Blogs By Tim Girvin
H E L L O,
DESIGN AS A PORTAL | THE SYMBOLISM OF MAGICAL INTENT
THE DESIGN OF TALISMANS, AMULETS AND THE PORTALS OF PERCEPTION What if there was an ancient theory about the nature of marking, that the making of marks had a powerful transformative character — a mark is a perceptual portal? One stroke, an idea is born, an energy...
COWBOY UP | BRAND STRATEGY AND DESIGN FOR COWBOYS
WRANGLER®, BADLANDERS AND COWBOY SPIRIT. DESIGNING BRANDS AROUND AMERICAN COWBOY ETHOS. I noted the Wrangler event in Vegas [now running] and it reminded me of my journeys into farm-work, bull riders and cowboy culture — here and abroad. We have deep history in the...
ZEN BRANDS | THE CALLIGRAPHY OF NOTHINGNESS: THE MU KOAN.
DRAFTING ABSTRACTION — THE MYSTERY OF PRESENTING NOTHING AND ABSENCE OF PRESENCE. In our brand work, we’re always looking at how to “be there,” how to “present,” how to offer solutions that are about context, place-making, certainty of premise, a real promise and...
THE CODE OF THE MESSAGE | THE DESIGN OF THE ALPHABET
THE ILLUSTRATION OF THE MIND: FROM THOUGHT TO WORD IN DESIGNED LETTERFORM LINGUISTICS | ALPHABETS AS BRAND VOCABULARIES. Working on hundreds of logos and corporate identity packages, in decades of design and brand development for clients around the world, over time...
BRAND MAGIC: DESIGNING SIGILS, SIGNETS AND SYMBOLS
Design as a Transportive Tool ––––––– We’ve talked about sigils. Most of you might know about the sigil as a House Seal in the Game of Thrones. And I’ve written long about them — the sigil, the signal, the signature, the signing. The seal and the signet. I reach back...
THE SYMBOLISM OF THE ROPE, TYING AND THE KNOT
THE THREADING OF IDEAS: THE WEFT, WARP, AND LOOM OF DESIGN As a designer, there can’t be a metaphor more powerful than weaving — the ultimate layering of storytelling — the fantastic pattern-maker and emblem of discovery. In our work, we persistently speak to the...
The Book of Signs, the Book of Symbols, the Sign of the Book, the Signal of the Sigil
Designed Magic, Magic Designed. It's been said that illustration, the real meaning of the word is a shining -- to illustrate is "making bright." But also -- to purify. In a manner, thinking about illustration as a craft of communication suggests change, a new, evolved...
The Symbolism of the X
What lies beneath: the nature of the X, the cross road, the crossing guard, the mark of the x and the magic of the nexus. The symbolic allegory of the x mark. When I was in Bali, I surprised by the villagers attention to the white flagged pieces of paper that hanged...
BRANDFIRE | Conceptions of Passionate Brand Leadership
Exploring the detailed visioning of leadership in brand management. This article appeared in the June 2010 issue of Arcade | Architecture and Design in the Northwest. Fire. BRANDFIRE | A culture of passion What lies beneath I think we need to be thinking about our...
Brand, storytelling, presentation and spectacle: Steve Jobs
"Steve Jobs 1955-2011" by segagman is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Exemplars of Apple Messaging and Brand Product Events: Theatricality and entertainment marketing strategy in the presentation of ideas. Being one whose livelihood is wholly built on the premise of relevant...