ZN

As a creative web designer at ZN, I engage in projects with a very wide range of clients. In fact, in the production department, we literally are on board with every project that comes through these doors. But not only do I fill my days designing, I have now been putting in extracurricular hours on a personal project – MOOD.

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We have been getting very excited about infographics here and have discovered a lot of great models for beautifying and clarifying information. If the term is new to you, here is a simple definition from wikipedia: “infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly…” Watch the below video for a comprehensive description of what these newfangled graphics do and when to use them. Read more

We all love telling stories. It’s how we pass on wisdom, wit and gossip, it’s how we build relationships, and it’s how we influence one another. It’s an intensely social activity.

Yet, in an online world dominated by social media, so many corporate websites are narrative-free zones. No stories, no storytellers, nothing. Just the usual information about products or services, and maybe a few press releases or a stuffy old annual report written by committee.

Why not inject a little life? Tone is everything when communicating, especially when you’re trying to reach outside your organisation to connect with the public.

Some simple changes can help turn your website (and, by extension, your organisation), into a more human, living hub. Read more

In the past couple of weeks, my interest in blogging has been renewed by a couple of projects and client conversations we have had.  In the past we have been involved in setting blogs for a few clients and also finding ways to engage with bloggers.

The conversations we have with clients often start with the reasons why they feel a blog is a risky proposition and is fraught with potential dangers and difficulties.  Debbie Weil does quite a decent job at giving practical advice on how to approach this in her book ‘The Corporate Blogging Book’

Check out here presentation on Blogging and E-retailing

Although blogging continues to grow as a tool of corporate communication, we still find that some clients are very reluctant to test it as a marketing or simple communication tool.  The reason for this, in my view, is not because of the technology or legal consideration.  The main obstacle is a mind set.  From outside it looks strange and dangerous.  The idea of people communicating in a company with their own voice is still a major paradigm shift.  The good news is that once they start blogging they usually realize that it is enjoyable and works.  It also opens the door to changing the tone and manner in which they communicate.  So there is hope for 2009.