CREATIVE TOOLBOX • VISUAL DIARY

Shared reflections — inspirations • insights • fun facts • tips — gleaned from our spirited journey
through the worlds of communication and design

Walking Billboard

I don’t know about other cities, but I see this Target reusable tote in active use all over NYC. Whether because of its light strength and handy size, or its clean design, I am not sure. Maybe it is both. I celebrate this forward-thinking...

Motion Photography

Blur of movement in an image tells a story, and expresses a mood or feeling. In this case, the taxi and street in action capture the energy of NYC in a way a static image could not.

Local Messaging

This “opening soon” window at the southwest corner of 72nd and Columbus caught my eye today with its bold color, minimalist aesthetic, and nod to NYC and Upper West Side culture in terms of its messaging. Malin+Goetz, a modern apothecary...

Senseless Loss

Recent challenges notwithstanding, Twitter, the entrepreneurial prodigy, is nothing short of amazing: a global, grassroots communication platform sprung forth from nothing, a joyous brand experience complete with...

Mission Statement

“We inspire, educate and outfit for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship” is the mission statement of REI (Recreation Equipment, Inc.), a national consumer co-op based in Seattle. Mission statements are one way...

Aspiration Symbol

I am not sure what to call it, but I love this winged cookie — part of Levain Bakery’s brand identity — shown here on their shopping bag. Levain, famous for its ginormous cookies, was founded locally at 167 West 74th Street...

Sort Your Values

Card sorting is a great way to identify and prioritize values. This deck happens to be more personal than professional, but it is super nicely conceived, designed, and illlustrated by Pacific Northwest duo...

Sidewalk Sticker • 3

Following up on my post earlier this year where I highlighted the NYC Parks Department sticker on my sidewalk announcing I would get a new tree, I am happy to share that my “baby” arrived, was planted, and is budding. Spring is on the way!

Initial

Following up on a previous post about the Lyft brand ID, I am also impressed with the New York City Taxi “T” circle icon, and combination design overall. The NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission is back in the news with a just-announced alliance...

Digital Billboard

Check out this amazing concept! Creator Cosimo Scotucci explains that “Spectrum” is a massive urban-land-art installation that aims to celebrate humanity and the beauty of diversity. Proposed location: Times Square, NYC.

Reinvention

A friend recently recalled flying to London on TWA, departing from the acclaimed JFK “flight center” (designed by architect Eero Saarinen). This was years ago, well before the airline declared bankruptcy in 2001. TWA ceased to exist...

Imagine a World…

This “vision” statement is exemplary in all regards: clear, concise, compelling, aspiring, relevant. And Airbnb is taking “corporate social responsibility” (CSR) to a new level of “global” as more than 210,000* refugees and asylum seekers...

Accessory

Continuing on the “happiness” track, how could I not be, given this re-usable (sustainable) water bottle with an exhuberant-creature icon in CXD cyan bluetiful! As is often the case, we have multiple design tools in one. It is always a good idea...

Brand Promise

It doesn’t get more basic (and true) than this: Plants Make People Happy. Headquartered on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, The Sill was founded in 2012 and serves “people” in brick-and-mortar stores nationally, and online.

Pattern

Pattern is an element of design as you see here on my favorite tote, created as a branded give-away by Modern Metal. Founded recently by designer Annie Kantor, Modern Metal offers “laser cut metal grilles and panels for residential...

Sidewalk Sticker • 2

Following up on my post last month where I highlighted the NYC Parks Department sticker on my sidewalk announcing I would get a new tree, New Yorkers will be amazed to learn I actually DID get a tree. Here it is being delivered.

Billboard

Our NYC-focused trend continues with this Times Square billboard inspiring us to take action today!

Color

The Lyft icon definitely jumps out at me from my iPhone screen. So brilliantly bright, bold, and friendly. Launched in the summer of 2012, Lyft just makes it into the category of brands I am calling “new kids on the block” — brands that...

Packaging

I love this Dunkin’ re-name sans “donuts” and the updated identity design too. The stacked version (DNKN at the right side of the cup) is great on mobile. I happen to know as I just downloaded the app to purchase my Zoomer son a gift...

Holiday

January 21 is National Squirrel Appreciation Day! Full disclosure: this “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” creature — agile, acrobatic & positively action-oriented — is definitely my spirit animal. Holiday and holi-month observation...

Values

Chipotle is known for real food made with real ingredients, and also for “walking the talk” of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Lucky for me, there is a Chipotle just three blocks south on Amsterdam Avenue ...

Sidewalk Sticker

Exciting news! I am getting a new tree at 150 West 76th Street. One more added to the 689,227 trees mapped in NYC’s urban forest. Check back soon to see the tree!

Embroidery

I love this thread-illustrated sloth adorning a baseball cap Adam brought back from Costa Rica — a country whose slogan, I now know, is “Pura Vida.” I’m thinking s-l-o-w…

Paint

Black Lives Matter Plaza • Washington, DC

Social Media

“Build (or paint) it and they will come,” is apparently true. Designer Paul Smith’s bright pink building in West Hollywood, CA is a global photo-op & selfie destination. As of today, hashtag “paulsmithpinkwall” brings up 24,749 posts on IG.

Inspiration

“Imagine all the people livin’ life in peace…” Steps away from CXD’s Upper West Side studio (and often on my workout walking route) is Strawberry Fields and Imagine Circle, the Central Park retreat and mosaic tribute to John Lennon.

Technology

Communication tools and platforms today (compared to those at the dawn of my career way back when)…alternate universe, parallel dimension, separate reality? You pick. Without a doubt, an unprecedented time to be living and working!

Photography

During 2021 our brand was growing new wings. It is said a picture is worth a thousand words. This one is from Unsplash “the internet’s source of freely-usable images, powered by creators everywhere.”

Welcome

Introducing Creative Toolbox • A Visual Diary. Join us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or this blog, where we share an occasional reflection — inspiration, insight, fun fact, or tip — gleaned from our spirited journey through the worlds of...

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