Change

I think it would be appropriate to apply the theme of Change to this week. Monday marked the last day that Former President Bush was in office, and was also the celebration of the achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. who aided in the changes needed for whites and blacks to live in harmony. Tuesday marked the day that President Obama was sworn in as our president, and was the day that miLogos adopted its new logo and Website 4.0. On Wednesday, Obama announced a policy of an open government that would collaborate with the American people, using technology, in a way it had never done before. Yesterday, Obama stated that the individuals at Guantánamo Bay Naval Base would be moved from this location, and put a policy into effect defining certain processes like water boarding as torture. With all these changes, I look forward to the future to see what else may be changed.

A man by the name of Benjamin Disraeli once said, “In a progressive country change is constant; change is inevitable.” I completely agree with this, and believe that it pertains to business as well.

I think that by adding the Department of Technology, and by creating a government that is going to be more open with the American public, the American Government is furthering its efficiency in accomplishing the goals set forth by our forefathers. I am really glad that President Obama has taken this stand.

I am also really excited for the changes taking place in miLogos. First of all, some restructuring is occurring, with some more people being added to the team. Without disposing of the synergy that should always be present, the Art Department, Design Department, and Photography Department will have products of their own. Certain products may require collaboration on the part of the departments; however this move is supposed to inspire productivity and measurements by specific departments.

The new logo, the fingerprint design is a better representation of the mission statement of miLogos. The mission statement, which is available on the new website under the “Company Info” link, and goal of miLogos, is to create products that the client can feel proud to call their own. It’s almost like their logo is their fingerprint, and they are happy to put that fingerprint on the designs that miLogos creates.

The new website, the desk has always been my dream for the website. Even the last website design, Website 3.0, was an attempt at file folders, but then morphed into what it did. I also like the way that it is set up, with a bunch of different mini-sites, instead of a bunch of pages under one humungous umbrella. This way, if one department or specialized product needs to be changed, or if the look needs to be altered, I don’t have to redesign the entire website, I can just redesign a certain mini-site. By the end of the weekend, the Spiritual Design mini-site will be up, and this new product will be a great way that miLogos can expand its audience. The miPrint Studio mini-site will also be added fairly soon, a new service that miLogos can offer. The miPrint Studio is a way that miLogos can offer very cheap printing services. To get a quote, simply email miprint@milogos.com or email me at mbeall@milogos.com.

I am so excited about all these changes, and I am also looking forward to the production of Romeo and Juliet by Poudre High School! (Pay attention to next week’s article for more information.)

A Special Day

I just want to congratulate President Obama on a great speech. What he is doing is really changing America, and I am looking forward to the next four years. We all need to put our opinions aside, pro or con, and see what Obama has to offer to our country before we judge. As Americans, we need to come together and unite in body, mind, and spirit.

On top of our new President, miLogos adopted its new logo today, and the Website Design 4.0. Check them both out at www.milogos.com.

I will speak more about these topics on Friday when I write my post on “Change.”

Concept Behind A Name

I go to www.dexknows.com and click on Chicago, IL. I find several businesses with interesting names like, James Shoe Repair, Always Ready Repair Co, and Arts and Letters Ltd. Naming a business can be very important in determining a business’ success. So why do so many businesses spend so little time on it? I really don’t know.

There are many important things to consider when naming a business. First, one must take into account the purpose and the vision for the business, giving the customer or client a sense of identity. James Shoe Repair. Automatically, you know what the business does; it repairs shoes. A name like Arts and Letters Ltd, one would have to take a guess at what the business does, and people don’t spend time researching that kind of thing. Even the biggest corporations take this into account: Coca-cola (it’s a cola), Washington Mutual (mutual funds), Paramount Pictures (film).

The next thing is that your name needs to be something the business can work off of, and it needs to have an edge. Burger King is unique, creative, tells the consumer what to expect (burgers), and it gave them the opportunity to campaign with an “actual king.” Every business needs to stand out, and the name can be very important to make this stand out. Another great example is that when you are going down the highway, and you see the famous golden arches and you start to get hungry. Even if you do not like McDonalds, you have given attention to them because they stand out. The golden arches come from the M, and if McDonalds was “Best Burgers,” then the golden arches could not be used.

Another thing to take note from successful businesses is length. Starbucks, Target, Sears, Macy’s, Barnes and Noble, Old Navy, etc etc. They are all short, and all give an immediate image in your mind. If Sears was actually named “Store Filled With Tools, Technology, and Clothes” then customer/client loyalty would be hindered by the simple fact that they couldn’t remember the name. A name needs to be memorable, and the length of a name contributes a large portion to this.

When I named miLogos, I took into consideration all these aspects. I had a purpose (logo and graphic design) for this business, as well as a vision. I wanted the clients and customers of this business to feel like the designs they received were their own, and be proud about it. Almost as if they could put their stamp of approval on it, and call it theirs. When I came up with miLogos, this is exactly what I wanted to flow from this; its MY logo, its MI logo, we create MI logos…miLogos! It’s creative, we have been able to create other products off of it (not to mention the newest, miPrint Studio), it fits the purpose of vision of the business, and it is memorable.

This coming Tuesday, miLogos is going to adopt its new logo, along with a new website, miLogos Website 4.0. I hope I am not giving too much away, but I will just say that the new design really reflects this concept of having a “stamp of approval” and the clients being able to call the designs their own. Lots of celebrations this coming week… Monday we are celebrating both Martin Luther King Jr’s bravery and leadership in a social movement. Also on Monday we will be celebrating the past 8 years that President Bush has served our country, keeping the American people close to his heart in his decision-making, and leading our country the best way he knew how. On Tuesday, we will celebrate our new President Obama, and his ideas and plans that will go underway to help this country get out of a recession and global problems. I am looking forward to all these events, and hope that you will join me in these celebrations. Have an awesome week!