MCRAE CREATIVE BLOG

I recently finished read the cover story for Charlotte’s Uptown Magazine. It starts with the headline “This magazine was started by a guy who knew nothing.” written by the editor, Todd Trimakas. When I finished reading, I noticed I felt more positive about the magazine than I ever have. All because he let me behind the scenes and was somewhat vulnerable. It reminded me again of the power of authenticity, and of the inner conflict I have in writing this blog. Should I be “professional” and stick to things I know a lot about, or do I expose my vulnerabilities and insecurities to be real? Count one vote for the later.

The AdCharlotte blog posted and interesting interview on the effect branding is having on the presidential campaign of Barack Obama. In short, his campaign is using design more effectively than any of the other major candidates. Read the full story on Obama and Typography.

One of the more interesting blogs talking about design in a thoughtful way is SpeakUp design dialog by Under Consideration. Armin Vit, Debbie Millman and Charlotte’s own Jason Tselentis are among the writers and contributors. Definitely check it out.

Wow. What a cool site. Check out all kinds of gig poster designs at GigPosters.com. Some of the samples stink, of course, but there are also a whole bunch that are very interesting.

Has anyone else noticed how badly most printers are branded? Most seem to claim the position “we can do anything”, which doesn’t help me at all. I want to know where a printer is great. What’s their sweet spot? Are you great with spot color stationery projects? Are you fast and cheap? Are you value-color? Are you best at large projects? Are you spectacular at the difficult-to-print, perfect-color jobs designers seem to love? In fact, are you used to working with designers? continue reading » »

One of the more thoughtful brand identity websites I’ve come across is IdentityWorks. The show case studies of corporate identity launches, rebrands and updates. They show before and after marks, of course, but also review the strategy and business challenges behind the marks. Fulfilling the business goals are considered of equal importance to the beauty of the logos themselves.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about where to go with this blog. Some things are a given. It is about design, branding and identity. I use it to share thoughts and opinions. Blah, bah, blah.The real question is how much to peel back the curtain. Blogs are supposed to be a conversation, informal and personal. Yet this is a business blog, so it needs to be professional. Do I share about my spiritual journey, or keep it to business? To me the two are closely related. What is the right balance? The answer, for now, is not settled. I am experimenting and we’ll see what direction it takes. As the blog for a small firm in Charlotte, NC, I’m not expecting thousands of people to be avid readers. I’m not ruling it out either! We’ll see what happens. Oh, if anyone catches a typo, let me know. Spelling and grammar are not my gifts!  Namasté - Peter 

Just a quick plug for LinkedIn. If you are in business and value networking, I do recommend getting on LinkedIn. My profile can be found at Peter’s LinkedIn Profile. I love how it helps me keep track of people as they move around in their career and how I can see how mutual friends know each other. I’ve been able to reconnect with old contacts and friends and meet new ones using LinkedIn. 

We support the American Institute of Graphics Arts (AIGA). Design is an incredibly valuable business tool and AIGA supports professionalism and ethical practices in design.We encourage all designers, working or student, to get involved. Learn more at www.aiga.org or at our Charlotte chapter at www.aigacharlotte.org. 

Welcome to the McRae Creative Blog. We’re jumping into the public conversation on brand identity and design with our perspectives and insights. Over the coming months, we’ll write articles, make comments on public issues, express opinions and share ideas. Feel free to leave comments or sign up for our newsletter.