>Click on each of the cards to see the back story. For more about how we work >naming : : identity : : brand strategy
::NAME+BRAND DESIGN::
"We have emerged from one of the worst financial crises in modern history with our best years ever," stated Mark D. Mordell, CEO, AvidBank, "During this time we have grown stronger, and we have gained a better understanding of ourselves, our clients and the markets we serve. We believe that our new name clearly represents who we are and where we are headed."
::CRONAN:: worked with the leadership and across all levels of this dynamic group of avid bankers and their community to achieve one of their strategic goals - creating a name and brand personality for the bank that clearly describes, and distinguishes them, and builds their brand culture. They are what we want all bankers to be – dedicated, innovative and passionate about excellent service.
::NAMING::
A name to ignite an expansive idea –"This is the most important thing we've ever done," says Jeff Bezos. "It's so ambitious to take something as highly evolved as the book and improve on it. And maybe even change the way people read... the vision is that you should be able to get any book – not just any book in print, but any book that's ever been in print – on this device in less than a minute."
What to name this game-changing vision so that it feels like something you want to "curl up" with? : : CRONAN : : gave it a warm name full of potential – one that invites you to start something: "Amazon Kindle".
"...to read is to light a fire..." Victor Hugo
Kindle sold out in the first five and 1/2 hours after it launched. Demand remains high.
Get on it, order yours.
NAMING::IDENTITY::BRANDING
From the Kno.com website: “While no one was looking, someone revolutionized the textbook, higher education, and learning itself in one crazy, bold move.
Yes, it’s a digital textbook. Yes, it’s a whole new ecosystem. Two spacious panels. Touch-screen interaction. A fully-stocked store. Video. Note-taking. Sharing and community. Kno is everything a textbook was. And will be.”
The answer to every question will soon be Kno.
Kno is a simple but crazy-big idea that will create a new environment for learning. Students and Parents are going to love Kno.
NAMING::IDENTITY::BRANDING
Named it, created character, gave it legs...
Something really new needs to be, at first, a little familiar for consumers to recognize or understand it. And essential questions reveal deeper understanding and surprising answers. How would this new service change the television experience? Is this a revolution or an evolution? What do you call the evolution of television? : : CRONAN : : named it TiVo.
We gave it personality. A smile, a wink and — oh yes, a character — with antenna and legs. Thumbs up, thumbs down... and — ba-doop! ba-doop! — it started the TiVolution. TiVo, TV your way.
As you can see, laughter is very important to the creative process.
NAMING::VISUAL IDENTITY::BRANDING::PACKAGE DESIGN
The brand promise wrapped in the name –
Steve Demos, the heart and brains behind Silk soy milk, is creating a new category in nutrition – "not those nasty vitamin pills and supplements". The first product, a probiotic fruit drink with fifteen years of research in Sweden as credentials, needed a name, identity and packaging to deliver scientific health benefits and points of differentiation to both retailers and consumers and to project joy, fun and positive results. : : CRONAN : : created elements as fresh as the product itself. "Drink Me".
Try GoodBelly, it does what it promises and you will love it.
VISUAL IDENTITY::BRANDING
We hold the unofficial record for the world's fastest logo.
: : CRONAN : : created the logo, store identity, in-store displays, branding and branded products for the new SFMOMA building designed by architect Mario Botta.
In our very first meeting, when asked what he thought the logo would look like, Michael pointed to the new museum's defining point, a large circular oculus which stood out plainly in a large elevation drawing on the wall.
The logo is an instantly recognizable souvenir of the brand.
VISUAL IDENTITY::BRANDING :: DESIGN STRATEGY
"FORA.tv is for ideas what ESPN is to sports."
– The Wall Street Journal
"The YouTube for thinkers" – CNET news
FORA.tv is one of the most thought-provoking sites on the internet. Visionary founder CEO Brian Gruber conceived of lectures and debates from all over the world on politics, public policy, history, and culture served up in broadband video, "We want to create a global community for intellectually curious people."
: : CRONAN : : created the identity, brand and design strategy to make FORA.tv, look and feel like a global media company. The world IS thinking.
VISUAL IDENTITY::BRANDING
Portcard.net is a social networking registry designed to protect against predators who hide behind the total anonymity of the Internet. A scary problem with an elegant solution: members "card" potential online friends – is that potential "friend" authenticated? or are you at risk? Portcard.net is fully integrated with Facebook, on the developer list for MySpace and partnered nationally with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The management team includes a strong advisory board with Internet security specialists and current and former law enforcement officials. : : CRONAN : : created a look and feel to appeal to everyone except, of course, the predators.
