Welcome to the Escape Blog

Standard marketing logic says I shouldn’t say what I’m about to. But, you and I both know that I can’t hide what’s out there anyway and I actually find it all rather exciting.

Innovation is what it’s about these days as more and more traditional jobs, trades and products become commoditized (is that a word?). You may not agree with it, but the flip side is that it’s driving down the prices we pay at the other end - from your computers made in Ireland, and your clothes made in China.

Even in the design / print trade we have seen industries go out of business - not companies, industries.
(more…)

What would you do if you managed to get hold of 1001 different fonts? I can imagine the ‘designers’ of parish magazines, etc. will end up with a right eyeful in terms of trying to use every single one in a single publication.

For all you designers though that understand a good use of a typeface, you may enjoy this resource of 1001 free fonts.

As an aside, isn’t it interesting that moving away from the Adobe / Linotype / Monotype model where you pay for families, you can actually get some stuff for absolutely zero? Who said the internet doesn’t change the rules?

iStock changed the rules for royalty free imagery. Perhaps Vector Stock is gonna do the same for basic illustrators and clip-art lovers everywhere… which is a positive thing, I think.

If you are a web designer or a web programmer, you may like Web Designer Wall which I found by Stumbling at the Weekend.

If you are exhibiting this year, you may be interested in our free e-book download - Effective Exhibition Strategies and How To Deliver Sales

… and every marketing exec

From the Design Police

…via Advertising Goodness

It’s not often I get home, see the junk mail sitting on the mat, and smile.

I did yesterday though with this personalised campaign for the Daily Telegraph.

Combining creative thinking with technology, such as variable data printing, direct mail can still stand out.

That said, I didn’t take them up on their offer…

Steve Jobs yesterday unveiled the world’s thinnest laptop computer at the Macworld Expo. The Macbook Air is aimed at the wireless generation, foregoing a DVD or CD drive, hence the thin-ness.

I doubt I will ever own one, as much as an Apple fan I am. I struggle not to break my MacBook Pro’s (I’m on my third).

What amazes me about Apple though, in terms of marketing, is the amount of hype they can generate, which is no mean feat. A week after the world’s largest tech show, CES, Apple seem to be dominating the Blogs and the mainstream news channels (Terry Wogan even mentioned the Macbook Air on Radio 2 this morning).

When you can get people talking about your stuff, anticipating the next era of products you are bringing out, and your name becomes synonymous with ‘cool’ electronics, you know that your marketing and advertising is going to be that much easier.

And, it’s not born from the marketing in the first place, it’s born from great products. Your product (or service) can be your best marketing tool.

It must be a big decision to update an iconic brand and I think Xerox (with Interbrand) have done a great job, as mentioned by Advertising Goodness. From the Xerox website:

The new signature incorporates a lowercase treatment of the Xerox name. It is in a vibrant red Pantone 1797 alongside a sphere sketched with lines, called “connectors,” that link to form an “X,” representing the company’s connections to its customers, employees, partners, industry and innovation. The connectors are super-graphics that will appear as reoccurring design elements.

All businesses change, and perceptions of a business change as industry knowledge, indeed entire industries, move on.

With information overload, a brand that does not site alongside a set of values or a vision, defined by it’s offering and interaction with the world, is in danger of losing any identity with anybody.

It’s constant challenge with evolution becoming more rapid. And, it’s not just for the Xerox’s of the world. Does you brand reflect your vision?

One of our favourite design blogs is currently celebrating its first birthday by giving away a free iPhone. All you have to do is leave a comment on their post. Comments will be open for one week, and the winners will be chosen at random. You must only comment once, and you have to fill out an email address in order to win.

So get yourself over to Bittbox, wish them happy birthday and you could be the proud owner of a shiny new iPhone.