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If you’re a branding-junkie, like me, then you’ll appreciate the awesomeness of Brand New, a website showcasing corporate brand identities – and sometimes ripping them apart. On this site you may find some start-up logos, but most are updated brand identities – which is where the real fun begins. I took a few screenshots of one case study on the website – that I really liked – for the company Cystic Fibrosis Trust:

First, the author showcases the original logo and then the new logo, side-by-side, for your consideration. Below this showcase, the author of the blog writes some details about the company along with his opinion on the changes.

Above you can see some of the brands old look. It doesn’t truly capture your attention. I would say it falls into the category of “the-typical-boring-organization-look” and we all know nobody likes typical. The company’s cause is amazing and deserves peoples attention, but it was lacking pizazz. I needed a refresh; a new start. And that exactly what it got…

Here is the new logo. It says the organization’s name, “Cystic Fibrosis,” but also incorporates the tagline of “Cystic Fibrosis is…” all in one. It’s clever and vibrant, which are two very important ingredients in great brand design.

With these simple post-it style images, the designer portrayed important information in a way that catches the audiences attention. The style is consistent with the new logo and it keeps this “heavy” information “lightweight” and fun.

The application of the new logo and branding is just divine. It’s clean cut and minimal, but still overflows with information for the viewer. For example, the three poster designs display an emotional connection to the cause – with the dancer, the roses, and the runner. Then the posters simply invite the audience to join at the locations specified as the bottom.

The runner is my favorite poster; as she runs towards the information, directing the audience to go to the Virgin London Marathon and join the Cystic Fibrosis Trust team, the white-space and yellow arrows give the feeling of fast movement and urgency. Lastly, the stand up billboards – with the children – add a further emotional connection, reminding the audience that kids are affected too. The brand design is consistent and memorable, which is vital to a long lasting identity.

I hope you enjoyed this review – and if you want to see more awesome before and after brand identity reviews, head on over to Brand New. Below each review is a voting poll and an active comments section, where users share their own personal opinions. It’s a great way to open your mind to what people look for in a great identity!

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If you’re not on the social media giant Pinterest, then you’re missing out!

Let’s begin with the basics: I started pinning in what feels like forever ago, but it was probably some time in 2010. The site wasn’t what it is now – granted, the design has stayed pretty much consistent and the user-interface has always been very friendly; yet, the following that Pinterest has now is just enormous. In January 2012, comScore reported the site had 11.7 million unique users, making it the fastest site in history to break through the 10 million unique visitor mark.

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{ My Pinterest Profile }

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Everyone seems to be joining Pinterest – from big businesses to personal users. And with the sites immense growth comes innovative ideas for sharing and reaching more people. I love the Pinterest App on my cell (available for Android and iPhone) because I love to pin while I’m waiting for anything. It’s a sweet way to pass the time; looking up design inspirations or delicious recipes. But what matters most is what you have for later – Pinterest gives you the satisfaction of knowing that all of that information is stored there, in an organized and conveniently-linked manner.

Now for the goodies – literally. They’ve got a whole page of Pinterest Goodies where they’ve created some fantastic tools for business’ and personal brands:

Buttons + Widgets: Integrate the Pin It Button, Follow Button, Profile Widget, or Board Widget to get more engagement from pinners and traffic back your site; and don’t forget to Verify Your Site.

Also, if you’re a WordPress blogger – like me – then you’ll love this plugin that adds a “Pin It” button as you hover over blog images. Recently, I stumbled upon another plugin called Alpine Photo Tile that showcases your most recent pins on a site page.

By simply searching online, you’ll find an endless list of plugins and widgets for Pinterest + WordPress.

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Now for some visual fun. Here are a few examples of the Board Widget being integrated into a post. By clicking anywhere on the images below, you’ll be directed to any of the following boards: Design + Typography, Home + Garden, or Delicious Delights; yet the best part is that it’s constantly going to showcase the most recent pins. It’s sheer awesomeness:

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It doesn’t seem like the Pinterest trend will subside anytime soon. Which is why I’m recommending you to jump on board, if you haven’t already! There’s lots of help on the Pinterest site to get you started. Plus, it’s truly one of the most user-friendly websites out there. The inspirations are endless and the organization is perfect.

{ Check out Pinterest and be sure to follow me when you get there! }

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• This year, splash some color in your office or home. This Pantone 2013 Calendar is just perfection!
• Time for a refresh www! Some hope that these 6 website-trends will disappear in 2013.
• Speaking of a refresh – try simplifying your internet life with ZenHabits tips.
• Want more simplifying? How about the ultimate quick fixes to clear your Gmail inbox.
• There’s nothing like good ol’ fashion USA love. These small doodles create amazing images – including Lady Liberty!
• Blogger Breanna Rose shares her favorite web fonts and links to each for more info/downloads.
• Don’t know how to install Google fonts to your site? No problemo. Here’s an example and how-to-install-guide + all of the Google webfonts.
• Work, life and side projects – oh my! Read on how to work smarter.
• Freelance designers have options for making money throughout the year. Check out Smashing Magazine’s Passive Income Strategies for Designers.
• It’s nice to handle all of your social media updates in one spot: HootSuite is my personal favorite.
• Subscribers love cool newsletters – so I suggest you work with the trendiest mailer, Mail Chimp. Plus it’s free!

