by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Storytelling | Feb 11, 2026
A brand allegory reveals itself in an ancient practice A question for you might be—”have you ever stacked stones?” “And, what for, why did you arrange them?” Start at the bottom, rise up. Stacking stones is a symbolic act and it’s a global proposition—...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts | Feb 5, 2026
And a good question: what are you paying attention to—and why? As brand people—idealists, founders, makers, strategists, writers, designers, customers and guests—we focus on how our experiencers are paying attention. It’s interesting [as it always is, in my historical...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Storytelling | Nov 26, 2025
And gratitude in being. I was talking to a theatrical advertising designer at Paramount Studios about making. And, as creatives, “how do we make?” Imagination, mind, fist, fingers, lips—mouth and tongue, eyes and ears. What we absorb, as humans, and what we express is...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Motion Pictures | Nov 21, 2025
What sways to blandishment? A lot of discussions around last week’s blog— and the notion of brand blandism, and some asked, “wait, so you’re saying that san serif is too bland, too plain, not… ‘exciting’ enough?” No, that’s not the point. As I’d mentioned before, in a...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts | Nov 12, 2025
Modern Clinicality, Emotional Heritage and Blandism In my history as a designer, lettering artist and calligrapher, I’ve spent decades studying the history of the alphabet, from pre-Christian Greek letterform development, cut in stone and inscribed in pottery, to...
by Tim Girvin | Brands, Concepts, Designers, Storytelling | Oct 12, 2023
We’re rolling into 50+ years of continuous involvement in brand strategy and integrated design— and as coffee connoisseurs—we’ve savored this brewed beverage all over the world, from Seattle to NYC—Maui too, LA to Vancouver,southwards to Costa Rica, east to...
by Tim Girvin | Brands, Concepts, Interior Design, Retail, Storytelling | Jan 17, 2023
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, A KEY POINT OF RESONANCE IN BRAND EXPERIENTIALITY* COMES DOWN TO THE HOLISM OF SENSATION. How does it feel? How unforgettable is the holism of your feelings— or your guests feelings—about it? For many of us, that would be what we see—but...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Storytelling | Aug 14, 2019
THE ART OF GETTING LOST. BRAND STRATEGY, GETTING LOST AND THE JOURNEY TO BEING FOUND. ALL THAT WANDER SHALL BE FOUND The Quest for Metaphor, Personal Symbolism and the Iconography of Journey IN THE WORK ON BRAND, THERE’S AN EMERGENCE: ENTERPRISES THAT LOSE THEIR WAY....
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Storytelling | Oct 13, 2018
THE DESIGN VOCABULARY: VISUALIZATION, MESSAGING AND THE PATTERNING OF IDEAS, MARKS AND MEANING. I had a chance to present, at the behest of the esteemed Mark Anderson a string of ideas at the Strategic News Service presentation of FiRe at the Stein Ericksen Lodge in...
by Tim Girvin | Brands, Concepts, Storytelling | Mar 17, 2015
THE THREADING OF IDEAS: THE WEFT, WARP, AND LOOM OF DESIGN As a designer, there can’t be a metaphor more powerful than weaving — the ultimate layering of storytelling — the fantastic pattern-maker and emblem of discovery. In our work, we persistently speak to the...
