attention is to give them something for free. This card has been designed as a multifaceted tuning tool, and wouldn’t you be more likely to call up for any serious damage from these guys, if you had their card.

 

I think the lesson here is sometimes, trying to create something outside the box, instead of the plain 55mm x 90mm card can be more fun, show innovation and get you more attention. Maybe next time you’re thinking of getting a business card or promotional item done, it’s time to think how you can get noticed or in honour of shameless advertising you can meet up with our team here at Brio Group, to help with some inspired ideas.

Yours in thinking outside the box
Dawn

         
Filed Under: Branding, Communication, Design, Materials in design | Tagged , , , , , , 1 Comment


Posted by Dawn Wilson on January 25, 2012


   

The power of Apple iBooks

Imagine a classroom where all the books are located on the one device and reading them is a total interactive experience. We have come so far with technology in the last 10 years. Feeling a little old, I remember back to the days when I had to cart text books around, reading and then writing out notes on paper. At the time, I could never have imagined anything so different. The new Apple iBooks allows students to interact with what they are learning. Tapping into more of our senses, making learning, fun, interactive and most of all memorable.

Apple iBooks is also a great tool for writers, making laying out and publishing books incredibly easy with a very professional outcome.

I challenge you to view this video and not feel a little bit jealous of the experience we never got to experience in our school days.

Yours in exploring Apple iBooks.

Belinda

         
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Posted by Belinda Vesey-Brown on January 24, 2012


   

New Nokia Phone Advertising 4D Mapping

         
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Posted by craigb on January 23, 2012


   

Gentlemint – Pinterest for Men only

I’ve been using Pinterest now for only a few weeks and it has become yet another procrastination tool that I have become addicted to! If you haven’t seen Pinterest, check it out at www.pinterest.com or better still you can follow my boards @ http://pinterest.com/paul_vb/

BUT now I have found a second version of Pinterest called Gentlemint (http://gentlemint.com/). No the things that appeals to me about this one is that it’s a MEN ONLY version! That’s not to mean that it full of semi-naked women or fast cars or anything else you would like to stereotype men with! From what I have seen so far it is full of interesting posts of really interesting things, to a man at least! And that’s the appeal of Gentlemint for me. It’s not full of pretty dresses, high heels, latest gift-wrapping techniques or any other stereotypical terms used for what women like!

Just like Pinterest you can only create an account by being invited or application. I haven’t been approved as yet, but am looking forward to it! It is not limited to men only, there is no gender check on applying, but the content obviously must be ‘manly’!

And remember… Chuck Norris doesn’t read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

Yours in manliness,

Paul

One of the recent posts on Gentlemint…

         
Filed Under: Communication, Digital Marketing, Digital Solutions, Reviews, social media, Trends, Web | 2 Comments


Posted by Paul Vesey-Brown on January 22, 2012


   

Writing on the iPad

So we want to eliminate needing to take a notepad and pen with us everywhere to write and sketch our brain farts, when we have our trusty iPad at hand.

There are various apps available from iTunes which have note-taking and sketching functionality as well as pens that sync to an iPad.

Apps for download:
• Studio Basic
• Notes Plus
• Notetaker HD

Pens compatible with iPad:
• Wacom Bamboo Stylus for iPad and iPhone
• EFUN Digital Pen for iPad
• Stylus Touch Pen

The most superior product I’ve seen on the market to date would have to be from Byzero. It comes with a receiver which clicks into the bottom of your iPad and runs on infrared and ultrasound technology, and works with the Studio Pen. Byzero offers palm rejection and precise and detailed handwriting. There’s plenty of demos of Byzero’s Studio Pen on youtube.

Also Click on this link to read through a review of: Drawing on the iPad: 12 touchscreen styluses reviewed.

The critics are still waiting for better advances with the writing capabilities for the iPad which we might see in the iPad 3?…

Yours in new toys,
Amber van Sloten

         
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Posted by Amber van Sloten on January 21, 2012


   

The Shared Experience of Absurdity

 

Charlie Todd causes bizarre, hilarious, and unexpected public scenes: Seventy synchronized dancers in storefront windows, “ghostbusters” running through the New York Public Library, and the annual no-pants subway ride. At TEDxBloomington he showed how his group, Improv Everywhere, uses these scenes to bring people together and as I see it make people smile and laugh.

One of the many things I took away from his talk is how as kids we are encouraged to play and nothing is thought of it, but as adults we don’t play as much. I hope this shared experience will not only make you smile, but remind you to put some play into your life.

I also encourage you to check out the Improv Everywhere website. It has videos of all of their missions (as they are described) and all are worth a look. So sit back on this Friday and share a laugh.

Yours in sharing absurdity
Dawn

         
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Posted by Dawn Wilson on January 20, 2012


   

Even Darth Vader needs a holiday

Maybe it is the post-holiday blues serendipitously telling me I need another holiday, however, this photographic series depicting Darth Vader going on holiday by Nick Presniakov came across my desk today and I had to share.

Yours in photography,

Lani.

 

 

         
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Posted by Lani Pauli on January 19, 2012


   

Braille Burgers

How awesome of a campaign is this…

Fast Food Chain Wimpy Passes a Message to Visually Impaired Customers

Wimpy, a hamburger chain in South Africa, wanted to let visually impaired people know that they offered braille menus in all of their restaurants. To spread the word they built braille burgers that blind people could actually read. With the help of skilled chefs we took sesame seeds and meticulously placed them on burger buns so that the seeds formed braille.

According to Wimpy, its efforts was so appreciated that the three institutions discussed the campaign in their braille newsletters, which ultimately resulted in Wimpy reaching 800,00 visually impaired people.

Reference: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/12/braille-burgers-wimpy_n_1201622.html

Yours in awesome campaigns,
Tanya

         
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Posted by Tanya Heading on January 18, 2012


   

Will you still Facebook when you’re dead?

ifidie is an app hosted by Facebook that allows you to leave a message that will only be published if you die. You install the app, record a video or write a message, then name three trustees from your Facebook friends. After you die, if all three of your trustees agree, the message will be posted on your wall. The app suggests you can leave a proper farewell, reveal a long-kept secret, or tell someone what you really think of them!

So, handy? Or creepy?

 

 

But wait, it gets creepier… ifidie used Facebook and Twitter check-ins to track where people were at certain points in time, and called them with the ominous message that DEATH CAN COME AT ANY TIME. The creepy all-knowing voice knew where they were and told them they must go to ifidie.com. They called thousands of people and not only did this attract media attention, it actually did increase the traffic to their website.

 

 

Yours in taking things too far,

Anya

 

         
Filed Under: Advertising, Advertising Campaign, Digital Marketing, Facebook, marketing, social media, Viral Campaigns | Tagged , , , , , , , , Leave a comment


Posted by Anya Lange on January 17, 2012