Sorry...Sorry...I know, I know...

Ok, ok. I know, I'm terrible. I promised last year that 2 months would not go by with an update from me.

And well, here we are 3 months later.

I have slacked off (at least on the blog side), to say the least. Printed Specialties has been RIDICULOUSLY busy this summer. Seriously, you guys should see our plant. We are packed to the gills. Machines are running essentially non-stop, which is really great. Proofs and PDFs are flying out the door; plates are constantly running out to the presses; and it seems like the forklift is always moving something around the plant. These are great times for us at PSI, we're seeing new work flow in everyday and we couldn't be happier.

So please, please forgive me for being absent-minded when it comes to this blog. I don't mean to neglect! Things tend to fall by the wayside from time to time during spells of heavy engagement. However, I'm not trying to make excuses. I will try my absolute best to be more involved with timely updates on this blog to make it more interesting for you guys to read.

In the mean time, you can check us out on our Twitter & Pinterest pages. Those definitely see a little more consistent activity... 

Be well,

We Need to Talk, Google+.

It was in development for several years. It was being heralded as the great Facebook killer. It was supposed to change everything. Sadly, at least in my opinion, Google+ has most definitely NOT been those things. To some, Google+ has fulfilled everything that they ever wanted in a social media sharing site. Now I will give them that the stark white and clean design aesthetic is a major thumbs up, but it lacks a general sense of character and pizazz. In short, Google+ has failed me.

But oh boy, did it certainly create a buzz leading up to it's official launch. Classical marketing tactics were used by Google to draw in the people looking for the newest, hottest and trendiest social network. I'll admit, I was wooed into it. I was chomping at the bits to get an "invite" from someone who'd already been accepted into Google's new club. And that's when I felt nostalgic, and my memory frolicked back to the heyday of Facebook - the exclusivity factor. Quite frankly, I felt "cool" to get that premier invite, and like I was a part of an elite group.

For about a month, I used it fairly regularly. It became part of my routine "social network check" on my iPhone. I check Facebook first and foremost, then peruse Instagram, followed by a quick few swipes of Twitter, a check-in if applicable via FourSquare, and THEN I'd pay a visit to Google+. Granted, it wasn't in my top 3, but I did use it often. I liked the interface, both web and mobile. It was enjoyable to navigate and easy on the eyes.

The predominately white layout was different, but nice. The familiar profiles were unique enough, and the chat features were great. Friends and I would chat often and share links left and right. This trend kept up for a little while. Then, without notice, interest drastically dropped.  People weren't popping in as frequently as they used to. Links weren't being passed around. Chats and hangouts weren't taking place. Naturally, other companies and business were still updating and sharing like it wasn't affected by my small group's diminished enthusiasm in G+. As of now, the most recent post from one of my friends was January 14th, 2012.

It's clear to me that the Google train has lost a bit of it's steam. I believe that they're just fighting for a spot in a 1-man race unfortunately. Facebook has essentially become the Google of social networks; all powerful and synonymous with defining social media as we know it. Google+ on the other hand has become the Bing; effective in what it wants to accomplish, and still has rabid users and fans, just know enough to conquer the juggernaut. How's that for irony?

Early Spring Sprucing

It's that time again!*

Even though the spring season is nearly here (a couple days away in fact), here at Printed Specialties we have jumped the gun a wee bit. Clearing and cleaning out storage spaces of job bags and samples from many years past high above the workroom floor, opened up a new plane of opportunity for us to utilize. What used to occupy these areas became a sort of eyesore for us. It was slowly becoming a mere dust collector; a wasteland of haphazardly strewn boxes and folders. But no more.

After a thorough cleansing and vacuuming, these areas shed new light and got our minds racing with ideas on how to better harness the space. Here is an example of the cleared space...

Clean and empty. What to do, what to do.

If you could imagine a bevy of boxes along with a flock of folders displaced in an unorganized fashion up top, you'd greatly appreciate the work do to make this space look so wonderful now.

Now on to the hard part - what to put in this new-found space? After about a day or two of deliberating, PSI landed on the idea of printing our own custom vinyl banners to display each department in a creative way. We needed to take the plant out of the dingy and dull grey overtone and throw some color in there. We needed to liven the place up a little. We needed to show pride in what we do. Here is an example of what we came up with...

Merely a mockup design to give us a better visual.

Each banner would show off the main departments of Printed Specialties. Within the banners there would contain candid shots of every employee doing what they do best. We wanted to give a more human aspect to what we do day in and day out; by adding a face to the process, it gives us as employees a sense of pride and conviction in our jobs. Also the pop of color would be welcome in the otherwise typical production environment.

The banner material has been ordered and designs are being crafted. Stay tuned in the near future to see the outcome!

