Welding 101

Dropped by Shea’s office today to check out the latest on the gate. It’s looking really good. Shea even took a few of us through a little hands on welding. I could get into that. Hope you enjoy the pics, have a Merry Christmas!

 

 

Fireplace Firescreen Prototype

We’ve begun our prototype designs for our firescreens. I’ve been working with the metal guys on details – hopefully with a few changes here and there we’ll have our first one to review by Christmas. It’s been a slow process but I have confidence we’ll end up with a good product for those who are interested. Stay tuned for more updates and more choices to shop as we finalize our collection. Maybe we can even get Tracery to carry them, who knows - I will send the finish image to our blog soon!

Silverock Entry Gate

More images of the laser cut gate, it’s looking good. I can’t wait to see it finished.

 

 

Silverock Cove Entry

It’s getting close, the new metal cut entry for Silverock is being installed as I type. Shea Scully sent us a few teaser shots (see above) of what was left after he sand blasted the panels. I’m ready to see it how it turned out, more to come later…

 

 

New Office Product Line Anyone?

Here’s the first look at the labels for the new office product line we’ve partnered with Markham Bailey to produce. Anne (Bailey) tells me they will be available to order by May 2010 at the New York stationery show! We’re currently on our second pass of prototypes - I can’t wait, in case you don’t know, we also supplied the pattern designs that will appear on the interior of all the office products. I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Mixing Digital Art with Paint...

Does it work? I guess it is a mixed media of types – but can this process be turned into ”Fine Art”. I know, art is always in the eye of the beholder so we’ll see. Hey, if anything I got to paint a little while I drank my coffee this morning.

PS – No, I’m not an Alabama fan – I just live with a few – ie this is a Christmas gift!

A Full Day

The  morning started with a bang - first we helped Tracery style a home office for photo opp, met with Cathy Johnson the new editor of B'ham Home and Garden for a quick impromptu design consult. Then onto a little web design for BooksAMillion and Jarrell Entertainment. Its been a full day that's for sure. Does anyone have a glass of bourbon?

Graphic Pillows

I thought these pillows were pretty cool and graphic. To see more shop with our sister company Tracery at www.traceryinteriors.com .

Laser Cut Cabinet Detail

G and Tracery ( www.traceryinteriors.com ) get together again to throw in a little added detail to this private residence kitchen. To all you cabinet companies out there, give us a call - let’s get together and develop a high end laser cut panel option for your showroom!

Antique Brands

I found this link today of really old brands and thought I’d post it. There are a lot of old quality designed brands in this gallery.

http://www.sheaff-ephemera.com/list/artistic_printing_album/thomas_j_walton.html#previous-photo

Planet Signage

I snapped a quick pic of out Planet Wireless Entry Sign this weekend. We were able to have a little fun with this design as the fabrication approach was simple for the most part. This sign is over the main entry of their corporate offices that faces a pretty busy street. The opaque lens is also back lite at night, with daylight savings this weekend that will come in handy.

Brand Test

How much do you know about car brands? Find out by taking this little interactive quiz!

http://www.cramersweeney.com/brandprix/

 

Firescreen Design

I decided to go ahead just design my own. Every where I look I can't find a decent design for something as simple as a firescreen for my home. Hey, I could have fun designing a few of these a month - the subtle use of patterns stricks again. Hope you enjoy!

Design Websites to Bookmark!

I was cruising through Fast Company’s website when I found these two cool design focused websites. They both are very easy to navigate and offer a lot of high design. Enjoy!!!

http://ffffound.com/

http://svpply.com/

I threw in Uncrate too! if you're burning time, you can for sure get lost here.

http://www.uncrate.com/

Plan B - Back Up Plan

This is a different way to look at it. Pretty funny!

Whitewall & ABC 33/40

Whitewall & Co. gets a little TV time. Check it out!

 

http://cfc.abc3340.com/videoondemand.cfm?id=50999&category=toa

 

The Historic Famous Theatre

Located in downtown Birmingham has finally been renovated. The existing two story interior has been converted into office suites below with a few loft style condos above. Join the festivities on November 10^th for the ribbon cutting. We were asked to help out with a little postcard type invitation, our inspiration was to try and make it look like an old theatre ticket. I always love to see the cool buildings survive to tell another story.

10 Most Popular Brands on Digg

How many did you guess right?

 

Apple - 1731
Wii - 1503
Microsoft -1502
Google -1484
Linux -1390
Mac -1374
Windows - 1337
Nintendo - 1112
Yahoo -1105
Digg - 877

 

 

Panera vs. Starbucks

So after yesterday’s brand war I thought we’d do it again. Which brand has higher sales per store, Panera or Starbucks?

