RRM Design Group launches new website

For the past few months, we’ve had the amazing opportunity to work with one of the top architectural design firms on the West Coast. As a multi-disciplined group with focus areas in Architecture, Planning, Landscape Architecture, Engineering & Surveying, and Sustainable Services, RRM’s process and capabilities provide a unique and powerful solution for its clients.

RRM Came to 20|20 to help them create a new website that accurately reflects the company, its people, its culture, and its work. 20|20 is proud to announce the launch of that website, and would like to thank everyone at RRM Design Group for the wonderful experience. It’s been such a fun and rewarding project.

Thank you.
-The 20|20 Team

The power of simplicity

This is about six years old now, but it’s still my all time favorite commercial. I’ve seen it copied by different organizations but the simplicity and power of the original is perfect.

If you haven’t seen it, it’s well worth the 2 minutes!

-Alec

Social seating: using Facebook for real life connections

A common criticism of Facebook and other social media platforms is that the interaction is impersonal. For example, the New York Times recently wondered if high school reunions were even necessary anymore? Everyone knows what’s going on with each other. There’s no incentive to meet physically. Businesses are running into the same dilemma.

For businesses, every social media ROI article encourages “interaction” with your fans. However, what does that mean and how do you get them to not just “Like” you, but also buy what you’re selling? Try this: Instead of interacting B2C, facilitate C2C.

Malaysia Airlines developed and recently launched MHbuddy. It’s a Facebook-based service that allows passengers to choose their in-flight neighbors based on their occupation, mutual interests and appearances. Also, when booking a flight, users of the app are reminded of friends who live near their destination, and if they want, they can share their itinerary with friends.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and others aren’t far behind with similar applications. For KLM’s “Meet and Seat” service, Linkedin and Facebook are providing the information. These airlines believe that the added value will provide opportunities for networking, while others suggest it’s more likely to be used as a matchmaking tool. Regardless, these airlines are using social media to get what businesses really want: a meaningful connection to customers in the real world.

How could you add a physical, social twist to your own offerings?
-Adrienne

The curious power of the mind

It is a personal passion of mine to understand how we take in information and what we choose to do with it…how our thoughts and beliefs shape our reality.

This short video is mind-blowingly simple in demonstrating the point.

Enjoy!
Lynne

2012 Pantone Color of the Year!

As the new fresh air of a new year washes over us this January, we look toward what this fresh start has to offer. Economic recovery? Political unity? Possible apocalypse?

It’s quite a mystery, but the folks at Pantone, the authority on everything color, tell us we should at least make a splash in the new year. That’s because Pantone has named the 2012 color of the year Tangerine Tango (Pantone 17-1463 for all those curious creatives out there).

I look forward to this annual announcement, not just because I’m an enormous geek, but because I love the reasoning they come up with for each color selection and the implications it has within the economy, fashion, pop culture and our social consciousness.

By comparison, the 2011 shade (Pantone 10-2120 “Honeysuckle”) was a saccharine pink that symbolized an optimism and surge of energy necessary as we confront some of life’s not-so-fun challenges (economic recession; political stalemates; possible “Rapture”). It looks like Tangerine Tango maintains that sort of “shot in the arm” mentality with a little more playfulness and edge. It feels like we’re slowly regaining our confidence, and this color is armor we should wear as we continue the long road ahead.

2012 could be our springboard toward something great, that is unless you’re banking on the apocalypse in December, in which case, at least you’ll go out with some pizzazz!

Cheers,
Robyn

The Civil War: A Fun and Interactive Look at History

From 1861-1865 a civil war was fought in the United Stated of America, and 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of that war. In the presidential election of 1860, the Republican Party, led by Abraham Lincoln, had campaigned against expanding slavery beyond the states in which it already existed. The Republicans strongly advocated nationalism, and in their 1860 platform they denounced threats of disunion as avowals of treason.

After a Republican victory, but before the new administration took office on March 4, 1861, seven cotton states declared their secession and joined to form the Confederate States of America. Both the outgoing administration of President James Buchanan and the incoming administration rejected the legality of secession, considering it rebellion. The other eight slave states rejected calls for secession at this point. Hostilities began on April 12, 1861 when blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah…

Did I already lose you? Oh forget it, just visit history.com for a beautifully designed interactive infographic that could probably explain things better than I could while making it fun in the process.

Happy learning,

Matt

Don’t buy this jacket

Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Buy-spread-consume. Stop.

Patagonia, a manufacturer of outdoor clothing and gear, is making a big statement this holiday season. And while it may seem counter-intuitive to sales, it’s not profit they’re most worried about.

