Robot Creative - Design and Marketing Weblog

Rooted Unrefined - Brittany Tradup

Rooted

Spirit:

Rooted is a balance between traditional and understated. They believe that just a little bit of glamour, nonchalance and humor goes a long way. Unpretentious and practical, utility and purposefulness are at the top of their list. Rooted believes in building things that will last and is deeply loyal. Persistent and stubborn, they have to find the most logical or ideal way to do something, and when they do, they like to dispense advice and share best finds, how-tos, and personal learning. Family-oriented and traditional with a strong sense of personal values, Rooted gets tremendous joy from nourishing a sense of community and family. They strive to learn from what has come before but will create their own customs, routines, or rituals and ultimately legacies. Deception and personal politics irritate them and they believe that actions speak louder than words. Zealousness, the hard sell, and aggression sends Rooted in an about-face. However, their challenge is not to take things personally and to rest assured in their own values and good judgment. They believe that things will work themselves out if they simply allow them to. Artfully diplomatic with a gentle touch, they compose their inner circle with those who are able to understand and appreciate their sensitive nature, but rooted is not fragile - to the contrary. They have a deep undercurrent of ideals and values by which they navigate. 

Look and feel:

Understated, natural, classic, tranquil, quiet, melodious, hazy, muted, misty, modest, low-key, toned down, ancestral, established, timeless, enduring, conventional

Unrefined

unkempt, unpolished, free, rough, natural, brambly, earthy, spontaneous, organic, wild, messy, disheveled, asymmetrical, imperfect, uncultivated

I feel most at home: 

Outdoors. In soddy weather. Sitting on my back patio or in my sitting room on a rainy day. Away from crowds, but with my family. In my kitchen baking.

A few objects I cherish or take great pleasure in:

Roscoe, my childhood teddy bear, because it reminds me of my childhood. My engagement ring because of what it symbolizes. 

I collect or have a lot of:

Kitchen stuff - appliances, dishes, pots and pans. 

My favorite fabrics, textiles,  textures:

Linen, tapestries or anything that has an uneven or rough texture. I like fabrics that feel handmade.

What I love most about myself:

My ability to think things through. I don't make hasty decisions.

A tiny part of me secretly wants: 

To be a housewife.

If I were going to write a brilliant book it would be about:

Building and maintaining family relationships.

My philosophy on friendship is:

If it is real, it is effortless and keeps itself going.

The people who know me best are:

My sisters and my mom because they have seen every side of my personality. They know my practical side and my dreaming side, my stubbornness and my sense of humor.

I am impressed by people who:

Know their passions and can articulate them.

Refined Modern - Alfredo San Martin

Refined

Spirit:

Refined is dignified, at ease, well mannered, and a touch old-fashioned. Good taste is at the top of their list. Refined is intentional and prefers to strategize, review things, and have a plan. Punctuality is a must, and precision is the intention. Refined likes to redesign, reorganize, replenish, purify, perfect, polish, refine. They are self-assured, and no matter the circumstances emanate class and dignity, usually suggesting ease or wealth -- in spirit or materially. They strive for purity--in food, behavior, colors, and surroundings--and avoid things that are distasteful, tacky, rugged, and crude. On a bad day, Refined can be slightly prudish or snooty. They appreciate a sense of history, thoughtful presentation, and values-based living. They aim for impeccability and don't waste time or energy on things or situations that are below their level of idealism and quality, though they will always decline or depart in the most gracious way possible.

Look & Feel:

Polished, poised, put together. Sophisticated, classic, traditional, elegant; clean lines, from crisp and tailored to graceful and fluid. Ranged from old world to contemporary design. Smooth, not coarse. Purified, refined materials. Also organic materials, raw minerals, polished finishes.

Modern

current, cutting edge, elegant, exclusive, fresh, hip, latest, leading edge, neoteric, new-fashioned, novel, now, present, prevailing, recent, sharp, stylish, twentieth-century, up-to-date

I feel most at home:

At my apartment, lying down on the couch watching my favorite tv show, The Big Bang Theory.

