when you look into the abyss…

  I’ve noticed how problem solvers often become strangely “infected” with and by the problems they are attempting to solve. In communications projects, this translates into a tendency to unconsciously fixate on the problem and be seduced into talking about its causes, outcomes and complexities at the expense of talking about the solution. Marketing is …

Read more

Shew Design - manage type

type management strategies

Type is present in essentially all marketing communications. Other than color, perhaps no other visual element plays a more crucial role in building a consistent presence across multiple forms of media. Yet, type is something few businesses use effectively, with even large established companies continuously making arbitrary choices with type. Not having type management strategies in …

Read more

the voices in your head

Imagine picking up an object and suddenly experiencing a flood of voices filling your mind, not from a physical location near you but from anyone, anywhere– perhaps even from people who lived hundreds or thousands of years before you were born. Now imagine that the object you’ve picked up is a book. The ability to …

Read more

context is everything

Who doesn’t like penguins? I’ve always loved them, but I hadn’t learned until very recently about how they’re camouflaged. When swimming, their predominantly white bellies help them blend in with a reflective water surface when seen from below by predators such as orca whales or leopard seals. When seen from above, their dark backs naturally blend with …

Read more

simple ways to keep content and branding fresh

Keeping your website and social media feeds up to date can be time-consuming and complicated, so it’s worth taking a little time to invest in a planning process to ensure you are getting the most out of your investment. the cost of complexity The problem some organizations encounter is undergoing a complicated and detailed process, and then falling short when it’s …

Read more