With logos being the first impression and visual representation of your brand, it is important to make sure that its design has meaning and gives quick insight into what your brand is and what you do.  Sometimes it can be tricky to fit everything important into one simple logo, but many brands have taken on the challenge in a fun and clever way!  Check out these logos below of brands that have cleverly designed their logo to have two images or two meanings built into one icon.  Can you spot all of the hidden double meanings?

 

How many flavors does Baskin Robbins serve? Look at the hidden number in their logo to find out!

See the arrow between the E and the X? It stands for speed, accuracy, strive for perfection, and perseverance in achieving goals.

The arrow going from A to Z gives the message that they sell everything from A to Z. The same arrow also visualizes the smile that the customers of the company would experience by shopping on their website.

At first glance, the dark pink logo for LG Electronics looks like a winking face. But if you look a little closer, you’ll see the face’s “nose” is an “L” and the outline of the “face” is a “G.”

Have you ever noticed the bear on the side of the mountain in the Toblerone logo? It appears to just be snow on the side of a mountain, but there is in fact the shape of a bear to represent Bern, the Swiss capital where the bar was created, which is also called the “City of Bears” (and its symbol is a bear featured on the coat of arms of the city).

Tostitos’ logo shows how they create the perfect party food; a chip that brings people together.  If you look closely at the two "T's" in the middle, you'll notice that they also represent human figures sharing chips and dip.

 

This community-based organization prides itself on making people’s lives better, with the trademark to prove it. It’s no surprise that the not-for-profit’s logo makes use of some simultaneously functional and encouraging lettering: the lowercase “G” in “goodwill” doubles as a smiling face and appears twice in the company’s logo.

 

Using double or hidden meanings within a logo not only provides more interest, but is also a great way to express several things at once.  Having easter eggs and hidden messages within a logo can even give your audience the sense of a puzzle within your logo, and there’s nothing like the feeling when you successfully solve a puzzle!

 

How many of these double meanings did you know?

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‘TIS the season that breweries and summer barbeques are in full swing, things are opening up, and Bob is in charge of making the bonfire! He almost singed off half a brow and all the hairs on his head, but that’s okay because laughs filled the air, marshmallows roasted over the fire, and Bud Lights were passed around! (He is kind of the life of the party if you couldn’t tell!) The smells, sounds, and feelings that a summer campfire brings with your friends and family is something we wish could be bottled up and put on your kitchen counter to take in every day. Well, we have a close second to that. Sometimes all it takes is the smell of a candle to bring you back to a memory that fills you with this type of joy! Woodwick Candles not only have a variety of scents made from soy wax and highly concentrated fragrances, but they also have a long wooden wick that that creates an extended flame and when lit, creates sounds replicating a crackling fire. Close your eyes, relax, and be filled with the memory of summer bonfires, sunset walks on the beach, or even a calming day at the spa! Let NorthPoint help you “re-kindle” some of your special memories for your next marketing campaign with these branded candles!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

NAME BRANDS. We love them. We wear them. We use them. We spend that extra money when buying them. WHY?! Well, the dictionary definition claims that ‘name brand’ is a product that is made by a well-known company.

UHM….BORING. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty…real deal…the “truth be told” of a name brand product, shall we?! When creating a product and growing your brand, one of the most valuable assets you can possess is the name. People associate names with an identity, and that identity lets customers know what to expect when it comes to buying a product. In comparison, your generic brands do not hold as much promise to their name when it comes to quality and consistency.

NorthPoint knows exactly what mix of brand name products and generic goods we must carry for our clients. Many times, customers will choose an off-brand product simply for the price benefits, but name brand products hold a higher value for a variety of reasons, from having a great experience with the brand in the past to wanting to show off an “OH WOW - that’s the vibe” kind of image. Brand name products often rely on prior experiences or public word of mouth to get their value across initially, but once they become well known, their value is simply assumed with their name.

ALSO, not to mention, social influence plays a role in the value of name brands as well.  As a natural social instinct, we all have a desire to fit in - whether that’s in school, at work, or in our GLORIOUS circle of friends and family, and because of this, good ol’ Thomas will typically pick the Mercedes Benz GT 4-door Coup over a Ford Focus.  On top of that, people tend to buy from name brands believing that the brand will also contribute to a greater social acceptance OR it fits their personal and/or professional image.