 

That’s right, Panera! Find out why and how they seem to be on such a roll! in Fast Company’s October Issue, you might be surprised at the numbers. http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/139/rising-dough.html

 

Design in the Office.... Products?

I met with Anne Bailey of ( www.markhambailey.com ) today to get the first look at our three ring binder prototypes. I’ll have to say, not only do they look good they are wrapped in a very high end soft leather that just melts in your hand. I can’t wait to see the other pieces of our office suites as they come in. Anne brings a very in-depth knowledge of the manufacturing side of the business as well as a vision to re-tool professionals with office supplies that act not only as organizational tools but also offer a pleasing aesthetic. We all spend a majority of our day in the office, so we should have a nicer high end option. G got involved in this venture as we designed and supplied the patterns that greet you as you open the coming folders, three ring binders, pocket folders, expanding folders, etc. – you get the idea. We’re excited to help and be a part of such a cool way to contribute to the daily grind. Stay tuned for more.

 

Chad Martin, SEGD
The G Brand : www.thegbrand.com  
(: 205.329.7023   7: 205.322.6167
t @thegbrand

 

Ford or Oldsmobile?

Who do you think has the older car brand?

 

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The last car from America's oldest car company -- an Oldsmobile Alero – has been discontinued. The death of the Oldsmobile -- a brand with sales that have dropped steadily in recent years -- marks the end of an era in American auto making. Olds says it was the first company to mass-produce cars -- not Ford -- and that it pioneered the use of chrome and automatic transmissions in American cars.

 

 

 

 

Laser Cut Metal Gate

I re-sketched the pattern design for Silverock Cove's gate this week. This should be fabricated and installed by Thanksgiving so check back with us later to see more go to our website under the "design" tab.

General Store Collateral

It's taken a little time but the General Store has finally come full circle and I think we are ready to go forward with the remaining touch pieces including: letterhead, business cards, tags, modicon, decals, bags, and book sashes. I hope everyone likes it and if you haven't been downtown to check the store out you need to. JB did a great job capturing the right mood with the product placement and interiors!

www.thegbrand.com

U2 Concert in New York

I think the images say it all. What a show, wish I was there! Lou, thanks for insider look!

 

Mason Jar Light

Thought I'd share this quick design idea. I think I might do this in my laundry room!

www.thegbrand.com

New Project New York

We're working on a new logo for a possible venture with Plimpton International to help brand the infamous Central Park in New York. The park is primed and ready to be discovered in all its mystique. Hopefully there will much more to share in the next few months.

www.thegbrand.com

Do's and Don'ts of Social Media

Social media and social networking are quickly becoming “de rigueur” for business. A recent study by a Chicago-based firm, Slack Barshinger, showed that small and medium-size businesses are getting “heavily involved with social media, with about half using blogs, wikis, Twitter or other social media channels for business purposes.” If your company is not yet engaged, it’s time to jump in before your competitors beat you to the punch.

If you’re not familiar with social media, check out YouTube, Twitter, TalkShoe, or any blog--these publishing and broadcasting democracies involve hundreds of millions of people. While most of these services were originally conceived for consumers, social media allows businesses to engage in many-to-many conversations with customers, accelerating their learning and building trust. This is not your father’s marketing.

Here are ten basic rules for what to do and not do:

DON’T

1.     Don’t get started if you have significant product weaknesses or customer support issues. Engaging in social media makes good products more successful, and bad products… dead. But don’t delay for long; address the issues and then jump in.

2.     Don’t use social media to overtly market or sell. Instead educate, enlighten, inform, and entertain your audience. In this way, you’ll position yourself and your company as an expert in your field and benefit from the “media halo.”

3.     Don’t “set it and forget it.” This makes you look worse than not showing up at all. Once you get started, sustain your participation and interaction.

4.     Don’t go negative. Emphasize your strengths and advantages rather than making claims about a competitor’s weakness.

5.     Don’t mix personal and business accounts/personas, etc.

6.     Don’t expect to fully control the conversation. Social media is not an advertisement, product brochure, newsletter, email blast, or one-way monologue; it’s a conversation. Conversations are bi-directional and can have rough edges. Even if you don’t want to participate, your customers and prospects are already talking. Join them.

7.     Don’t worry about some negativity for online users. Studies show that a little negativity increases credibility and empathy. Paraphrasing Abraham Lincoln: “You can’t please all of the people all of the time.” Be responsive to the negative.

