thought leadership
Welcome to our blog …a space designed for Fifteen4 news, advice, commentary, storytelling, and well, how our entire team of leaders think. Here is where we keep all the content that gives you a clearer picture of who we are, what we do, how we think [about the industry we love] and the many ways to tell a brand story, without resorting to buzzwords like “data-driven paradigm shift” or “brand story.”
don’t fear the pivot: when scope changes are actually an opportunity
You’ve kicked off a project. The strategy’s locked in. Timelines are rolling. Everyone’s aligned. And then—something shifts. Maybe a new stakeholder weighs in. Or the product messaging evolves. Or feedback reveals an unexpected direction. Suddenly, what started out as...
don’t fear the pivot: when scope changes are actually an opportunity
You’ve kicked off a project. The strategy’s locked in. Timelines are rolling. Everyone’s aligned. And then—something shifts. Maybe a new stakeholder weighs in. Or the product messaging evolves. Or feedback reveals an unexpected direction. Suddenly, what started out as...
The creative process is a fish
The process involved in creating creative* can sound like a subjective one. You might picture a gaggle of artists smoking cigarettes (or the like) throwing colors and shapes at a wall, making decisions based on feelings or personal taste. Now that’s FINE for fine...
Design 101: What is a Grid?
Matt DeVille, VP of Digital, meditates on the nature of grid systems in design. If you’ve ever driven in a city that’s neatly divided into quadrants and subdivided by an orderly arrangement of streets that adhere to the four cardinal points, you’ve experienced the...
Holistic Brand Experiences: It’s All in the Details
Recently I went to a new exercise studio and a small detail caught my eye amidst the surrounding minimalist, Scandanavian-inspired interior: a bottle of EO Products lavender hand sanitizer quietly sitting on the counter next to the door. In an age where it’s...
5 steps we use to help brands discover and express their WHY
People don’t buy what you do. They buy why you do it. You’re not just selling stuff, however great that stuff might be. You’re establishing a community of shared beliefs. When buyers or clients say “yes” to your offering, they’re actually agreeing to something...
Story: No Brand Should Be Without One
Last week I was exploring the coffee shops in my new neighborhood, making the critical decision of which one would be my go-to. Surprisingly, two ancient pastimes came to mind during my decision-making process: the Choose Your Own Adventure paperback series and the...
Design 101: Logo Redesigns
“We want to refresh our logo, but we don’t want a whole new logo.” Translation: We want a new logo, but we don’t want to pay for it. Clients don’t know how to talk about redesigning their logos. They want better, but they don’t like change. Or they simply don’t know...
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thought leadership
Thoughts, opinions, education...things that will make your professional life better.
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bookbytes
A series of quick takes on the books shaping our thinking. Not summaries, just sparks.
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podcast
Every episode of the branding world's greatest podcast: The Design of Experience.
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news
The latest happenings within and around the agency.
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culture
Employee and office musings. Usually humorous, always feel-good.