7 Things You Should Know When Pitching Design Projects

If you're an architect or interior designer pitching your own design projects to the media, then here's a must read for you. My guest post for the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) blog, Design Matters, covers 7 things you should know

Take a look at how Michelle Wempe, IIDA, was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle for a project her firm Zumaooh completed in Sonoma’s Wine Country. 

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The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Media Pitch

I received feedback from a freelance architecture writer last week; the kind I never get tired of hearing. It came along with a link to the published review he wrote on my client's book in The Architectural Review. Here's what he wrote:

".....you went about promoting this book in exactly the right way.......I find some publishers, even established ones, often still haven't got a clue.  Approaching freelance reviewers with special interests is the right way to get a review placed, I think - otherwise copies end up in unread piles on the magazine's office floor!"

If there's one pillar rule you should follow when pitching the media, it's personalize your pitches. I spent a lot of time researching writers I thought of pitching this book to. Although I don't operate otherwise, his note is a nice reminder that the time is well spent. 

Good pitches look like you've taken the time to care about the writer's needs and interests. Bad ones make you look clueless, and ugly ones get shared on the internet. 

See how this great pitch by the new Flipboard folks to highly regarded tech writer Robert Scoble earned a well deserved review by him, while this ugly one to The Marketing Spot blog struck out with an off-topic, painful-to-read pitch. 

Will Our Shelter Mag Survivors Reach The Rebound Finish Line?

All eyes are on Elle Decor, Architectural Digest and House Beautiful as they move into the last quarter of the year with new Chiefs at their helms. It's a hopeful time for everyone who follows, reads, works in, with and loves  shelter magazines after chewing  so long on the tough threat of their demise during the "print is dead" era.

A recent article by Folio Magazine cautiously notes a rebound for the category is occurring, but  the most resilient media titles are those that take their brands beyond the printed page with live events, online communities, social media, etc. House Beautiful's Kitchen of Year Event in New York City helped the magazine bring in nearly 50% more ad pages for their annual issue over last year.

Smells like smart marketing to me.

I think Dwell's been the early adopter in this category, being one of the first to deliver their content online, while the rest of the category was slow in accepting that the world was changing.  (Architectural Digest, where have you been?) Let's hope these survivors will reach the rebound finish line better and stronger than when they started.  

Who do you think's done the best job at staying alive through the downturn?

Forward Thinking: New Tech Ideas for the Marketing Mind

The term "Tweetup" officially became a word this week when it was accepted into the Oxford Dictionary of English. It's not news. The way people are consuming their news has changed and is still evolving.  New technology tools are popping up to aggregate and deliver our content in better ways, and thought leaders are asking big questions like "How will the act of reading change as we move from print to pixels."   What will it look like, 5, 10, 20 years from now? Here's a few new tech ideas bouncing around the web for the marketing mind to think about: 

* Extra, Extra! The Twitter newspaper by paper.li is a new tool that organizes links shared on Twitter into an easy-t- read newspaper format; An interesting tool that can be used for marketing. See how @IntDesignChat made use of it this week to promote its weekly Twitter Chats. (pictured left) 

* What impact will the iPad have on your blog? Consider that, and plug into iPad peek to take a look. 

* There's an app. for that, and that, and that.... An article in Wired implies the web is dead as applications, aggregaters like Facebook and other things are taking over search-based browsers. It's gotten the techies sparring in some heated discussions. What will ultimately win in the war for our screen sucking attention? 

The Future of Kitchen Design Looks Surreally Green

The future of design looks green. That's the message being expressed in this spectacular kitchen sculpture by IKEA taking center stage at The Surreal House exhibition at the Barbican, London.  The sculpture depicts a surreal vision of the future, when environmental concerns will be at the core of kitchen design, The power of art is amazing, isn't it? 

Via DesignMilk. Thanks Jaime! 

Localize, Humanize & Socialize Your Way to Regional Media - A Special Post for DesignMatters

I'm excited to share my guest post for the International Interior Design Association's (IIDA) blog DesignMatters on getting regional media coverage. It's always nice to be invited as someone's guest,  and I'm honored to contribute to this respected organization's mission in helping and educating their members.   Be sure to stay tuned, as I'll be writing a special PR post for DesignMatters every month. 

Localize, Humanize & Socialize Your Way to Regional Media

It may be a big coup to be published in House Beautiful, but are you reaching the buyers in your backyard? Read more.

