Tyler Scott

The Logo

Ya, the new Instagram logo is a big jump from the original. There were two goals with this re-design. 

The first was to get on board with the rest of the apps on your phone and create a flat design. Right now flat design is trending - especially for apps. This goal ties into the next one.

The update was also intended to simplify the look. As Dirk Petzold, founder of We And The Color, says 

“Despite the flat design, Instagram’s new app icon still draws inspired from the previous version. Also the new logo represents a camera, but only in a more simple look and feel.”

Ya, I’d say probably too simple and too fast. It’s just a big jump from the last design. 

I wouldn’t go as far to say that this is a bad logo, but it is a very extreme jump from what we’ve known for the last six years in terms of color and use of white space. There’s also proof that people don’t think it’s toooo bad (graph via It’s Nice That).

The Process

My favorite part of the logo - whether you like it or not - was how Ian Spalter, Instagram’s head of design, translated the most important elements from the original to the new logo. To do this, he asked “the whole company to draw the logo from memory in 10 seconds or less.” What a great idea!

What were the most memorable elements? 

The camera lens

The rounded shape of the icon

The little viewfinder

These elements were what stood out in people’s minds and what would need to be translated to create a new - yet identifiable - logo.

Also, Fast Co Design brings some light as to how important it was for Instagram (or any iconic brand) to change their logo.

[I]t was a high-stakes decision for Instagram, given that this one tiny icon represents so much of company's identity—not to mention the fact that it has to serve a functional purpose, as a tappable icon for hundreds of millions of people.

In Ian Spalter’s interview, he also states what I like most about the new logo: it represents the cameras we use today - the ones on smartphones! This, this whole process here, I really like.

What do you think? Too simple? Too colorful? Do you like it at all? Let’s discuss!

I was hired as an intern to begin actual marketing efforts. I thought working on four semester-long group projects in college was a lot of communication, but working on a team of ten in a small business... that’s another thing entirely. And there were a lot of efforts. 

I’m still working on all of these things; communication, prioritization, and learning, learning, learning. All the time.

I was drowning in email

My solution - after about two months - was to only check it twice each day. Emails come in too often to reply to each one right away. I check at 7am before I start any work, and 2pm after everyone has responded to my morning emails.

Everything needed to be done

I used a tip you may have heard of before - “say no.” I made sure to write down all the tasks assigned, but I knew I couldn’t do it all. I didn’t say no to doing anything, just to doing it right away. I had a whole marketing department to develop! Some things had to wait. Not everything was actually a priority.

I had no idea

I was getting a whitepaper and I needed to fill in a company name. I wasn’t working for anyone straight out of college, so I filled in “None.” 

I got distracted with the idea that I had just made up my own company called None, and It could be whatever I wanted. Although graphic design isn’t my skill, I do enjoy defining a brand. And I’d love to work for a branding agency. 

So, anyway, I “founded” a minimalist branding agency called None Branding Co.

I have the best idea for cards, too. The thick business card will have “NONE” written on the front with a hole in the card for the “O.” Unique, right?!

My six-mile night hike to see the giant blood moon on September 27th started off with a one-hour drive along the hills just West of Denver. I felt like I was on vacation; but instead of a Fiat driving along the coast, I was in a Honda driving along the mountains. 

I arrived early, as planned, and decided to go on a short hike before my Meetup group arrived. I left an ID on my car’s dash board and headed out - fully intended on returning to the trail head to meet my fellow hikers. I was too excited to be worried about distance, time, or the effect altitude would have on me. 

As I ascended, I got to take in the beautiful mountains during sunset. There was fresh air, gliding birds, and mule deer, too. Glorious! 

Oh, and also a rattle snake. 

I only heard it. It sounded to be only about 12 inches from the trail’s edge. I had read a sign at the trail head, and I thought “oh, they probably just have to put that sign there.” Well, indeed, they did! Being from Iowa, I had only encountered these creatures in cages at the zoo. But now, I had to remember the lessons of Steve Irwin.

I gave the snake space and – armed with a brittle twig – tip-toed by unharmed. Whew!

About a mile later – ass I should have guessed – I was totally out of breath with a headache. I settled at the halfway point, and I decided to wait for my fellow hikers.

I finally met up with these nice strangers of the “20’s and 30’s: A hike, a beer, and a show” Meetup group. We ascended further up the mountain to view the giant blood moon. It was at the top that I realized I had left my smartphone in the car. No pictures of this amazing cosmic event for another 33 years, or so.

We descended after about an hour. All the while I was socializing and relating to others who had recently moved to the area. A few of us decided to meet each other at the next meetup, which was great because I had no friends.

