Go Dennis!… Foursquare announces national partnership with American Express.
Month: June 2011
FDA goes graphic on cigarette packaging… The U.S. Food and Drug Administration unveiled 36 jarring labels Wednesday aimed at escalating efforts to warn smokers of the fatal consequences of cigarette smoking. These labels represent the agency’s exercise of its new authority over tobacco products and the most significant change in cigarette warnings since companies were forced to add the mandatory Surgeon General’s warning in 1965. “We are pleased with the images they picked,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive of the American Heart Association. “They strongly depict the adverse consequences of smoking. They will get people’s attention. And they will certainly be much more memorable than the current warning labels.” Will be very interesting to see if dramatic imagery changes behavior.
Flash sales & site phenomenon… Good NY Times overview on flash sales and sites discussing the latest online phenomenon as an effective vehicle to get in front of new customers. Gilt, One Kings Lane, Ideeli, and MyHabit are just a few of the bigger, more popular ones mentioned in the piece. Interesting that some sites are expanding their editorial or promotional staffs to offer more content to help consumers evaluate and try the brands featured on the respective sites. Also notable is that major brands like Volkswagen are testing the concept for additional exposure/hype for new product launches. We are certain that we will be seeing much more of this.
@work | LARSEN (graphic design, promotion, advertising photography)… Developed seasonal campaign to promote renowned fabric house’s new collection. Provided art direction for photo shoots and photo editing for both advertising and promotion efforts. Developed seasonal advertising campaign along with print promotion for trade audience.
Growth by design… Interesting report by Center for an Urban Future
(NYC-based think tank) detailing growth of New York’s architecture and design sectors. Illustrates how New York dominates various design disciplines and suggests the need for additional incentives and programs to help further develop the sector’s growth potential. Good news for sure…
Michelle Obama unveils redesigned food plate, replacing food pyramid
First lady, Michelle Obama presented a new, redesigned government nutrition campaign called MyPlate, as a new fundamental part of Mrs. Obama’s campaign against obesity. The graphic replaces the very dated food pyramid, designed to remind consumers about the basics of a healthy diet. “This is a quick, simple reminder for all of us to be more mindful of the foods that we’re eating,” Mrs. Obama said. “We’re all bombarded with so many dietary messages that it’s hard to find time to sort through all this information, but we do have time to take a look at our kids’ plates. If the filled plate looks like the symbol, with lots of fruits and vegetables, she said, “then we’re good, it’s as simple as that.” The new icon is also part of a larger advertising campaign and new Agriculture Dept. web site (ChooseMyPlate.gov). Nothing ground-breaking here in terms of design, but major kudos to Mrs. Obama for going for a simple, clean message. “Keep it simple” – always the best mantra…
