Given all that and the information gained during our chat over hor dourves and margaritas, this is the logo design that was created and accepted:

Circles were chosen for their sense of completeness and trust. The three interlocking circles represent the three main facets of their company found in the title: Managed, Custom and Solutions—all working together to give their clients what they need.

The main color blue was chosen for its softness as well as a homage to their intended market, namely blue collar workers. The secondary colors were chosen to compliment the blue and allow for more flexibility in future branding design (namely their website and any promotional material).

The typeface is Avenir and was selected for its modern, elegant feel with rounded, geometric shapes. It was set in all lowercase to flow with the circles and keep the softer sense; uppercase was too stark and angular.

When creating the logotype (name of the company) I chose to make “Managed” more prominent. I felt, after thinking more about what they shared about their company and what their clients are looking for, that managed was the biggest player. They mentioned that their non-tech clients are looking for a company to manage the software for them. I kept “Custom Solutions” together as one phrase as that is what they help manage and provide.

It’s your body. Pamper it.

The daily burdens of life weigh heavily on your body. Dryness. Cracking. Acne. Left uncared for your skin will rebel causing months of aging to turn into years. Yet life will not slow down.

It keeps hounding you from the moment you wake until your head hits the pillow in exhaustion. Demands at work and home sap the very life from your body, causing you to ask, When will it stop?

Today. Stop the clock. Give your skin the love it deserves. With Do Not Disturb body products you can finally restore your body, recharge your spirit and revitalize your life. Our promise to you  is this: We can help you become you again.

So lock the door

Get on something comfortable

Surrender to you

I love the pre-scolding context, which basically is saying: “Hey, mom, need a light? Cause you look like you’re about to snap.”

Ad text: “Before you scold me, Mom…maybe you better light up.” Yes, you need never feel over-smoked — that’s the Miracle of Marlboro!

I wonder if this will really have any impact on sales. Or will it simply make it harder for cigarette consumers to find their favorite brand? I mean, are people smoking and buying cigarettes because of the packaging? I think this is more to punish and control the makers of cigarettes than it is to stem the tide of smoking.

Hmmmm. Is this the future of cigarette branding?

Check out this prophetic spoof from MadTV made 2 years ago. How Apple missed this and STILL named their state-of-the-art tablet the iPad is beyond me.

Branding idiocy at its worst.

Or is it branding brilliance?

[see embedded video]