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Branding   URGENT - Need Help Fast!  
 
This question has been closed, and points have been awarded.
Image That Stays In Mind
Posted By: GR on 2/5/2007 7:14 PM (CST) 250 Points
Hello,
I’m trying to find an image that represents us as a company and that stays in mind.
Our business deals with financial products for investment banks. The product start by being an innovation and then it is standardized.
We can summarize our world into two parts: The volume business and the margin business.
The VB tends to look the same as any consumer product (equity, bonds, loan…) . The margin business is the innovation (exotic options, hybrid products). Our application allows capturing both. However we differentiate ourselves in being better in capturing the innovative product than our competition: we have a special structuring tool. The VB needs to be treated with less human intervention to reduce the cost, the process is called Straight Through Processing. While the margin business needs control.
I am thinking of an image that will strongly represent us. This image should reflect the standard business (plain vanilla) and the innovative part of it (exotics, hybrids). Since we are a bay area company, featuring the Golden Gate Bridge would be nice. Also our company name refers to the name of a sea nymph in Greek mythology. Your full creativity and suggestions are welcomed ;-)

Posted by: Jeremy Shearer* Accepted Answer
2/5/2007 7:51 PM (CST)
FUNNY

Stick with the mythology and go with the half horse, half man (when two things come together kind of concept).

MORE SERIOUS

Blend the GG Bridge with a space-like bridge...bridging the two worlds, or bringing the two worlds together.

Jeremy
 
Posted by: GR Author Response
2/5/2007 8:01 PM (CST)
do you mean having the GG bridge appears in the middle of the space-like bridge ?? not bad, if this is what you mean. having the red GG bridge extracting itself from the colorless space like bridge represent the plain vanilla business and the GG is the innovation.
I like your idea if this what you meant.
GR
 
Posted by: ASVP/ChrisB Member Response
2/5/2007 8:02 PM (CST)
Gerard

I'm sure you've researched the mythology. I located an interesting etching by Hubert Maurer here which shows Hermes bringing a message from Zeus to Calypso asking her to release Odysseus whom she has detained for seven years. Nice picture, copyright free, and would look lovely in the foyer, but very difficult to turn into a logo.

I notice the current logo reflects the marine connection but is silent on all corporate/business aspects. It could be a logo for a cruise line, boat rental or casual clothing company.

I would suggest you should be looking for a single logo regardless of the product/service stream. Just as an airline has the same logo for all passengers whichever section of the aircraft they choose to pay for their seat.

Your company looks quite substantial - I would recommend you consider retaining an experienced corporate identity designer. In Australia I would recommend Cato Design for two reasons:

One, they are excellent, and have redesigned corporate image for years, with clients like Qantas, Commonwealth Bank, Macquarie Bank, etc.

Two, the practice has a well developed set of processes to arrive at an answer that leaves you as the customer quite breathless with its precision and creativity. They are expensive. But excellent value for companies that wish to make their identity very clear and very well known.

I'm sure there must be similar companies in San Francisco or LA.

If not, Cato might be able to work with you over the internet. Have a talk with them - it will be helpful to work out your next step.

I think it would be a near-insuperable challenge to arrive at the right answer using a text-based forum such as KHE.

Bonne Chance

ChrisB
 
Posted by: GR Author Response
2/5/2007 8:37 PM (CST)
Well Merci ChrisB
The image is very complex, but beautiful
I am trying to find out an image that is different from our logo. Just an image that catches the person attention. Like the first thing a visitor will see on our web page.
Our logo is well known in our area. I prefer not to touch it, but supplemented with a clear image.

I will look at agencies in SF and if not I will contact Cato.
 
Posted by: shghosh Member Response
2/6/2007 3:44 AM (CST)
For a bank in the VB as well as Innovation space- technology is a great image to have. Shd you want to associate with GG that fine- but will that add to your brand as a bank?
Heritage is a great platform to brand upon- geography, Estb Year 1912, etc but for a bank it has to be coupled with innovation, state of the art technology etc.
Ideally look at an image of GG and make it full of data cables like arrows which give a look of quick, easy, efficient communication.
Have branch teller/ relationship manager faces( professionally clad, warm expression) juxtaposed on that image.
Hope this helps.
 
Posted by: KathySmithFilms* Accepted Answer
2/6/2007 5:02 AM (CST)
shghosh nailed it, GR.

It's tough to give an image here as we are so texty, so I will try give your a visual with my words.

