At the moment, we’re working on two totally different, completely unrelated projects. One’s a naming project, and one’s a logo design. The naming project has been in the works since before my time here, and the logo I started on my first day.
Both projects are well into their life cycle, they’ve been through client meetings, with lots of ideas having been tossed around. I’m impressed with two aspects of their specific processes.
There’s an interesting project in the works here at MINE™. It’s a name selection/re-brand for a large organization. The process has been going on for quite a while, with an abundance of (seemingly good) options, but no clear cut final name.
To get out of the convoluted naming shroud, we tried a different approach to brainstorming the name in the office today. Christopher opened the session by talking about the process they’ve already been through, and what’s worked and what hasn’t worked idea-wise.
Most of today’s work was spent brainstorming for the re-naming of a national non-profit we’re working for. I really enjoy the freedom of these sessions and I’m slowly becoming more and more comfortable with speaking my mind in the office. Christopher and Tim have been really good about considering my ideas and we’re coming up with some really exciting concepts.
It’s a completely different experience to work in a design-focused environment like the office – a productive change from all the distractions of one’s own bedroom and a springboard for concentration and productivity. Although if I feel like going to grab a book and spending some time absorbing the material within – or even just appreciating the pretty pictures then that’s ok as well.
We spent the day with our shoes off, brewing up possible names and utilizing mind maps attempting to balance both institutional strength and human compassion. It’s a nice change from the student design experience, where most of these larger questions and decisions would be forced to be made concrete in much less time. Having a concerned client is a blessing because they understand the need to nurture ideas, let some slowly develop and others quickly wilt. Time is much more on your side in the professional world than the student world – a luxury I’m really appreciating.