A few objects in my living space that I cherish:

My computer. It's my livelihood and I couldn't live without it.

My platform bed from Copenhagen. It was my first purchase of grown-up furniture. It's a strong, modern piece that anchors my bedroom.

My DJ music collection. DJ'ing is my other creative outlet besides design.

I long to travel to:

Italy. It looks like an amazing place to live, with a combination of modern and classic architecture, beautiful art and a slower paced life.

What's working in my wardrobe right now is:

Safari/Military-inspired dress shirts with epaulets. They are sophisticated with a little bit of edge.

What I would love to have made for me is:

A custom-made suit.

If money were no object I would go out today and shop for:

A contemporary house worthy of being in Dwell magazine.

Things I love:

Music, museums, art galleries, DJ'ing, fashion, graphic design, architecture, interior design.

I nourish my well being by:

Going to church weekly with my family.

What I love most about myself is:

My desire to make people laugh.

I am my best self when:

I'm laughing and joking around with friends.

Genuine Creative - Lara August

Genuine

Spirit:

Authentic and real, Genuine wants to be fully itself and deeply appreciate people and experiences that are free of hypocrisy or dishonesty.  Sincerity is sweet music to their souls.  They gravitate to those who are down-to-earth and unpretentious.  They are expert at sensing the discomfort and needs of others and excel at putting people at ease, drawing on their humor, good manners, or tenderness to do so. Genuine has a knack for taking the best and leaving the rest.  They want the facts.  They rarely suffer fools, and they don’t make much time for situations that go against their grain or distract them from their goals.  It’s fairly easy for them to walk away from situations that aren’t serving them.  Genuines’ motto tends to be “Live and Live.”  Ironically, Genuine can struggle with balancing its outer image with its inner desires and, for better or worse, will fake it to make it.  They have a special fondness for originality and appreciate things that last and endure as well as people and principles that have stood the test of time.

 

Look & Feel:

Comfortable and comforting.  Strong craftsmanship, standing the test of time.  Almost anything goes with Genuines’ fashion as long as it feels right.  Genuine adores tried-and-true brands and things. Replicas, rip-offs, and imitation designs and materials are out of the question.

Creative

Creativity for me requires a twist, a certain something unexpected or quirky. Without the twist, it might be beautiful or striking or attractive, but there is a requirement of "newness" and freshness for me to consider something creative. 

When I am inspired my body feels:

Tingly and I don't want to eat or sleep. I just want to ride the creative energy to its end.

When I have free time:

I feel the universe expand and my mind starts racing.

My preferred form of exercise is:

More like play - dancing, gymnastics, swimming (around, not laps), rollerblading, monkey bars, rock climbing....

What I would love to have made for me is:

A pair of custom cowboy boots with unicorns stitched into the decoration.

My favorite flower is:

An orchid for its Dr. Suess looks and jasmine for its scent.

My favorite pastime or hobby is:

Creation - in any form.

I feel most at home:

Living in Europe, surrounded by art, culture, music, performing arts, and history. I miss the great shopping, bold new ideas, controversy, debate (political, environmental, educational, cultural, etc.)

My personal sanctuary is:

Anywhere my siamese joins me.

I collect or have lots of:

Books. I love fiction, how tos, creativity and science fiction. I seek out unusual bookstores every time I travel, and try to find things I could never find at home.

I have felt out of place or incredibly uncomfortable:

In a subdivision in the suburbs. Each house was utterly void of craftsmanship and there were no trees.

The most ridiculous purchase I've ever made was:

A plane ticket to Tokyo for New Years 2000. Only ridiculous because it sounds wild, but the people I went with were stocking up food and wouldn't go out because they were afraid Y2K could mean the end of the world.

Even though its completely out of style or over the top, I secretly love:

Jelly bracelets because they hold a nostalgia for me that is more important than public opinion. I see them and can't help but chuckle.

