Blog

Join us in conversation on the topics we believe matter...to our industry, our city and our society.

Five Good Design Habits to Practice in 2014

By Kris Travis | Dec 4, 2013

Whoa, December already?! On top of all the holiday craziness, December is an important month for businesses to do a bit of planning and goal-setting for the new year. (If New Year’s resolutions are the last thing your business is thinking about right now, bookmark this post to review once you’ve recovered from the holiday […]

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The End of Dave's Killer Bread as We Know It?

By Ann Smith | Nov 19, 2013

If you live in the Northwest and you aren’t on the gluten-free bandwagon, you’ve probably tried (and loved) Dave’s Killer Bread. GMO-free, organic, vegan and made with whole grains, it boasts everything that health-conscious Oregonians could ask for. Beyond tasty bread, the company’s message centers on the feel-good story of an ex-con that cleaned up […]

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GMA Correspondent Shares Her Breast Cancer Diagnosis On-Air

By Kelda Rericha | Nov 14, 2013

I love when TV does good. On Monday morning (11/11/13) Amy Robach of ‘Good Morning America’ shared her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment choice with viewers. It was a diagnosis she got after receiving an on-air mammogram in early October. Her choice is to treat the cancer aggressively, opting for a double mastectomy. Details  on […]

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Suck a Lemon, Lululemon

By Ann Smith | Nov 8, 2013

Lululemon has gone sour. OH MY GOODNESS. This is so bad, it’s downright laughable. Chip Wilson of Lululemon Athletica fame – those are shout outs to you. You should probably keep your hateful, judgmental mouth shut. And in the meantime, have fun with the PR firestorm you managed to create. I think it’s about time for one […]

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Giving Tuesday 2013

By Kris Travis | Nov 5, 2013

Halloween is barely behind us, and already the Christmas ads and holiday displays are popping up everywhere. While few of us are feeling truly ready for the holidays, it’s a consideration that is already top of mind for businesses; there are client appreciation gifts to pull together, holiday cards to design and print, and employee […]

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Lawsuit against News of the World to Impact European Media industry

By Kelda Rericha | Oct 30, 2013

In one of Britain’s most high profile court cases in years, Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, both former editors of Robert Murdoch’s now defunct News of the World tabloid, are accused of conspiring to illegally access voicemail messages on mobile phones belonging to politicians, the rich and famous, and victims of crime and ordinary people, […]

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Just Do It!

By Ann Smith | Oct 25, 2013

Nike is known for having a lingering PR headache. With oversea child sweatshops and troubled sponsored athletes, I can only imagine Nike’s PR team is on overdrive most of the time. This weekend was no exception. On Sunday I ran in the Nike Women’s Marathon down in San Francisco. 30,000 people (majority women) gathered at […]

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Beyond the piechart: Infographics’ rising popularity

By Kris Travis | Oct 21, 2013

They’re everywhere lately: infographics. There are beautiful examples, and there are terrible examples. But I must say, I love a good infographic. As a designer with a passion for reading and learning, these graphics are the perfect blend of content and design, hard facts and artful interpretation. And when done well, these graphics become a […]

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PR: Family Style

By Ann Smith | Oct 18, 2013

As PR professionals we’ve learned how to position, couch and direct certain messages so that they are received in the most desired manner. It’s how we interact with external influencers – media, clients and even colleagues. But what about when it’s family? I recently had an interaction with a distant family member that I haven’t […]

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The Future of Retail . . .

By Ann Smith | Oct 10, 2013

Last night I attended a Portland Design Week panel discussion on the future of retail. It wasn’t quite what I expected, as the discussion skewed more towards what retailers could do to increase value for their consumers through services and technology, rather than the more design-oriented aspect of the retail experience (space, visuals, product display, […]

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