Be well,



*Original Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

PSI's Got a Brand New Bag

Sharp and snazzy.

Armed with one of our newer employees, Dana McCrackin - HR Manager extraordinaire, Printed Specialties Inc. has recently outfitted the entire shop with new gear. Fresh polos and dress shirts have been added to the arsenal of the PSI wardrobe.

Formerly, we used to have simplistic t-shirts with our logo embroidered on the left chest. This was roughly several years ago, and those shirts have seen better days. Holes, stains, and general outstretched fabrics were running rampant. Enter Dana. She intervened and decided that this time around, we need to up the ante. These sports-style polos provide the ultimate comfort for our employees, without compromising on overall style or practicality.

Working hard in their new duds.

These new shirts were implemented to promote overall morale for the company, and not to mention just clean up the place a bit. By looking good, we all feel good, and thus feel great about what we're doing here and output high quality products.

Making those PSI Blue's look good.

Be well,

McDonald's: A Cautionary Social Tale

In light of the recent Twitter hashtag backlash that fastfood giant McDonald's has dealt with in the past week, it sheds some light on to just how carefully a brand, business or individual must tread on the eggshells that is social media.

McDonald's backpedaling isn't the first (and certainly won't be the last) time a major brand name had to put their foot in their mouths. Everyone is sure to remember Kenneth Cole's distasteful words about Cairo's revolt. And who could forget Netflix and their many many missteps last year regarding their prices and naming restructuring ideas. The fact is these companies are huge, and they're going to mess up whether of their own accord or otherwise.

It shouldn't come as a surprise, with as many followers as McDonald's has, 290k, misfires are bound to happen. In this modern age of instant gratification, people need to keep a watchful eye on their social campaigns. Granted, the #McDStories hashtag fiasco wasn't directly their fault. They had the best intentions that unfortunately went awry. In fact they handled it in spectacular fashion by pulling the trending tweet within a couple hours. But taking into consideration the majority of Twitter users (read: teenagers and young adults), negative and unnecessary comments were almost certain to rear their ugly heads all over the internet.

 If we can take a lesson from these examples, it's time: watch what you say, how you say it, and when you say it. You never know how's watching and how they'll react.

Be well,

Let's Hear it for 2012!

In the words of underground art-rock band Dredg "Look another year went by; They keep passing by." 2012 is upon us and most people in the industry (digital, printing, marketing, etc.) have greeted it with nothing but sheer optimism, Printed Specialties being no exception. Looking back on the whole, 2011 had a general bleak outlook on it - what with oil spills, job losses, political scandals, war. This time around the main view for the new year is that of hope and (real) change for once.

Let's do this, New Year.

 Printed Specialties has big plans coming up. Implementation of our Digital Press, scoring more record months in sales and production, optimizing workflows, and perhaps a newly revamped and updated website to boot in the near future. 2012 is looking mighty promising for the crew here, and can't wait to make big things happen.

 I hope everyone's year is off to a great start, and wish the best of luck in all you do.

 Be well,



P.S. Call it naivety, but I consider it a great start to the year when Van Halen gets back together and plays a show that rocks everyone's socks off. 








Image: dream designs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So Far Outside the Box, You Can't Even See It Anymore

Yesterday, the prepress department at Printed Specialties was all abuzz discussing the wrapping paper below.

Image courtesy of Gift Couture

Look at it. Seriously, look. Drink it in. Let it's concept wash over you. Let the simplistic genius overtake you. We did; we talked about it for 30 minutes. We picked apart the concept and what made it work so well. We writhed in envy as to why we didn't think of it previously. We even tried to come up with our own wrapping paper ideas (to no avail).

Imagine seeing a stack of presents like this under your family's Christmas tree. You can't help but smile. It's beyond brilliant. One of the reasons that makes this work so well is that the concept is so far removed from Christmas (no one remotely automatically thinks "Christmas" when you see a cheeseburger). Think of the new Kia commercials that have giant Guinea Pigs or Hamsters driving around town. Those commercials stick in your head because the general thought is so absurd, your mind can't help but to remember it. The same idea works here with the cheeseburger wrapping paper.

Another reason why this works rather well is due to it's overly simplistic nature. Simplicity and minimalism is the name of the game in the design world today, and this is no different. Meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and two buns. Not too busy of a pattern for the eyes to take in. Instantly recognizable as to what it's supposed to be portraying. A common food item most people are familiar with (a sandwich might've worked, but not as well). In the famous words of Steve Jobs - "It just works."

The point here being that sometimes the phrase "Think Outside the Box" is just the start. You have to think yourself out of the box as a start, but it's not enough. Leave the room, walk out of the building, and drive far away from the box. Good ideas and great ideas are what separates the memorable from the hardly notable.