The Rich Are Ready to Spend on Their Homes

The wealthy are optimistic and ready to spend. That's the projection Bob Shullman, President of Ipsos Mendelsohn, shares in recent news interviews from the firm's latest affluent survey. According to their findings, more than 40% of the top affluent Americans plan to spend on their homes this year.

Will the upper crust lead us in a recovery? According to Mendelsohn, when they buy, they spend 3.8 times more than the mass market.

Wit Watch: Krug Takes People "Up, Up & Away" to Brand Experience

Brand experience is not a new idea, but seems to be a revisited topic these days as businesses are trying really hard to get people to spend money. Why? Because it's priceless. If you can give someone an experience through your product or service, then you've made what I call a lasting brand impression.  

Krug's Champagne Balloon Tour is full of everything but hot air. For about $77,790, you can ride their luxuriously designed hot air balloon with a wicker basket, canopy, burners by Camerons of Bristol, and white leather lining by French upholsters Bruno Domeau & Philippe Peres. Nice! The price is steep but  well worth it to the luxury consumer looking for the exclusive experience. 

You don't have have to have an uber-luxury budget to  provide an experience to your customers. Take your marketing mind outside conventional thought and find some inspiration in your own brand to develop a program that touches more than their bank account. 

Who's Leading the Print Pack? 20 Biggest Magazines So Far

Which magazine titles are touting the highest circulation numbers these days? Looks like food, gossip and women's lifestyle titles like Family Circle and Woman's Day are some claiming the most dollars from print readers.  Not surprised to find Better Homes & Gardens on the list with a healthy circulation of 7,644,011. See Huffington Post's report of the 20 Biggest Magazines of 2010 to see who's leading the print pack.

Designers & Architects Put Their Ears to the Computer Screen on Twitter

In a busy little world called Twitterville, there's a growing community of architects, designers, manufacturers and industry professional chatting with consumers and peers about everything from Fall trends to client relationships in 140 characters or less.

If you're regular on Twitter, then you may already know what Twitter Chats are. If not, the quick definition is: a conversation between Tweeters on a given topic held on Twitter at a scheduled time, which is identified by a hashtag (#nameofchat) that makes it easy to follow.

There are a lot of different Twitter Chats happening on Twitter on all sorts of topics, but over the course of the past year a few new chats  have emerged in the design and architecture industry and they're gaining a healthy following of active participants.

The American Institute of Architects (@aianational) hosts an #AIAChat the first Wednesday of every month for architects to discuss common issues and challenges. Their last chat caught 73 participants discussing the topic of client relationships. Two other design chats #IntDesignerChat and #IDzineChat were launched earlier this year and have claimed over 150 participants.  The first is geared for discussion among interior designers, while the latter is a live question and answer chat  between consumers and interior designers.

While studies are being released to show what Twitter fails to do for brands, they miss the whole point of what it does do very well; Connect people and provide  real-time market intelligence to businesses.  These Twitter Chats are helping design brands stay inspired and strategic through challenging and changing times by simply listening to what consumers and other businesses care about. Maybe you should check it out. 

Do you participate in any Twitter Chats? What have they done for you? 

Wit Watch: Dior's Chic Construction Cover-Up

Talk about brand presence!  Instead of boarding up their 57th Broadway store with the same old boarded eye-sore that permeates the streets of New York, Dior opted for a giant Lady Dior Bag as its cover up during their reconstruction. Your brand  may not be as big as Dior's but your vision can be.  Think about how you can take an ordinary part of your business and turn it into an extraordinary marketing move.

Photo: Retail Design Diva 

Trend Talk: Right-Sizing Homes & the PR Pitch

The idea of right-sizing a home isn't new to Gale Steves. In fact, the need to better design and build homes to "fit" a home owner's lifestyle was somewhat obvious to the former Editor in Chief of  Home Magazine and industry consultant when she saw the prevalence of over-sized homes and unused rooms back in the 80's. 

Her new book, Right Sizing Your Home: How to Make Your Home Fit Your Lifestyle gives voice to this trend and is gaining real traction with the media. Why? Priorities have changed for homeowners and buyers in the wake of this recession. Practicality, frugality and authenticity rule over big, beautiful and expensive and are influencing  buying decisions. Earlier this year, the New Economy Home captured the attention of the industry at the International Builder's Show for the same reason, giving the home building and real estate market a new major selling point -  affordable adaptability.  