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After a very eventful week, Art Basel 2012 has come to an end. Miami can now return to its normal homeostasis of moderately-horrible traffic and extremely hot winters. All shall now return to the way it was; the way the locals like it.

But although it’s over, we will truly miss Art Basel and everything it brings to the city. Like its never-ending block parties in Wynwood and sponsored alcohol at almost every gallery.

I am sure that we Miamians will mostly miss the amazing artists and their live-art displays which took place so vividly throughout Art Basel’s time. There’s nothing like walking down the streets of Wynwood or Miami Beach and seeing an artistic piece coming together.

This year, I snapped away shot after shot of art that caught-my-eye. Unfortunately, my point-and-shoot died this summer, so I stuck to capturing images with my handy dandy smart phone. Add that plus some awesome Instagram filters, and voilà! Magical photos are now available for your viewing pleasure.

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{ Noteable Galleries & Artists }
Wynwood Cigar Factory · Evoca1 · Faith47 · Tati Suarez · Pulse Miami · Banksy · Spinello Projects · Gallery 212 · Basel Biergarten · The Flower Bombs · La Pandilla · AsIf’s Guns · Mr. Brainwash · Shepard Fairey · Peter Tunney

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So without further adieu, I invite you to please enjoy some of my favorite Art Basel 2012 treasures, caught on camera. Enjoy!:

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Last month The Flower Bombs joined Miami’s Art Live Fair in an interactive art exhibition. This year, it took place from October 26th-28th in the Coconut Grove Convention Center and benefited the Lotus House Women’s Shelter.

Art Live 2012 is an interactive, performance based, contemporary “art happening” and fair in which artists and exhibitors are invited to share the creative process unfolding spontaneously in every form of artistic medium and to the extent possible, engage the fair-goers in the creative process.

My partner, Arlene Delgado, and I planned to share our special Art Live messages of “togetherness” and “new perceptions” through vinyl prints that could be placed anywhere in the show. While wearing our gas masks, we chose to set most of the prints on the floor of the entrance points – this way people could take a moment to stop, read the messages, and take a good look around at all of the amazingness that the exhibit had to offer.

Art Live Fair 2012 had plenty of artists interacting with the audience and creating on the spot. For example, there was a huge satellite-looking stage where one person would sing and the people across the room could hear them perfectly. There was also a kite-making workshop and fun body-movement classes every hour. Artists were painting, building, and involving those who were at the show in their work. It was a beautiful and inspiring experience. With that in mind, coming up next is Art Basel Miami, in December; and The Flower Bombs plan to have a definite presence in the streets of Wynwood. Stay tuned!

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year month! Art Walk, every second Saturday of the month, is always a good time. This weekend, I looked forward to visiting Arlene‘s updated piece in the Wynwood Cigar Factory. She started work on a modern Indian girl – pictured above. Her next step is to incorporate typography treatments; can’t wait to see it finished!

Walking on the way to the cigar shop, I snapped some shots of Wynwood Art Walk‘s beautiful pieces – inside the galleries and throughout the streets:

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If you missed out the cultural event that is Art Walk this month, you can visit the next one on November 10th.  After a great stroll through the area, I finally got to the music-filled and energy-driven Wynwood Cigar Factory. I snapped some photos of the updated venue, with new artwork. Check it out and enjoy:

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Business cards rock! Plus, they’re pretty important to letting people know what you do and how to reach you. So of course, it was due time to print new business cards for DiamariTorres.com

Design wise: I decided I wanted to keep the consistency of my blog’s minimal design through incorporating the sites colors and simple type. Personally, I like the whole “no BS” approach – especially when handing out your card. People want to be reminded of what you do and how to contact you quickly. Yet, the card has to be impressive and actually kind of fun! Remember, the design and texture of your cards is what really sells it ;}

Printing: On that note, the print quality is the first and lasting impression. Quality is most definitely triumphant over quantity. This is a trend I’ve seen in business card printers. Sites like Moo.com – which don’t get me wrong, they have awesome pre-designed templates and materials – can charge you over $100 for a measly 200 business cards.

In my case, I luckily got both quality and quantity. Printed on 16pt cardstock paper, my cards are coated in a very smooth Silk Lamination. It actually seems to make the card thicker and stronger; I love it. The final touch though is the Spot UV, which creates a slightly-visible rise of gloss over whatever you choose to highlight. Logo. Name. Info. Background. Whatevs!

I chose to Spot UV my heart logo one the mustard side and my entire logo on the white side. It feels very interesting and different from the traditional card design. I’m truly very happy with the results. Probably even more so because of the price: 1,000 cards for $145! (shipping not included, I picked ‘em up) You can’t beat that – I have cards for like ever now ;} The service was great and the turnaround time was about a week. I recommend Elite Flyers for printing business cards – especially their Silk Laminated and Spot UV ones, of course.

Elite Flyers
305 538 2712 | eliteflyers.com | info@eliteflyers.com
407 Lincoln Road, Suite 8-F | Miami Beach, FL