Be well,

How Modern News Unfurls

Original Image: winnond / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

With the outbreak of yesterday's terribly tragedy that unfolded on the campus of Virginia Tech, it wasn't the regular news outlets that broke the story - it was the internet. The Twitter-verse was all ablaze, constantly firing off latest happenings, image updates from students and faculty on campus, and hoards of people weighing in with their thoughts and prayers. Facebook was buzzing with people's reactions and people sharing as much information as they could. It was really stunning to see such an event unfold. Mashable had a wonderful compendium of what the reactions were like across Twitter and other social networking sites.

I had to actually think really hard about what it was like before the advent of the internet and instantaneous information. You'd have to turn on the television and actually watch a news report. If the story was huge enough, you'd see that same anchors on for hours on end, just to keep you up-to-date. Or if you think back further, you'd crowd around a radio to hear the newscaster's reports on what was going on at that moment in time.

In these increasingly digital and social days, everyone is essentially a news reporter - to a certain extent. While most people weigh in with their opinions and simple observations, there are few who are actually reporting what's going on. Whether it's people who are within close-range of the event taking place, or someone who dug up a hidden document online and decided to share it, these people are getting the stories out to hundreds, perhaps thousands of people way faster than any news outlet can. The magic lies in the sheer size of the social networks. As everyone can probably imagine, words travels fast on the internet; it's like a wildfire. On several occasions I've meandered onto a traditional website (we'll call it "Yipee!") and looked at their news stories for the day. Majority of the time, half of the stories they have featured on the front page I've already heard or read about it; sometimes up to a day or two prior.

The point is, modern news outlets should embrace social media more-so than they already are to accompany people's expectations of faster and more concise results. I, for one, couldn't imagine picking up a newspaper to read yesterday's news when I'm already familiar with most of what they're featuring. Instant gratification is the name of the game, and that's where we're headed.

Be well,

The Death of the QR Code

Well it seems the QR code phenomenon has died just as quickly as it rose to popularity this year. It seemed that everywhere you turned on the web over the course of 2011, you'd be hard pressed not to easily find an article or stat or random finding about the ever-ambiguous QR code. For a while there, those little buggers seemed to be all the rage. It looked as though they were poised to be the next big marketing thing. Even I imagined that they would be almost everywhere soon earlier this year. It appears as though I was wrong. The QR code has fallen in popularity so fast it's making my head spin.

This infographic I found via PSI's Twitter feed this morning solidified that even the most technologically savvy people on the planet, young people (18-25) really don't give a crap about QR codes. If you look at past trends and other various fads of the past, this group was the driving force behind them. So when a solid chunk of the young society thinks scanning a QR code is a waste of time, you'd better believe that it's going to die off sooner than you think.

It's a shame really, because I honestly thought that the QR code was going to explode onto the masses. it's a novel concept and lends itself well to various marketing campaigns, but that certain "magic" or "spark" just was not there to get the ball rolling. The QR scanner apps were also great in theory, just too bulky and just plain got in the way and took too much time to scan a so called "Quick-Response" barcode. I mean seriously, it takes about 15-20 seconds just to complete the task, which while it may not seem like a long time, it's just not quick enough. Unlock the phone. Navigate to the app. Launch said app. Wait for it load. Focus and steady camera. Snap picture. Wait for network to load content. That's an eternity. Shame.

Maybe someday they'll make a comeback. Apps could develop further to be faster. Or phone manufacturers would implement the technology inherently into the phone's camera system to automatically recognize a QR code. Or even maybe the youth will stand behind it and make it explode like marketing folks thought it would. Who knows? But most likely you'll never even remember what a QR code was by the end of next year. Augmented Reality has come a long way, but that still has a ways to go. The point is that technology is always moving ahead, ever-changing, and ever-evolving. You gotta crack a few eggs if you wanna make an omelet.

Be well.

P.S.
Here's another great article I found on the failure of the QR code. 



Original Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It's Been a While

I know, I know...my bad.

I must say, the social media department (me) here at Printed Specialties has sure been slacking lately. Only one post in the past two months?! Time to get it together.

Admittedly, Printed Specialties has been abuzz recently. We've seen an incredible amount of work come through the doors this past quarter. Giant jobs with multiple forms and quantities in the hundreds of thousands, new equipment rolling in, old equipment rolling out, and just good old-fashioned American hard work going on. With all this going on, everyone has had to help pick up the slack with the added workload, and with that our social media presence has suffered, and for that I apologize. But no more, I say!

This machine is amazing. Period.

Yes, we have two platesetters...for now.