"It's not about square footage anymore, but about how inventive a home is," says Gale. Her right-sized predictions for home design?  Master bathrooms will shrink, bedrooms will  downsize in favor of closets becoming dressing rooms, dining rooms will disappear and "eating rooms" in or off of  kitchens  will re-emerge. 

How can you take transform this national trend into a PR opportunity?  

• Consumers and the media want solutions. Start pulling out stories about ways you saved clients or customers money and made their homes more efficient through your design services or products. 
• Pitch a story to your local paper on how to transform an unused or outdated area into a functional spaces.  
• Start walking the talk. It's important to sync your business with the changing marketplace. Speak at partner retailers or showrooms, or host events in your  store that address these topics. They're timely and give you more material for the media. 

While I haven't read Gale's book, I was impressed by the excerpts she provided me. She's outlined a realistic how-to approach with checklists and instructions anybody can follow, and included a lovely  "The Art of 'Re' " introduction that outlines 15 "re-" words to start creatively rightsizing. 

              

Now You Can Join the Legendary Glass House Conversations

Now you can be one of the Glass House great minds. The legendary invitation-only Philip Johnson Glass House Conversations that brought together thought leaders in architecture, design and art  in the infamous New Canaan glass house is now open to the public, online of course.  Glass House Conversations is a website that continues the tradition, investigating what makes a great conversation in a regular, curated discussion sparked by provocative questions.

Each Monday, a host posts a question. People have only five days to respond, with conversations ending on Friday evenings. After comments have closed a “Final Word” is chosen from the replies. 

Now up: If you had to choose between a pencil, a knife or a hammer as the only tool you could ever own, which would you choose and why? There's two days left to give your answer on this one. Will you be the final word?   

This is a brilliant use of current technology and social trends  to communicate and assert  the Glass House as an influential force in design. How thought leading of them!  Applause.

What You Can Learn From Clinique's Poor PR Performance

Eeks. I always feel bad for anyone who gets any kind of bad PR practice "outing" in the media, like Clinique got from PRNewsers after putting a freelance trade reporter through hoops through their website.  The writer shares her full experience on her blog post "Tales from the Trade Press: Clinique's Press Office Hell."

Whether this was a case of neglect and badly outdated web interface with the media or an unnecessarily heavy-handed media relations response, the burning question is the same.  Why make it so hard?  We're not talking nuclear warhead decisions here! And, eh-ehm...its 2010. Technology has changed everything. 

Here's three tried and true principles this kind of bad PR performance can teach you: 

• Never make it hard to be reached for media queries. There's no excuse not to be. Your website and blog should have a visible contact number or e-mail, and new affordable online newsrooms make it so easy to share  press releases, images and important facts about your business that make it easy for reporters to run with. 
• Be responsive. Yes, it's tough keeping up, but in my book, responsiveness wins in the PR game and sticks with your reputation. 
• Don't treat a freelance reporter or blogger, assistant editor or newbie  like he or she is second citizen. They're contribution to the news funnel is important and they may also land at some news outlet you'll be dying to be in.  Everyone deserves respect. Don't be a snob. 

Shame on Clinique. There's no reason a big lifestyle brand like this should have a problem answering a media query more quickly to personally discuss  the nature of the story and determine how best to give the writer her story. 

Bring Your Magazine Cover to Life with Your Smartphone

Augmented reality. That's what Time Out New York Kids Magazine is creating for their readers in their August issue as the first magazine using a technology that brings the cover to life with a multi-media component. Just shoot your smart phone at the cover to get a video. In this case, it's a video of  PS 22, the award-winning fifth-grade chorus from Staten Island. In today's game of trying to keep print titles in business, this technique is an inventive draw for readers and advertisers. Imagine what your favorite design or fashion magazine could do. 


What do you think? Would this influence your decision to purchase a magazine or newspaper? 

Buzz Kill: What Business Words Do You Love to Hate (and use)?

