ITEM: where creations are actually made
What if we digitized the process of ideation? In this rapid brand ideation, I’ve developed a meta idea for ideas themselves. ITEM: where creations are actually made.
The power of clear business writing
Why playing it safe is the real danger. Discover how clear writing cuts through the noise without losing your edge.
What we learn from the Ghosts of Brands Past, Present, and Future
What do a futuristic telephone, a fallen unicorn, and the very idea of "brand" have in common? They are all haunted.
I am the signifier and the signified
I am the signifier and the signified, both the writing as creator and the writer that creates. Each word written has, in turn, written me.
The quiet battle in every piece of content
Many corporations have become increasingly sophisticated at mimicking service while selling. The real test might be: If the company vanished tomorrow, would their content still matter to anyone?
On clarity
Even after 20 years of professional writing, I still find ways to write with clarity. Here’s what I’ve been clarifying lately.
Pop Quiz: craft sodas with a healthy twist
Pop Quiz is a double entendre that references both soda “pop” and educational quizzes. This name creates a tension between craft and play, placing it in a unique position within the alternative soda market.
Steal This Brand: a rapid brand development methodology
The methodology behind “Brand a Day / Steal This Brand,” where I invite you into my creative process and offer you ready-to-use brand concepts that you can adapt for your own purposes.
Thinking like a poet: lessons from the written word for authentic branding
Is your marketing the "equivalent of clichéd poetry?" Learn 3 lessons from a poet on using specificity & vulnerability to build an authentic brand—and create meaning, not marketing.
The paradox of simplicity: why “keeping it simple” is harder than it seems
The paradox of simplicity is that it is inherently complex. As marketers and strategists, we must embrace this paradox and continually strive to find the sweet spot between simplicity and complexity.