SxSW 2010: Best of
Written by Nicole Braseth Monday, 22 March 2010 16:14
Well, the Idea Market team has returned from Austin, Texas where for 5 days we soaked up the Texas sun, drank whatever was offered, got smarter (we hope) and probably gained 5-10 lbs each (thanks a lot BBQ). Carson and Nicole showed newbie Graeme the ropes at our second run at SxSW , aka the nerd conference.
Like last year , we wanted to bring you the highlights of our trip...
Art & Copy: insight into advertising
Written by Nicole Braseth Friday, 29 January 2010 16:47
The Idea Market crew met up in downtown Edmonton this past Thursday evening to take in an Ad Club Edmonton and GDC Alberta North event: the screening of Art & Copy , a documentary film by Doug Pray about advertising. While the film compares numbers of the past with numbers of today (ie. in the 70's we were exposed to approximately 1000 ad messages a day, now that number is more like 5000), mostly it's a feel-good flick full of advertising players recounting anecdotes. While quite entertaining, does it say anything about where advertising is heading today? Not in so many words.
But there were definitely truths to be gleaned from the film and its 'characters', some about advertising and some about life...
We're Hiring - Web Developer
Idea Market is looking for a Web Developer to join our team. Someone nerdy enough to fix our in-house server set-up, but still have good people skills and a sense of humour.
Second Time's the Charm
Written by Nicole Braseth Monday, 02 November 2009 15:46
October brings with it the Travel Alberta Conference and the Alberta Tourism Awards (affectionately known as the ALTOs). Like last year, the Central Alberta Tourism Committee put in an application for the Marketing Partnership Award for their efforts this summer with the Alberta Sweet 16 .
Last year, we were bested by the Wetaskiwin Air Show. This year, however, October 26th proved fruitful as the Alberta Sweet 16 took home the ALTO! Our congratulations go out to the communities in central Alberta that make up the Alberta Sweet 16: we all have a lot to be proud of!
Should stock logos be allowed to live?
Written by Carson Pierce Monday, 28 September 2009 15:54
So our favourite stock photo site - iStock - recently announced that they will soon start selling stock logos. Predictably, this has been met with outrage in the professional design community. The main arguments against such a service are that it devalues design, devalues designers and ignores the design process. It's the same arguments given against spec work.
And while there is definite merit to these complaints, there's no denying that there is a demand for this sort of thing and, by extension, that they serve a purpose in the marketplace. Heck, pretty much every product or service has "the right way" and "the cheap way". Fighting against the existence of the latter is like trying to ban bad suits. Yes, everyone should have custom-tailored clothes (or at least have the sense not to buy really ugly stuff), but that's not the world we live in.
So here's the bottom line: professional designers should not feel threatened in the least by stock logos. They are incomparable products. Giorgio Armani doesn't concern himself with those buying $100 suits. If a situation arises where there is confusion, it's probably just time to provide some education on the matter. When the value of a properly executed logo design is explained, good clients will recognize its worth and the vast difference between it and a stock illustration.
For further reading, Australian designer Jacob Cass does a great job at explaining the value of a logo:
- What Makes a Good Logo
- Logo Design Process of Top Graphic Designers
- Why Logo Design Does Not Cost $5
A Transition
Written by Steve Fisher Thursday, 10 September 2009 12:23
Idea Market is doing amazing work, really one of the top design agencies in Alberta and I'm very proud of that. Some very creative solutions have been produced and continue to be produced through the efforts of the team here. Having been here since the start I've witnessed all the successes, challenges and transitions. Today I'm writing to announce my transition. As of October 5th I'll be leaving Idea Market to start a position with Chicago-based firm Palantir.net to work with them on their UX (user experience) team. It is a bitter sweet announcement as I have loved my time here, but I'm excited about the new opportunities I will have to flex my creative muscles on the the team at Palantir. After all the heart of design is finding creative solutions to difficult problems.
I will still have some level of involvement and input on the projects at Idea Market, but only on a case-by-case basis as a contracted Creative Director. I'm confident that the team at Idea Market will continue to produce amazing projects that strike a perfect balance of form and function. As always it's about keeping both sides of the brain happy.
Crowsnest Pass: Website Launch!
Written by Erin Bourne Thursday, 20 August 2009 12:50
The Crowsnet Pass website has just been launched! The new site is a place where residents, businesses and visitors can easily find everything they need to know about the community and surrounding area. There's a ton of things to see on the new site: it's a great place to find local events, local businesses, information for residents, tourist sights, volunteer opportunities, a photo gallery and more.
The content management system we've installed and customized for them is going to make it easy to keep the site up-to-date. Check it out - we even made the newspaper [PDF - 335kb].
Tips to make the most out of entering your own content on the web.
Written by Nicole Braseth Tuesday, 18 August 2009 14:24
So, you have a website. You want to update it frequently and be in control of your own destiny, er, website without having to depend on someone else, so you chose a Content Management System (CMS) option. Good for you!
But in updating your own content, one must keep in mind some important things. First and foremost your website is an extension of you and your company or organization's image and it's important that it leave a good impression.
Read more: Tips to make the most out of entering your own content on the web.
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