This post about the worst business buzz words used in 2010 is a great exclamation point to my recent post on writing press releases in which I advised to be vigilant against using cliches and "fluff" words that don't really mean anything.  Not surprisingly,  I regularly see and think about using the words that topped the list in meetings, releases, pitches, marketing copy and proposals.  I admit it. I love cliches. They're fun and so unbelievably on mark.  And in some cases, some of the overused buzzwords on this list, like synergy, are perfectly called for.  Some  personal yawners I work hard to not to overuse or use at all: innovative, synergy,  "hot" as in "season's hottest," strategic, "out of the box," and love as in "would love to."

Imagine if you're a reporter working with and reading words for a living? Do you want to be the rote pitch that crosses their desks? Break away from the expected. What buzz words are you tired of reading or try not to use?

Photo: The Risesmart Blog 

Press Release Pointers: Stop Romancing & Start Writing

I love writing press releases. The challenge of  synthesizing all the disparate facts and creating something that not only shares the news succinctly, but inspires and supports good stories and  brand positioning for my clients is exciting and rewarding.  Its not easy though. Crafting a press release should not be taken lightly, yet many businesses still churn out weak releases that fail to communicate key messages or are bogged down in fluff, buzz words and overstated phrases. Are you? Here's a few pointers to keep in mind the next time you write a press release:

Get to the Point Already
What are you talking about? If your title and first paragraph aren't telling me exactly what the rest of the release is going to be about, rewrite it. Think the good old  reporting pyramid. Write the most important facts up front first, and whittle from there.  And keep it relevant throughout. If you've got secondary, related news or a large amount of descriptive copy, consider a fact sheet or separate release.

What's Your Angle?

Without an angle, your press release will work like a misfired bullet likely to miss its target. An angle is what makes your news release matter to the media. You can develop different angles to suit each of the media you target, and you should.   Mine your story for the most relevant, compelling and interesting elements to lead with, always keeping in mind who you're pitching. A release for your regional magazine should highlight the local players, while one going to a niche magazine should speak to their editorial focus. My tip: Soak up a few articles from the media outlet you're pitching to get a feel for their tone and aim. Then go back to your release and rewrite it to suit their style and direction. 

Quote from the Heart, Edit with the Brain
Ditch the dry corporate speak like "we're excited to.." and challenge the tendency to just utter something that can just be stated in a factual sentence. Quotes are a great way to give life and movement to your press release. Think with your heart first. Then edit with your business brain. This is your place to say something with personality. Look to your your mission and positioning goals for guidance, and weave in something meaningful.

Stop the Gobbledygook
STOP using over used words like "innovative," cliches and  romantic language to describe your product or service.  These crimes are especially evident in the world of design, where style and aesthetic can be hard to communicate. Pretty adjectives should be monitored and tempered with real facts that give the readers a real picture. Keep the thesaurus and dictionary close to you.  Choose the perfect words to articulate your message, not the easy ones. You'll be more interesting and better understood.

Mind Your Business Messages

Yes, journalists really do use your press release when they write their stories. They rely on them for accuracy and ideas. So make it count. Aside from a calendar listing, a press release about news like your anniversary,  product announcement, or new business launch should be written with your brand position in mind. What are your key messages? What do you want to be known for? Can these be weaved into the angle, the title of your release, or used to create a great quote? It  may not be possible or relevant in every case, but the consistent, mindful communication of what your business stands for will stick in the minds of the media, and your audiences for the short and long haul. 

Was this helpful? Are there other challenges you've come across when writing press releases?

Good Old Fashioned Creativity from the ICFF Press Room

During her coverage of the ICFF, DesignMilk picked up some pretty clever press materials and shares some favorites in their post-round up report, including a really great business card by designer Ufuk Keskin which looks like his Sheetseat - a folding chair made from one piece of plywood. (below) One thing that's so much fun about doing PR for design and architecture businesses is that the creative element is always at play. I've had such fun exercising my creative bone plenty to design clever press and marketing pieces for clients. But over the past five years, those printed pieces have been replaced by digital disk and memory sticks more and more. Albeit economical and "cool" in its own right, it can't compare to the fantastic and memorable press kits (and branding)  created by good old fashioned printing and paper.

Photos: (top -bottom) Design Milk, Ufuk Keskin

Stop Pushing! PR is Organic, Not Forced

In June, my client Allan Shulman will be hosting a book signing at the historic Barcardi Building during the AIA National Convention for his new book Miami Modern Metropolis, and Architectural Record has enthusiastically signed on as a supporting partner. I’m particularly excited about this event. Not just because it will be held on the amazing Plaza or that it’s in Miami, but because it’s a result of one introductory meeting I arranged with the magazine’s editor months ago.

