It’s been a busy fall here at the studio. Many new branding projects!. So much so, we haven’t had time to update our portfolio. Sad face alert. : ( But it’s in the works. We thought we would give you a sneak preview on some of the brands we have been crafting. Take a look at some of the logo identities below. More updates to come! Happy face alert. : D

kitestring recently had the pleasure of facilitating some of Toronto’s brightest minds in a workshop  with the team at the Toronto 2015 Pan/ Parapan American Games.

We were inspired by the intense creative energy that came together to explore innovative branded possibilities for how the Games will be experienced by those who will attend the events.

Welcome to Hamilton! Home to some of the coolest green festivals, projects, businesses and peeps. After reading this Spectator article it’s no wonder that something like this is happening in our city. This Wednesday, April 13, is the kick-off of Hamilton’s 4th Annual EcoScene Film & Arts Festival. This festival raises awareness of environmental issues through critically acclaimed films, as well as bringing together local photographers, visual artists and environmental experts. This “first-of-its-kind” eco-arts festival aims to educate people on global environmental concerns and inspire people to become actively involved in the solutions. Purchase your tickets to the screening of David Suzuki’s FORCE of NATURE here. So excited! See you on Wednesday!

FYI Homies,

February 17th is WWF-CANADA’s National Sweater Day! Turn down your thermostat down by 3 degrees and wear your best sweater. You know, the one granny knit you…if it still fits.

So, you wanna save the planet do ya? And, while you’re at it save your favourite oceanic creature, the rainforest and then the rest of humanity? Well, first things first. Get the word save out of your Earthy vocabulary. Saving can come after we do one important thing, and that is adapting. Now, before I fill you in on some ways to adapt (which you’ll have in the coming weeks), I wanted to share with you one of the easiest things you can do if you’re needin’ an instant gratification fixin’. So what’s the answer? Donating of course! It has never been easier to help an organization – whether it’s an international one with a big following or a small grass-roots one down the street. When I say donating I’m not saying to give away a big lump of cash per say. There are other ways you can help an organization like, being a representative at an event, donating your skills to aid a specific project, attend monthly meetings and share your ideas or become a member of an organization and help them grow. Don’t get overwhelmed here, set yourself some do-able goals. Donating to an organization that aligns with your personal values just feels good. To give you an example, this year my friends received an adoption of a Canadian animal species from WWF-Canada and a protected woodland plot from Ontario Nature’s Trees in Trust program. Last month, I ditched the act of giving a material, meaningless gift and instead chose to support charities and invest in the future of our planet on behalf of a recipient. The best part was that it was all done online!

Here are some of my personal favourites:
http://www.fsccanada.org/default.htm – Making sure that trees are harvested responsibily
http://www.treesontario.ca/ – Planting 10 million trees a year across Ontario year by 2015
http://www.ontarionature.org/ – Protecting Ontario’s wild species and spaces through conservation, education and public engagement
http://www.350.org/en – Raising awareness and educating the world about climate change
http://www.environmenthamilton.org/ – Providing Hamiltonians skills needed to protect our green spaces
http://www.peta.org/ – Educating the world about the safe, responsible treatment of animals
http://www.niagaraescarpment.org/ – Protecting Ontario’s Niagara Escarpment
http://greenventure.ca/ – Community-based workshops to lead to a sustainable lifestyle
http://rbg.ca/ – Promoting public understanding of the relationship between plants and us
http://wwf.ca/ – Conserving Canada’s wild spaces and Canadian species

Come on CRTC! Why do you do this to us? We (as in us Canadians) can only see the hyped up Super Bowl ads “if you get your television signal over the air, have an illegal satellite dish or move to Buffalo”.

I just don’t understand! Every year around this time the morning television shows and radio shows are all the same, touting Valentines Day lame-o products and how to mix pink cocktails for “the ladies” and chili recipes, beer specials and zantac promos for Super Bowl parties for “dudes”. Then the following Monday after Super Bowl Sunday, the same Canadian television morning shows talk about the hilarious ads that appeared on the American broadcast of the big game.

Why, oh why?! Unless you hopped on YouTube, you didn’t even see them!

A little research tells me that Pepsi has surveyed Canadians about their disappointment in the Super Bowl ad exclusion and have decided to make a special 60 second spot to give us all a big hoot!

Sigh.

Someone prove me wrong

As entrepreneurs, we spend a lot of time building our business plan and perfecting our product or service. Of course, these are both super important but as Dragon’s Den Arlene Dickinson notes, branding is also an essential piece of a successful business.

Have a listen to Arlene’s podcast on the importance of building a solid brand strategy.

http://www.kpmg.ca/en/services/enterprise/dd_podcasts/dd_10_23_2009.mp3

Happy Listening!

-jenn

One of my favourite tree loving commercials of the 80′s.

Great commercial! I’m so happy David is Canadian.

Break out the tissues.