NAMING::VISUAL IDENTITY::BRAND
Affinity Engines Inc. had a mechanical name, an asterisk logo and a successful product named InCircle. Neither name nor the asterisk logo conveyed the goal of the company – creating community for organizations.
Listening deeply to the CEO, CMO, engineers and sales force – ::CRONAN:: combined the name elements to identify their purpose and create something aspirational – networked inclusion. And we elevated the asterisk to a starring role as their logo – many touch points forming one connected circle.
Affinity Circles' growing social networking platform builds and maintains connections in a dynamic, trusted online community for Fortune 100 companies, alumni and professional associations, and major sports teams.
VISUAL IDENTITY::BRAND STRATEGY
A short distance inland from Carmel by the Sea, in a rare expanse of natural beauty, 20,000 acres of pristine coastal foothills in the Santa Lucia Mountains is home to a rich diversity of plants, wildlife and 300 fortunate families with an intimate sense of community.
: : CRONAN : : has had the honor of years of working with the team to create the identity of the preserve and the culture of the marketing, materials and brand experience. In this symbolic logo, the initials of the name combine to incorporate the identity in one gesture.
NAMING:VISUAL IDENTITY::BRANDING
"The name is simple, and elegant. Besides the compliments from past folks, new people just get it – which is perfect! Thanks again." – CTG
Exposure to toxins is greatly magnified in the bodies of infants and children. Colette Chuda died of a rare cancer linked to pesticides. Her parents founded Children's Health Environmental Coalition to advocate for legislation and to help others avoid the same loss.
Known as "CHEC", they had received attention from their accomplishments, but experienced years of wind-drag with a name and logo that wasn't memorable or meaningful. An innovative philanthropist commissioned : : CRONAN : : to help. We created a new portrait of Colette, a name to describe the goal, and a tag line that echoes the CHEC acronym with a sharper focus.
NAMING::IDENTITY::BRANDING
A name to provoke a new way of thinking
Mike Maples was recently named as one of "8 Rising VC Stars" by Fortune Magazine for his investments in business and consumer technology companies. Partner Ann Miura-ko, named by Forbes as the most powerful woman in startups, says “We’ve developed a new approach to investing in world-changing ideas, which we call the Super Angel Approach. Looking at the world through the eyes of the entrepreneur, we’ve filled a widening gap between Angel investors and venture capital firms. But we help companies with more than just fundraising: we help them discover, refine, evolve, and master the core elements of their businesses so they will be in the best possible position to one day “open the floodgates” to market disruption and dominance.”
The firm’s new name and site says it all. “FLOODGATE helps today's most ambitious entrepreneurs develop tomorrow's great business success stories…”
::BRAND DESIGN::
Former Navy SEAL Alden Mills had just taken his company thru a branding exercise – but no one was happy with the results and they did not know why.
: : CRONAN : : listened to their situation and found that they had acquired all the components of a brand, but the result did not represent the true message of their company.
By editing the ideas and showing the team what lifestyle changing potential they had, we simplified, intensified and strengthened their brand and created their new identity.
An example of less is more – Perfect.
>Visit the Perfect. website built by the Perfect design team.
::NAMING+BRAND DESIGN::
A symbol to identify a national movement.
A very successful program to turn college kids into coaches for after-school sports programs targeted to young people living in poverty and in communities of color has entered the expansion phase.
: : CRONAN : : had the privilege of working with an enlightened board and staff, and a creative team including FENTON Communications and Tomorrow Partners. We created the visual identity and helped clear the conceptual pathway for the name of the successful program to become the organization’s name.
::BRAND DESIGN::
When clients come to the studio and cook!
Ann Ogden Gaffney, a two time cancer survivor, had a rather big yet simple idea. Teach patients and their families to cook meals that taste good and are nutritious. Cancer treatments make appetites and nutrition challenging issues. The response to her classes in New York City and the positive outcomes that have accompanied her CFYL program are so strong that health organizations are studying her approach.
We were asked by a smart philanthropist investor (our longtime client) to strategically look at, upgrade and expand the essence of CFYL’s brand to give the organization tools to expand their footprint and take them to the next level.
They came to our studio and helped prepare a rather splendid lunch, initiating a great partnership to create a strong identity, look, feel and design direction. The collaboration could be only described as delicious.
> Visit the new CFYL website designed by Blue Fountain Media
::NAMING::
A legacy business had new leadership, new technology and needed a new name to hail the change.
One of the most potent technologies in the Business Intelligence space, the brand new Actian enables companies to look at what is happening in real time, and deploy action that responds to what’s up ahead.
The big thinkers at Play Bigger brought us in to rename the original company. The whole brilliant leadership team collaborated to choose the new name and launch their new technology in record time.
