Ideas Topics
Will we be seeing geometric packaging hitting the shelves in the near future? If it's up to the imagination of students Dzmitry Samal and Petar Pavlov maybe we will. These Buckminster Fuller-esque packaging structures mark a distinct departure for Doritos and Coca-Cola.
Clearly these multi-faceted structures may pose challenges to implement. And of course the increased costs and environmental impact would need to be factored in. Do you think we'll be seeing more of this come to market in the food and beverage packaging? Maybe in another industry?
What are your thoughts?
POSTED ON Friday, October 23, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Design, Ideas
I'd like to welcome Clara and Katarina, the Design in Transit duo, to Los Angeles, California and the US of A.
These two adventurous ladies are here from Germany, taking a tour of the west coast and hoping to gain graphic design experience in the process. About a month ago, they emailed from Germany to set up a time to come by and get a tour of Studiofluid on their arrival in L.A.
So far we've collaborated on an advertising campaign, shared a few meals together, and I've pointed some cool design highlights to check out in Los Angeles. Next week I think we're going together to check out the Echo Park Time Travel Mart for some packaging and general design awesomeness inspiration.
I've also introduced the DIT ladies to a few other design firms in the area that might be interesting for them to visit. If you're in Los Angeles, San Francisco or maybe even Portland and you want to collaborate with Design in Transit, they'd love to hear from you. To invite them out for some good American beer or just say hello, you can get in touch at: designintransit @ hotmail dot de — and tell them Studiofluid sent ya.
POSTED ON Monday, October 12, 2009
FILE UNDER: Community, Design, Friends, Ideas, News & Notable
I was recently contacted by Sabrina Vega to be a part of her online / book project. The image above is my postcard submission to her project, which is this:
“A couple of years ago in 2006 , right after I graduated from Texas State University, I had the idea to collect my name, Sabrina in every shape and form I could think of…”
Working on my submission was a rewarding experience—in particular getting my hands dirty with a soft pencil to fill in the background.
I was honored to be included among some high profile contributors such as Milton Glaser, Stafan Sagmeister, and Gary Baseman. I think my favorite is done by Kim Robertson, who created an anagram our of Sabrina's first and last names, turning it into "A Bar in Vegas."
Thanks Sabrina, and good luck with your book!
POSTED ON Thursday, June 18, 2009
FILE UNDER: Community, Design, Friends, Ideas, News & Notable, Projects
When we were looking for the right furniture to outfit the studio, I spent many hours over many weeks trying to find the right solution.
And then I discovered Infinite Storage Solutions, based in San Clemente, CA. I knew I had finally found the right company, and within 20 minutes I was in the car, driving down to see the product in their showroom.
ISS is based on a modular system of sturdy extruded aluminum rails, which—as their name suggests—can be customized for an infinite number of useful configurations. We're thrilled with the L-shaped desk and standing height work station, for the function as well as the attention to detail and minimal lines of the ISS system.
I also love the product is made right here in the USA, and that they're a family owned and run business. In fact, during my visit, John and Mona they invited me to join them for pizza in the break room with their staff and kids. It's always nice to meet people who are creating their own opportunities through innovation—and thriving.
ISS actually custom designs your furniture in Google SketchUp so you can evaluate in 3D before purchasing. You can even drop their SketchUp files into your floor plan and see how it will fit into your space.
Their customer service is top-notch too. (Thanks, Kristy!) What else could you ask for? If you're in the market for a workspace for your small business, or if you have a live/work space like we do, you would be wise to give ISS Designs a closer look.
And if you're headed to the Dwell on Design Expo in L.A. this month, make sure you stop by the ISS exhibitor booth, and tell them Studiofluid sent ya.
POSTED ON Tuesday, June 16, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Ideas, Productivity, Studiofluid
Over at the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, a group of entrepreneurs contributed their best strategies for staying focused and getting things done.
Ben's idea is featured at #10.
Here's a link the the Freedom App, which is highly recommended for those of you on the Mac.
POSTED ON Wednesday, May 27, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Community, Ideas, News & Notable, Productivity, Studiofluid
Yes, it's no surprise that your web site needs to reflect your brand. And yes, it should look great. And while we're at it, your site might as well be intuitive and elegant for your visitors to get around.
But is that enough?
