IF YOUR BUSINESS WERE A COLOUR? - Branding TIPS from Pudding Creative

If you are launching a new business or, brand or if you are refreshing an existing one,  there are 3 main factors which can shape the way your brand or corporate identity,  is perceived visually.

1. colour

2. typology (font)

3. graphic design (logo or wordmark)

Understanding what your branding choices will tell your customers about you is as crucial as it is deciding what you want to tell your customers about you in the first place. Once you have established 'who you are' being able to represent this 'visually' is paramount.  Of the 3 elements, colour is the major factor, because it  also 'colours' the other 2 aspects and will be applied in every situation that your brand appears.

HOW TO USE COLOUR

Colour is divided into three primary colours: red, blue and yellow. When viewed as a colour wheel these are further subdivided into  a total of 16 equal segments, from which you can create every color possible by using different combinations of different quantities of the 3 primary colours. 

To be able to create a successful brand identity it is as much the combination of colours which you choose as it is the first or main colour selection and it is this palette which will reflect your business.

MONOCHROMATIC - not referring in this context to black and white,  a monochromatic choice for colour combinations uses different tones of one of 16 colour segment such as a selections of reds from solid red throughout to almost black. Monochromatic palettes are a clean and sophisticated choice.

COMPLEMENTARY  -  uses colours from segments directly facing each other across the wheel for example bright orange and royal blue, these are 'opposite' colours in the spectrum. They create bold and eye-catching combinations.

ANALOGOUS - uses colours from two or more adjacent colour sections such as yellow, orange, red. This is development of the monochromatic concept and can be very powerfully subtle

TRIADIC - uses three evenly spaced colour segments from the wheel , like the spokes of a bicycle, the most basic example of which are 3 primary colours used in combination,  red, green and blue.

BLACK & WHITE -  White light is a combination of all the colors of the spectrum ( the tiny dot at the centre of the wheel) and black is the absence of all light.  It is possible to have an entirely black and white 'colour' scheme which can be very striking however these are not strictly 'colours' so often they play supporting roles.  

GREYSCALE -  it is also possible to choose shades of black & white as your corporate 'colours' but generally a greyscale pallete is one which is added to your brand identity to describe how your fully coloured brand shown appear in the event that your corporate material needs printed or displayed in black & white.

What colour is your business?

For more information about how to BRAND or REBRAND your business,  please contact us at hello@puddingcreative.com

colour wheel image and headings source: http://www.1stwebdesigner.com

A Brand called MARBELLA

In 1954, Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe converted his family farmhouse into the Marbella Club Hotel. And so, a brand was born. 

Prince Alfonso was a visionary who was enchanted by this particular spot of Southern Spain. The Marbella Club grew from just 19 bedrooms, one suite, a dining room and a bar to today’s total of 84 rooms, 34 suites, a spa, Beach Club Buffet, Grill, the MC Café and a golf course. In addition, the area around it received such great demand that it became known as the “Golden Mile” (a part of this having been named Bulevar Principe Alfonso Von Hohenlohe) and Marbella has evolved into a magnet for the exclusive. www.marbellaclub.com

Prince Alfonso’s vision of “Marbella” has withstood time. But it has also withstood the highs and lows of the tabloid coverage. As with any of the world’s top brands, barely a month goes by when the UK press does not report a controversy of some kind – the incidences of boom receive nearly as much attention as those occurrences of bust. Yet the truth is that through it all, an influx of luxury tourism continues to secure Marbella’s position as one of the world’s most desired locations.

Prince Alfonso’s utter enthusiasm for Marbella also aided many successful property deals for his elite associates. And over the years many other entrepreneurs have emulated his real estate prowess with a market of high profile clients. Nick Stuart founded Spanish Hot Properties 4 years ago and his passion for the area abounds. He says “Over recent years, people have started to come to Marbella looking for a country in crisis. Of course, in these economic times there are deals to be made, but as a comparison, you do not go to Mayfair seeking bargain basement properties. Marbella has a history that stems from the days of the Marbella Club. And there are still plenty of people who have an emotional link with the area, born from their own family backgrounds. Marbella has always attracted the rich and famous and so, this creates a self-fulfilling phenomenon. Of course, the climate (a full 4º warmer in winter than any other area of Spain) and the locals help – you could not wish for friendlier neighbours than the Andalucians”.
(Marbella Property)

The Marbella Arch was constructed 18 years ago, though is now the subject of controversy as it has been dismantled due to new road infrastructure.