If money were no object:

I'd buy a castle with a tower, a courtyard and a moat, and I'd build a maze garden (if it wasn't there already).

I express my physical creativity in the way I:

Sing in the car and dance when no one else is around.

Gentleman Adventure - Carl O'Bryant-Yabar

Gentleman

Spirit:

Gentleman is a truly charming combination of warmth and strength, sincerity and nonchalance. He wears his power modestly, and though he may abide by standards and traditions, he is fully aware how persuasive and affecting thoughtfulness can be – in matters of the heart and in business. He loves to shepard ideas into form, dispense information and wisdom, and develop and implement the best course of action to get things accomplished. Gentleman is instinctively protective and will go out of the way to demonstrate his devotion to people and projects. He feels great fidelity to his family and heritage. If he loses touch with his natural instincts, Gentleman may withdraw and become overly accommodating or confined by his own rules and principles. Liberal but genuine with his compliments, and a touch old-fashioned but entirely contemporary, he prefers to know as much as he possibly can about that which interests him.

Look and Feel:

Undeniably masculine, sophisticated, sensual, calming, warm. Symbolic objects, comforting home base, and energizing getaways. Proper manners and traditional celebrations. Often appreciate handcrafted, well-engineered, and timeless works. 

Adventure

Adventuresome, audacious, bold, brave, courageous, dangerous, daredevil, emprise, enterprising, foolhardy, hazardous, headstrong, intrepid, reckless, risky, temerarious, venturous

A few things I appreciate about my body:

I’m appreciative that my body recovers and heals quickly and that it still works after all the crazy things I’ve done like jumping off bridges and out of planes.

If I could win an Olympic medal, I would want it to be for:

I would love to win a gold medal in the Decathlon event because the winner must be in incredible physical condition as well as perform at top skill in a variety of different events. I admire people who perform a variety of different tasks at peak level.

The ultimate celebration or party I’d like to throw would be:

Anything where a large group of people, all from different backgrounds and experiences join together. I imagine a huge mansion with differently themed rooms with everyone laughing, talking and sharing their lives with each other. That, or a group skydiving event.

Things I love:

Places, not material items, that are beautiful, isolated, and quiet. Places with a quiet, underlying strength that seeps in through your feet as you walk through it.

A tiny part of me wants:

To be in charge of everything. 

I feel most at home:

On the peak of a mountain that I just climbed, seeing 100 miles into the distance.

If I could only wear one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be:

A tailored black 3-piece suit, wine colored shirt with purple-hued silver tie.  Accent it with a square faced, titanium-banded watch, black dress shoes and a charcoal-colored cashmere overcoat. Classic elegance with a modern flare.

My definition of sexy:

Well dressed, well spoken, composed and confident. 

If I could live in a different time period it would be:

1920’s, to take part in the swing era and crazy wastefulness experienced by oil and steel magnates. To mingle with the ultra-posh, swanky and uber-influential people on the rest of the 1900’s.

Cherished Comfortable - Laura Myers

Cherished

Spirit:

A collector of friends, experiences, and well-worn things; when Cherished loves you, you know it.  Cherished is deeply sentimental, though not necessarily stuck in the past, because Cherished is always endeavoring to create new life experiences and memories.  They love to celebrate, venture out, and bring good people and worthy causes together.  Cherished adores hearing or telling a good story and has plenty of them to share.  Natural and gleeful caretakers, Cherished has an abundance of nurturing energy and affection, which is generously given to strengthen and sustain.  They can be generous to a fault and need to remember that they do not have to save the world - caring for themselves first and foremost is a great way to be of service.  With an unshakable values system and moral compass, Cherished can be remarkably determined and focused.  Love is its strength.  

Look and Feel:

If there's a story behind it, it works for Cherished!  Nostalgic, sentimental, culturally rich, and diverse.  Personalized, attention to detail, inviting.  Because Cherished can be both "in the moment" and "in the past," fashion and decor can be a combination of the simple and contemporary, vintage and Old World.  

