Have you ever re-read something you once wrote and cringed? Happens to me all the time. My spirited defense in this column of turning French Fries to Freedom Fries jumps immediately to mind. At the same time, occasionally I stumble upon a few sentences once written that express an idea better than were I to try anew. Such is the case with last year’s introduction to the annual “100 Designer-Friendly Companies” listing. Here is an encore presentation that precisely states why this special feature matters:
“A man is only as good as his tools,” said Benjamin Franklin. The first American printer knew much about graphic arts and little about political correctness. Still, the gist of his statement is evermore true of graphic design today, where the line between creative and production blurs by the hour. Thus, the rationale for our annual roundup of 100 Designer-Friendly Companies. Here are rare birds who understand the creative community, support it and combine traditional values with state-of-the-art products and solutions — a performance all the more laudable given our society’s distressing tendency to cheapen everything into a commodity and flatten everything into a transaction. Deep relationships with great suppliers are more vital than ever, and our special roundup is dedicated to that aspiration. All that said, it is also useful to remember that production solutions are a means to an end, not an end itself. “Do not become the tool of your tools,” warned Henry David Thoreau, who rarely dirtied his hands, but was able to see the big picture from his perch in the treetops.
Pretty in Pink
Some stories are inspiring. This one concerns Miranda Moss, cofounder of branding firm Yamamoto Moss in Minneapolis. After undergoing surgery and chemotherapy for breast cancer in 2004, Moss created a large canvas oil painting in soft brushstrokes and warm colors for personal healing and as a message of hope and renewal. The painting was subsequently chosen as the package design for Marshall Field’s Pink Frango Mints — made in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month — and then extended to t-shirts, scarves, notecards and other gift items. All proceeds from the sale of these items were earmarked for the Estée Lauder Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Recently, Moss, now in remission, led the entire design firm staff on a roadtrip to Chicago in a motorcoach wrapped in the likeness of the Pink Frango bus. They made it in time to see Marshall Field’s officials present a $100,000 check to the foundation at the retailer’s State Street store.
Flipping the Model
Some stories are not so inspiring. It seems the holiday season saw a new, lavishly-illustrated children’s book from HarperCollins that follows the adventures of a family of Mongolian cashmere goats who just happen to live on the roof of Sak’s Fifth Avenue’s midtown store. Young readers are introduced to the store brand, the fabric and a kindly Mr. Saks character, all in the comfort of their little beds. The venture is part of a growing phenomenon: books that arise from corporate collaborations weaving brands and products into content. For Cashmere If You Can, HarperCollins reportedly receives a publishing fee from Saks and an undisclosed share of revenue. “We’ve flipped the model,” Andrea Rosen, a HarperCollins vice president, is quoted as saying in The New York Times. After hearing about this story, I had my own product placement dream. It seems a new, lavishly-illustrated children’s Bible story portrays the Apostles as dining on chicken nuggets and strawberry shakes at the Last Supper. An official of a major food franchise, which is underwriting publication of the book, releases the following statement to the press: “We mean no disrespect to the Gospels, and placement of our product in no way interferes with of the substance of the plot. There is no real sell in the book. Arguably, it might even be beneficial for children to be exposed to this version of the story. Lets be frank: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John can get a bit depressing at times, and being associated with our brand gives them an aura of fun and relevance. Moreover, market research shows that youthful consumers are simply not interested in a consistent diet of fish and loaves.”
“A man is only as good as his tools,” said Benjamin Franklin. The first American printer knew much about graphic arts and little about political correctness. Still, the gist of his statement is evermore true of graphic design today, where the line between creative and production blurs by the hour. Thus, the rationale for our annual roundup of 100 Designer-Friendly Companies. Here are rare birds who understand the creative community, support it and combine traditional values with state-of-the-art products and solutions — a performance all the more laudable given our society’s distressing tendency to cheapen everything into a commodity and flatten everything into a transaction. Deep relationships with great suppliers are more vital than ever, and our special roundup is dedicated to that aspiration. All that said, it is also useful to remember that production solutions are a means to an end, not an end itself. “Do not become the tool of your tools,” warned Henry David Thoreau, who rarely dirtied his hands, but was able to see the big picture from his perch in the treetops.
Pretty in Pink
Some stories are inspiring. This one concerns Miranda Moss, cofounder of branding firm Yamamoto Moss in Minneapolis. After undergoing surgery and chemotherapy for breast cancer in 2004, Moss created a large canvas oil painting in soft brushstrokes and warm colors for personal healing and as a message of hope and renewal. The painting was subsequently chosen as the package design for Marshall Field’s Pink Frango Mints — made in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month — and then extended to t-shirts, scarves, notecards and other gift items. All proceeds from the sale of these items were earmarked for the Estée Lauder Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Recently, Moss, now in remission, led the entire design firm staff on a roadtrip to Chicago in a motorcoach wrapped in the likeness of the Pink Frango bus. They made it in time to see Marshall Field’s officials present a $100,000 check to the foundation at the retailer’s State Street store.
Flipping the Model
Some stories are not so inspiring. It seems the holiday season saw a new, lavishly-illustrated children’s book from HarperCollins that follows the adventures of a family of Mongolian cashmere goats who just happen to live on the roof of Sak’s Fifth Avenue’s midtown store. Young readers are introduced to the store brand, the fabric and a kindly Mr. Saks character, all in the comfort of their little beds. The venture is part of a growing phenomenon: books that arise from corporate collaborations weaving brands and products into content. For Cashmere If You Can, HarperCollins reportedly receives a publishing fee from Saks and an undisclosed share of revenue. “We’ve flipped the model,” Andrea Rosen, a HarperCollins vice president, is quoted as saying in The New York Times. After hearing about this story, I had my own product placement dream. It seems a new, lavishly-illustrated children’s Bible story portrays the Apostles as dining on chicken nuggets and strawberry shakes at the Last Supper. An official of a major food franchise, which is underwriting publication of the book, releases the following statement to the press: “We mean no disrespect to the Gospels, and placement of our product in no way interferes with of the substance of the plot. There is no real sell in the book. Arguably, it might even be beneficial for children to be exposed to this version of the story. Lets be frank: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John can get a bit depressing at times, and being associated with our brand gives them an aura of fun and relevance. Moreover, market research shows that youthful consumers are simply not interested in a consistent diet of fish and loaves.”