Category Archives: Business

On argument, instruction and authenticity

It’s refreshing to see a business have and express a point of view

Also posted in Brand, Copy analysis, Design, Storytelling, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Passing thoughts

Why have they made one of the most historically rich parts of London sound like an area in Manhattan?

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Postcards from Paradise

Who needs the hassle of traffic jams, rammed airports, heaving ferries and bloated beaches when you can hang out at the Southbank. This glorious rolling festival has been the hit of the summer with thrilling exhibitions, ambush fountains, curious pavilions, an allotment in the sky, and an intriguing language installation that has set everyone talking [...]

Also posted in 26, Advertising, Art, Brand, Campaigning, Design, Graffiti, History, Jargon, London, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Reading, Storytelling, Tone of voice, Travel, Writing | Leave a comment

Colourful language

I saw this lovely shop in Delft. I was rather taken with the poem they have in the window – a characterful piece of DIY brand writing.

Also posted in Art, Brand, Design, History, Photography, Poetry, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

LCC — Writing and design

For those of you who were unfortunate enough to endure my talk on writing, design, branding and communication at the London College of Communication; here are those background sources I referred to. And if you weren’t there – some of these might prove interesting anyway. On branding Living identity by Moving Brands Logos are dead [...]

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Southbank Centre celebrates the Festival of Britain

The English language is a mixed-up, muddled-up, shook-up wonder and the great leveller we all have in common.

Also posted in Art, Brand, Campaigning, Design, History, London, Photography, Poetry, Politics, Storytelling, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The music of writing

Bernbach’s position reflects both the interest Madison Avenue developed in psychology and its cynical fantasy that it controlled people’s behaviour.

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Some problems with ‘tone of voice’

Public bodies should only launch anti-jargon ‘campaigns’, ‘drives’, ‘initiatives’ and ‘guides’ if they really are trying to make a lasting improvement to their language.

Also posted in 26, Brand, Jargon, Plain English, Tone of voice, Writing | Tagged | 13 Comments

Write Copy, Make Money

We copywriters need to invest full and proper time in commercial matters, as well as our commercial writing. But sometimes we forget about the basics of good business when we’re trying to hit a series of fast-moving deadlines.

Also posted in Authors, Books, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments