We don't typically dabble in the open markets nor glean our research metrics from it. This past summer, however, as we were embarking on a rebranding initiative for Descartes, I wanted to track their stock price throughout the brand and website launch. So I kept an close eye on the ticker through the fall months as the branding rolled out and through the winter months as the website launch grew near. And I have to admit, I got pretty geeked out and excited as I watched the literal value of branding play out in real time and in the market.

Obviously, with a global company as dynamic as Descartes there are a lot of factors in share price besides branding. Still, what I found was super exciting. After a slow, gradual upward climb filled with incremental changes over the course of a few months, the stock price leaped 10% the week after the new site launched! (That's essentially a $54.4 million increase in market cap!) Coincidence? Maybe. But maybe not, too! The stock price has since leveled off, indicating that something has sustainably added 10% to the value of the company. The image below is a screen grab from my Stocks widget in Dashboard. See that dramatic uptick in the beginning of March? That's the week following the site launch! Seems like a pretty solid ROI, no?

Big-time thanks to AdFedCO and Oregon Addys! We had a blast at the awards show this past weekend in Sun River and were grateful and excited to be recognized for our work — and of course, a gigantic thank you to our clients for bringing us in on the action and enabling us to do great work! 

The image above is the (award-winning) website design we did for Jaynemax, maker of incredible, luxurious handbags (photography from the peerless Benjamin Edwards). Also receiving awards were BendBroadband's Local Dog Summer and Dog Years TV spots (special thanks to Brett Borders for lending his copywriting prowess on Dog Years!). As well, we had the honor of recognition for our role in a couple of award-winning radio spots.

Thanks again to everyone that helped make the Addys possible!

Without further adieu, the latest installment of the Local Dog series for BendBroadband! This was another fun one, and although it's still fresh on the airwaves (fiber optics cables?), we're already excited to get going on the next one. With spring on the horizon (maybe not in Bend, but it's springtime somewhere), there's no shortage of warm-weather outdoor adventures from which to choose for next Local Dog spot. The hard part, as any Central Oregonian knows, is choosing just one!

Thanks again to Nate Salciccioli and his production team for the extraordinary filmmaking.

Last weekend, we had the privilege of attending The Justice Conference in Portland, OR, where our esteemed client World Relief was a title sponsor. The conference — which in itself was a total mind bend; so good! — served as a launching pad for World Relief's Stand Together Project, a unique program that pairs donors with a World Relief Hero, a woman equipped and empowered to heal, transform and empower others, who in turn join the cause and pass it on. (Clearly, I've had some practice with the pitch.) It is a powerful program to empower otherwise vulnerable women, reach their villages and, ultimately, change the world.

Below you'll see the video we created to launch the program, and we'll be excited to share more as the program unfolds. We truly believe this kind of advocacy, empowerment, and activism can change the world. And this is just the beginning.

Mega-thanks to Marianne Bach for her film and photo work and especially to Jerod Wanner for the same, in addition to multiple all-night editing sessions. On top of the talent, these are two completely delightful humans. The tear-jerking score in the video is the work of Tony Anderson and the voiceover is the gifted Sharon Irving. Thanks to you all!

Among the many projects we've had the good fortune to work on with BendBroadband over the past couple of years, among our favorites is the Local Dog campaign we rolled out last summer. Local TV watchers may be familiar with the spot we created, which, if we may be so bold, came out quite nicely. Not ones to let momentum wane, we quickly began prep work on the follow-up spot. (Teaser alert!) The new spot is fresh off the editing board and begging to be released, and while we'd love nothing more than to let it stretch its legs on the blog, for now we're left to tease you with production pics from the shoot until BendBroadband debuts it during the Oscars this weekend. Hang in there, reader, and we'll post the video as soon as we can. Promise!

(Images courtesy of the super-talented Tyler Roemer. Big-time thanks to filmmaker extraordinaire Nate Salciccioli and his production team.)

A new brandmark designed for a sustainable farm in Western Oregon. I like the image of having a glass of Pinot Noir with your morning scrambled eggs and bacon.

