VisualSnare

under new management

...finally.

The world participated in a historical election just days ago. Millions were crying, laughing, and celebrating, while others scoffed. Expectations were created or reinforced. A racial wall, long thought destroyed, was torn down yet again. Pride in one's country, and leader, was re-established. Hope was given new life. 

God bless America. ~Reed

a little extra

If you were to open a restaurant, you'd probably:

1. Pick a key location.
2. Have a recognizable sign and storefront that invited potential customers in. 
3. Pre-make food daily to keep lines short and wait even shorter.
4. Have music in the background, but never too loud.If needed, show news or sports channel to attract crowds.
5. Create a considerable mark-up (increase food valuation).

I'm glad Papaya Cafe wasn't listening when these rules were drilled into the masses, because it's defiance of these and other rules are what make it such a great secret (that you can't help but share with others).

Here are some potential downfalls and how Papaya turned them into positives:

1. Unless you have someone to show you where it is, you'll probably get lost trying to find it. But, once you do know where it is, there are always parking spots and it's tucked back in an executive park, so people can easily walk to it. 
2. The storefront is plain, and unadorned other than a simple sign. Plus, the windows are so dark you can't see if anyone's there or not. When you're inside though, the dark windows make it much easier to watch the movie or eat without the hot sun beating down on you.
3. There is usually a long line at lunch and nothing is pre-made, so it takes around 10 minutes to get your food. But, it's made to YOUR order. You want sourdough bread? Ok. Mayo? You bet.
4. They've usually go a movie (uncensored at that) blaring, or loud reggae music that you have to raise your voice to talk over. The movies are acutally, get this, fun to watch even if there is a sex scene or intense action scene, while you eat. And, the loud music makes you feel like you can have a normal conversation without distrubing your fellow eaters
5. The prices almost seem to low to cover the cost of the food, let a lone labor. Yet, you get a generous serving size, and healthy ingredients. 

It seems like more and more, the truly successful companies are doing things their own way. Either like what their doing or they'll move onto the next customer. Chances are though, you'll like Papaya regardless though... especially my go-to #19 on wheat without mayo.

Go ahead, try it... but Subway just won't be the same afterward. ~Reed

#3

 

It's been a hectic week here at work, but still some hot links came across my desktop. So, time to share!

NUMBER ONE: McCain: Branding genius

I usually don't post political stuff up here, but I've just been overwhelmed by the well done posts over at brandsinger. You won't be disappointed. Actually, while your there, you might as well read the archives as well. You might just learn something new... I sure did.

NUMBER TWO: Nike 6.0 Ill Mobile Truck

What do you get when you cross an amphibious armor-plated war truck with an active sports offshoot of Nike? Well, they're calling it an "ill" truck... and I agree with them. One, because it's really freakin cool looking in a sort of Mad Max of sports way. But, second, because you feel ill when you see the gas (or diesel) bill when driving from "secret" spot to another.

NUMBER THREE: Magic, the mind, and marketing

We all love magicians, but if you're like me can't help but ask the question, "How the hell did that just happen? I swear he just cut her in half?" According to Tom, marketers employ the same sort of smoke and magic to their acts with brands. Watch this quick, candid video to see why he thinks it's true.

NUMBER FOUR: Polished bliss

Talk about hard work! Here's 55 hours (in pictures) invested in cleaning this Lambo. You gotta love it when people are this pumped about their job, it shows... or more-so reflects.

NUMBER FIVE: A few different ways to tie your shoes

The title basically says it all for once. This is a nice, graphic treatment of all sorts of ways to tie your sneakers shoelaces. From the tradional "Sawtooth" to the supercool "Checkerboard." Now you can be the coolest kid on the street!

Enjoy! ~Reed

go ahead... trash talk

Who can resist a little trash talking? Whether it's a pick-up game on the local courts or while coaching via the couch. VitaminWater wants to elevate this primal art into the e-verse with their new TrashTalk site.

Featuring big names from skate, baseball, hockey, and more you can go on the site and start dishin' it out after you've entered your promotional code, which I guess is found on the drink somewhere.

My thoughts? I really liked the graphic treatment of the van. The call to action was nicely treated and inspired me to even take a picture of it to share with you guys, and to go the site. The site is trendy using stylized images and HDR photos of the athletes in dramatic, sport oriented poses. (So far so good!)