In our prepress department, we have been acting like giddy children getting a shiny new toy, because frankly, we just got a shiny new toy - a new Kodak platesetting device. We are mighty stoked about it, and have been learning a lot. We've updated our workflows, maximized our available space, and have soaked up as much knowledge we could with this new machine to make it run it's best. It's greatest advantage? Speed. This thing easily pumps out twice as many plates per hour as we were with our previous device. Our platemaking guy is struggling to keep up with the thing! Definitely a great investment for PSI!

So for now we have two machines in there, but the old one will soon make it's departure because it needs to make room for our new digital press! We'll tackle all those details once that bad boy gets in there! Sure to be a great remainder of the year for us.

I promise you, 2 months will not go by again without hearing from us!

Be well,

Top Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

iWant. iNeed. iMust.

Ravenous are the technological nerds.

Yesterday's iPhone 4S reveal has seen a blow-back in terms of positive feedback in the internet world and blogosphere. Turns out coming out with a new phone packed to the gills with upgrades is a bad thing. Is this what kind of society we live in? Is this the legacy we want to leave for future generations? That once a year has passed, that new "thing" you spent hundreds of dollars on is old hat? Honestly, how spoiled does that sound?

Nowadays, people expect anticipate too much, invest all their eggs in one rumor basket, and expect these tech companies to cater to their every demand: "Faster! Smaller! Bigger! Cheaper!" Have we as a collective society become overly materialistic? I'm afraid to say that we have. It no longer matters that we're taking huge strides in technology and can bask in it for a while. No, new technology is more or less already irrelevant as soon as it's announced. Could you imagine is this state of mind existed during the moon landing? Once Buzz Aldrin's foot lifted off the moon's surface for the first time, we'd already be calling it old news, and wish they would've shot him to Jupiter instead.

What we should be taking away from yesterday's iNouncement is pure awe. Just because it doesn't look different does not make it something to casually pass over. This is Apple we're talking about; they rarely make stuff that falls short. Faster CPU & GPU. More storage. A far more superior camera. Heaps of new and innovative features with the new iOS5. And not to mention an enormously impressive voice controlled personal assistant called Siri. Yes, all this is packed into the same old casing as last year, but really who cares? Apple's not stupid, so stop acting as such.

Be well,


Image: Ian Kahn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


EDIT (10/7):
This post couldn't have been more ironically posted, seeing as how Steve Jobs passed away in the evening following the original post. His brilliance and utter genius will be genuinely missed throughout the entire technology industry, as well as here at Printed Specialties. May his legacy live on through his numerous contributions to the modern world and his general creative and 'magical' attitude. In his immortal words, "Stay hungry, stay foolish."

Some Stop-Animation Fun

Here is Printed Specialties' latest YouTube video, posted yesterday afternoon.





I've always wanted to create such a video, and yesterday I finally had my chance! It was a painstakingly tedious project, but fun and unique.
Enjoy! Oh and share with all your pals!
Be well,



PS. To view our YouTube page and our other videos, click here.

Fare Thee Well Books?

Last week I saw a commercial for the Kindle, which is now touting a hot and fresh reduced price tag of $99. Now I don't have anything against the Kindle; if I read more I myself would probably own one. I do however own an iPad, but I don't use it for reading. I also do not believe the Kindle is killing publishing. People still enjoy the tangible nature of a book or a magazine over digital flipping for the time being. My only beef with this commercial is the way in which they seemed to degrade the greatness of a common bookstore. Advert to follow...




While not an outright slam on bookstores, the suggestive nature of the brick and mortar warehouse of books being unimportant and eventually becoming irrelevant is what comes through to me.

Such a shame.

This past weekend I drove past a Border's bookstore in my hometown that had been there for the past 15+ years. This time, there was a huge "STORE CLOSING FOREVER" sign across the front of the building with several other "EVERYTHING MUST GO" signs strewn about. This was a gigantic store on the corner of a very busy intersection, and who knows what's going to replace it now. I remember hanging out at the bookstore in high school for no particular reason. Sitting around at the in-store coffee shop, relaxing in an over-stuffed chair reading various magazines and books. And now this store will be gone forever quite soon.

Is this generation pushing out the classic bound book? I certainly hope not, and don't necessarily think so. If you look at any IKEA advertisement or catalog spread of a living room or bedroom, there's always bookshelves abound that are positively filled to the brim with books (whether they are real or not is questionable.) I have always wanted a massive bookshelf stuffed with books, and not just for show or decorative flair or for using one inconspicuous book as a switch-lever for entrance to a secret room, but to actually read them and use them for reference! While I understand that places going out of business and liquidating assets is a common occurrence these days, it is still a shame to see a landmark of my youth disappear.

Ahh, a classic.