Comfortable

agreeable, ample, appropriate, cared for, cheerful, convenient, cushy, delightful, easy, happy, healthy, hearty, made well, pleasant, pleased, protected, relaxing, restful, restored, rich, roomy, satisfying, serene, soft, strengthened, useful, well-off

When I have free time I feel:

Happy, rested, relaxed, eager

My favorite time of year is:

Summer brings feelings of nostalgia, constant vacation and relaxation, warmth, life and my birthday.

My personal sanctuary is:

My home. Safe, comfortable and I am surrounded by the objects that are meaningful to me.  

A completely luxurious, outrageous thing that I'd like to own is? because:

A Mercedes SLK hard top convertible and a beach house with an infinity pool - The beauty, relaxed, fun, prestigious and fulfilling.  

I collect or have a lot of:

Everything - I find it hard to get rid of anything that I might every need or have any memories associated with.  I want to keep everything so I remember everything.

What works in my wardrobe right now:

Classic pieces with a trendy style element, neutral solid colors, comfy casual clothes with simple outlines, shapes and cuts.

Things I love:

Travel - going anywhere new and different especially  places with foreign customs and culture.

Cruising - the ease and relaxation 

Decorating my surroundings

Books and tv shows

My purpose in life is:

To share my love with someone and be loved in return.  To help end unnecessary suffering.  

I am impressed by people who: 

Can remember exact statistics, be completely spontaneous, enjoy public speaking, be completely alone.

My greatest heartbreak was because:

I believe in people too much; I am not willing to see their flaws or the flaws in the relationship, and I don't give up on people easily.  

Genuine Outsider - Charlie Martinez

Genuine

Spirit:

Authentic and real, Genuine wants to be fully itself and deeply appreciate people and experiences that are free of hypocrisy or dishonesty.  Sincerity is sweet music to their souls.  They gravitate to those who are down-to-earth and unpretentious.  They are expert at sensing the discomfort and needs of others and excel at putting people at ease, drawing on their humor, good manners, or tenderness to do so.  Genuine has a knack for taking the best and leaving the rest.  They want the facts.  They rarely suffer fools, and they don’t make much time for situations that go against their grain or distract them from their goals.  It’s fairly easy for them to walk away from situations that aren’t serving them.  Genuines’ motto tends to be “Live and Live.”  Ironically, Genuine can struggle with balancing its outer image with its inner desires and, for better or worse, will fake it to make it.  They have a special fondness for originality and appreciate things that last and endure as well as people and principles that have stood the test of time.

 

Look & Feel:

Comfortable and comforting.  Strong craftsmanship, standing the test of time.  Almost anything goes with Genuines’ fashion as long as it feels right.  Genuine adores tries-and-true brands and things, and places and people steeped with history and character.  Replicas, rip-offs, and imitation designs and materials are out of the question.

 

 

Outsider

A person not within a boundary, detached from the activities or concerns of others, not belonging to an institution of thought, at ease on his own, a person content to do without the company of others, preferring to be alone, fearful of conformity, unsociable, reserved and self-restrained as his disposition

A Few Objects In My Living Space That I Cherish Or Take Great Pleasure In:

I love my CD/Book/DVD Collection.  I understand that it is very materialistic but I take great pride in looking at them.  I think anyone who examines my collection is exposed to more of my inner workings.  A person’s cd/book/dvd collection can reveal a lot about a person.  Especially for me where I feel that there are a million pieces of me in my collections.  I also have a little figuring of a man with a pumpkin head that I adore- a gift from a friend of mine.

My Personal Sanctuary is:

Any place that I’m alone.

Things I Love:

How my son looks at me, Melanie’s laughter, my son saying “da” over and over again (it never gets old), the adoration of my brothers, pin up art, weird quirky art, scary/morbid/humorous imagery, black, very cruel and wicked humor, dark comedies, laughing when no one else does, candles, family devotion, Halloween, books, old records of classic artists or songs, dark chocolate, mandarin oranges.

What I Want Less In My Life Is:

Wasted time.

