This is all over the news and so i figure that it is a good thing to discuss. Twitter, like facebook or other Social Networks, is merely another way for people to communicate. Twitter allows you to put in 140 characters to say your latest thoughts and then people “follow” you so they can get a constant stream of your latest posts. This sounds a little journal-like and not-so-business-like at first glance.

Admittedly, i still have my doubts as to the marketing benefit of using twitter. Partly because it seems like this would be hard to translate into actual business and partly because this seems like a lack on continuity between thoughts that you share to the world (remember that you can only use 140 characters per post).

That being said, this may also be another tool for reaching an audience. This will allow you to have direct access to an audience, and therefore, to either a potential market or a peer group. This means that this may not effect sales directly, but over time, this could lead to your expertise in a field which would translate to sales, finding competent employees or problem-solving through twitter. I am current checking twitter out myself to see it this holds any weight. Feel free to check out my page. http://twitter.com/jeremywold

Try it out, but try this with the expectation that is a very small avenue for getting your marketing message out in a very ADHD sort of way. This is still it in its baby stages.

jeremy

I recently went to the downtown library in salt lake city. First of all, i love libraries because they are centers of learning as well as the odd, eclectic gathering of different cultures from the intellectual on the hunt for knowledge to the homeless on the hunt for a restroom. Very interesting. Secondly, our library, in particular, has fascinating architecture and design elements. If you are in need of inspiration, i recommend going to a library to think, reflect and people watch. I was looking at their signage. Even though both of the pictures i took are of signs using helvetica, they are used in very different ways that fit their medium. Good stuff.

Love it or hate it, the environment has been an increasing point of conversation. Personally as well as with Wold Creative Group, i believe that it is important to be as conscious as possible about the use of resources. This is both because i think the environment is our responsibility to treat with respect but also because i think that such a philosophy actually helps the bottom line.

A good example of this within Salt Lake City is the e2 Business Program that the city itself has put together. I have recently become a member and to do so requires an extensive look at everything from a company’s waste, utilities to setting goals for the following year to work towards a more environmentally-friendly company. This program allows for like-minded businesses to connect (goodwill) as well as causes us to refocus on efficiency…both help the bottom line. Here is a link to the program.

It is that time, once again, where we say goodbye to a year well-spent and say hello to what is to come. May your resolutions be resolute and your new year be a good one. I, for one, have been grateful for this past year for the clients that we have worked with and the fact that they are willing to look outside the marketing box with us. We are looking forward to another good year.

Happy New Year!

-jeremy

On my recent trip to Kenya, i had the opportunity to visit hospitals, various villages and game parks. From the nicest hotel in Nairobi to the dingiest shantytowns that were one good gust of wind away from being mere sheet metal and crudely formed boards, i saw quite a spectrum of humanity. Here are some “snaps”, as they called them. 

I am currently in Eldoret, Kenya with a team of physicians from Utah. While the doctors that are in the hospital helping patients that have severe need, i have had the opportunity to work with AIDS testing clinics in remote villages. Since addresses and even houses themselves are next to impossible to determine or distinguish (essentially, they are 10′ by 10′ shacks), the teams here have been using GPS devices to mark the coordinates of the “houses” as they test the patients.

Part of my job while i am here is to figure out the best way to utilize the GPS devices and then train the 80 person staff on these devices. There is a reason that the guy that started this that i had the opportunity to work with, Dr. Mamlin, was a runner-up for the Nobel Peace Prize. This is very unique in Africa, a place that needs so much help with AIDS care, follow-up, education and, above all, hope. I think the rough number that they are providing food, work, drugs and assistance to in the area is 120,000 people infected with AIDS. Testing the population is just a small portion of what they are doing over here. They also have farms, workshops, micro-lending and many other programs that are completely employeed by AIDS positive people that allow them to make money in order to pay for quality AIDS treatments.

I have been taking pictures of just about everything except too many people since it is culturally taboo to do so but those will have to wait until i come back to the states. In the meantime, check out the site of the organization that we are with over here. They are revolutionary on approaching the problem of AIDS in Africa.

AMPATH Website

I realize that this post is slightly divergent from our normal posts about marketing and design, but this is important and i thought that i should share.

-jeremy

UPDATE: Here are a couple of photos from the field (villages). The kids all loved the camera because i was able to take a picture of them and show it to them. 

make sure to get out there. it is more than a right, it is our responsibility…and you get a sticker too.

Yes, we are publishing a book for a client. This may seem a little divergent from our normal path of business but it actually is quite similar to any other marketing and design work that we do. First, we made a cover that accurately fits the story while drawing potential readers into purchasing the book. Secondly, we laid out the text in order to readable and interesting. Finally, we choose a printer and distribution channels in order to have the greatest audience for this young adult/childrens novel. 

Simple and a lot of fun to work on. As soon as this is completed, we will give you a link to check this out or purchase this online. Until then, here is the cover for you to check out. 

The novel is about a couple of friends that find themselves in middle of a kung fu adventure. With the use of the martial arts, Chinese mythology and a sense of adventure, the author, Clark Slagle, created a fun story that children and young adults could find themselves engrossed in.

I recently had the opportunity to visit new york on vacation. We had a great time exploring the city and, specifically, getting off the beaten path a bit. I absolutely love the juxtaposition of the “new” and the “classic”, the “clean” and the “decrepit”. These opposites create for an interesting environment to take some photos. Here are a few photos of the city from my perspective.

On a side note, if you have the chance to go to new york, definitely go to the MOMA but be weary of a thai restaurant in upper west manhattan that i can’t remember the name of since it gave me a nice bout of food poisoning. hopefully you can avoid the new york city porcelain tour, if you know what i mean. good times.

It has been a long time coming but we finally have a bit more breadth to our portfolio section. As much as i wish that the portfolio section is now definitive, the fact is that this is still the tip of the iceberg of work that we have done. It shows some of our work from ads to websites to logos to print to…well, you get the idea. Enjoy.

click here to check it out