Name brand products set themselves far apart from the generic brands because they also build a story. Typically, when a consumer first buys a name brand product, they are just crossing their fingers that it either works as fast and efficiently as possible, or the overall look is the best compared to other products. Once experienced, though, name brands not only prove to be great in both quality and consistency as product, but they also are able to signify what they stand in the area of that market.

Name brand products time and time again prove their quality because they can stand *clears throat deepens voice*…the test of time!! In the wise words of our grandmothers, “They age like fine wine.” Which is another big reason why customers chose a name brand product - you might be spending a few extra coin for that Yeti Cooler, BUT 10 years down the road you are passing it down to your kids, grandkids, friends, great uncles - and it still works like the day your first bought it! Quality over quantity, am I right?

All in all, there is a whole laundry list of reasons for buying name brands and why they are often chosen over generic brands, but bottom line is: name brands are brands you trust in quality, efficiency, consistency, and durability - they will last you for years and years to come.

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Are you using your iPhone camera to its full potential? With the quality of iPhone cameras having increased from generation to generation, it’s important to know how to use the features of your camera to be able to make the most of your iPhone photography! And while the features and capabilities of your phone camera help to strengthen the quality of your photos, having the knowledge of composition, subject, and settings can really bring your iPhone pictures to the next level! Let’s take a look at a few tips and tricks to help improve your shots:

 

1)   1. Adjust your Exposure Settings

    Did you know that your iPhone camera app has an on-screen slider to change the exposure of your picture? Holding your finger on the screen will bring up the Auto Exposure slider, where you can drag either up or down to make your exposure brighter or darker. If you hold down the yellow box, you can even lock the exposure settings that you’ve set!

 

2)   2. Set the focus of your photo

Your iPhone camera will normally set the focus of your shot automatically, but to ensure that the focus is set to what you want, press your finger on the area that you want in focus. If you hold there, you can even lock that focus into place (You will see AE/AF Lock on the screen).

 

3)   3. Use the Camera Grid for Better Compositions

If your camera grid is not already on, you can go into Settings>Camera and toggle the Grid option to turn it on manually.  Not only does this 9-section grid allow for your to see if your photo is level, but it can also help you to achieve the rule of thirds in your photos.  This is a classic technique of positioning your subject off center to allow for a more visually pleasing composition!

 

4)   4. Use burst mode for action shots

There’s nothing worse than missing out on an awesome photo opportunity because your subject was moving and your shot came out blurry.  Burst mode is the perfect solution to help you capture those high-speed moments that you don’t want to miss! To use the burst mode, hold down the shutter button, and your camera will automatically capture a burst of 10 frames.

 

5)   5. Show depth with portrait mode

Portrait mode is a great way to take your flat image and add more depth to it.  Make sure that you are two to eight feet away from your subject, select ‘Portrait’ at the bottom of the camera screen, and shoot away! You can even change the lighting of your portrait from “natural light” to “studio light” and more by sliding through the options at the bottom of your portrait mode screen.  If you have an iPhone XS or more recent models, you also have the ability to change the strength of the background blur after taking your shot by clicking ‘Edit’ at the top right of your photo in camera roll and adjusting the depth slider and needed!

 

6)   6. Use your volume button to reduce camera shake

Instead of taking a picture with the shutter button on your screen, try using the volume button on the side of your iPhone to snap a photo! This will help ensure that you have a steady grip on your phone and will reduce the chance of camera shake!

 

7)   7. Shoot from a low angle

Most people tend to take photos while standing and at a chest height because that is the easiest and most convenient way, but why not try some new angles to make your photos stand out from the norm?! One way to create a more interesting photo is to take it from a low angle.  This will allow for a different perspective of your subject and may also give a more interesting background! If you’re taking a photo outside from a low angle, the sky is more likely to make up most of the background, rather than items that are directly behind your subject.  This brings the focus and attention to the subject and can make for a super awesome photo!

Tip: Hold your phone right above the ground and turn upside down for an easier way of taking a photo from a very low angle!

 

Try out some of these tips and tricks next time you shoot with your iPhone camera, and see the big difference that small adjustments and changes can make! From camera settings and tools to composition and lighting, allow your iPhone photos to reach their greatest potential!