So I don’t usually write about pop culture, nor about tragedies in the news. But the Michael Jackson brand has just exploded. The PR, the news, the talk shows, the memories, the brand. As I am writing this, there are 404,210 memories from Michael Jackson fans worldwide on the Michael Jackson web site (and growing by the minute!). Web sites are popping up everywhere selling memorabilia. I predict the Michael Jackson brand will only get stronger. And the name ‘Michael’ will now make it back to the #1 boy’s name for 2010 (it was slipping a few years ago after the Michael Jordan days).

Welcome Zak Orner! We are so thrilled that Zak just accepted a full time position with us as our newest interactive web designer… So we already started to dream up some nicknames including Zak-o, Zak with a ‘k’, Zaky, and Zak attack. Zak comes to us from a larger interactive agency in Cincinatti with a ton of high profile interactive web design work under his belt. He’s going to be working on information architecture, interactive flash storyboards, and of course – web design concepts. Zak now officially lives closest to the office, just 3 blocks away.

We’re working on the design of a product logo for a national client of ours, and had to make some strategic branding decisions on how far to take the product logo. We have to ultimately decide how to separate and integrate the product logo with the corporate branding. And we are not alone. MarketingProfs has an article about product logos and corporate branding which is a great, quick read for any web design and marketing agency.

We are having way too much fun with our newest web design and development project – traveling Broadway shows like Wicked, Stomp, Annie, etc. brought to smaller cities across America and in Canada. We are creating this amazing, theatrical user experience on the web utilizing almost everyone on staff from usability experience and message development, to information architecture, creative execution, web development and of course – project management. Stay tuned for our web site launch date for city #1 coming in July.

(Our web design company so excited we can hardly resist showing you the web design comps!)

We’re so honored! Our web design firm won a web design award for the National Association of Realtors Green Designation web site. It’s a green industry site, an association and in real estate – three of our favorite industries to work in. As Holly would say, we heart winning!

When you are talking about informal usability testing, it doesn’t have to be complicated nor time intensive. Think simple, think as Homer Simpson would say “duh?”. When you take a look at the web site navigation and the initial web design concepts, think about the questions you have about what something means or what the section is about – and you can see if others run into the same questions. It’s simple, it’s quick and it’s a good start to get out the easy problems (mostly terminology). Then you can dive deeper into more formal usability testing to really get ahead of your competition.

To the average google researcher, the two key word phrases ‘web design chicago‘ and ‘web design firm chicago‘ may seem like the same thing so you would assume you would get the same results, but it’s not entirely true. Interestingly enough, google considers Sandstorm Design an incredible find for a web design firm (maybe because we’re a full service interactive agency?), but for the average web design search, we’re not. In my next life I would enjoy being a google algorithm strategist.

We just recommitted to writing our employee manual (thanks Janna!). It’s been 10 years since we’ve been in business, and we have started on this project multiple times. But as we’re back in growth mode and on the rise for a few more hires this summer and fall, we’ve decided that we’re going to actually complete it this time. Ok, Janna decided it is really way overdue and we need to get this done.

Our approach? An employee-centric model of course! Our plan is to have Mike get the rough draft done, then let the rest of the staff read, edit and add so that the employee manual is truly ours, not another boring corporate book. Wish us luck!

As a growing marketing firm, it feels like we’re always adding new services, new staff, new processes, new clients and new creative ideas on how we can integrate marketing across all media. Social media marketing is no different. A company really needs to have a strategic plan, a well positioned message, and an appropriate voice and tone before they start chasing their customers and prospects to become their friend, fan or follower. Social media can really help define a company’s personality unlike any type of media we’ve had in the past – so use it wisely my friend, fan and follower…

This weekend is the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Chicago. Volunteers walk along the lakefront 26.2 miles on Saturday, and 13.1 miles on Sunday. Part of our efforts to give back to the community include our sponsorship of local events (like this weekend). In addition, we’re always in the midst of an annual report design for one of our favorite local non profits. :) I am really proud of the difference we have made over the years – humbled and proud.