Client:S & B Engineers and Constructors
Format: 16-page, 8 1/2″ x 11″ color newsletter
Design Objective: S & B Engineers and Constructors provides a quarterly newsletter to its employees. The newsletter is filled with articles about employee special events, photos, accomplishments, and family news.
The paper newsletter remains an effective and popular tool for communicating information. With e-newsletters filling our inboxes, some of us have to do a brutal unsubscribe to reduce the number that reach us. One click makes it easy to subscribe to e-newsletters, but it is much more difficult to find the time to read them all. But we all know that a brief printed newsletter can be read in one “sitting” (and we all know the favorite reading spot in the house!)
The printed newsletter has some advantages over electronic newsletters. Our neighborhood civic club still prints a newsletter six times a year. The homes in our neighborhood were built in the 1960s, and there are still many original owners living here. Many of those folks prefer to receive their neighborhood information in a printed newsletter. But an electronic PDF posted to the club’s website satisfies those who prefer getting their information online. My point is that there are still segments of the population who benefit from receiving printed materials, including newsletters.
Newsletters are often 8-12 pages with brief articles and photos. They are a good vehicle for distributing information to customers, employees, your membership or club. Take a fresh look at your communication efforts and you might find that an old favorite (the printed newsletter) can be a great way to stay in touch.
I enjoy a catalog every now and then and this issue of Lands’ End caught my attention, so I thought I’d share. When I took a closer look at the catalog, I noticed a link to the video of how they created this image–fun to watch! It’s a nice touch that they add Wisconsin, their home state, at the end.
Upon closer inspection, I noted some interesting things. Texas is, of course, wearing a country-style plaid shirt. Pennsylvania is much more tropical than I remember from my snowy childhood (palm tree shirt). And, my visits to Kansas were never that much fun. (FUN shirt) Montana looks cozy (tan sweater)…maybe I’ll go there someday. I think the only thing that might make it more interesting would be for the clothing to be seasonal…a bikini for Hawaii and some nice warm scarves for the northern states. But this was a spring break ad, so I can appreciate the bright and vivid choices!
View the short video by clicking this link. Lands’ End Clothing Map
While thumbing though the November issue of Food & Wine, I came across this ad. It caught my eye for several reasons. The magazine is full of attractive photos of fabulous meals and recipe after recipe, but these knives really grabbed my attention.
The simplicity of the ad and the beautiful design impressed me. The precise arrangement of the knives in the shape of the Caesars “laurel wreath” logo was an unexpected surprise. I was interested enough to read the copy to see exactly what was being advertised. In the fine print, the ad announces the opening of several new restaurants at Caesars Palace.
A fine example of great design—Hail Caesars!
Since I was born in Baltimore I have a strong love for the Maryland flag. As an elementary school student, I wrote a report on the state flag (with an elaborate full-color drawing, of course). The Maryland flag is striking and memorable. The design is derived from the shield in the coat of arms of George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore. The shield features a yellow-and-black checkerboard pattern and a red-and-white cross representing Calvert’s mother’s family (the Crosslands).
While watching college football a few weekends ago, I was truly shocked to see the flag decorating the uniforms of the University of Maryland Terrapins (or Terps). The yellow and black checkerboard pattern is placed on the right side of the uniform, including the right sleeve, arm warmers, gloves, and the right half of the helmet. The red and white cross design is placed on the left side, in a similar fashion. And the shoes! Oh my goodness, the SHOES! They leave me speechless.
I’m not much of a fashion expert, but these uniforms are visually jarring. Perhaps the goal is to distract the other team! Maryland won their first game of the season—maybe there’s something to this strategy.
Lord Baltimore must surely be rolling over in his grave.