June 2003: Rebranding and Books.
The MANOVERBOARD Telegraph, No. 3.
Welcome again to The Telegraph, a newsletter from MANOVERBOARD, a Web and print design and consulting company based in Brooklyn, New York. MANOVERBOARD creates and develops clean, clear, and compelling websites and visual resources for small and large organizations.
Design Focus: Re-Branding as Investment
A number of companies have been through the difficult process of re-branding in the past few months, including such major firms as UPS (new logo), Philip Morris (now "Altria"), and Price Waterhouse Coopers Consulting (was "Monday"). Re-branding is a highly sensitive and serious project but it's one that may make sense now rather than later. UPS, in particular, has successfully updated its visual identity, making it more streamlined and contemporary; the primary color is still a strong "working" brown and the company has coupled its re-branding with new locally-based marketing efforts, a new tagline about "synchronized commerce," and an updated technology. Re-branding is not for everyone, and it can and should be done with great care and diligence.
Recent Projects: NYC Brown University Alumni Site
In the middle of May 2003, The Hendrickson Group and MANOVERBOARD teamed up to redesign The Brown University Club in New York website. Founded in 1869, The Club is the oldest and largest regional chapter of Brown Alumni. With The Hendrickson Group providing project and account management and MANOVERBOARD delivering design the concepts and implementation, the Brown Club of New York has an entirely new means of presenting its calendar of events, volunteer opportunities, and classified advertising to its diverse constituents. We wish The Brown Club many continued successes.
Recommended Books: A Style Guide, A Cow, and A Cook
An unusual reference book for writing about and for the Web is The Web Content Style Guide. Crafted with both the writer and Web user in mind, the book provides non-technical advice on recommended and standardized language usage for the Web. For instance, its section on Web accessibility, or how well a website works for people with disabilities, is uniquely comprehensive. The book itself is a also model for well-designed legibility and thoroughness in a desk reference, going against the grain of the small type that appears in most style guides on the market.
Other books recommended this month: Purple Cow by Seth Godin: This is a well-book that argues for not sitting out the economic doldrums and for creating remarkable products and services that do not conform to the received wisdom of marketers.
Forever Summer by Nigella Lawson: A beautifully illustrated book of warm weather recipes, Lawson, unlike many chefs, focuses as much on the experience of eating as on the satisfaction of cooking.