What did you see in your last meeting?

What do your meetings look like? No, really look like. A friend pointed out this site to me and I am finding it quite fascinating. I have often thought that all meetings should require a "court reporter" someone who sits back and just observes what is happening, sketching they dynamics, and the heart of what happened. Office politics can cloud ideas, and perceptions and in the end can deter from making progress. But what if you had a third party, someone on the outside, just visualizing the facts, the ideas, the creativity. Well, here is someone doing just that....and more. Check out http://www.loosetooth.com/

It's called "Graphic Facilitation" and I love it! And I think there are a lot of naturals out there, you know who they are....doodling during meetings, having to draw out or sketch ideas to fully understand them, I know I am guilty of that myself. Take a look at Brandy's work, I find it fascinating. And how she presents it on her site, is brilliant. She does what she says she does. She could have written out a long and boring description of the process, but what a better way than to show it visually. Brilliant!

The above photo is her rendition of the movie "The Wizard of Oz" which can be found here: http://www.loosetooth.com/Viscom/gf/wizrd_of_oz.htm

A model of transparency

One of the things that I found to be curious was the "Citizens Briefing Book" which is a book being put together for Barack Obama from e-mails and communication from the American public. As submissions came it, users were allowed to rate each comment and then the highest rated comments will be delivered to the president.

I think this is a really interesting way to get unfiltered feedback to a leader, and may be able to be applied elsewhere. Honest feedback as individuals move closer to the top of an organization or country, becomes more and more difficult to obtain. People began telling them what they want them to hear, maybe rather than what needs to be said. Is there an opportunity in your organization for and open dialogue with your customers? The web offers a wonderful opportunity, but it is important to be sure that your users are "web" enabled or savvy.

Check out the site at: http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/home

Logo state of mind

Here is a collection of all the 50 state logos, at least tourism logos. I have long been fascinated in logos, and how important the look and feel of a logo, mark, or type treatment is in relation to the company, group or in this case state that it represents. More and more, I think people are getting the importance of branding, and not only branding but how that brand must follow through more than just all media outlets, but that it needs to also be an authentic representation of the corporate culture as well.

Authenticity, I believe, is the new branding staple. Tired of deception, dishonesty and corruption; the public is more and more yearning for integrity, honesty and authenticity. Say what you do, but be sure to do what you say. Embrace who you are, and be it to the core. If you are advertising to the public that you are a company who "Cares," then your employees must also feel well cared for. If your company educates, you need yourself to be on top of education. See your employees as your first customer, or in this case your residents.

From a design standpoint, we have a good mix of scripts, serif, san serif, and abbreviations. Various color combinations, and blue and earthtones seem to be popular. But is there one in particular that stands out? I don't know, there are a couple that I am more fond of Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi. But are they an authentic represenation of your state? I guess that is for individual residents to decide.

Which are your favorites? Are they being authentic to the residents or unique aspects of that state?

Check out more of Joe Ribaudo's notes on design, interwebs, and snarks here.

Due to the popularity of this particular blog post, I have collected screen shots for each of the 50 states Tourism Websites and have posted them here: http://www.ineedchocolate.com/states-sites/