8.     Don’t feel the need to disclose everything. Not everyone who likes sausage wants to see exactly how it’s made. Be open and honest and use discretion.

9.     Don’t be a generalist. With literally hundreds of millions of blogs, videos and podcasts to choose from, every individual can precisely tailor their consumption to their interests. Focus on one topic and do it well (the narrower the better).

10.  Don’t overwhelm your followers with too much information, or too frequently. Everybody’s got a busy life and nobody enjoys getting “Twitter-ria”. Focus on the highest value information and content.

DO

1.     Do the same up-front planning you would for any important business initiative. Define your target audience. Detail how you intend to create value for them. Map out how you expect them to create value for you. Document your approach and objectives per medium (blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc.).

2.     Listen and learn from others for a few weeks before responding. In general, spend twice as much time listening as responding.

3.     Display your Personality, and keep the content Interesting and Entertaining (the old radio adage “PIE”). Remember, people buy from people; show your professional self.

4.     Be authentic. Never before has a medium and its participants been more skilled at smelling a rat and turning against the perpetrator.

5.     Remember that social media is about two-way conversation (see “Don’t try to control” above). Conversation builds trust; trust leads to more sales.

6.     Favor timeless content over time-sensitive content (note: this varies based on the medium and there are exceptions). We live in a time-shifted “Tivo” world and there’s wonderful leverage in creating a blog post (for example) that will have value to new readers weeks, months, or even years from now.

7.     Remember that “push” is out and “pull” is in. Direct mail, traditional advertising, and unsolicited email are forms of “push” -- the content producer chooses who to target. “Following” on Twitter, “subscribing” to a blog or podcast, or viewing a video your friends “liked” on Facebook are forms of “pull” -- the content consumer decides what to listen to. In today’s information-rich world, people want to opt-in, choosing where to spend their valuable time. Give them a reason to choose your content.

8.     Keep your eyes open. Use Google Alerts, search.twitter.com, relevant Linkedin Groups, Ning networks, and other sites to monitor or “listen in” on conversations about your company, your competitors, and the best practices in your industry.

9.     Show patience. As the party with more power (a business relative to a customer/prospect), attacking or being critical will frequently backfire and word will propagate quickly.

10.  Learn from your audience (as they will learn from you). Be prepared to rapidly evolve your products and services to meet their needs. They’ll suggest valuable ideas you never thought of.

In the next few years, social media will become a primary vehicle for interacting with your customers, partners, suppliers, and even employees. By getting started today, your company can adapt to a changing world more quickly than your competitors. What are you waiting for? by David Nelsen

 

Designer Office Packages

Had our first meeting today on pairing Gs patterns with different paper colors and textures with Anne Bailey of Markham Bailey. Now its time to get our mock ups completed and present! Wish us luck.

www.thegbrand.com

Local Blog Chatter!

Thank you to Haven and Home for the exposure!

 

http://havenandhome.blogspot.com/2009/09/giveaway-my-newest-wall-obsession.html

 

 

 

Whitewall is Featured on Seleta's Blog

Thank-you Seleta for the kind words and smart article!

http://simplyseleta.typepad.com/simply_seleta/2009/08/big-pattern-small-price.html

 

Labor Day Office

So, to think this was my view all weekend hurts after the short week cram has begun! Its back to the drawing board for us all. I hope everyone had a good weekend!

www.thegbrand.com

H2 - A New Realty Company

We started a new branding job today, H2 Realty. We are just in the design development phase so there will be more to come soon.

www.thegbrand.com

Whitewall & Co. gets featured Blog Style

Thank you to “A Life’s Design Blog” for featuring us today!

 

http://alifesdesign.blogspot.com/

 

The image above: Whitewall & Co. gets our Mirium pattern installed at Tracery Interiors in Rosemary Beach, FL. To learn more or to shop with Tracery go to www.traceryinteriors.com .  To look at other patterns offered by Whitewall & Co. go to www.whitewallco.com

 

 

Whitewall and Co.