You see, Shulman was much more than just his book. He was extremely knowledgeable about Miami architecture and urban development themes and he had this fantastic way of getting you excited about it. I knew that his expertise would be greatly appreciated and resourceful to the editors and pitched a meeting in New York. Just as I suspected, Shulman blew them away, sharing intimate knowledge and leads that went well beyond his own architectural projects and helped them produce the content for their June issue. Not only will the magazine publish a book review, but Allan will be a featured interview on the magazine’s web site about Miami architecture, and he’s been asked to write a bylined article for the issue too.

PR is not forced, it’s organic. It flourishes when you’re strategically giving, rather than selfishly expecting. And it’s so exciting to watch. Without literally sitting in on editorial and business meetings, I couldn’t have developed and pitched all those ideas to the magazine. Nor was it my job to. It’s the editor’s job to consider the sources and use them to support their editorial and business goals. It’s my job to understand the media’s needs and be resourceful. With thoughtful strategy and good timing, Shulman now has a working relationship with one of the most esteemed architectural magazines on the market.

Instead of just asking “what can I get,” think about what you know and how you can help the media produce great stories. Then step back, let them do their job and watch the opportunities sprout naturally. Only then will you truly experience the organic nature of a good media relations campaign.

Design Businesses! Why & How to Attend Meet the Media Twitter Chat, Friday April 2

Join us this Friday for the only #MeetMdiaChat on Twitter
 April 2nd at 1 - 1:30PM EST

with Carmen Natschke of the top ranked design and architecture blog The Decorating Diva

What Is It?
 #MeetMdiaChat Twitter Chat is a monthly PR chat that aims to connect design & architecture businesses and PR professionals with the design media for improved media relations. Each month, a media guest will join us to answer your questions about content and useful information like what they're looking for, how they like to be pitched, and more. 

Why Attend?
To learn more about the design media's content, story interests and best pitching practices.

How Do I Participate?
It's easy. Twitter Chats are a fun and dynamic way to learn and connect! 

. Once you have a twitter account, go to TweetChat
. Log on
. Input “#MeetMdiaChat” in the Room to Enter field
. Start tweeting

Please note: you can still participate even if you don’t use TweetChat; just use the hash tag #MeetMdiaChat when you enter a tweet so the group can follow your conversation. Another great tool to stay on top of the conversation is TweetGrid. Check it out.

How it Works 

. Introduce yourself when you sign in
. I will introduce our guest and pose 2 - 3 questions to start 
. Please send any questions you have to @lauranewm (do not use the hash tag #MeetMdiaChat). I will then ask the question of the guest labeled Q1, Q2, and so forth.
. Please stay on topic and be sure to mark any responses to questions with their respective question label at the start of your tweet: EX: Q2: When did you decide to do that? #MeetMdiaChat
. Learn, have fun and go get 'em!

Still not clear or need help getting set up on Twitter? Feel free to contact me at laura@lauranewmanpr.com or ask your question here on comments.

Ask.Listen.Learn: Decorating Diva On Meet Media Chat April 2

Save the Date! Tell your industry friends! Tweet it, Facebook it and shout it out from a rooftop! On Friday, April 2nd I'll be hosting  Meet the Media Chat (#MeetMdiaChat) on Twitter - the first of a series of live Twitter chats focused on connecting design businesses with the media on a more intimate level.  Carmen Natschke of the design and architecture blog The Decorating Diva will be the inaugural guest and she's ready to answer your questions!

One of the most important things in PR is knowing the media and understanding their needs and interests.  #MeetMdiaChat will allow you to learn more about their content and ask specific questions you have about getting a story placed with them and other curiosities you may have. So don't be that next ignored e-mail, unanswered phone message or embarrassing case study on the Bad Pitch Blog. Attend, ask, listen, learn.

Join  #MeetMdiaChat 

with 

Carmen Natschke 

@DecoratingDiva 

Friday, April 2nd,  1:00 - 1:30PM EST

Stay tuned on Twitter following #MeetMdiaChat and on my blog for more details and news on upcoming chats.  #MeetMdiaChat will run once a month with different media guests. (Got two lined up already!)  If you're a journalist, blogger, editor, or freelance writer who wants to participate, or have a suggestion on who you'd like to meet on #MeetMdiaChat, leave a comment or email me at laura@lauranewmanpr.com.
Tweet to you soon!