I really like this symbol. We created it for World Relief who will be launching it at the Justice Conference later this month in Portland. I love working with our client and friend at World Relief—Don Golden. An incredibly cool guy who travels the world to areas of greatest conflict and need. He is indeed a hero in my book. And speaking of books, you might enjoy the one he wrote titled, "Jesus Wants to Save Christians". An excellent and thoughtful read.

I met Ken about 4-5 years ago. I had heard of a church that met in a movie theater and thought, cool, I love to go to the movies. I always have ever since I was a kid. I remember the days when I would go to the matinee on 4th street in San Rafael, CA with my older brother. Last movie I remember seeing there was 'Help' starring the Beatles. Silly movie, but great music. 'You've Got to Hide Your Love Away'—what a great song.

Back to the church that met in the theater. That's where I was first introduced to Ken. He is Pastor of the church that congregated there—and much different than I have ever experienced—not the theater, but Ken. Little did I know how much he would impact my life. Ken is a pastor, but he is also an incredibly brilliant teacher, historian, philosopher, communicator, entrepreneur, committed husband, loving father of 4 girls, and something that surprised me, a passionate supporter of the arts. Ken is kind of the 'Steve Jobs' of the creatives who care about social justice on my sphere of the globe. He can't draw at all, I don't think he can sing, but he has creative vision far superior than not only most artists, but business leaders as well. This has drawn many incredibly talented artist around him. I find myself honored to be among them. I don't even know if he realized how he has opened a whole new world to me. Quite honestly, before I met Ken, I was very hesitant to use my experience in the creative field for non-profit and religious organizations. While I did help from time-to-time, the people and the organizations I did donate my time to didn't really understand or appreciate my passion for excellence. Ken is the first guy I have ever met that makes my own passion, intensity and drive for excellence seem like a smoldering fire. The guy is committed to creative excellence.

That's why Ken makes me think of the Medici—but of course without all the money, corruption, and all the juicy history stuff. The great Cosimo inspired and empowered many great artists of his time including Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Brunelleschi, etc. Although I am Italian, I'm no Michelangelo—yet I have been inspired by Ken. So, 'Thank you Ken'. Who knows what famous artist may rise up and change the world because of your vision and passion?

Here are just 3 designs I have had the privilege to be a part. None of which would be in existence if it weren't for Ken.

I have been reading Steve Job's biography lately, and aside from the fact that he wasn't the easiest person to deal with, I admire that he was incredibly intuitive about the power of design and packaging. In an era when so many look to research to guide their decisions, he chose to follow his own sense of passion for excellence. Not guided by what would sell more, but simply by creating something that was insanely great—and beautifully designed. I grew up in my profession at the same time Apple came on the scene. It simply changed my life by providing the ability to explore creatively. The reason Apple connected with designers was the attention to detail and knowing that EVERYTHING mattered. I was mentored by a designer who believed this and I still believe this do to this day. What amazes me, is this thinking has always been around long before the technology boom. The great designers of the ages have always believed this—God is in the details. While at heart I am an advocate of the Modern International style, I am also a classical designer from the very beginning of my career. That is why I love this label design so much. No tricks, no trends, just clean, classical design. You just think quality. The truth is that it could be water in the bottle and you would still think the olives for this oil was picked by the hands of Italian maidens in the countryside of Tuscany. That is the power of good design. It shapes perceptions, but most of all if reflects the passion of someone wanting to create something of excellence. I think of Juri Sbandati, the chef who's name bears this design, and my son, Michael Chiaravalle, with his incredible ability to take a bottle of olive oil and elevate it to glory through the lens of a camera. They both carry this passion for excellence in the work they do. To all of you who share this passion, fortuna é gloria!

This is by far my favorite outcome of creative work we have done for BendBroadband; a local broadband, internet and telephone provider. Much thanks to Jay Jones for his incredible art direction and copywriting, Molly Renner for her relentless project management, Isaac Testerman and Nate Salciccioli and for their amazing post-production editing, and my older brother Bernie Chiaravalle for his inspiring music score—which he produced in less than 24 hours. This has always been my vision for expressing the BendBroadband brand and am thankful to them for allowing us to create such an emotive TV spot. Click on the link below to view and enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdz4esX9kbA