All in all, the trip was great! Besides getting extremely lost on the dark drive home.

I’ve made an approximate schedule of what I usually listen to on a day to day basis. If you have anything you think I should listen to, let me know!

6:00am-8:00am

NPR via the NPR One app - news first, then other content.

9:00am-12:00pm

Podcasts - a wide variety, too. But usually entertaining content (Nerdist, Hidden Brain, Stuff You Should Know, Dear Hank and John, ect).

1:00pm-5:00pm

EDM because it helps me concentrate on work for some reason. It’s got a good focused beat, and the drop wakes me up when I start to get bored. 

6:00pm-7:00pm

Back to NPR One app for news while I’m making dinner.

8:00pm-9:00pm

This time varies the most - either informational podcasts (Freakonomics and Planet Money) or EDM if I’m working late.

If you have any suggestions for things to listen to, let me know!

Find Your Roast.

All coffee beans get roasted. There are four categories of roasts that vary in qualities. Light roasts are the mildest tasting. They also contain higher levels of caffeine (which is why it’s my favorite). Medium roasts give off stronger flavors than light roasts. Medium-dark roasts usually have a bittersweet aftertaste. Finally, Dark roasts have the boldest flavor. Making your selection might take some trial and error.

No Clue How to Brew?

There is nothing wrong with using your classic household coffee pot. But, to get the fullest flavor from any type of coffee, I choose the French press. Start your French press brewing by boiling some water. While your water is steaming away, grind your beans. Be sure you do not make these too fine. If they are too small, you may find them in the bottom of your cup if they get through the press. Once the water is boiling, pour it into the French press with your ground coffee beans. Let it steep – just like a tea – for a few minutes. Then pour, sip, and enjoy the day!

It’s All about the Experience.

The French press method may be a bit more meticulous than starting a coffee maker or calling out your order at a drive through. But, there is no other way to enjoy the full flavor of your hand picked coffee. Plus, it is a craft that you can take pride in. If the first thing you do in the morning is make a respectable cup of coffee, then hats off to you! Enjoy.

Image credit Unsplash

And it’s been 5 months.

Now you’ve got a problem. 

There are jobs out there. You need to just get one.

But be smart about it - those loan payments are due soon!

There are better ways than just googling a job title and seeing what comes up.

Try using the “Advanced Search” feature. It’ll blow your mind.

Be specific in what you want to search for, and what you don’t. 

Now just wait a little bit...

Watch those good results come in. You'll actually like them!

Read the qualifications first so you don’t waste your time.

Finally, you’ll attain your dream job! #Winning

1. Do the advance search.

Narrow your results with the advance search option instead of taking a shot in the dark with a search for "marketing." (I recommend using Indeed.com’s Advance Search tool.) Don’t be so picky that you don’t get any results. Yet, you should use the options provided to cut down on the job openings that you're not interested in.

2. Update the negatives.

Still finding job positions in your search that don’t match what you’re looking for? Identify the keywords that you find in these job descriptions. Add them to your advance search under the “With none of these words” option. Keep this list updated as you continue your search. This will help you by cutting out those uninteresting job leads.

3. Are you qualified?

Still getting a ton of search results? Save time by checking the qualifications before reading the job description. Find out if you need “5+ years experience in the industry” or “Advanced CSS skills.” Do this sooner rather than later to help speed up the process. In some cases, this can help moral. It limits the time spent enjoying the job description only to be ruled out by the qualifications.

Image credit Unsplash

After the first season, his free trial wore off. He was faced with a decision: to purchase HBO and fulfill his GoT hunger or let it go and enjoy all the other apps that provided hours and hours of entertainment.

Needless to say, he’s seen every season now, and he is anxiously waiting every week until the next episode. He’s a superfan.

Wouldn't it be awesome to have a dedicated group of people who awaited your every action? Like a superfan but as a customer. Of course it would. If you could provide something as engaging, dramatic, entertaining, or even educational — content that they truly enjoy—to an online visitor you'd have loads of superfans.

You could provide visitors quality and original content that your visitors enjoy. If you do your research, target your audience, and provide it in a way that your superfans will take it, then you will have converted visitors into loyal superfans of your business.

The reason my dad kept on watching was because it was simply a good show for him to watch. And it kept providing the entertainment he wanted, when he wanted it. The show’s content was enticing enough that he paid for a whole service each month to watch one single show on HBO.

Consumers crave great content. (Cat videos for example.) If you can provide that great content to your fans when, where, and how they want to see it, you’ll have yourself a superfan base.