You’d Never Catch Me Wearing:

High Fashion Label clothing where the clothes have the name all over: Tommy H., Polo, Armani, etc.  I don’t want to be a walking advertisement.

If I Were Going To Write A Brilliant Book It Would Be About:

I’ve always wanted to edit a book of Charles Bukowski’s poems about/to Jane.  They’re brilliant, cut through the pretense, and so intimate.  He didn’t write to impress you with words or ideas or rhymes.  It’s honest, brutally, tragically honest.

I’m also writing a book for my son about my favorite things so that when he’s older, he can know me on another level and really see the depths of my soul.  Even now, with my father and I having a good relationship, he is still a mystery sometimes.

My Preferred Form Of Exercise:

Martial Arts.  Sparring.  Being pushed to the limit where my body and mind have to be one and make me go a little bit longer.  I enjoy being sweat soaked in the end of it.

Refined Playful - Andrew Watson

Refined

Spirit:

Refined is dignified, at ease, well mannered, and a touch old-fashioned. Good taste is at the top of their list. Refined is intentional and prefers to strategize, review things, and have a plan. Punctuality is a must, and precision is the intention. Refined likes to redesign, reorganize, replenish, purify, perfect, polish, refine. They are self-assured, and no matter the circumstances emanate class and dignity, usually suggesting ease or wealth -- in spirit or materially. They strive for purity--in food, behavior, colors, and surroundings--and avoid things that are distasteful, tacky, rugged, and crude. On a bad day, Refined can be slightly prudish or snooty. They appreciate a sense of history, thoughtful presentation, and values-based living. They aim for impeccability and don't waste time or energy on things or situations that are below their level of idealism and quality, though they will always decline or depart in the most gracious way possible.

Look & Feel:

Polished, poised, put together. Sophisticated, classic, traditional, elegant; clean lines, from crisp and tailored to graceful and fluid. Ranged from old world to contemporary design. Smooth, not coarse. Purified, refined materials. Also organic materials, raw minerals, polished finishes.

Playful

adventuresome, amusing, artful, cheerful, clever, coy, creative, entertaining, fanciful, good-natured, happy, humorous, lighthearted, lively, relaxing, smart, spirited, whimsical, witty

If I could only wear one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be:

A very well made three piece suit.

I nourish my well-being by:

Balance, introspection, imagery

My muse and inspiration are:

Imagery in many forms and lighting

I describe my inner rhythm as:

Having a nostalgic flow

My favorite form of play is:

Acting out stories

I feel most at home:

Victoria, British Columbia and Costume parties

My dream home is:

A quaint Victorian with every room having a different theme or mood.

My personal sanctuary is:

A pool hall

If I could be a master or aficionado of anything, I would like to know most about:

Miniature golf courses.

I am impressed by people who:

Have found their passion and are doing it. Also by people that don't need recognition for accomplishments and are genuinely humble.

What Are Your Images Saying to Your Customers

by Andrew Watson

Last week for the Friday Project, I decided to use my expertise as a commercial photographer to go over some common situations I run across when looking at client imagery. Photography that represents your business can come from a few different avenues - custom shoot, stock images, vendor supplied and client generated. Any of these can be used effectively for your identity and branding efforts if those images are communicating to your clients the right message. The quality of images used to represent your business can speak volumes about your company.

An example I presented to the Robot team was to look at the three images of wooden hangers below. For each image, list a couple of words that come to mind when you see that image. 

Here were some common answers:

• Image A - creepy, lonely, bored, unhealthy
• Image B - hangers, clean, minimal, plain
• Image C - comforting, elegant, masculine, quality

When I look at a company's images, I place them on what I like to think of as a Quality / Communication line. It's basically a rating line from 1 - 10 for visual communication. [ 5 on the scale means the image meets image quality levels and provides basic documentation (nothing more and nothing less). Anything below 5 gets into quality issues and starts to read negatively on your business identity and anything above 5 starts speaking more about quality and giving the image a distinct personality. ]

A simple example of these three categories would be to describe an entree at a restaurant

• 5 - Spaghetti and meatsauce
• below 5 - Damp string noodles and canned sauce
• above 5 - A savory bolognese sauce made with zesty Italian herbs and spices served on handmade fresh pasta  al-dente´

Image A is probably somewhere around a 2-3. As you can see from the responses, the words associated with this images really are not communicating a positive message.
  