I just finished my dining room stencil. This particular design is available at Whitewall and Company in the border section named Greene Homage. This was a really fun project and it changed the look of the room dramatically. To learn more about these type patterns go to www.whitewallco.com

www.thegbrand.com

Painting Borders

I started painting our dining room last night, its my first border. I'll send more images as I finish!

www.thegbrand.com

Momspirational Love

Thank Momspirational for the kind words! Whitewall and Co hopes to change the way everyone looks at walls. Stay tuned for more collections soon!

http://momspirational.blogspot.com/2009/08/whitewall-co.html

www.thegbrand.com

Abbey Road Website

The new Abbey Road website is up and running! Visit our updated link to the right to see the latest being offered in Birmingham with priceless views of downtown. Another beautiful example of quailty architecture, the perfect site and a little branding sprinkled in to bring a truely unique product to the realty market. Did I mention the price point is sweet too! To learn more go to the website at www.homesonabbeyroad.com.

www.thegbrand.com

Million Dollar Pickles

Anyone need any pickles? We're leaving our mark on the product world one small tasty pickle at a time. Its local and it's good. Find out more about these Million Dollar Pickles at the General Store at Pepper Place. Don't miss the grand opening at the end of the month. To learn more go to our website!

http://www.thegbrand.com/

Limestone Address Marker

Thought I’d share this sandblasted address marker we designed for a private residence locally here in Mountain Brook, AL. The architect, Dungan Nequette did an amazing job of turning this once run down house into a clear vision of design. Tracery Interiors also gave this beautiful structure new life inside, each room lives to its rhythm. To see more please visit http://www.traceryinteriors.com/ and http://www.dungan-nequette.com/ .

To learn more about the wall pattern technique used in this house go to http://www.whitewallco.com/

Chad Martin, SEGD
The G Brand : www.thegbrand.com
(: 205.329.7023 7: 205.322.6167
t @thegbrand

New Pattern Ideas

We've been getting a lot of interest in our Whitewall and Co. venture. Here's a new Damsk design in progress, visit us when you get a chance!

www.thegbrand.com

Copper Signage

We've been working on a new sign design for a development on 30A in the pan handle of Florida. We love it when we get to collaborate with of architecture company Dungan Nequette, stay tuned for more fun design ideas!

www.thegbrand.com

Whitewall Gift Wrap

Here's the first sneak peak at our wrapping paper design - mock ups. Stay tuned for more, hey we might even sell a few sheets or a roll. Diversity at its best.

www.thegbrand.com

Whitewall and Co.

Its our first installation of many hopefully. Whitewall and Company is open for business. Check it out at www.whitewallandco.com

www.thegbrand.com

---

From: "Ryan Davis"
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:27:18 -0500
To: Chad Martin<chad@dungan-nequette.com>
Subject: whitewall img

 

Southern Idea House 2009

The G Brand gets a little pub from our collaboration with Dungan Nequette and Tracery Interiors in our team effort to bring together what we see as a seamless effort to creating a great home. The architecture and interiors work together to create a powerful yet relaxing experience. As I mentioned before, G got in on the action and created a custom wall stencil pattern seen in the image above. The pattern is a new alternative to bringing texture to a space without the mess and aggravation of wall paper. To see more of our collection of stencils available go to whitewallandco.com.

 

Chad Martin, SEGD
The G Brand : www.thegbrand.com  
(: 205.329.7023   7: 205.322.6167
t @GBranding

 

Do You Look Up

Just passing through Memphis on my way to New Orleans and stopped in for a bite to eat. Soon after my cold beer arrives I look up and there's a 60 foot guitar on the ceiling. Environmental graphics influence our daily lives more than we realize. Design is everywhere we just have to stop and take it in. Later, headed to NOLA!

www.thegbrand.com

Foodimentary and Myrecipes.com get together

The G Brand is creating another extension of our branding efforts for Foodimentary. As we help in these efforts we will build upon the established look and feel through local and national mediums to bolster Foodimentary's brand. The eventual goal is to be the purveyor of all food facts and create a few published books along the way.

www.thegbrand.com

Heritage Branding

I opened a time capsule this weekend. Well at least it felt that way. A good friend of mine had a box of old relics that haven't seen the light of day in some time and we brought them back to the living. The labels, bottles and brands are all products of the past and evoke an sense of simpler times just by their appearance. There's an apparent sense of honesty and transparency to them all. They aren't necessarily trying to be the best flashy bottle on the shelf they just list exactly what's in the bottle or package. This is the type purity The G Brand tries to capture with our brands, concentrating on one maybe two simple truths and being the leader in whatever business our clients participate in. Something we like to call Heritage Branding.

Hope everyone had a good fourth!

www.thegbrand.com

Happy 4th of July

We at the G Brand wish you a Happy 4th.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Antique Cast Plaques

So I found these in an antique shop downtown a few years ago. I'd love to be able to make these for a client one day. They look to be made of zinc so they have to be reproductions.

www.thegbrand.com