providing graphic design, branding, photography and marketing expertise to denver and the world

Quote of the Week:

One of my other jobs...

...is helping to run a scholarship fund dedicated to helping out environmentally-minded undergrad students. Started up in honor of my late father, the David L. Bucknam Memorial Scholarship Fund is finally on Twitter, Facebook, etc. and you should become a follower/fan/supporter as soon as humanly possible. You know, if you care about the earth, or anything. Which I KNOW you do--which is why I digress from my usual design ramblings here to mention it.

We're holding our fifth annual fund-raiser on September 13th, up at Alderfer-Three Sisters Park near Evergreen, by the way. It's a lot of fun. You can hike or bike around and not even know you're supporting the education of dedicated environmental scientists while you're wolfing down an amazing burger, or brownie, or Breckenridge Brewery Avalanche Ale (thanks, Tebo!). All you have to know is if you come, you'll have a great time.

Go here for more info.

Labels: cycling, fundraising, nonprofits, social networking, twitter

posted at 10:10 PM Leave your comments here: 0 comments

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7.23.2009

Radio Shack rolling out new brand identity in August

Following the Tour de France today, I came across Lance Armstrong's message that he will be partnering with Radio Shack next year to form an American pro cycling team. That was enough news for one day, it seemed. Until I noticed in Radio Shack's related presser that the company will be rolling out a new brand identity in a few weeks. As Their Chief Marketing Officer, Lee Applebaum said in the release:

"We are re-launching our brand with a new creative platform in early August, and now having Lance on our team - an American icon who embodies the spirit of mobility, connectivity and philanthropy - really allows us to accelerate our brand's evolution."

"re-launching our brand" I guess could mean they're keeping the same identity, but I don't think so. "new creative platform"....that's nice and vague. Skywriting? Perhaps some sort of chalk-bot-inspired piece of MAKE-kraft? THAT would be truly DYI-inspired, and be a hit with the MAKE-rs of the world.

I'll be interested to see how they position themselves. For years, Radio Shack was the go-to place for hobbyists and do-it-yourselfers interested more in making things work than the brand name on the package. Lately Radio Shack has positioned itself as not only a place you can go for capacitors and AC adapters, but also to buy cell phones, sattellite radio receivers, televisions, and more "finished" consumer electronics goods.

With the recession making everyone look towards fixing what they have rather than throwing it out and replacing it with something new, Radio Shack's fortunes have actually improved, as people once again turn to it for replacement power cords, battery chargers, and resistors.

So which way will Radio Shack go with the new brand? More towards consumer goods? Or back to its roots as the neighborhood electronics parts supplier? I kinda hope it's the latter--we already have too many consumer goods stores, and look where CompUSA and Circuit City have gone. I'm not the only one who thinks this is a good idea, either.

Radio Shack Armatron (I had one of these!) from unlovablesteve on Flickr.

Labels: advice, branding, cycling, DIY

posted at 1:46 PM Leave your comments here: 0 comments

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2.16.2009

Off-topic: Cycling in west Denver

I ride the same route out in west metro denver every morning: 32nd Ave from about Sheridan, west to Crown Hill, then cross over to 26th, down the hill to Youngfield, then North to 38th. Then back South on Youngfield to 20th, and East, back to Crown hill, then back up 32nd.

Assuming I don't have time to go out to Golden, what other rides out this way would you recommend?

Labels: advice, cycling

posted at 7:03 AM Leave your comments here: 0 comments

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7.24.2008

Great jacket design, using your own material

Most of you know I love cycling. So when I came across this jacket from Eleven Gear, I fell in love. They take the Tyvek racing numbers from the events you've raced in over the years and make them into a jacket. It's $233, which seems pricey, until you remember that it's one of a kind.

Labels: creativity, cycling, fashion

posted at 8:00 AM Leave your comments here: 0 comments

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7.15.2008

En Francais: "Le Burrito"

Like thousands of other Coloradans, I am excited to see the Colorado-based team Garmin-Chipotle competing in the Tour de France this year. And now that they are in France, it looks like one of the main title sponsors is wasting no time in extending their brand:



Here's a story from the Denver Post.

Labels: branding, cycling

posted at 10:10 PM Leave your comments here: 0 comments

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6.09.2008

Great PSA for Cyclist Awareness from the UK

Check it out:



tap o' the brakes to the folks riding a bike from Alaska to Chilé.

Labels: advertising, cycling, PSA, TV

posted at 6:57 AM Leave your comments here: 0 comments

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