I hope the seemingly dying appeal of books, which single-handedly propelled human civilization from the caves to the 'burbs, will recoil and bounce back. Not simply because I myself am in the publishing and printing industry, but because books hold a special place in the formation of modern society, and seeing that vanish would be a terrible (however unlikely) sight. If Hollywood needs to do a reboot, they should do The Pagemaster (remember that one?!), to make books seems somewhat exciting again!
Be well,

Social Media: An Impromptu Newsroom or a Maniacal Menace?

Now go sit in the corner and think about what you've done!

Fresh off of reading an interesting news article, slamming social media mega-site Mashable for posting a news story on the recent passing of British jazz-core musician Amy Winehouse, I have developed a defending position for the 'Mash. In the article, it claims Mashable posted the hot story on it's site simply to gain more clicks and traffic to their site. While this may or may not be the case, (either way I don't really care), the article brings up an interesting point - Mashable, and social media sites in general for that matter, should redefine who they are. Mashable touts itself as a social media news and technology blog. Last I checked social media is designed for and justly used for social engagement between friends, professionals and businesses alike to share and trade media, news, entertainment, etc. Let that digest for a bit. Feel it wash over you.

Social media in and of itself is made to spread ideas, likes and dislikes, news, and whatever else tickles your fancy. Slamming a social media site for posting news is just mind-blowing to me. Granted it may be out of their particular realm of normal postings, however them being a social site, I can see it's place. Mashable has posted several stories prior to this one that could be labeled as "not social media site worthy", but the 'Mash does tend to look at it from a social perspective. For example they posted a story about the recent Oslo bombing, but focused more on how the story unfolded on the social front - namely Twitter and YouTube. Earlier today, Mashable made another post about Ms. Winehouse, but this time how the Microsoft made a distasteful tweet, and how other sites are feeding off her death to increase sales and traffic - more on that in a second.

RIP to an artist gone too soon.

Truth be told, I found out about Amy Winehouse's untimely demise via a post from Mashable founder Pete Cashmore on Google+. Granted I probably would've found out a few minutes later on one of my other social accounts, or the old school way on the television, or even (GASP!) through a phone call with a friend who heard about it. Point being, I got the news first through a non traditional news source. But let's think about how the news is getting spread around these days - through social media! Tides are shifting towards a new era of news discovery.

How Not to Tweet: 101

Back to how other sites are "taking advantage" of celebrity deaths to turn a profit. Is it so wrong for Apple to post on the iTunes front page "Remembering Amy Winehouse" with a link to her life's work? I think it's a wonderful homage, and seeing that iTunes sells music why not? Sales have spiked for other famous musicians who've passed away, and it did not bother me one bit. Think of how much Michael Jackson's discography jumped off the shelves when he passed away 2 years ago. The same can be said for Amazon and Microsoft's music sites, I don't think it makes them careless or crass to do what they've done. There IS however a wrong way to post about tragic news on your social media sites - just ask Kenneth Cole and their now infamous "Egypt" tweet. What Kenneth Cole's social team did and what Mashable, iTunes, and other have done are two completely different situations. The former was indeed in bad taste, while the latter was simply not.

So to reiterate, social media is an outlet and should not have to be sectored and filtered off to news-only avenues. Take this blog you're reading for example. Printed Specialties is a packaging printer, but I'm still writing about this, because it's a social media outlet. Social media is what I do, and seeing as how this pertains to my job title, I see it as appropriate. People are going to get their news wherever they frequent, and that's a tough pill for news channels to swallow. It's a new day and generation - and her name is Social.

Be well,

BlueWater Ropes: An IDC Case Study

Previous design. No call to action or easily
accessible information.

It's a tale as old as time itself: evolution. Things change, tastes adapt, designs tweak, images shift. Such was the case for one of our great customers, BlueWater Ropes. Months ago, they came to Printed Specialties seeking help. They desperately needed to update their product packaging. Their previous design (pictured right) offered no immediate information to the customer and they were looking to revamp their product lines.


Luckily, Printed Specialties' Innovative Design Center stepped up and took this local business under their wing. Deconstructing the entire essence of the original packaging and what the company itself stood for, PSI worked closely with the company to figure out just what they were wanting. After multiple revisions and trial and error, the two arrived at a creative compromise.

The same general idea stayed within the new design, and did not stray too far from what they wanted to accomplish. With the new packaging, the customer can easily see the weight and type of rope they may be searching for, while still have a nice eye-pleasing style.

New design. Clean and concise makes everything nice.

Another look at previous designs.

Different angle for the newest design.

All in all this was a successful venture for Printed Specialties' new Innovative Design Center, and a great experience for our customer BlueWater Ropes. While not a standard box that PSI is used to producing, this proved to be a welcoming challenge. Ultimately, BlueWater Ropes couldn't have been more satisfied with the work that was done, and it was fulfilled just before their big trade show in Salt Lake City.

