February 1st, 2012 // by Joshua Cook

How to Build a Super Bowl Brand.

With Super Bowl XLVI being hosted here in Indianapolis, we’ve had some unique insight into the time and energy it takes to plan and execute the Super Bowl experience. Similar to building a Bold and effective brand strategy, Super Bowl prep is no simple task. Here are a few similarities that the two share:

1. Planning Starts Early.
Indianapolis won the bid to host the 2012 Super Bowl in May 2008. That means it has taken roughly 45+ months of preparation. Although the game is being held in Lucas Oil Stadium, there is much more that comes into play such as hotel accommodations, way finding, parking, etc. which required the city to evaluate the impact of hosting beyond just the stadium.

Whether you’re in the early phases of hiring a branding firm, building a brand intentionally or you’re maintaining a strong, existing brand, it’s important to make time to evaluate the big picture. How is our web presence impacting our brand? Is our internal culture consistent with the brand we’re trying to establish? Every decision you make has an impact on the brand to some capacity. Continue reading…

January 18th, 2012 // by Jon McClure

Starla West International Website Redesign

Recently we were contracted by Starla West International to improve and enhance their overall messaging and brand identity. One piece of this included a full website redesign.

Continue reading…

January 5th, 2012 // by Brian K Gray

2011 Logo Review

Welcome to 2012. Thank goodness. 2011 was a horrible number to kern.

It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday hullabaloo and forget to reflect on what you accomplished. We’ve had the opportunity to work with some great clients in 2011 and 2012 is looking even better. Today we sat down and reviewed the logos we created for 10 companies in 2011. They include a wide range, from a civil engineering firm to a children’s app store resource for busy parents. Each is unique yet fits well into their respective marketplace.

So, take a gander through these works and then take a moment to reflect on what you accomplished last year. Continue reading…

December 21st, 2011 // by April Miles

Miles Design Adopt-A-Family Holiday Tradition

The holiday spirit is in full swing here at Miles Design with Christmas less than a week away now. While each of us enjoys challenging branding and design projects all year, every December we look forward to dedicating our time to some extra-special holiday “projects.” You may be familiar with our custom-designed holiday cards, but one of the holiday traditions we’ve come to enjoy most is adopting a family in need for Christmas.

Gift Cookie Tin

This year we adopted a family through Dayspring Center—a center providing shelter, clothing and meals for homeless families with children in central Indiana. Continue reading…

December 13th, 2011 // by Amanda Blackburn

All I Want for Christmas is…

Christmas is less than two weeks away now (yikes!), and the time remaining to purchase those all-important gifts is ticking away. No need to panic yet though. In the spirit of holiday giving, we’re sharing a few things from each of our Christmas (or every day) wish lists. Who knows, maybe we’ll spark an idea for that hard-to-buy-for person lingering on your shopping list. Happy holidays and happy shopping!

Brian Gray

Letterpress Calendar

Fabien Barral Letterpress Calendar
I bought the 2011 version of this and really liked it. The 2012 is available now.

Continue reading…

November 30th, 2011 // by Josh Miles

2011 Holiday Card Designs

Even more love to share.

Our team is very pleased to continue our holiday tradition of designing holiday cards for our friends, family, and clients. Each card is blank inside, so they’re perfect for spreading holiday cheer.

We wanted to share our inspirations and thoughts behind each design. We hope you’ll enjoy sending them as much as we have enjoyed making them. Happy Holidays!

Card 1 of 7 // Imagined by Amanda Blackburn

Miles Design Holiday Card - Joy Mittens

2011 has been an exciting year for my family. We welcomed our first son, Graham, into the world in July, and it’s been pure joy (and sleepless nights) ever since! I’m constantly amazed at how quickly he’s growing and changing, and my wish this holiday season is simply to enjoy him. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season will come and go, and I’m sure we won’t get to everything. That’s ok though. At the end of the day, my joy is sitting right in front of me, playing with my fingers and grinning back at me with his big, bright eyes. And, that’s all I really need for Christmas this year!

Merry Christmas, and may you surround yourself with joy and love this holiday season!

Card 2 of 7 // Imagined by April Miles

Miles Design Holiday Card - Wonderland Wreath

I’ve realized recently that with every passing year, holiday traditions become more meaningful to me. I love the nostalgia of childhood memories and the anticipation of creating more memories with our ever-growing extended family and friends.

Each year I look forward to pulling the Christmas decorations out of storage, including my favorite wreath with red berries. We moved into a new home this past summer and have enjoyed finding the perfect spot for each holiday decoration in our new space.

I’ve found myself looking out the window on several occasions, trying to imagine our first Christmas in this new home and the new-to-us landscape covered in snow.

And, I’ve found myself hoping more than anything, regardless of where the days are spent—in very familiar places or places that are just starting to feel like home—that the days are merry, bright, extremely peaceful, and maybe even white.

Card 3 of 7 // Imagined by Ben Seal

Miles Design Holiday Card - Your Own Way

Everyone celebrates the holidays differently. I love hearing about unique traditions and one-of-a-kind recipes. To me, they’re a part of the charm of the season. To that end, I hope this card compels its recipients to think about—and appreciate—their own customs. No matter how zany.