Image B is right about at 5 in the middle. It's a straight forward basic documentation of wooden hangers. This is a common solution and tends to read a bit on the generic side.

Image C is in the 9-10 area because it goes well past a clean photo of hangers. The responses were in line with what the hanger company wants to portray and communicate. 

So from these examples, let's say the family-owned company that has manufactured high quality wooden hangers for generations needs images of their hangers for marketing materials, website, etc. They are targeting a demographic that is willing to pay more for well-made hangers from quality materials. Their whole identity, messaging, collateral materials, mission statement, etc. hammer home the core messaging values of their product - craftsmanship, family, refined, timeless, established.

This is probably not the time to say "Hey, didn't Bob in accounting get a camera for Christmas? Let's ask him to take some pictures for the website." 

As you can see, each of the images on a very basic level do fill the need for the hanger company. They need a picture of their wooden hangers - picture A, B, and C all communicate wooden hangers. However, there are several elemental choices that need to be taken into consideration when a photographer does a shoot. Lighting, composition, context, arrangement, props, focus, angle of view, exposure and color palette are some of the options that guide how an image is perceived by the viewer.

So next time you are getting images produced, purchasing stock photos, or looking at your current imagery, stop and do this little exercise. Ask a few people that haven't seen the images before to list some words that come to mind when they look at them. Then ask yourself, are your images saying what you want them to say?

Making Art From Letters and Numbers

 By Holly Falkenberg

The Extensis Suitcase Fusion Ad series is clever, fun and fresh. These ads contain photography and typography arranged to form images.  In one ad, an alien made of letters and numbers descends from a spaceship.  In another ad, cows designed of letters and symbols graze in a photographic pasture.

As designers it is important to take inspiration from current design elements, trends and processes.  For a Friday Project each ROBOT created a robot designed from letters, number and symbols. 

Some of us used magazine clippings to construct our robots while others used the computer to explore the process.  Brittany added a little bling to her robot and used a bright color pallet.  Laura M. worked in a monochromatic color pallet and included coordinated fizz as her background.  The final products all turned out to be unique pieces of art that reflect our company.   

Robot Haiku Madness

by Andrew Watson
My Friday Project this time around incorporated random images, an ancient Japanese poetry form, and some Beat Poet ambiance. Dig? I had everyone create Haiku's from various images I had downloaded from the internet (not THOSE kinds of images). To refresh your memory of what a Haiku is, it's a short form of three line poetry with the syllable structure of 5-7-5 (the classic Western version anyways). An example for your oh so Zen pleasure is from poet Daniel Burch Fiddler

The pink blossom sighs
Remembering the soft kiss
Of many butterflies

My twist on this beautifully simple poetic structure for the Friday Project probably would have Mr. Fiddler feeling a bit on the ill side.
So here's how it went down.
- Everyone blindly picked three images from a hat
- They did a warm-up haiku with each image as a line syllable
- They had to think up a company name based on the three images
- write three haiku's with your new company name in mind, but each haiku must have a different identity or emotion connected to it
- lastly, everyone had to recite their haiku to the group to the smooth sounds of some jazz playing in the background. Finger snaps-a-plenty.

Here are a few examples of what they came up with

Mullet Caps

Luxurious, sleek
Mullets on fashionable
hats. Become sexy

- Laura Myers

Greenman Vendors

A green doll for cheap
Your son or daughter will love
Brown stick included

- Alfredo San Martin

Raging Clown's Shining Guitars

Women will want you
Wield your ax you god of rock
Make the women scream

- Charlie Martinez

I don't know about you, but I'm inspired.