Studio 2911

In honor of Labor Day Weekend, I would like to leave you with some inspiring words by one of the coolest CEO’s in the world. Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of Apple and Pixar, teaches us “How To Live Before You Die”.  Remember… “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.”

Happy Labor Day Weekend to all. Safe travels and well wishes!

I grew up in a household where drinking tea is a big part of life. If I had a headache, upset stomach, or tired, my parents would jump up and fix me a cup of tea. To tell you the truth I hated drinking tea growing up. The flavour always seemed bland and the packaging was so boring. Since then, a lot has changed in the tea world. They’re more companies which has caused the competition to become cut throat. The only way these companies can separate themselves from each other is through better ingredients and creative packaging. Below are some of my favorite tea brands.

Yogi Tea

I credit Yogi Tea for my appreciation of tea. Ironically, I had my first experience with henna when I saw their packaging in the store. The design doesn’t just stop on the outside. They’re inspirational messages on the tea bags as well. *Note – Yogi Tea has changed their packaging, which I will blog about later, but I wanted to show this package design because it’s my favorite.

STASH Premium Tea

This packaging is a perfect example of how design is used to solve a problem. Instead of having to open the box to grab your tea bag, they have designed a opening in the front that dispenses the tea bag for you. A great idea for a culture that appreciates anything that will save them five seconds.

The Republic of Tea

I’m a fan of oversized type. Not only does the type draw the shopper in, but the titles do as well. If you’re in the advertising industry then you know your purpose is to tell the viewer what they need and make them believe it’s your product that can satisfy that need. The Republic of Tea does just that. Do you want to “get happy”? Then drink this tea and you will.

Tazo

There’s no denying that color can create a lasting impact. The tea boxes really grab your eye when they are lined up on the shelf. It’s also a clever idea for repeat buyers who, instead of reading, grab the color they want. How many times have you forgotten the name of something and had to describe it based on color?

Tea Forte

For their packaging, Tea Forte went outside the box; literally! What a creative way to present a product that’s been packaged in a square for years. Not only does the design carry a creative impact, but it has a purpose. The pyramid shape of the tea bag was designed to allow the tea to swell as it steeps; which helps with the flavour. The design is so unique that it has been trademarked.

Philosophy is one of my favorite skin care lines on the market. Before the massive “green, spiritual, organic, good for the soul” movement Philosophy was packaging their products in simple bottles that carried words of inspiration. These words have such power that if they catch me on the wrong day I may just tear up. According to their own mission, Philosophy wants to “to bring its customers products that inspire them to live a better life by being better to themselves.” So go ahead, get beautified and inspired!

hope in a jar
where there is hope there can be faith. where there is faith miracles can occur.

when hope is not enough
to expect is to be disappointed. to surrender to what will be is to know peace. in each moment of our short life, we have the choice to be grateful or dwell in the unhappy space of this is not enough. the answer to all questions related to hope or disappointment is simple. practice eternal gratitude for each high and low note, and you will be dancing with the stars.

be somebody water lily lotion
if you want to be somebody, look within. you are a vibrant being full of promise. you are transformed through acts of purity and grace for the sake of others. stay rooted in your connection to all things. float above opposition with positive energy. feel your soul blossom with goodness and compassion. what you give eventually comes back to you. you can never be too good. let your beauty unfold. you are somebody.

the great mystery
the great mystery is the great debate. people ask “how” the universe was created, when the more important question is “why” it was created at all.

One of the guys in the office eagerly shoved this ad in my face yesterday and said: “What do you think of this?” Do you find it to be stereotypical or racist?” The reason why he wanted my opinion is I am Jamaican. To be honest, I actually chuckled after looking at the ad. I mean, come on, “Jamaica’s finest legal export.” For those who may not get it, the other export they’re referring to is weed; or for my Uncle’s sake… Herb. (I actually got a lecture for calling weed weed.)

So back to the ad. Did I find it racist? Definitely not. Was it stereotypical? Well, it did highlight the stereotypes of Jamaica but it was all in fun, hence my initial reaction was to chuckle.

My colleague did find the ad to be racist and a bit offensive. I feel our reactions were different because he’s not the target market for the ad. Here are my opinions why:

1. He doesn’t drink liquor, but I do.
This immediately makes me more open to the ad.

2. I’m Jamaican, he’s not.
This helps with the stereotype issue. What he finds offensive I find funny. I’ve been dealing with that stereotype all my life so to me “It’s no big deal.”

3. I have a relationship with the brand, he doesn’t.
Appleton Estate is one of the staple brands of Jamaica and is one of my favorite liquors. The combination of the two gives me a sense of favoritism before I read anything.

Overall, I like the ad. It’s an excellent example of an ad that was created for their current customers and not necessarily for new ones.

I’m digging the Levi’s 2010 Go Forth Campaign. Below are samples of the print ads to promote the Boyfriend Collection. The photography, black and white photos, and the red logo makes for a great concept. However, I think this campaign owes itself to the creative copy. A powerful design is a must but well written copy can bring any design to a new level of excellence. Kuddos to whoever chose the handwritten font.

For a brand that’s been around for more than 150 years, Levi’s is doing a great job of keeping themselves relevant and creative.

A nice treat landed in my inbox this morning. West Elm sent out a behind-the-scenes look at their fall photo shoot. I love photo shoots. They’re draining, long, tedious and give me such anxiety that I’m ready to pass out at the end. However, the results makes up for all the work. I also like the anticipation and planning of how the final shots will be used on marketing materials. When I was watching the video for West Elm I was so nervous because the wall wasn’t as wide at the couch. My mind was screaming, “Someone please make the wall wider!” But then they showed the final outcome and it was just fine. Whew!

Behind the Scenes at west elm from west elm on Vimeo.