There’s no doubt that with any creative endeavor, inspiration serves as an important aspect of the concepting phase. Good design doesn’t exist in a vacuum and great ideas do not just appear out of nothing. We tend to pull sources of inspiration from all around us; the places we go, the people we meet and the media we consume. Whether on a conscious level or subliminally, our surroundings have a creative influence on the work we do.
All posts by Oblique Design
Brand Identity Systems
In previous entries, we’ve examined the ways that a brand extends beyond a logo. Your brand is the emotional response it creates in a person and the catalyst for this response is the elements within your brand’s identity system. The key to successful brands is clarity and cohesion. These are all achieved by having a strong system in which to implement your brand. Today we want to talk about what a brand identity system is and examine some of the elements that make up a system.
Off The Press: Big Renovations Coming to Dutch Clark Stadium
For over 70 years, Dutch Clark Stadium has been a staple of the community in Pueblo, Colorado. Named for Earl “Dutch” Clark, professional football legend, pioneer and Colorado native, the stadium has served as a vital community space for generations of Puebloans. Since opening in 1950, Dutch Clark Stadium has served the Pueblo School District (D60), hosting football, soccer and track and field. According to StadiumTalk.com, the stadium ranks as the 14th largest high school football stadium in the country.
Is AI Design the Future of Design Projects?
By now I’m sure most of us are familiar with the growing trend of artificial intelligence creative platforms. Whether it be image generators like Lensa or Dall-E or writing generators like ChatGPT, AI technology is coming into the mainstream and it’s creating a lot of controversy, especially in creative fields like art and design. Aside from science fiction ideas of an AI controlled dystopian society, there are very real concerns with artificial intelligence replacing jobs in creative fields.
BAD BREAKUPS: Adobe & Pantone
Breakups are never easy and oftentimes leave a third party stuck in the middle, whether that be children or a shared friend group. In this case, those of us who work in creative fields find ourselves in the middle of a tiff between two industry giants Adobe and Pantone. Back in December of 2021 Adobe announced that it would be removing some of the pre-loaded Pantone color books from its suite of software applications.
CLIENT SPOTLIGHT: Honey Rock Landing
Nestled in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area lies the Honey Rock Landing orchard. Cultivated by owners Colby and Leslie Barrett, the location along the Gunnison River provides the fertile soil in growing some of the sweetest fruits in the entire state of Colorado. In using regenerative growing techniques, the Barrett family places sustainability at the forefront. It’s these values that resonated with the Oblique team and we’re proud to have been able to create a visual identity that reflects these standards.
Using UX Design Principles to Boost SEO
I’m sure this is not the first time you’ve heard about the importance of good Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for your brand’s digital presence. According to media company Fleishman-Hillard, 89% of customers begin their purchasing process via search engine. No matter the industry, if someone is looking to hire a vendor for architecture, construction, design or to purchase a new product, their journey most likely begins with a need and that iconic, minimalist Google page.
User Experience (UX)is carefully researched design decisions that guide a user to quickly and easily get what they need. In a similar manner, search engine results work the same way. So how can these informed design principles be used to optimize your brand’s search engine results?
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/UXSEO-min.gif")
What’s in a Name?
Picking a name can seem like a daunting task. Whether it’s for your child, your band, your social media handle or your brand you know you have to get it right. Today we’re going to talk about the latter, your brand, since we are a Boulder branding agency after all. As with anything else, when building a new brand from scratch we always start with strategy. We’ll help you get a better understanding of your brand and flesh out your vision. Once this is done and you’re left with a handful of names to choose from, how do you pick the one that’s perfect for your brand? Here’s a few tricks we like to suggest to pinpoint the name that’s right for you:
Improved User Experience Will Improve Your Bottom Line
How much thought have you put into what your potential customers experience when visiting your website? Is the design of your current site attracting and keeping your target audience engaged? Whatever industry you’re in, whether it’s architecture, construction, law, cannabis, healthcare, or food and beverage, your website is often your first point of interaction with new customers and clients. It’s that first impression of your brand, but more importantly, it clearly communicates what you do, why it’s important and how you’re different from the competition; at least it should. A good User Experience strategy will guide the user through your brands’ digital experience.
Changing Perception Through Design: Branding in the Cannabis Industry
In the years since cannabis was legalized here in Colorado, we’ve seen a major change in the way the substance is perceived. Long gone are the misconceptions peddled by anti-drug ads and the stereotype of the idiotic deadbeat stoner portrayed in popular culture. The legitimization has opened up a new market of products like gummies, drops and other forms of edibles that are more approachable and familiar. In addition to these new products, packaging for the actual flower itself is reflecting this shift while the branding moves away from stereotypical marijuana imagery commonly associated with the negative stigma around the substance. This approachability is opening up cannabis use to a whole new demographic and good design is part of the reason for this shift.