About Decorating Diva

The Decorating Diva, LLC covers interior design, the decorative arts and architecture throughout the year.  In addition, each month The Decorating Diva, LLC dedicates a series of articles to a specific topic related to design, decorative arts or architecture.

The Decorating Diva.com is listed in the top one percent of all websites tracked by ALEXA and Technorati; has a monthly audience reach of 40,000 (Nov 2009) and is regularly quoted in industry publications as the source for design trends and eco-savvy design.  

3 Tasty Marketing Lessons from DIFFA Dining by Design 2010

2010 DIFFA DBD Table by Marc Blackwell

Behind every winning marketing or media campaign is a set of principles that guide their creation. For me, the DIFFA Dining by Design Event is a fun feast of eye-candy,  where I get to see the marketing exercise come to life in inspiring dining installations by architects, designers and home furnishing brands.  While some went for the fantastic with live models, giant dinosaur egg place settings and sandy floors, overall the event exemplified (as it always has)  the very real and working world of branding. While my eyes feasted on the visual, my mind chewed on the marketing ideas that gave birth to their creation.  Here are a three of my favorite tables from this year's event, and a taste of the marketing lessons they served up:

GIVE 'EM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT  

The New York Design Center table designed by Michael Tavano was themed "Connected" and connect it did. Aside from showcasing a range of products from showrooms at the center in a beautiful green and blue color story, the interactive installation invited viewers to take pictures for Facebook uploads and tweet to the New York Design Center Twitter page. People loved it. Passer bys were magnetized to the table, attracted to the tweet waterfall displayed on the big screen monitor that hovered over the table. At the same time, I saw people  inquire about the fabrics and furniture in the setting while they were there. I'm sure you've heard. The "new" marketing is about starting a conversation, not pushing a message. The  NYDC gives us a good  look at the effect  social media has on people and how it can work for a brand. Engage with your audience, make them feel a part of your brand, and give them a reason to stick around and learn about your product or service.

CREATE ONE SINGULAR MESSAGE

 Benjamin Moore's table by David Stark was one of my favorites for the pure and simple fact that the design screamed one loud and clear message. "Check out the Benjamin Moore ben Color Capture iPhone application." Stark chose the techy theme over colorful, making the application front and center and showing us that Benjamin Moore is a leader.  Two tall, black candle operas were "lit" by  iPhones displaying a flickering flame and the entire backdrop included four giant iPhone screens playing the Color Capture application. Some people asked, "Where's the color?" expecting such a given for a paint brand.  (It was all in the app) And that's the point. When you're planning your next marketing or PR campaign, stay focused on the message you want to convey.  Make it strong, impactful and don't let too many colorful ideas distract from the message.

DESIGN SOMETHING TIMELY

While we all love the fantastic, its the tables that are realistic (and comfortable) that merit some attention. The challenge in any campaign is to distill something useful and relevant from our own brand story to create something people care about. This eco-friendly "Cradle to Cradle" table designed by students at the New York School of Interior Design  exemplifies the art of designing a timely message. The booth's walls were decorated with a myriad of different sized and colored recycled wood slatz, while Origami sculptures lined the center of the table. Place settings were matched by eco-friendly director chairs baring green messages like "recycle" and "earth" on their backs. Imaginative without being off-base, the table has real life applications and inspires some real life marketing thought. Set your own brand aside for a while and put the bigger questions on the table.  What do people, your customers, care about? What are their pain points and what am I (or can I be) doing to address them? Once you start answering these questions, you can begin creating something stimulating that will actually help a customer, a reporter and contribute to the conversation larger society is having.

Wit Watch! DIY Textile Design Sites Give Power to the People

Customization has come a long way thanks to the net. From tee-shirts to furniture, consumers have the ability like never before to put their very own stamp on what they buy, and textiles are no exception. Over the past few years a number of websites have emerged allowing designers, artists, and crafters to make affordable, small-run printings of their work or any design enthusiast to buy something truly unique. Dubbed in this Miami Herald article by one very happy crafter "The Etsy of Textiles," sites like Spoonflower and KarmaKraft  are empowering otherwise unrealized artists to actually print and sell their work. The business of design has changed - and with it- the way we shop.  What are you doing as a design business to keep up? 