Marbella’s popularity increased from the 60’s thanks to improvements in the infrastructure with motorways stretching as far as Alicante. In fact, as head of the Costa del Sol Promoters’ co-operative, Prince Alfonso himself lobbied the installation of improvements for the road systems, airports and water supply (also the conference and exhibition centre which spurred the growth of Torremolinos as a mass market holiday destination). Whilst local life did slow in the mid seventies due to the first large-scale recession, it gained rapid pace once again in the 80’s as property demand from Northern Europe outstripped supply. Requirement was further fuelled by an increase in the native Spanish market as the country began its evolution into one of Europe’s most modern. Málaga airport is still undergoing major renovations today and connects to over 60 destinations worldwide with approx 13 million passengers per annum.

Again Marbella demonstrated a brand strength that many top companies attempt to imitate in today’s business. Get the core appeal right, create a buzz and then make sure that the infrastructure works to maintain the demand. 

Ian Waudby has worked in Marbella since 1989 and has run the highly successful real estate development company, Crest Homes, for many years. In 2010 he joined forces with Spanish Hot Properties to make the most out of the evolving demands of the area. Throughout his experience Ian has witnessed the cyclical nature of the area first-hand. His company also boasts an impressive list of exclusive properties and a clientele including “A” list celebrities. He says, “The target market is always moving, but it is always there. When I started out in business here you had a strong retirement market, nowadays the younger “bling” market is much stronger.” Ian also adds that he believes that “the end of 2011 to end of 2013 will be the best “harvest” years for the opportunistic investor in Marbella”.

Whilst the savviest marketeers do indeed understand that the most successful products appeal to the heart, not the mind (source: businessweek.com) it is always a mistake to overlook the core science of what the product aims to achieve. Luckily this isn’t something that Marbella has ever had to worry about. The sunny weather is generally constant, the hotels, restaurants and beach clubs are glamorous  and the celebrities just keep coming…

Kyra Dawson in her article Brands of Emotion agrees … “If a name can evoke the security sensation of that phrase "satisfaction guaranteed", then you've got a winner.” We think that sums Marbella up quite nicely.

If you would like to learn more about how to create a brand that can withstand the test of time, contact Pudding Creative.

Guey, the way forward in Marbella

Güey Restaurant & Skybar in Nueva Andalucia, Marbella (comfortably close to the hustle and bustle of Puerto Banús) plays venue to so many personal and professional events in Southern Spain that it has become a permanent fixture in the PuddingCreative calendar. For a start, it is the Mecca of the professional networker having regularly played host to Tweet Marbella, the Costa Business Club and the Women in Business. But it also embraces the international culture of its cosmopolitan location with a range of lively Swedish, Mexican, Spanish and English themed evenings

But what is it that makes Güey so irresistible? According to their website it is a repertoire of fresh, creative cuisine. Favourites include sushi, pumpkin soup with langostinos and honey glazed lamb ribs. But the fine dining experience tells only a small part of the story. One of the reasons that it is so perfect for social events of any type, is the vibrant ambience combined with a large, split-level, open-plan floor space. The more formal restaurant leads easily into the contemporary cocktail skybar that flows onwards to the terrace which provides a tropical atmosphere in which to enjoy a multitude of nightcaps. Of course, the flexible layout means that any evening can also be arranged in reverse, with one (or more) aperitifs enjoyed amongst the chic landscaping at the rear of the venue and onwards for dinner.

And wherever in Güey you find yourself seated, you still get to enjoy cool tunes played live by a choice of artists, selected each month – generally a blend of modern jazz and soul that complements the ultra stylish surrounds.

But none of this mentions one of Güey’s most exclusive features which is located below the floorboards of the restaurant area with only one portal window providing a sneak preview to something very special. Güey offers a unique underground wine-tasting cellar that provides connoisseurs with a choice of tipples from Spain, France, California, Australia, South Africa and Chile. 

Not many venues proffer a setting that can equally accommodate the needs of a couple seeking a romantic evening or a large group celebration. This ability comes from a talented branding team, including event manager, Johnnie B, who has brought his experience from some of the coolest restaurants and bars of New York and adapted it to suit the desires of the local market on the Costa del Sol.

Johnnie B runs a series of new and interesting events throughout the seasons that maintain Güey’s fresh buzz (including many opportunities to savour some of the 50 different varieties of tequila). And so, it should be of no surprise that Friday 5th August will see the Mr. and Miss Málaga Pageant, 2011. The glamourous affair, which will attract nearly 250 people, will consist of the perfect combination of fine bodies and fine food (a . All provided for just 59€.

This is a venue that has been perfected by those who love good food, good drink and good company. And so do we! – Güey Restaurant & Skybar receives our highest recommendation...


For more information on the
Mr. and Miss Málaga Pageant, 2011

Gala Dinner

Friday 5th August, 2011

9pm til late

contact Nicky at nicky@gueybanus.com

Restaurante Güey,  Plaza de las Orquiedeas,
4, 29660 Nueva Andalucía, Marbella

Reservations:  + 34 952 929 250


All Güey events can be viewed on the Güey website www.gueybanus.com




If your business is in need of a little brand innovation, then contact Pudding Creative for a unique marketing and design campaign that suits your budget.

