by Tim Girvin | Brands, Concepts | Aug 11, 2016
What do you know? The mystery of mind, message and meaning. I was thinking about that question — someone asked me: “well, what’cha know?” And I contemplated the depth of the question. It’s just as powerful as “what’s your story?” I thought about it: “really, what do I...
by Tim Girvin | Brands, Concepts, Storytelling | Mar 8, 2016
What do you know, anyway? Enchantment, engagement and embracement in the layering of brand messaging, visualization and experience design. The quest to know? The mystery of mind, message and meaning. What about that question, I was contemplating it — someone asked me:...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, Storytelling | Jun 10, 2015
The Context of Message, Framing of Context and Visualization I look for signs that aren’t signs — in a conventional sense — they tell another deeper story, but sigils that signal a message that stand for the nature of a place. Cairns, ovoo, iwakura no mononoke,...
by Tim Girvin | Brands, Concepts, Storytelling | Sep 9, 2014
Brands That Have Nothing To Say. As a designer, I think about layers. And I think about messages. Content. Holism. Contentment. Direction. There is a sign, but it’s empty. It has nothing to say, no place that it points. It’s nowhere. Like experiences that move from a...
by Tim Girvin | Brands, Concepts | Apr 24, 2014
THE SOULFUL BRAND There is a proposition that a brand can have soul. That a brand, as a presence built by humans, can have a warmth of intention. Intention is the grasp, literally, to stretch out. What does the reach of a brand re-present? Any brand starts with an...
by Tim Girvin | Cool People, Designers, Places | Oct 29, 2013
Small signs that tell a big story Environmental messages in place-making What if, when you came around the corner to a place in your office and there was a delicate message, reminding you of something, like: “Care”? “Do more, because you can.”...
by Tim Girvin | Brands, Storytelling | Feb 13, 2013
Look, listen, study — the poetry of the birds I am watching the birds, and listening to their calls. More so, I’m watching how they watch. Normally, that’s something that I do with people — watching how they look at things. How do people see?...
by Tim Girvin | Brands, Concepts, Designers, General, Storytelling | May 17, 2012
Layering content, the palimpsest of meaning A calligraphic broadside, a gift, for speakers and presenting participants at The Evergreen State College 40th Anniversary. When I was a student, library adviser, workshop instructor and finally, faculty member [graduate...
by Tim Girvin | Brands, Concepts, Cool People, General, Human brands, Marketing 2.0, Places, Retail, Storytelling, Trends | Mar 31, 2012
Howard Schultz: The spin of the human brand, foundations and visioning, too far flung? Starbucks | Store one The spirit of the impassioned leader or founder speaks from the heart, which can drive everything, top down. Spirit sparks spin — which isn’t just...
by Tim Girvin | Concepts, General, Storytelling, Trends | Sep 23, 2011
Being a teacher, there’s the line in the sand — the pass: it’s okay; the fail: it’s not. It is the yes, the no — it’s alright; it’s not. Being a strategist, a designer, a writer, plying the work of creative intelligence...