So if you or someone you know is looking for a package printer who does more than a standard 4-corner box, look no further than Printed Specialties Inc.

Be well,

A Commercial Stickler

Being someone who is selectively OCD (I like straight lines and symmetry when I place my groceries on the conveyor, but my closet is a force to be reckoned with) and a person who just loves great design and typography, I have a bone to pick with certain advertisers and designers when it comes to their recent design choices.

For one, I am a nitpicker for items and text to be centered. Take this new Volkswagen commercial for example.




While inherently hilarious, I mean honestly how can you not laugh at the kid's determined face, the ending is what bothers me to no end (roughly the last 2-3 seconds). My hands clench and I wince in slight discomfort looking at the somewhat off-center "That's Das Auto" tagline. And once the word "That's" disappears, we're left with just "Das Auto" that still looks a little wonky. I have to look away each time the commercial nears it's end to save from screaming in uneasiness.

I might as well be staring at this poster.

View more like this here.

Now I can forgive certain designs that are meant to be off-the-cuff and cutting edge, but when I think of Volkswagen I think of sleek, sophisticated German engineering.While that off-center tagline might have been on purpose, it still felt out of place to me.

The other day I passed a good old fashioned billboard that rattled my practical designer's nerves. This was a combination of unnecessary usage of extra billboard material (add ons) and just poor planning and design layout, in my opinion. While I could not get a shot of said offending billboard seeing as how I was zipping down the interstate at 70 MPH, I decided to make a mock-up.

Instead of the traditional rectangle shape, you will see that there is an added "hump" on the top left. Surely they did this on purpose; but for what reason? I see no added value to the advertisement, nor does it add anything exciting to look at for the advertisee. Now, before I slammed them too much for wasting time and money, I figured the other side of the billboard used that hump in a more resourceful way, and the advert above was simply piggy-backing on just using the extra space. I slowed down once I passed the sign and used my mirrors to look behind me to see. But alas, it was not true, and the advertisers really did add an extra hump for no good reason. Shame.

There is a lot of bad design out there, especially when it comes to advertisements. Let's try and shape it up people. Or risk being ridiculed by a bevy of your peers (i.e. Me).

Be well,

A Cultural Shif - Ooo Something Shiny!

His Holy Bobness.

Bob Dylan said it best: "The times they are a-changin'." That no doubt is the simple truth these days. America, and for that matter the world, is embarking on a dramatic cultural shift. Take a look around you. Listen to the sounds you're hearing. Really taste the foods you are ingesting. Who's behind it? None other than Generation Y - the millennials, generation next, the echo boomers. But what does this shift say about the generation who is seemingly taking over? Are we a batch of misfits with short attention who are saturating the media channels with our randomness? Or are these difficult times spawning change for simplicity's sake and in turn rallys the people to come together? I say yes to both.

With looks like these, you'll buy anything from them.

Isaiah Mustafa, AKA "The Old Spice Guy." Everybody knows these commercials, and for the most part loves them. Following the Old Spice success, Dairy Queen and more recently Edge Shave Gel (which incidentally uses the same actor, with the latter sans-moustache) use the same type of odd-ball, unique humor. The main speaker's debonair stance and soothing baritone in both commercials put the viewer at ease, readying them for the comical bombardment that's headed their way. These adverts without a doubt get a room full of chuckles, but I wouldn't they also get a few scratching heads. This type of humor is pandering more towards the younger crowd. Those perhaps raised on Ritalin, and who are currently living in the "Give It To Me Now" society, but more on that in a bit.

The newest Starbucks Frappaccino commercials follow the same sort of quick, 2-second visual burst formulas as the aforementioned videos, but without an anchored spokesperson. This time around, the focus is more on close-up macro shots and brightly portraiture styled actors sprinkled with simple and modern graphics. The same can be said for the York Peppermint Patty commercials. Macro short-burst video has been popular for a while now, and I attribute a lot to Showtime's Dexter, which came out the stunning and award-winning opening title sequence back in 2006. Be sure to watch in 720p if possible.

The television and cinema comedy world has also taken a turn. To this I attribute Steve Carrell as the leading forerunner. His movie "The 40-year Old Virgin" ushered in a new twist on comedy, making it more accessible. As opposed to simpleton farce and Stooges-era slapstick, this brand of comedy is more of the situational type, albeit sometimes a little extreme, but nonetheless. Also his show "The Office" beckons a more loosely based reality show, but heavy on the jokes and one-liners. Audiences perhaps tired of laugh-tracks and easy to follow plot lines, and upgraded to improvisational less predictable shows. "Parks and Recreation" also follows the same sort of style as "The Office" and both are tremendous hits.

Au naturale baby!