Then the trash talking process started. Selecting prompts like "jacking homers instead of eating crackerjacks." After a couple pages of these random selections, I clicked play. All of sudden I hear David Wright trash talking what I just selected. Cool!

...until he said "try knocking back some VitaminWater C like me..." (cool level just dissappeared)

Wait a sec, I didn't select that to be part of his trash talking? Why did he say it? I was all ready to send this via email to my brother as a joke. But, that line is so salsey that it kills it. I can just imagine the branding firm that created this idea cringing when they were told that they had to include the product plug.

So, here's my un-plugged version of the trash talk (using the site selections) now directed at the VitaminWater for this misstep:

"Hey VitaminWater why are you swinging like a rookie?
You could of hit the cover off the ball... and gone yard.
Instead, you're two busy mowing your own yard,
...guess you should just stick to whiffle ball."

~Reed

get smart

[Disclaimer: Another post about simplicity. I'll try not to repeat myself too much...]

I saw this branding (one-sided) co-op driving down the street a couple days ago, and just started laughing. The best things in life really are simple aren't they?

Leveraging just a tad of vehicle knowledge completes this joke as it's a SMART Passion Coupe. There are a couple other reasons why this SMART was a great choice for this smart marketer.

1. The vehicle is unique. It stands out... at least for right now.
2. The local market is eco-friendly and everyone knows space is precious in Cali, so this small-footprint vehicle is perfect.
3. The styling of the SMART evokes a lot of personality, and if this relates to the driver (supposed agent) then it's a great pairing.
4. The vehicle is unique. Yes I already said this, but many real estate agents driving around this area have luxury vehicles with big wheels or big suvs (seriously... have they not gotten a clue yet?) so, this vehicle stands out in this pack as well, which is even more important.

That's 4 BIG things that this very small car have done for this marketer/real estate agent's brand. I delighted in it's simplicity and I'm sure others have too. It's got me wondering if the actual real estate offering would make me feel like this as well...

Proof again that creativity doesn't just live within the walls (or minds) of so-called creatives. ~Reed

#2

Um, wow, is it already Friday again? Did this week fly by that fast?

Alright, back to the topic. This is all about the hot links, not my random rants. So, don't you fret, they are coming in a couple web based refrains.

NUMBER ONE: The face(s) of Earth

Starting on a light note here, but I always love when people can 'see' something that others don't. Look beyond the obvious and often mundane and see something beautiful (or in this case slightly human). Plus, I just want to take an object face picture now, and I'm guessing so will you.

NUMBER TWO: Are you the tribe?

Mr. Godin is recruiting. Well, actually he's inviting you to participate in/for his latest book (another best-seller I'm sure) by joining a 'members only' club. No it doesn't come with sweet retro jackets, but you can be sure that insights abound in this club.

NUMBER THREE: Wake up and smell the color

Always a source of inspiration and trend spotting, Cool Hunter tracks the splash of color reappearing in the kitchen. Note, Marc Newson is even trying his hand, so this might just be a trend that sticks around for a bit.

NUMBER FOUR: Can new media be taught in schools?

This link got me thinking, so I wanted to pass it on (as it was sent to me). My vote is yes, it can be taught in school, but I'm wondering if it should be the students who teach the teachers...

NUMBER FIVE: For fans of fans

Want to see how other brand's "refresh" their logos - along with read a well written critique? Brand New is the place to go. Check out the top post about Hunter fans (actually, you don't have to, I just have a bit of nostalgia looking at the brand as I've done some design for them).

**BONUS LINK**

NUMBER SIX: Giant laser cut caterpillars

You didn't think I was gonna leave you with a link about fans did you? Here's a great post about a super cool artist doing cool things with lasers, metal, and everyday machines. Enjoy.

Have a great weekend! ~Reed

simplicity... what is it?

The best I can come up with is, "Stripping extraneous to reveal purity (or relevant)." Wiki ganders it's the "...property, condition, or quality of being simple or un-combined." Um, that doesn't help too much.

Well, it's ok, because John over at "The Laws of Simplicity" is on track to figuring it out. And, he invites us to be a part of his adventure with his 10 laws as a guide. Practicing what he preaches, you'll find each delightful post further proves explains these laws.

I wonder though, if he might have been a little quick to consider these laws as absolutes. There is a certain intrigue, as a reader, to think that he is still working them over. That they're in beta (even after all these years).

