Think About It

My husband and I were traveling in the wee hours of the morning through Dayton, Ohio on Christmas Eve when we realized we weren’t going to make it to Detroit without one of us falling asleep at the wheel. It was 4:00 in the morning so for safety reasons we took the next exit determined to get a motel room to rest.

We had three choices: A Motel 6, Knights Inn and a Red Roof Inn. The Motel 6 was on the opposite side of the road and down a ways so our options became Knights Inn or Red Roof Inn. After looking at both their marks I said to Jim, “I  gravitate toward the Red Roof Inn for some reason.” He agreed and said, “Yea, it looks like Knights Inn hasn’t updated their purple and white logo since the 1960s.” I quickly added that if they hadn’t bothered to update their logo in 40 years I wondered what else they haven’t changed. We didn’t have to sleep on it… right then and there our decision was made, solely based on the revised look of a brand mark.

This trip confirms my belief in the importance of a service or hospitality industries brand mark, especially in it’s most critical application: the big, high sign you see from a distance — before you even see the building, experience their customer service or see a room.

We had no problems sleeping.

I was once told by someone “Clients are always right...even when they are wrong.” This has obviously stuck with me over the years. “How can this be?” I’ve pondered. Now this is not to say that I believe the world is black or white, right or wrong...quite the contrary. However, if we are to grow as people we are to explore the possibilities as partners with our Clients, that means we should hold onto our ideas, best practices and expertise as dear. And, it works both ways, we are/should not be so egotistical to believe that good ideas won’t come from our Clients as well...they can come from anyone, anywhere, anytime. But when a less than mediocre one is thrown upon the table, sometimes as a directive, we treat our clients as friends and true partners where we can feel comfortable in pushing back and say, “Let’s think about that another way, shall we?”

This isn't to say we push back subjectively either. We are usually pointing our Clients back to the discovery work previously done in order to keep the project objectives on track. This practice resonates with me at my very core, as a human being. Ladies, when you are shopping, do you prefer the superficial answer of a friend who tells you an outfit looks good on you when you know darn well it doesn’t, or would you prefer the friend who feels comfortable in saying “You know, something else might be more appropriate or look more flattering on you?” We strive to attain these all important, real and lasting relationships with our Clients. In the end, it is a win-win situation for everyone.

Like any meaningful relationship -- it’s not always easy, but always worth it.

We knew Friday was going to be jammin' because preparing for a big workshop always has us running in several directions. When I got a call from our office neighbor just as I was leaving my home, I realized just how crazy our morning was going to be.

 At 7:40am our office was broken into. The alarm and other safety procautions in place did their jobs and minimized the damage. Nobody was hurt, but there was loss of property and a a big mess left behind. By the time I arrived, the police had just about finished their investigation, leaving wisps of fingerprint dust everywhere along with a business card.

As I focused on the afternoon workshop, everyone else moved into action as if this sort of thing happens every day to us. By 12:30p, a half-hour before our client was scheduled to arrive, everything was back to normal. I was amazed as I looked around -- it was as if nothing had happened that morning. A few of us sat and ate lunch as the realization of what we accomplished together in a few short hours sank in.

This is an amazing group of people... friends... family... and I thank you!

After the workshop, I stepped in to visit Holger, our creative director, as something he was working on caught my eye. He found a piece of glass from the door that was smashed with a rock, and wondered what it would look like if he scanned it.

I was immediately struck by the contrast between such a violent, desparate act, and the beauty of this image. And I couldn't help but hope that maybe the persons responsible for this will, one day, find themselves at peace, and able to see the true beauty that exists in the world around them. – Bob

How special glassware affects the brand experience of your favorite beer

Whilst tossing back a pint of our favorite grog one recent night, the Point of Vision team was discussing the vast variety of beers worldwide. Naturally, the conversation shifted to beer brands and label designs (yes, we talk shop even at happy hour). We noticed that many beers had their own branded glassware, and that the size, shape and thickness of each vessel varied. We surmised that this variety had to do with the brand of beer it contained, and the desired consumer experience - some were designed to optimize the foam head, others to enhance a specific ingredient's taste or aroma. Some were a custom size to hold a specific amount of beer, others were based on the tradition of the region where they were brewed, and so on.

Just as packaging and bottle design play an important role in the brand experience, custom glasses can enhance the experience, not only through visual design but also in functionality. This revelation was a timely one for the Point of Vision team, since we are in the midst of a branding and identity project for Bocktown Beer and Grill in Pittsburgh, Pa. When we returned to the office, we wanted to confirm our conclusions and found Arjen's Beer Page to further enlighten us. We are now eagerly planning our next round of field research, all in the name of brand enhancement.