Now shifting to a more tangible area. The food world is also seeing a movement. While it might not be directed to a younger generation, the holistic and all natural organic food scene is designed more or less to make you "younger" (read: not old and crusty and unhealthy). It seems everyone is jumping on the natural train from big restaurants to fast food chains offering "healthier" food items. Farmer's markets are popping up everywhere, and supporting the local farmer has never been more popular. Over-processed and quick & easy foods are out the window. These days people want to know what's going in their food, and actually know what it is; no more guessing what dehydrated oxyriboflavinoid color #17 really is and how it's affecting your health. The simpler, and tastier, the better.
Like it or not, it's hard to ignore these changes. A new era is upon us. The younger generation is making their way into the corporate offices slowly but surely and they are making changes. Call it weird or different, or even a fad, but these new tendencies are just the tip of the iceberg. America is on a new track, and it's for the better. Simplicity and humor make for a lighter atmosphere and can lift spirits. Embrace the changes surrounding you, and take it all in, because we know it's going to change again sooner or later, but hopefully building on the foundation of new-found clarity of consciousness and the vividness of dreaming bigger for a brighter future.
Be well,

Continually Improving Continuous Improvement

Always moving, always progressing.

Our Quality & Continuous Improvement Manager, Barbara Wester, recently undertook a new project within the Printed Specialties walls. Her main goals with the company is exactly stated in her title: to monitor the overall quality of how this business is ran, and to continually improve the structure and methods for optimal performance. About a month ago she set out to take every employee's picture at their workstation, print them out, have them laminated, then post those pictures back at the employee's station. The idea behind this project is simple, and makes perfect sense for any business with several shifts and has a manufacturing-type environment.

Sample shot of employee photos on equipment.

First, it is designed to boost employee and overall company morale. Something about seeing people's faces around the shop even when they're not physically there adds a sense of personality as well as a human touch to the atmosphere and machinery. It also helps with name recognition and association to newer employees, people in a different department, or maybe even visitors, but more on that in a second.

Secondly, it increases the understanding of each employee's personal responsibility. Their face is on that piece of equipment over the duration of their shift. They know that is their area, but now with the pictures in place, so does everyone else. Reliability and duties are justly assigned. And no one wants their work area to look bad, right? By placing direct responsibility on the employees, the entire shop area will be more clean and kept up, leading to a more sustainable and efficient work environment.

Our own superhero pressman, Dean Couch.

Lastly, these pictures do not only benefit us internally as a company, they are also there for our customers. When customers or potential clients come into our plant for a press check or to take a tour, they'll easily be able to see that we take pride in what we do. "Those are our machines; they are our responsibility; and this is our best work." Putting the customer's mind at ease, allowing them to trust us to do their job at the utmost highest quality is one of our main goals.

While some may scoff and wonder why or how this could even benefit such a small company such as Printed Specialties Inc., I leave them with this thought: Small changes gives way to larger changes.

Have any thoughts or suggestions on how to better a business' morale or continuous improvement ideas? Feel free to sound off in the comments section.

Be well,

What Perpetrates a Package to "Pop"?

During a discussion yesterday with the CAD department guy here at PSI, we were discussing a study regarding consumer eye tracking in a grocery environment. We were debating what exactly draws a consumer's eye in the first place. While the study shows the raw data of where the eye moves and how long it stares at a particular section, it does not capture how the consumer feels about the products they're looking at. Sure the bright and shiny packaging with blinking lights may draw their attention first, but only because as humans, we like - nay - LOVE shiny sparkly things. They may actually in fact have a strong dislike for that product upon further inspection, but their focus was indeed on that package for a while.

Merely an example, but nonetheless cool looking.

The image to the right shows the gazing pattern of a tested consumer. The darker the color (red) demonstrates a longer stare, while the lighter green shows a quicker gaze or a glance. The purpose of this study is to get an overall idea as to where the consumer's eye travels when walking down the aisle. Do they mainly look at the bottom, where the cheaper items usually reside? Do they stay more eye-level, where the premium name-brand products are stationed? Or are they merely looking at the price tags and shopping for the cheapest option? Obviously everyone is different, and every shopper is in the market for one reason or another. So it's obvious that wherever the majority are looking, that's where you'd want your product to be situated.

Pure packaging genius.

But that's not what we were discussing. We were talking about the individual. Charles (our CAD guy) says it's his understanding that a window in a box is what will ultimately drive him to at least pick up and look at a package. And granted, when done right, a window is probably the smartest thing you can do for your product. It gives the consumer a look inside, like you're giving them a sneak peak. For food packaging, you're letting them see what it actually looks like, as opposed to the glamour shot which probably isn't really edible on the front of the box. If it's any other type of product, one that doesn't need secondary packaging like a plastic bag, you're giving the consumer the added sensation of touch. People are tactile creatures, and thrive on touch, making this an added benefit.