I named this "BRIDGE THE GAP"

An idea I came up with as soon as I read your question was to dress up a little boy of about 10 in a suit and tie, wearing glasses with a briefcase for your futures. The expression on his face shows he invests all the time -- the natural thing to do.

The next picture could be a nice looking CEO type exec in a suit but at the beach barefooted opening his briefcase and magically pulls out a ship or something innovative that shows he is successful & still going strong.

or do a simple flash picture like this--with your tag line or the GG bridge subliminally weaved over yet sort of see through so its not predominent.

http://bigshotmedia.com/search/lightbox/details.php?type=bs&idPhoto=13785&a...

I have other ideas but just wanted to give something to help.
Kathy
 
Posted by: proeditor Accepted Answer
2/6/2007 7:34 AM (CST)
Two ideas:

1. (to continue with the GG bridge idea). The bridge could begin and end on two very different shores. A typical city (maybe San Francisco) on one side and a futuristic looking city on the other. This would be a quite literal depiction of "bridging the gap" between traditional and innovative approaches. The graphic could be a manipulated photograph or a really great-looking illustration.

2. Of course, keep your logo, but have it morph into an arrow. It looks like it could be an arrowhead anyway, so have it pointing to the future or to many different options.

Best of luck,
karen
 
Posted by: GR Author Response
2/6/2007 10:51 AM (CST)
Thank you very much for your wonderful ideas. FYI we are a software company selling to investment banks and not a bank.
Kathy and Karen I would love to push further with your ideas. The video is excellent and the Bridge that fills the gap between two futuristic cities is very good. + "Bridge the GAP" is really talking ;-)
 
Posted by: proeditor Member Response
2/6/2007 11:16 AM (CST)
GR,

In addition to Bridge the Gap, you could also do something like "Leading to Many Futures." This could also nicely tie into the term "Straight Through Processing" that you mentioned (e.g., "leading straight through").

karen
 
Posted by: Jeremy Shearer* Member Response
2/6/2007 4:28 PM (CST)
I love the development on this bridge idea...yes, that was what I meant above GR, tying the golden gate into the future, also offers connectivity to your software.

Cheers to everyone, I love the concept we have come up with here.

Jeremy
 
Posted by: rjohnni Member Response
2/8/2007 7:42 AM (CST)
If we are all pretty gungho about bridging...then lets BRIDGE THE FUTURE'.

You can keep a bridge that start as a proper bridge and transforms into digibridge....or transform into Currency brifge

In this level the old and new coexist, the GG bridge stays and morphs to the future...though you might need an excellent art guy to solve your visual situation..

KUDOS
 
Posted by: GR Author Response
2/8/2007 9:07 AM (CST)
It is exactly where I am struggling : finding the right art guy who can execute the ideas found in this forum :-(
 
Posted by: proeditor Member Response
2/8/2007 9:42 AM (CST)
You shouldn't have any problems finding someone good in the San Francisco area. Start looking at portfolios of independents and/or agencies, and you'll find an artist with the abilities you're looking for. If you have no budget for this, you could go to the art schools and see if they will do it as a class project. Or you could sponsor a contest for college art students.

Best of luck,
karen
 
Posted by: ggrover Member Response
2/8/2007 6:43 PM (CST)
There are many, many talented design, branding, advertising, and marketing firms in the Bay Area. Selecting one from among the hundreds here really depends on what you need to do with the “image” you’re seeking. Is it just something for your website homepage? Are you looking for photography, flash, or illustration? Is this image something that you could see extending across a variety of marketing communications, such as sales/marketing materials, promotional campaigns, user conferences, packaging and so on? Understanding how you plan to use it can help narrow your search for the firm (or the individual) to work with you on brainstorming ideas for a memorable image. (Or perhaps a memorable theme that consists of a library of related images?)

Because there are so many talented people in this area, I’d suggest that you look to your colleagues or LinkedIn connections for recommendations for design firms or independent designers. Then take a look through their websites. Having a budget in mind will also help focus your search.

If you really come up empty-handed after tapping your network, then you might try the SF AIGA directory, and enter the type of firm or expertise you’re looking for:

http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm?Alias=searchmemberdirectory

Best of luck.
Gaynelle
(in Silicon Valley)
 
Posted by: GR Author Response
2/8/2007 6:52 PM (CST)
Thank you Gaynelle. My first idea was for the website alone. but if it turns to be a visual that can be used everywhere:
Business cards, Collaterals: I would like to extend. I will not know until I see the design complete in front of me. I am looking right now for a designer, hopefully I will find one in SF.
 


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