Top tips from Marketing Savant

10 THINGS PROFESSIONALS NEED TO BUILD THEIR PERSONAL BRAND

We're always happy to share some sound and sensible advice from industry experts. Here's a great summary of how to Build Your Personal Brand from Marketing Savant (brought to our attention by Marketing & Social Media Strategist, Suzette Greer)...

Whether you're currently in the hunt for a new opportunity, seeking a place on a local board or looking to grow your new business, having a personal brand that's approachable and accessible through the digital realm is an essential. Let's start with the 10 basics every young professional needs to master to be effective in the realm of personal branding. 

To read the full article see Marketing Savant

PUDD FILE: Capturing the everyday- featuring extracts from The Catcher in the Rye

An animated narrative : Capturing the everyday........  literary extracts of ~J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye (1945),  with contemporary IMAGERY (2000-present) via http://www.paulclemence.com

"People never notice anything."   (Ch.2)

"Take most people, they're crazy about cars.  They worry if they get a little scratch on them, and they're always talking about how many miles they get to a gallon, and if they get a brand-new car already they start thinking about trading it in for one that's even newer.  I don't even like old cars.  I mean they don't even interest me.  I'd rather have a goddam horse.  A horse is at least human, for God's sake." (Ch.17)

"

"People always think something's all true" (Ch.2.)

"I was half in love with her by the time we sat down.  That's the thing about girls.  Every time they do something pretty, even if they're not much to look at, or even if they're sort of stupid, you fall half in love with them, and then you never know where the hell you are" (Ch.10)

"... if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you.  It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement.  And it isn't education.  It's history.  It's poetry." (Ch.24)

PUDDING CREATIVE - Lovers of design in the everyday.  http://www.puddingcreative.com/partnership.html

TEXT : extracts from ~J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, 

IMAGES via http://www.paulclemence.com

Pudding's Sunday Design Supplement: ARCHITECTURE OR BATMAN?

The 'safe house', designed by Polish architects ‘KWK Promes’ epitomises an architects' chicken & egg scenario - does Form follow Function?
Built in Warsaw, this house has the ability to transform from a contemporary villa into a robust concrete bunker at the touch of a button. Question is, is this architecture or just super-hero culture gone mad?

The ‘open’ villa has clean lines, an abundance of open space, clear sight lines for cohesion between one living space and another, ambient leisure facilities and maintains a consistent relation with the surrounding landscaped grounds. It demonstrates areas of both peace and dynamism.

And the ‘closed’ villa demonstrates the ultimate in property security measures and would rival  even the Batcave in the secrecy department and could certainly give the Transformers a run for their money.  But this is not a fictious project,  it is a living, breathing home and that's what makes it quite remarkable.

So, in answer to the question: It is both.  The architects of this design have successfully proven that Form and Function are by no means mutually exclusive and their ability to translate the requirements of their client into this unforgettable property should be applauded. Ingenius......What an inspiring way to start a Sunday!

Pudding Creative    "Interested in all things that make design truly special!"

Contemporary design, presentation and marketing partnership with specialised services available for the property and development industry.  We love what we do and that shapes the way we do it. www.puddingcreative.com

Please join our fb busi page and give us a 'like' and we will 'like' you right back to stay in touch http://www.facebook.com/puddingcreative

original article info and images sourced from : http://www.beautifullife.info/urban-design/smart-house-with-amazing-ability-to-transform/

and also International Style ® - Live Your Life With Style

Introduction to RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE on the COSTA DEL SOL

The Costa del Sol has an extremely diverse residential architectural style which is not surprising as there are over 2 million inhabitants to house, over the 161km of coastline from Manilva (far west) via Malaga, to Nerja in the east and extending inland to the mountains, and beyond. 


Settlements here date back to the Bronze Age, and the area has since been inhabited by many cultures such as the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, and the Moors, and more recently the world’s A-list celebs, criminals and the phenomenon which is Simon Cowell (and the X-factor finalists) and boasting a population increase of quarter of a million over the past ten years. 

Although much of the immediate coast has been developed into luxury urbanisations and resorts incorporating many of the historical costal villages,  it is nevertheless still possible to see signs of their charm. Many of these towns in the Costa del Sol became fortified and there are numerous instances where you can see the juxtaposition of great contemporary and classical architecture together. The most famous is probably the Roman fortress of Alcazaba dating from the 8th and 11th century, which lies in the heart of Malaga City, (the official capital of the Costa del Sol) which sits aside leading architects 20th century castellated or 'turretted' constructions of modern interpretation in the neighbouring touristic marina developments, for example in Benalmadena marina, the coast’s fastest increasing suburb, or in the other well-known coastal areas of Puerto Banus, Estepona and Nerja. Despite the mayhem of the recent planning indiscretions on this coastline and its reputation for purely a home away from home for many Brits and other ex-pats,  it is therefore encouraging to find that local architects and developers are continuing to find inspiration in the true vernacular precedents resulting in very succesful examples of modern touristic residential architecture.


