These are just AMAZING!

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/10/the-hyperrealistic-sculptures-of-ron-mueck/100606/

The Hyperrealistic Sculptures of Ron Mueck

Oct 9, 2013 | 34

London-based sculptor Ron Mueck, formerly a model maker and puppeteer for children's television and films, has been creating fine art sculptures since 1996. Using resin, fiberglass, silicone, and many other materials, Mueck constructs hyperrealistic likenesses of human beings, while playing with scale. The detailed sculptures are captivating when viewed up close, as they may be many times larger or smaller than expected. [23 photos]

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A sculpture entitled "Mask II" by sculptor Ron Mueck, at the San Ildefonso Museum in Mexico City, on September 20, 2011. (Reuters/Henry Romero)

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A visitor looks at a sculpture titled "Two Women" by artist Ron Mueck at the Brooklyn Museum, on January 31, 2007. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A close-up of "Two Women". Original here. (CC BY SA Fernando de Sousa) #

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"Man in a boat", by Ron Mueck exhibited at the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain in Paris, on April 15, 2013. (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images) #

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"Boy", a 5-meter-tall sculpture completed in 2000. Original here. (CC BY Tamaki Sono) #

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Visitors look at "Mask III" (2005) by Ron Mueck, during an exhibition at the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris, on December 27, 2005. (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A visitor takes a picture of "Woman with sticks" by artist Ron Mueck, at the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, on April 15, 2013 in Paris. (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Closeup of "Woman with Sticks" at the Hauser & Wirth gallery on April 16, 2012 in London, England. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) #

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A visitor to the National Galleries of Scotland stands beside Ron Mueck's "Wild Man" on August 4, 2006. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) #

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A group of schoolgirls look at "Wild man" at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, on February 10, 2010. (Reuters/Mick Tsikas) #

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Women look at a sculpture entitled "In Bed" by Ron Mueck, at the San Ildefonso Museum in Mexico City, on October 4, 2011. (Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images) #

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Reporters stand next to "In Bed" during a preview of his exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MARCO) in Monterrey, on March 17, 2011. (Reuters/Tomas Bravo) #

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A visitor admires Ron Mueck's "Mask", on display at the Saatchi Gallery in London, on April 14, 2003. (Reuters/Peter Macdiarmid) #

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An exhibition piece entitled "Youth" at the opening of the new Ron Mueck exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, on January 21, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. (Raoul Wegat/Getty Images) #

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A closer view of "Youth" by Ron Mueck, at the National Gallery of Victoria on January 21, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. (Raoul Wegat/Getty Images) #

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A sculpture entitled "Standing Woman" by Ron Mueck is displayed at the Towada Art Center in Towada, Aomori Prefecture, japan, on July 11, 2008. (Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A man looks at a sculpture titled "A Girl" by Ron Mueck at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, on February 10, 2010. (Reuters/Mick Tsikas) #

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"Woman with shopping", a sculpture by Ron Mueck exhibited at the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain in Paris, on April 15, 2013. (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images) #

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A visitor looks at "Woman With Shopping, 2013" in Paris, on April 16, 2013. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) #

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Visitors view a sculpture entitled "Spooning Couple" by sculptor Ron Mueck at the San Ildefonso Museum in Mexico City, on September 20, 2011. (Reuters/Henry Romero) #

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A visitor photographs a sculpture entitled "Young Couple, 2013" by Ron Mueck during the press day for his exhibition at the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain in Paris, on April 15, 2013. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) #

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A close view of "MaskII", a sculpture by Ron Mueck at the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain in Paris, on April 15, 2013. (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images) #

Corporate image and branding

18 May 2013

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Corporate Image and Branding

When I was in University corporate image was THE buzz word for marketing. Everything lead back to corporate image – marketing established corporate image, focus groups provided feedback on corporate image, mission statements defined corporate image, even pre-calculus factored corporate image (ok, so maybe I’m stretching it a bit), but these days corporate image is considered ‘old news’ and less than applicable. Anyone wandering down this dangerous train of thought could be building a kill switch into their company. Corporate image may no longer be the buzz word, but it should be the code you live by and at the center of all you do. Corporate image should mean excellence in everything.

Corporate image is the composite psychological impression consumers have of a company. It is little more than the public perception of your company rather than an actual reflection of its state or position. Every department, worker, correspondence and behavior sent out from your company makes up your corporate image. Good corporate image is vital to business growth and sustainability. So how do you create a corporate image that rivals Bill Gates in success and Mother Teresa in honesty?