Not exactly. Your site also needs to be visible to search engines if your customer is going to find you in the first place. (Making your site visible to search engines is called "Search Engine Optimization" or "SEO.")
At some point, when you've got all the fundamentals in place, partnering with a dedicated SEO company may be the right decision. But if you're a small to mid-sized business, building your site properly and adding quality content will likely be money much better spent.
So how is your site currently scoring? If you have a existing site, now you can get an objective analysis by Website Grader for free!
Website Grader is a free seo tool that measures the marketing effectiveness of a website. It provides a score that incorporates things like website traffic, SEO, social popularity and other technical factors. It also provides some basic advice on how the website can be improved from a marketing perspective.
On May 5, 2009, Studiofluid recieved a WebsiteGrader score 91 with an Alexa rank of 755,131 which is in the top 2.7 % of all websites.
How did your site score?
If you're looking to revamp your low-scoring web site, or build a new site right from the ground up, Studiofluid can help. We build efficient and intuitive web sites that are easy for your visitors to use, and that allow you the best possible visibility to search engines like Yahoo! and Google.
And yeah, your site will look great too.
POSTED ON Wednesday, May 6, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Ideas, News & Notable, Studiofluid, Technology
April 27th. Yes, today is the day we've been waiting for.
A wonderful day dedicated to celebrate the profession of graphic and communication design. And by celebrating, I mean that we're putting the finishing touches on some client work and drafting some new proposals.
Unfortunately I see no mention of it in our AIGA Los Angeles chapter.
And today is the 15th anniversary. Who knew? Now we do.
POSTED ON Monday, April 27, 2009
FILE UNDER: Community, Design, Ideas
Trendwatching has an interesting article about how more people are taking entrepreneurial steps to supplement their income. Keep scrolling, there are a lot of solid ideas and unique business models made possible through our increasingly connected world.
POSTED ON Monday, April 6, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Community, Ideas, News & Notable, Technology
I get so energized talking with other entrepreneurs. Yeah, there is a lot of doom-and-gloom news out there, but there are also incredible opportunities for those courageous enough to take action. Just this week I met with three people who are taking control of their own careers, who are now partnering with Studiofluid to help launch their ideas with impact.
If you find yourself on the fence about your next business move, you might want to give this a read. Business Coach and Venture Capitalist Paul Graham shares his insights on why to start a startup in a bad economy. Some of these really jumped out at me:
- If you're the right sort of person, you'll win even in a bad economy. And if you're not, a good economy won't save you.
- If you're worried about threats to the survival of your company, don't look for them in the news. Look in the mirror.
- Startups often make things cheaper, so in that respect they're better positioned to prosper in a recession than big companies.
- Another advantage of bad times is that there's less competition... If everyone else is cowering in a corner, you may have a whole car to yourself.
Also worth checking out is Paul's latest company, Y Combinator, which specializes in funding early stage startups.
POSTED ON Tuesday, March 31, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Ideas, News & Notable, Technology
Jessica Helfand and William Drenttel put together a short film posted on the AIGA site (American Institute Graphic Arts) based on her thought provoking text on the presence and pervasiveness of Graphic Design in our world.
“…Graphic design is the boldly directional arrows on street signs and the blurred, frenetic typography on the title sequence to E.R. It is the bright green logo for the New York Jets and the monochromatic front page of the Wall Street Journal. It is hang-tags in clothing stores, postage stamps and food packaging, fascist propaganda posters and brainless junk mail…”
Graphic Design is deeply rooted in the past and the meaning we've assigned to images and symbols over many centuries. Understanding and reinterpreting those meanings is one aspect of graphic design that I find so fascinating.
POSTED ON Tuesday, March 31, 2009
FILE UNDER: Community, Ideas, News & Notable, Technology
If you've got a great idea for a business, but and you're not quite sure what the next step would be, make sure you check out the resources available to you at SCORE.org (Service Corps of Retired Executives). In partnership with with the SBA (Small Business Administration), SCORE is a nationwide network of volunteers who have made their mark in the business world and desire to give back to the community by helping emerging entrepreneurs.
“Surround yourself with gray hair and listen.”