The simpler the better.

Now to me, being a creative and design enthusiast, I am typically more drawn to simplicity and elegance with superb typography. This seems to be a cultural shift in modern society. People like simple. People are yearning for simpler times, so they are drawn to a design that may remind them of yester-year or their youth. Maybe people are tired of having advertising shoved down their throats and are just wanting to be left alone. Soft muted colors, no more bright in your face screaming cartoons. A lot of the big names are following suit - the "throwback" designs of cereal boxes and soda packaging are just a couple examples.

So what draws you to a certain package in the store? Are you the typical A.D.D. American who goes for the flash and glitz? Are you the refined and humble local and organic shopper? Do you lust after whatever is on sale that week? Regardless of what you're after, everyone has their own method to their madness.

The video below has little to do with this article, I just like it. However it is placed in a grocery store, so it has some relevance...




Be well,

Back to the Future (of Packaging)

This was indeed the week for conferences. Earlier this week, I attended the Digital Summit, a conference aimed to social media marketers and digital strategists. Yesterday, my supervisor and I went to the Coca-Cola Company World Headquarters in downtown Atlanta to take part in the Summit on the Future of Packaging, otherwise known as "NextPack." Presented by the Institute of Packaging Professionals (Southeastern Chapter), the 5 1/2 hours event consisted of exhibits, a few professional speakers, and a student design competition.




The above video demonstrates what Coke did to celebrate it's 125th anniversary. I wish the conference was in the evening, just so we could see this in action. But I digress...

We first went to the exhibition to check out 20 different companies who were showing off their latest technologies in packaging. There were a few big boys we recognized, and a few we never heard of. Most were local (or at least had a local Atlanta branch), but there were a few that were out of state. There were some interesting things we saw and met some great folks. We used this as an opportunity to network and to get our name out there.

Peter Clarke 

If only it were this easy

Following the exhibits we went down to the main lecture room to hear the keynote speaker, Peter Clarke. His main topic of discussion was innovation, and how it pertains to packaging. To sum it up, packaging and packaging professionals need to change. Historically, packaging has been thought of as an expense, and not as an investment. Companies have too much of a focus on short term goals, and not on the big picture (cliche, yes, but true). In order to "package for success" there needs to be definitive and dedicated teams, and strong support from upper management.

The bulk of his presentation went to his thoughts of what today's packaging themes are, which I'll flesh out here briefly:

• Simplicity - less is more, purity of design, memorable and simple
• Transparency - honesty and candidness, product visibility
• Authenticity - genuineness, local food movement, handmade and homemade
• Wellness - physical well being, natural, light and white
• Sustainability - light-weighting, distribution efficiency
• Control - ease of use, convenience, universal design
• Delight - enjoyment, accessible luxury, personalization
• Affordability - right size, don't compromise experience
• Responsibility - cause marketing, buying into meaning

His overall message was to invest in the smart change. You stay static, you die, more or less. His presentation was great and kept me captivated. It was a joy listening to Peter speak.

Student Design Competition

A little this, a little that, and viola!

Following Mr. Clarke was the Student Design Competition. A few months back, a group of packaging students from different schools were given to task to re-design the packaging of one of the following items: lightbulbs, milk, beer or honey. There were 3 teams in the final round who presented their projects during the summit. These kids were doing amazing things, and here's the kicker - they had 48 hours to do it. The winner was a group who redesigned the traditional milk carton. With superb design, lasting sustainability, a wonderful presentation, and a funny video to boot, these kids easily deserved to win. It was a pleasure to see the up-and-comers doing greatly innovative stuff.

Pat Reynolds

After the crowning of the student competition winners, there followed Pat Reynolds with his presentation on What's Coming Down the Packaging Pike? To be blatantly honest, I felt his presentation, while thorough and well thought out, didn't quite pertain to me and my packaging interests as much as Peter Clarke's did. Mainly talking about robotics and automation, and speaking in more of technical and back-line terms, he did not captivate me much. Not many notes were taken.

Christine Mau

So many guitars. So awesome.

Rounding out the NextPack summit was Christine Mau, talking about Unlikely Inspiration. Her presentation was also a delight to watch. The main idea was to end the "sea of sameness". I felt her presentation was along the same lines as Peter Clarke's in it's message. Now, I did not take down many notes during her presentation either, but that was because I was quite enthralled and paid a lot of attention to her speak. She even ended with a great video of Jimmy Page, Jack White, and The Edge jamming to express the importance of collaboration and building a strong team. It was awesome!

All in all I really enjoyed attending the NextPack conference, and I highly look forward to going back next year. I wish there were more exhibitors and that the conference lasted a little longer, but overall I had a great time and a met some equally great people.

Be well,