At Different Indeed, we have many things to be thankful for on this beautiful day of giving thanks. To all of our wonderful clients, thank you very much for your business and your trust. We delight in partnering with you, and we treasure the relationships we’ve built together. To our vendor partners, we could not make the impact we have without you on the team. Your insight and energy are invaluable — thank you for always saying “yes!” And, a BIG thank you to the friends and family who support us at Different Indeed. We know there are long hours involved, but you “get it,” and we love you for it.

“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”

With Steve Jobs’ passing last week, I have read a lot about his life, his tenacity, his vision over the past few days. I’ve come to admire him, more so than ever, as a true visionary who understood what it meant to walk the line and embrace a singular voice, celebrate the counter-culture and run with his differentness. I applaud different. I celebrate different. Strength is found in different. So, when I was reminded about the “Think Different” campaign which marked Apple’s reemergence as a technical giant in the late ’90s, I had to  pay homage to this concept, because in many ways that is how I approach my work. That same spirit is the reason why I named my company Different Indeed. I believe in different! And, so do my clients. They are the “rebels,” the “troublemakers” that are identified in the ad copy below (this is what originally ran with the “Think Different” campaign back in the day). It’s a tip of the hat to Steve and to all of my wonderful clients to share this very different vision.

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do. – Apple Inc.

After many months of non-stop project work, I am just now finding time to reflect on the busy year that was 2010. And, as I sheepishly look at my last entry from June (oh dear), I resolve to pass along more useful information to all of you out there on a more consistent basis. So, starting things out right, I am compelled to share my recent brush with animoto, an online software that really pulls video together quickly, makes sharing effortless, but looks like it took days of editing. I admire the site’s simple and intuitive interface, and the end result can be posted to websites, embedded in email campaigns and shared via social networking sites lickety split. The extra benefit for users is that videos can be shared without any animoto branding, so it does not compete with the message you create. The finished product is streamlined and “private label” per your company’s (or your client’s) own brand. It is a wonderful way to create dynamic messages using still images and short video clips. Animoto is one my new favorite marketing tools for 2011!

http://blip.tv/file/3806734

In case you haven’t heard, the National Endowment for the Arts has kicked off a $25,000 logo design competition. NEA’s new chairman, Rocco Landesman, is motivating graphic designers everywhere to come up with an identity that represents the phrase “Art Works.” The contest is open to anyone who wants to submit and the winner will receive a $25,000 grant to complete their design. According to the RFP, the two words, “Art Works,” have three meanings, from which the design work will be judged:

1. “Art Works” is a noun that refers to the works of art that artists create.

2. “Art Works” reminds us that a goal of art is to work on audiences and viewers to inspire, transport, and challenge them.

3. “Art Works” is a reminder that arts workers are real workers who are part of this country’s real economy. They earn salaries, support families, pay taxes. Artists are also entrepreneurs and placemakers, who revitalize towns, cities, and neighborhoods – both the economies and the ethos of them.

For all you interested designers out there, click here for the guidelines (but brace yourself—the doc is 23 pages long!) Deadline for submittal is February, 26th, 5:00pm EST.

“Be persistent and consistent in everything you do.”

I have taken this advice to heart many times, and it has never failed me. It is fantastically relevant in many situations—especially when it comes to marketing communications. Maintaining a consistent message and spreading that message across every touch point of your brand is key to creating a strong and memorable brand. It is like putting your best foot forward over and over and over again…which, now, brings me to persistence. As a good marketer, you need to stay in front of your audience. What communication do you use? Print ads, web ads, networking, email campaigns, PR? Continually connect with your audience to stay top of mind. That way, when there’s a decision to be made, you will be at the top of the list.