Those are some of my favorite words* to live by, and for business guidance, the wisdom is accessible to you. If you're located in Southern California, you'll want to check out SCORE Los Angeles with headquarters in Glendale and other branches across the city. There you can sign up for free individual counseling sessions with a retired entrepreneur, who can help with writing a business plan, walk you through funding options, or answer questions specific to your business.
SCORE also offers helpful workshops on a variety of topics, at a bargain price of $25-35 per session. I continue to attend the workshops because I usually walk away with something useful, and it is a great way for me to stay tuned to the pulse of the entrepreneurs that Studiofluid regularly helps.
And a bonus for the ladies out there, make sure to check out Ladies who Launch. I've got a few friends who enthusiastically recommend that one as well.
* First heard by twin filmmakers Noah and Logan Miller.
POSTED ON Friday, March 20, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Community, Ideas, News & Notable
At Startup Weekend Los Angeles, my team developed "Yummyware" in less than 48 hours from concept to working prototype. Our inspiration came from the real-world frustrations of one of our team members who works for Hotcakes Bakes, a bakery here in Los Angeles.
Yummyware is a simple, internal software solution for Bakeries that streamlines custom orders, while keeping things organized from production through delivery.
ABOVE: Yummyware branding and customized login screen.
ABOVE: Daily view shows projects to be completed and employee messages.
ABOVE: All orders available at a glance by week.
ABOVE: Order form tailored by each bakery, and helps capture detailed information with custom orders.
We developed Yummyware for Hotcakes Bakes as the prototype customer, with the ability to scale the product and sell it as a monthly subscription service to Bakeries and other confectioneries in need of simple customized management help. (Just get in touch if you would like to license the product).
I worked with a team of 6 entrepreneurs to push out a working version during our weekend. I led the software architecture, user interface, visual design, product naming and logo design. My teammates built the database, implemented the HTML/CSS, proposed a business and marketing plan, led the pitch presentation and made valuable contributions to the UI and product as a whole. Many thanks again to teammates Talya, Tracey, Madeline, Craig and Joel. You guys rock!
Like Hotcakes Bakes, it is all too common for entrepreneurs possess a unique skill or product, while being unable to convert it into a successful business—failing to consistently deliver a quality product at a profit. By implementing a reliable, repeatable, streamlined system (like Yummyware) a skilled artisan/craftperson/hobbyist can make the leap to thriving business owner.
If a simple, customized solution sounds like something that could benefit your small business, get it touch. We'd love to hear from you and help you become profitable.
POSTED ON Tuesday, March 3, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Community, Design, Ideas, Technology
What do you get when you combine a room full of entrepreneurs with the challenge to launch web-based service or product in 48 hours?
The answer is Startup Weekend, of course. And a whole lot of fun.
On the weekend of February 27th-March 1st, I gathered with over 50 other entrepreneurs with backgrounds including user interface, graphic design, programming, pr, and business development for the second Startup Weekend Los Angeles. Of the initial 20+ pitches presented on Friday night, we broke off into teams of 5-9 people based on what seemed interesting. Over the course of the weekend, seven teams designed and built working sites, each with varying degrees of completion.
The creativity and results were impressive, to say the least.
- Blocksnap: Upload and experience views on the neighborhood level.
- CheapChews: Receive coupons and notifications for local restaurants.
- Fill in the Geek: Connecting comic buyers with comic sellers.
- Sponsor Hub: A place for sponsors and non-profits find each other.
- Yummyware: Simple bakery management software.
- Share my Spot: You park here while I am not.
- Craigee: A decision making tool for Craigslist.
SWLA was rewarding a rewarding experience unto itself, even if the projects never saw the light of day. But, in fact, they're out there live on the web and it will be interesting to see if any gain long-term traction. You can read more about my team's project: Yummyware, the simple bakery management software.
A huge thanks to host Jerome from Blankspaces, and the event sponsors who provided an amazing spread of food and tech support.
POSTED ON Monday, March 2, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Design, Ideas, News & Notable
Thomas Brodahl featured a little press about Studiofluid over at Surfstation, regarding the Coop Italia Packaging project we recently completed.
His commentary is insightful into our process and final result:
“Nice little story. How often does your client let you make their logo gray and small?…Quite the change.”
How true. We were very fortunate to work with Coop, who gave us a lot of freedom with our proposals. They understand that making the logo bigger and brighter does not equate with stronger branding. It is not often that clients have this type of self-confidence, but those are the clients that we seek out, and find the most rewarding to work with. And the results speak for themselves.