The fluid nature of corporate image makes keeping a positive position much harder. One unfortunate happening or decision, and you can switch from flavor of the month to dog of the day at the flip of a coin. Establishing an image that is robust and consistent is the basic building block of a good image. If there is a foundation of positive image consistently coming from the company the buy in to trust is easier. For instance, if a client comes to visit and your selling your products from the back of an old 1930’s camper van with one headlight in the parking lot, the judgment is made about the quality of your company, integrity and product as a whole in an instant. If you send out your invoices on a crumpled piece of paper with a whacking great big coffee ring on it – don’t expect another order anytime soon. Something as simple as a logo, letter head or web page expresses who you are and what you are about. First impressions aren’t one thing – they are the only thing! You only get one shot at a first impression, make sure it’s expressive.

Make sure everything that leaves your company has the company theme on it. Get a great logo, go the extra mile with your printing, make your web design unforgettable. Spend a bit more to add a touch of luxury, go and find the talent you lack that makes the difference. These are all basic elements to establishing a robust corporate image that can weather a storm – or scandal –or two. Make sure your buildings are neat and tidy; your employees are positive and care about what they do, especially in the customer care department. It may sound anal, but it’s the way good images are made, and kept. With corporate image – consistency is the bomb.

Ploughing some capitol into marketing always raises the bar on corporate image. Innovative marketing companies know their trade and can add positive image with a good ROI. They are skilled at presenting a company in its best light and have experience on how to influence the public’s perception positively. Corporate image will always give you a good return ask any large company. They have budgets bigger than the gross national debt of a small country assigned to marketing to make sure their corporate image in always in the pink. Good marketing pays. If they can make a dental practice or colonic irrigation clinic look like as attractive as a trip to theme park, they can make your company look like a rival to Apple computers.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by your day to day business and forget to see the ‘whole’. Once you have a good design and a great marketing plan for all your media and communication, all you have to concentrate on is the ‘human’ element of your company image. With something as important as the corporate image of your company, do not be afraid to ask around, interview marketing companies and see their portfolio. They are used to having their craft examined. They should be able to express what you envisage and nurture your ideas into a solid influencing image. Though the image that is a product of Bill Gates and Mother Theresa is a little disturbing…

Content Marketing vs Social Media

... And the Winner is ...

The newest buzz word in the marketing industry is Content Marketing, the question it is posing is - will it replace social media? What do you think? Let a seasoned and talented Calgary Online Marketing agency explain ...

To answer this question we need to understand what content marketing and social media is, how it works, what it does and how it can be used as leverage.

So What is Content Marketing?

Content marketing is the use of words to educate, inform or entertain to create the attention that leads to buying. So it may be an article, video advert or internet event that creates a lead, a sale or people to advocate for your business. It is aimed at clients, customers and potential clients. The strength of content marketing is that it is structured. Content marketing is sleek, informative and well produced. Often the result of a planned and directed campaign, content marketing has many faces but always has the intent to persuade and inform.

How is Content Marketing different from Social media?

Social media is a great network for testimonials. Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn etc are all a vehicle for customers and potential customers to discuss your product and services and do your promotion for you. As a Calgary online marketing agency we use the right media for the right channel, for the right purpose, for the right customer - because it works. As a bi-product of active and effective social media you can reach out to your chosen demographic directly, tap into their thoughts and produce what they want, when they want it. This communication can result in leads, sales or advocacy, but is often less structured and conversational, and can be reactive too, as social media is increasingly used as a customer support channel.

The goals of content marketing are consumption, then behavior. The goals of social media are participation, then behavior. Knowing this will help you successfully use each individually, or for an explosive marketing campaign, combine them.

Social media is the new telephone. Content marketing is the new brochure.

Michael Brenner said, "Content marketing and storytelling are as old as human beings. We have always needed to find ways to convey important information in useful and entertaining ways. Social media is just the latest evolution in the way we can tell the stories. I think soon we will drop the “social” and go back to calling it plain old “media.”"

Will marketing budgets towards content-focused marketing initiatives potentially exceed those for social media marketing? It could well do. But with all media - you need to know HOW to use it. Would you buy a $6million thoroughbred to pull your plow? No, just as you wouldn't buy a tandem to use as a wedding car.

Content marketing uses words intelligently to persuade, inform and educate. Social media gives people an opportunity to network. Someone with a need to buy will use both to make an informed decision, so both have a use. What it boils down to is - what is the final deciding factor in making a buying choice? Information in your brochure or web site, or something they read on Facebook? Sometimes it's a toss up ....