So, I've got a suggestion: call 'em your 10 'Theories'. I know it doesn't have as much authority, yet 'theories' tells a richer story to me. According to this article, a theory is a, "working set of rules that define a body of knowledge." Sounds pretty dead on for this application to me.

This makes me wonder, what are visualsnare's defining set of rules? How can I create simplicity consistency in posts so as to allow you guys to get more from them? Time to get back to the drawing board. ~Reed

stereotypes are a changing

Are Americans finally perceiving transportation through a lens of efficiency instead of identity?

According to an article in the NYT today, the answer is a resounding 'yes'. Here is a quote from one of the interviewed (new) car owners:

“Before it was, Is it a cool car?” he said. “Now it’s, Is it going to be efficient and reliable transportation?"

If this is true, this is a HUGE consumer behavior change. The US has always been known as a place of economic opulence and our vehicles have been the tangible representation of this surplus (or lack thereof). Thus the creation automotive sub-cultures like tuners, lowriders, and hot rods and many more. And moving down the long tail to businesses renting wheels (sound warning) to "impress" your friends.

So, where does this leave this couple and their newly purchased Mercedes? Does that beautiful brand with equity built around abundance and luxury still mean the same thing to them... and others, as it used to? Will, in the near future, Mercedes sub-brand SMART become more desirable because of it's focus on efficiency both in footprint and movement? Or, because it shows that you can own more than one car?

I'll open it up to you. What are your trend predictions? ~Reed

cuil, focus on [relevant] data not hype!

The so-called google killer, Cuil, might of committed e-suicide last night with it's launch debacle.

One must wonder if the ex-googler's Anna Patterson and Tom Costello forget google's bold creed of "data, not hype?" Because the rebel search engine's first moments of public life didn't meet up to the much hyped, iconoclast image. When tested, the results were related, but not relevant. 

Which leads me to ask the question - will first impressions kill this search engine before it hits it's stride?

I don't think so (but Mike and TechCrunch seem to think otherwise).

I see two things that make cuil something to get excited about:

1. Related-content links are grouped and displayed for your searching pleasure. These options enrich the search experience and make the search engine feel like it's doing some of the thinking for you. Kind of like that warm, fuzzy feeling you had when your TI-86 calculator did your algebra for you.
2. Larger briefs on each link rocks. It just makes the pruning process that much more efficient (google are you listening?).

Now all they have to work on is the relevant part of the resulting links. Oh, and it'd be nice if it even recognized it's own name as well... or at least show articles written about the company. ~Reed

introducing: f'n links

[I'm going to start posting too-hot-to-handle links every Friday. I hope you don't mind if I steal... er re-purpose MTV's "F'N - Friday Night" title for each of these posts as it seems to fit. They will be in the format of number, link, and then my response/crit.]

Ok, no more time wasting! Here are these week's f'n links:

NUMBER ONE: "Does advertising add value?"

Skip the first two paragraphs if you're in a rush, but once he hits his stride Tom kills it, again, with this post about the "me, me, me" attitude of most companies, and how a quick change in perception might just help their sales (and brand equity). "Look like our celebrity" might of been a better title though.

NUMBER TWO: "Twitter took off from simple, to 'tweet' succes"

Yes, another "Twitter rocks" article, but, um, it does. This time it's straight from the co-founders Jack Dorsey and Biz Stone. Sweet names by the way... I think they were destined for e-stardom.

NUMBER THREE: "ZINE2WO"

Do you even need to read this? Well, if the title didn't intrigue you enough, then this is a link to "YouWorkForThem" blog which I've just recently found. Rockin' design, good crits, it's just a must see. So, go check it out already.

NUMBER FOUR: "Lena corwin contest: finalists+ voting!"

Lame title, but sweet first entry. Part of the reason is just because patterns rock... and when someone is creative enough to figure out how to put it on their floor it's even cooler (I'd love to credit this, but don't have a live link for the picture...anyone?). You might as well look at a couple other posts from Design*Sponge blog, they're pretty darn intersting.

NUMBER FIVE: "Hands on: Facebook redesign tries to clear the social smog"

Ok, so unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard about/seen the new Facebook design. I give it 2 thumbs up, even though many are saying it's been done before.

**That was easy huh? Please comment on other hot links of the week - bonus points if you've got an opinion about them. ~Reed