POSTED ON Tuesday, February 17, 2009
FILE UNDER: Ideas, News & Notable, Projects
When launching a new product or service, there is a strong temptation to just jump in and arrive at branding decisions based on your assumptions.
And while that may be a quick and cheap way to get up and running, it might also be one of the most costly decisions you'll ever make—when you discover your assumptions were wrong and you need to retool your brand from the ground up (assuming your company is still around).
Right now Studiofluid is working with a Food and Beverage company looking to break into the saturated Snack Food category. We've been spending time in supermarkets performing design research and have put together a market analysis to help our client with the following:
- Understand the Context and how Snacks are displayed
- Study Market Leaders and Competing Brands
- Discover Packaging Trends
- Find Clichés and Points of Market Over-saturation
- Identify Opportunities for Differentiation
(more...)
POSTED ON Friday, February 13, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Design, Ideas, News & Notable, Research, Studiofluid
“Should I be paying an SEO company?” is a question I commonly hear from clients.
While optimizing your web site for search engines is vitally important, depending on your goals and current design of your web site, you might be surprised to find that hiring a “SEO specialist” could be a waste of money.
It is likely that you, yourself can follow some simple steps that will generate visibility and save money in the long run. In other words, that $300/ month you were budgeting for an SEO company may be better spent on developing a site from the ground-up that is SEO friendly, and then following the steps below to increase your listing in the search engines.
Here are a few simple steps you can take to increase your web visibility, while in many cases achieving the same, if not better results.
- Make the content on your web site easy for Yahoo! and Google to find you. This means including using your keywords naturally and frequently in a) relevant page titles, b) page keywords in the metadata tags, c) in the page text content itself.
- Do not embed important words as image graphics, unless you include those words in other places.
- Stay away from sites entirely in flash, unless you are working with a developer who knows how to make them visible to search engines, you give each page it's own unique address.
- Post relevant, keyword rich content to your site on a regular basis.
- Create a pay-per-click campaign with Google AdWords, where you pay only when traffic is directed to your site.
- Create listings for your company with industry-specific sites or city search listings. Often times this can be done for free.
- Read blogs and articles related to your industry, and post thoughtful comments (thoughtful being the key word!). Provide a link back to your site.
- Install analytic software on your site, such as Google Analytics, so you can see how people are finding you check out their behavior. You can then increase the frequency you use certain keywords, or be inspired for other topics to write about.
If you've taken these steps, and are wanting to take your company to the next level, by all means, an experienced SEO company may be the way to go.
And if not, what are you waiting for? By following the simple steps above, you will see the results of being visible to your market, and will have taken control of your own SEO destiny.
POSTED ON Wednesday, February 4, 2009
FILE UNDER: Ideas, Marketing, Technology
I spent Friday attending the GoGreen expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center; meeting people, checking out the scene and generally observing how people are branding and marketing their “green” businesses. As expected, the display booths ran the gamut from those pursuing meaningful contributions, to the occasional “greenwashing” , to those you might find at any craft show across the country.
What stood out was the significant amount of companies with decent ideas, yet their presentations failed to address a few basic questions:
- What exactly do you do?
- How are you different from the next booth over?
- Why does your product matter to me?
If developing a new business was as simple as developing an innovative product, many more companies would succeed. As it turns out, helping people understand the story behind your product and why they should care about it, is every bit as important as the product itself. Unfortunately, this is why so many more companies with great aspirations and products fail to reach their full potential.
POSTED ON Monday, January 26, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Ideas, Sustainability
If you're still stressing out, trying to find the right gift idea, look no further: Hippo Roller just made your life easier!
…Actually, its gonna make someone else's life a lot easier. This little contraption can help transport 24 gallons of water more quickly and comfortably then the traditional bucket or jug method. We're big fans. In fact Studiofluid is donating branding expertise to Hippo in 2009 to help get the word out, and allow more people to get involved.
You can even donate online and they'll send you one of the thank you cards that Studiofluid designed.
Just like they say: “Proof that a good idea and a simple design can change the world.”
POSTED ON Monday, December 15, 2008
FILE UNDER: Ideas, News & Notable, Projects