Conversely, in the whitewashed hillside towns of the Costa del Sol, such as Ojen, Mijas or Frigliana where historically much of the local fishing population used to commute from, the towns in the main stand as living and breathing monuments to the historical depth of the area. Hidden inland where the terrain is rugged, graduated and fertile there still remains an abundance of working fruit, vegetable and olive farms, and original farm workers fincas in existence which provide the bulk of the household's income for the local families. If you are lucky enough to reside in one of these communities, you will know how important it is to develop relationships with the local residents in order to receive the benefit of their knowledge and assistance. It is essential to ensure you treat your property with respect and abide by local development and planning laws which are set out to preserve the character of the town or village for the benefit of all. For the budding designer however, this may be too restrictive in comparison with the coastal guidelines but there is always the possibility to convert an ancient interior into an uninhibited and contemporary dwelling space hidden beneath an original shell. For this reason, and of course the reduced cost and wider availability of land, many ex-pats have chosen to live in the rural outskirts of these hilltop  towns and construct their own modern homes from scratch or buy an existing modern property which are subject to a much more relaxed legislation. However living as neighbours to such towns rather than residents, it is much harder to absorb the local culture into your life and develop relations within the existing community.

The key to living comfortably on the Costa del Sol, more so than in other locations, is knowing that you have found the right architectural solution for you amongst such a wide choice. Whether you have bought your perfect property or if it’s being constructed for you, or even if you're renting here,  the diversity which exists on the Costa del Sol is an opportunity not to be missed and can allow you to find the exact specification you require in terms of beach, mountains, town, terrain, views, property design, landscape and interiors.  


So, be choosy,  find what works for you because it will be here,  it may just be a question of looking a little deeper.


Architectural foreward written by www.puddingcreative.com 

PUDD FILE : LOCAL business to International BRAND

AND BACK AGAIN...
Turning your local business into an international brand was the biggest goal that any new enterprise can dream of,  and remained the ambition of many national companies.Until the rise of the www. age,  trying to grow your business outside of your own environment into the realms of an international trading was an expensive and often crippling move for even well established companies,  due to the massive level of investment required to present, market and network on a global scale. 


It is astonishing therefore to see that within a whirlwind 20 year period*, there has been a complete turn around and today, any new business can afford to target an international marketplace almost as easily as it can a local one.


*The origins of the Internet reach back to research of the 1960s, commissioned by the United States government in collaboration with private commercial interests to build robust, fault-tolerant, and distributed computer networks. The commercialization of what was by the 1990s an international network resulted in its popularization and incorporation into virtually every aspect of modern human life. As of 2009, an estimated quarter of Earth's population used the services of the Internet. SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet


Like heating up a group of particles or molecules,  online information can invoke  Internet users to become active, excited and begin hitting together, passing on their kinetic energy and allowing the Internet to carry the messages on the World Wide Web to greater and greater extents of the population. In fact, many businesses today have reduced or are removing much of their traditional marketing techniques in favour of online marketing campaigns because the breadth of audience (or number of 'impressions') is just incomparable. 


To describe this phenomenal swing in monetary terms, figures from the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers revealed that UK brands invested £4.1bn in Internet advertising in 2010, with online marketing accounting for £1 in every £4 spent.


This growth has been largely attributed to greater investments being made in video formats, social media and mobile channels; with social-media advertising alone surging by 200% year on year. Guy Phillipson, chief executive of the IAB said: "Social media has certainly had its biggest year in 2010. In the early days advertisers were a bit weary about spending in social media and now they see it as an opportunity to engage and get their advertising shared. Although it has small ad formats, if it is done cleverly is an important part of an integrated campaign."SOURCE: http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/bulletin/dailynews/article/1062417/?DCMP=EMC-BreakingnewsfromMarketing by Sarah Shearman, 29 March 2011, 8:15am

So here we are, with the almighty power of the social media networks emerging as the figurehead of this present phase in our www. age, we have come full circle in terms of marketing. Because it is the international brands which need to be seen as  'local' businesses today relying on the support of known 'friends' and 'followers' which they have built up to generate and multiply their brand awareness for them. The beauty of this type of 'word of mouth' marketing is that product and service are key to good business, albeit this time around it is on a global scale, but nonetheless demonstrating the return to consumer power. How refreshing.


Understanding the power of presentation locally, nationally & internationally.  For you, your business or for your project  www.professionalpowerpointpresentations.com
www.puddingcreative.com