Pictured: Peacock Scatter by cottageindustrialist on Etsy

Live "Wit Watch!" at DIFFA Dining by Design & Architectural Digest Show, This Thursday!

NYDC 2009 DIFFA Table 

The Architectural Digest Home Show is set to open this week and in conjunction with it, DIFFA's spectacular  Dining By Design event, where industry luminaries and brands create awesome dining table designs and experiences. I love this event. It's one big stew of creativity, full of inspiring ideas in design, branding, entertaining, and marketing. So I'm thrilled to be kicking off my Wit Watch! of the AD Show live from the New York Design Center DIFFA table on Thursday, March 18th @ 12:30PM. 

The NYDC has been a co-sponsor of the New York Dining by Design event for ten years. With the help of Michael Tavano, they've created a table themed "Connected" and invited me and other bloggers to help make it  interactive. Of course, I said yes. Loudly! If you're famliar with my blog, you'll know that Wit Watch! is a regular series of posts that share unique and inspiring ideas, from a cool promotion or new business idea to the extraordinary work of an artisan or architect. I'll be scouting for and sharing some of my favorite creations, ideas and news from the show and hopefully inspire, inform and enlighten you. 

So stay tuned, and if you're attending the show, be sure to stop by, say hello and let me know what you're doing or seeing that's worth a mention on Wit Watch!

What Marketing Buzz Looks Like: House Beautiful's Get Blue Promotion

What would you do if you found a beautiful blue Eames chair sitting on a dirty street block on your daily routine walk to work? Last week, House Beautiful wrapped up it's "Blue Chair" campaign to promote their current blue issue, leaving 40 blue chairs around the city for anyone to claim their own if they found it.  Penelope Green's article in today's New York Times tells the story about how the promotion went down on the street level, offering a really nice look into the element of surprise and excitement a great promotion can create. Not to mention the added value content they're providing to their social media fans, who received the locations via Twitter and Facebook! If you're blue because you missed this one, check out House Beautiful's other blue promotions running the rest of this month. I hear they're giving away Jet Blue tickets next! 

Designers Announced for 2010 Kips Bay Designer Show House

Drum roll please. Kips Bay has announced its roster of designers and room designations for the 2010 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York, and with it, a new location on the West Side.   According to Marisa Marcantonio of Style Beat, the early announcement and West Side locale are pumping some added excitement into this already well regarded show house event, slated to open April 30th.

Thumbs Down to NYT Architecture Critic Nicolai Ouroussoff

In the worlds of architecture, fashion, food and theatre, a critic has the power to a make or break your name or business. In some cases, their status is untouchable, and this is no more truer than with New York Times' architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff. But what if someone actually said that Nicolai was not good enough? Alexandra Lange at Design Observer did in a well pointed essay sparking a healthy conversation that's seemingly overdue. 

Past & Present, Right Before Your Eyes

Leader Theater, 9th Street, Washington, DC

How fun is this. Jason Powell's flickr set "Looking Into The Past" merges past and present photos of neighborhoods and buildings for a very unique perspective. Thanks to Swissmiss for this find. 

People Buying More Furniture & Fashion Online

Maybe you need another reason to convince yourself that online PR, marketing and sales really is worth your time and money. The truth is in the U.S. Census numbers. In this interesting new infographic by Permuto, furniture and fashion categories show that a healthy 65% of purchases happen online. Even if you're not set up for e-commerce, coming up in a search could be your next best shot at a sale.

Lifestyle Mags Go iPad: GQ, Glamour,Vanity Fair

In the continuing story of the iPad and the future of our favorite magazines, Conde Nast is adding lifestyle titles Glamour, Vanity Fair and GQ to the iPad roster this year. This summer will surely be exciting time; a period that could see the publishing industry finally settle into a more successful and secure a business model. Are you planning to get an iPad?  Which magazines would you like to see become available?  

