by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Storytelling | May 27, 2026
Trends, Surfing Allegories, and the Soul of the Sea The storm-riven roil of the sea— which is stirring the waves of change—and riding the future. Where I surf the waves are irregular and wild—they gather steam from global swells and mix up in a frothy mix that is...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts | May 13, 2026
Used by permission. ©Daniel Forster [view more of Daniel’s photography] Skipper Dennis Conner and America’s Cup teammates with the GIRVIN logo for “Stars & Stripes,” at Fremantle, AU. In a half century of brand design development, in projects all over the world,...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Interior Design, Places | May 6, 2026
Since 1972, I’ve created a long string of design environments—from my on-campus college office in 1973, while at The Evergreen State College, as a student and associate professor—with my first business license—the cabin that I lived and worked in on Eld Inlet—named...
by Tim Girvin | Brand Mysticism, Concepts | Apr 22, 2026
Feelingness in the realm of design thinking, sensation and brand. Speaking of the sensate place of feelingness, making some-thing—as above—I took some old Italian handmade paper, folded-it, tore it with a bone folder, punched a hole in the head of the strip, and...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Trends | Apr 2, 2026
These days, it’s on us, as designers, brand stewards, artists and creative makers to offer something towards the spirit of optimism to share, to all. And we’re all sorely in need of uplift, right now? A dire and challenging time for many of us—it could be said to be,...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Scent | Feb 27, 2026
Jáime les sensation forte Wind at my back, ocean waves roaring overhead, standing in the middle of the storm-cast river running, & climbing an old tree in the middle of winter, snow falling. I like the strong sensation…and here it is, in the weaving of winds,...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Storytelling | Feb 11, 2026
A brand allegory reveals itself in an ancient practice A question for you might be—”have you ever stacked stones?” “And, what for, why did you arrange them?” Start at the bottom, rise up. Stacking stones is a symbolic act and it’s a global proposition—...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts | Feb 5, 2026
And a good question: what are you paying attention to—and why? As brand people—idealists, founders, makers, strategists, writers, designers, customers and guests—we focus on how our experiencers are paying attention. It’s interesting [as it always is, in my historical...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Storytelling | Nov 26, 2025
And gratitude in being. I was talking to a theatrical advertising designer at Paramount Studios about making. And, as creatives, “how do we make?” Imagination, mind, fist, fingers, lips—mouth and tongue, eyes and ears. What we absorb, as humans, and what we express is...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Motion Pictures | Nov 21, 2025
What sways to blandishment? A lot of discussions around last week’s blog— and the notion of brand blandism, and some asked, “wait, so you’re saying that san serif is too bland, too plain, not… ‘exciting’ enough?” No, that’s not the point. As I’d mentioned before, in a...