Card 4 of 7 // Imagined by Brian K Gray

Miles Design Holiday Card - Elegant Lines

I wanted something simple and elegant, much like the way Christmas is supposed to be. Too often we get caught up in the retail craziness of today’s Christmas and lose the true reason for the holiday. Soft, whimsical lines create a wintery pattern of silver, while a simple, blue “Merry Christmas” is nested in the middle. Enjoy Christmas with friends and family, but in the midst of all the chaos, remember to take a moment and celebrate the birth of Christ.

Card 5 of 7 // Imagined by Joshua Cook

Miles Design Holiday Card - Modern Manger

Before we become immersed in the complexity of the holiday season, I wanted to design a card that focused on a simple, yet profound, aspect to Christmas. Not Black Friday, not snowflakes nor candy canes, but rather a gift offered to all of us. A gift of Love, Grace and Redemption.

Card 6 of 7 // Imagined by Jon McClure

Miles Design Holiday Card - Ornament

I wanted to create something simple and elegant; something you’d feel good about sending. Because, if you like this card well enough to send it to someone on your list, it just might save you yet another a trip to the store. And, in the time you save, maybe you’ll get a few extra minutes to share with family and friends.

Card 7 of 7 // Imagined by Josh Miles

Miles Design Holiday Card - modern cardinals

Growing up outside of South Bend, a regular recipient of “lake effect snow,” there was often a blanket of white drifting between the trees in my parents’ back yard. It would begin falling in late November and finally recede sometime in April. But every so often, through all of the sleet and snow, one of Mom’s backyard bird feeders would be graced by a pair of cardinals. It’s amazing what a little splash of color will do for your soul during a long, cold winter. It always brought me hope that perhaps spring was near.

This year my wife, daughter, baby to be, and I moved into an older home with lots of trees. Looking out at our back yard I’m greeted by squirrels, chipmunks, and of course, a multitude of birds.

While thinking about my Christmas card design for this year, our new setting brought back memories of my parents’ back yard, and those colorful splashes of inspiration.

It’s with these warm feelings that I’m passing along to you: Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and be sure to keep those bird feeders full this season. Matthew 6:26

Note: We do have a few extra sets this year, so please contact us if you’d like a set yourself.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

November 10th, 2011 // by Josh Miles

2011 Miles Design Holiday Cards

Are you on our mailing list? If you’ve never received our Holiday Cards, you’re in for a treat! Please add your information below and we will send you our seven-card set of the 2011 Miles Design Holiday Cards.

If the form isn’t visible below, click here to submit your info.

October 31st, 2011 // by Josh Miles

Are professional services firms afraid of social media?

After speaking with professional services firms across the country, I can tell you… the fears of social media are very real. tweet-o-lantern

I had the opportunity to co-host a professional services tweet chat with Taryn Erickson at SoMeffect, to discuss “Fears of Social Media.” (You can find our original questions, see: Do you FEAR Social Media?)

During our chat, we conjured up many of the fears that commonly haunt professional services firms.

What are the typical fears?
“Is social media marketing a waste of time?”
“How can you control what is being said?”
“How do we show ROI to our partners?”
“How do we know where to begin?”

Where do these fears come from? How can we learn to overcome them?

In November, we’ll be hosting a special webinar for professional services firms to help uncover some of these fears, and learn what you can do as a firm to master them. Sign up here for: The Five Fears of Social Media.

Five Fears Webinar

Have you overcome your fears of social media? What worked for you and your firm?

Happy Halloween!

October 18th, 2011 // by Josh Miles

Get Disruptive: How could you put yourself out of business?

Have you ever brainstormed ways to put your company out of business? For most of us, probably not.
Where is the future headed? Is your business model shifting? Is something coming that could erode your customer base? How can you improve communications?

Thinking about business in this way identifies threats, but more importantly, opportunities.

During a recent panel discussion, one of our clients noted a new technology that he “took a chance on” about eight years ago. Looking back he noted, it’s easy to see he “guessed right.” By staying on the cutting edge of this technology, his firm has enjoyed a “disruptive, competitive advantage.”

So what does it take to “guess right?”

Continue Reading on the Delivra blog:

October 10th, 2011 // by Josh Miles

2011 Heartland Film Festival Campaign

We’re excited to share some of our design, branding, and advertising work for the 2011 Heartland Film Festival.

We were hired to brand this year’s festival look, language, and advertising vehicles across the entire campaign. Below are a few examples of our design work including television commercials, t-shirts, postcards, and a really great souvenir letterpress poster.

The brand voice and identity were based on the line, “The films you watch can change the way you see.”

Television Commercials
All of the photography and video used in the campaign are shots of “unseen” places in Indianapolis. We sought to find beauty in locations that you might not think of at first glance as “beautiful.”

Heartland Film Festival Postcard Design

Postcards
The postcards are being distributed by all of the event sponsors and partners. You can find these sets of four designs at most Marsh locations, and other participating sponsors.

Heartland Film Festival T-shirts
T-shirt Design
The gray and blue shirts will be offered for sale during the festival.

Heartland Film Festival Poster
Letterpress Poster
This 18×24″ letterpress poster was first imprinted with the four-color logo on a traditional press, then the large “blind” 20th seal and headline were printed via letterpress. These will be autographed by the filmmakers and presented to the sponsors and partners. 110# Pearl White Crane Lettra. Mmmm… letterpress.

Heartland Letterpress Poster - detail
Letterpress Poster (detail)
Check out just how much texture these have up close. The blind emboss of the 20th seal was done on the letterpress as well, minus the ink.

Stay tuned for more Heartland Film Festival Samples…