The Overlooked Power of a PR Placement

Many times, clients expect to get a direct sale or tons of phone calls as a result of media placements. It's true that certain placements with certain media outlets can drive traffic and sales. I've had home design clients featured in the New York Times Currents, In Style, Apartment Therapy, and Architectural Digest  enjoy this kind of  result. But in many cases, the phone won't ring off the hook, your site traffic won't spike and droves of people won't be banging down the doors to your store. (Of course, this also depends on how galvanizing your product or service is, but that's another post) 

A seasoned client who understood this once said to me, "PR creates opportunities," and that is unequivocally true. It's a series of "clicks" that open up minds and doors, and a powerful tool that can further your business - if you use it. Jane Pollak, an entrepreneurial coach and regular presenter for the ASID, shares  her own experience with PR and some very wise words on just what you should expect and do with your publicity.

Photo: www.dazzlergardens.com

J.Pocker Tortoiseshell Frames on New York Spaces

One of my recent projects has been to gain some product coverage for the venerable art and framing business in New York, J.Pocker. It's been a fun ride  learning about this company's very rich heritage of celebrated designer and high society clientele, from Diana Vreeland, Billy Baldwin, and the Roosevelts to today's Charlotte Moss, Victoria Hagan and Mario Buatta.  Here's a beautiful new  feature on their new Tortoiseshell Frames on New York Spaces' newly re-designed website and blog The Edge. I'm never tired of seeing a beautiful product placement come to life.

Wit Watch: New Digital Shelter Magazine for "Nesting Newbies"

"For a Home Tweet Home" is the cover tag line for the new digital shelter magazine Nesting Newbies.  The vision is certainly young and current, aiming to combine "......a traditional magazine format with the new social media trend of original online videos and blogs to present a cross-platform experience for 'nesting newbies,' the site’s target audience of those who are new to nesting and have no clue when it comes to cooking, entertaining, and decorating. Cooking and decorating enthusiasts will also enjoy the original ideas being presented."  


Looking through the Winter issue, (their second) it feels a bit like a hipper, younger  Better Homes & Gardens with  accessible entertaining, cooking and home design stories. I especially liked the interpretation feature on the spectacularly designed San Francisco Dining By Design tables for DIFFA. One of my favorite design events! Produced by McIntosh & Murphy  and edited by its co-founder Jodi Murphy, the model seems  poised to take full advantage of the reader technology headed our way.  What do you think of Nesting Newbies? Does it feel like another sign of the "old guard" (print home magazines) being phased out? 

Photo: Nesting Newbies

Wit Watch: Redesign the UPC Code on Your Packaging

Branding is so much fun, especially when you have the ability to customize something as boring as a UPC code to transform it into another small brand asset that makes people take notice. Design and architecture is a business of creativity, where the difference is in the details. How about a roller for a wall covering brand or a chair silhouette for a furniture line?  What a fun brainstorming session that would be.

Rockin' Mosaics

Mosaics are one of the most fascinating works of art I've come to learn about as a publicist in design and architecture. And I have to say, I'm always blown away when I see something as beautiful and unique as this. Crafted from stones, the finish of these amazing outdoor mosaics created by Jeffery Bale actually look like a woven rug from a distance.

Wit Watch: Estee Lauder Makeover Event Gets a Fresh Face with Social Media Color

Photo courtesy of Estée Lauder

Getting a makeover at the cosmetic counter is always a fun way to try new product, but you only get that pretty face for a day with usually nobody but your cat and husband to see it. Estee Lauder's new  "Your Beauty.Your Style.Your Profile"  event is putting a fresh face on this age-old marketing strategy with some social media color. Visit a counter for a free makeover and foundation samples and they'll also give you a hard copy  and digital photo that you can use for your social networking, dating and professional pages.  Just a little touch here and there, and voila. You've got a fresh, new idea. Love it.

How Not to Pitch Someone via Twitter

If you ever wanted to know how NOT to pitch a journo, blogger or anyone for that matter your news via Twitter, read today's post on The Bad Pitch Blog where he shares a bad one and why it stinks.

Image from Bad Pitch Blog

Quickie Case Study: Placing a Design Feature in Your Local Paper

This Boston Globe home design story, Strategic Splurge, featuring the work and ideas of Linda Merrill  is  a good example of the kinds of design stories newspapers are interested in, and how you should pitch them.   Effective PR is not just knowing who to pitch, but what to pitch when. Luxury spending is dead and budget is all the rage. If you're looking for a media story, review your product and projects for examples. Pull out the value and savings ideas, use seasonal and housing trends and pitch your product or service behind it. And most importantly, follow and get to know your local design reporters.  The knowledge gained by that is more valuable than any blog post you'll read.