With a storied past, dating back to 1957 when Yvon Chouinard began making climbing gear out of the back of his car, Patagonia has always had a vocal passion for the environment. The company is built on a belief in the value of products that do their job for a very long time. Patagonia sells its high quality gear at a premium price, to an adventurous demographic that shares its values.

With this in mind, their counter-intuitive advertising makes clear business sense. Rather than grab a temporary boost in holiday sales, they are appealing to the core values of their market and establishing loyalty for the long run.

Economics aside, the company cites a deeper mission as their core motivation for the standout ad.”Businesses need to make fewer things but of higher quality. Customers need to think twice before they buy.” says their ad (shown above) and accompanying video.

But what is it that makes this ad uniquely powerful? It’s the simple fact that they mean what they’re saying. Cliche’s aside, this message is from the heart. And that’s the beauty of strong brands: they’re real and they already exist.

As a branding firm, we pride ourselves on building great brands; but a brand pulled out of thin air would never last. It has to come from within the organization to have any chance at sticking. That’s why it’s our job to find your passion, find your purpose, and communicate it in a way that resonates with your market. It’s a powerful process, and sometimes a difficult one, but it creates lasting relationships and long-term success. And like Patagonia, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Cheers,

Cody

The Chase

There’s no denying that a well executed chase scene is the epitome of cool. The cheeky Turin escape by a trio of MINIs in The Italian Job? Cool. The relentlessness of Steve McQueen’s iconic ’68 Mustang tearing up the streets of San Francisco in Bullitt? Cool. The comedic Midwest mall run in The Blues Brothers (parodied by Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson in a review of the Ford Fiesta, complete with baddies in a black Corvette)? So cool.

And now, we can be sure to add Intel’s “The Chase” to that venerable list. It combines all the elements of a cool chase scene while being wholly original unto itself. Utilizing live action and animated cinematography while taking place throughout a variety of desktop computer programs and websites, the ad doesn’t just sell their new processor—it sells the experience.

And hey, if you ever encounter some baddies and suddenly find yourself inside Microsoft Word, you’ll know exactly what to do. Get your ASCII on, bust through to the nearest Youtube video, and drive the fastest car ad you can find outta there. You’ve seen how it’s done, after all.

Enjoy the ride,
Meg

P.S.- This ad was recognized by TED as one of its Top 10 Ads Worth Spreading, a new annual competition that just started this past October. Though it may not be a very inspirational, do-some-good-in-the-world type ad, there’s no denying that its action movie meets tech nerd clichés were pretty darn good. 

A Movember to Remember

Ah, fall. It’s officially here. Time for sweaters, pumpkin pie, and… mustachioed men?

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and other charities, November is officially the month where guys grow out their moustaches in support of men’s health awareness and in effect rebrand the month “Movember.”

This campaign is a brilliant tactic to bring attention to men’s health issues, particularly prostate cancer, and connect it with a younger generation. The best part is that everyone participating becomes a “walking billboard” for the cause, promoting awareness and conversation about the issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Its website (us.movember.com for all you folks stateside) has a distinct look and feel that’s equal parts masculine, hipster, and retro. It features everything from a mobile app to a grooming style guide, and of course opportunities to donate and learn more.

I’ve seen this grassroots campaign fervently proliferate itself on Facebook in recent weeks as guys gear up to ditch their razors for furrier pastures. Though I usually prefer the clean-shaven look, I have to say I love the cause and the execution of the campaign. So rock on “Mo Bros” everywhere! This is truly your month to shine.

-Robyn

Success Block?

I stumbled upon this video today during my morning reflection and meditation time. While the message of it is directed toward people in the creative field, I think it’s applicable to everyone; and not only individuals, but businesses as well.

The video is part of Big Think series, “a forum where top experts explore the big ideas and core skills defining the 21st century,” and features Rainn Wilson (The Office) answering the question, “Why do people get creatively blocked?”

I was particularly struck by Wilson’s introductory statement, “I think ‘creative blocks’ come from people’s life journeys. If you don’t know who you are or what you’re about or what you believe in, it’s really pretty impossible to be creative.”

In this instance, I’d suggest that ‘success’ could be a wider synonym for ‘creative.’

In the 15 years I’ve been branding companies, it’s the ones that can passionately answer who they are, what they’re about, and what they believe, that really take off. From that platform, it’s easy to create a strong company brand that resonates and builds an avid fan base. Some companies may not be able to articulate the answers to these questions in words when they walk through our doors, but you know when it’s alive inside of them. And if it’s there, we can wring it out.

So when facing a “success block,” the first place to look should be internally. Do this by asking yourselves, “Who are we, what are we about, and what do we believe that makes us different?” If the question isn’t readily answerable by you or your team, then chances are your customers aren’t too sure either.

Happy reflecting,
Alec