Hasbro games.com Logo

File this one in the category of DOA.

Hasbro has owned the URL game.com since the beginning of the Cybernet. The time finally came to put the name to work, and as such, contracted Marlin to develop a mark that would lead the brand launch.

The assignment guidelines dictated a logo that was fun (but not goofy), colorful (but not loud), youthful (but appealing to adults). Kind of like the kitchen sink. After several rounds, the Big Tuna, Matt Rose, and myself put together several ideas to hang on a shingle.

Here’s an incomplete sampling of what we presented:


We ended up with the logo at the top of this post. It has a digital kick without being too video game-goofy. The coloring is bright, but the candy-like quality helps it feel more of a form factor than a two-dimensional pastelly Easter egg-like mark.

The logo was approved and ready to ship off to Hasbro’s contracted web firm. We waited anxiously for the go ahead.

We waited.

And waited.

And waited some more.

And then...

Finally...

They killed the whole project.

Sweet Street Sample Menus

Every year folks in the foodservice industry gather for the National Restaurant Association’s NRA Show.

Marlin client Sweet Street Desserts always has a significant presence at the show with workshops, samples, and a memorable take-away.

For the 2007 show, art director Gale Venosdel (now with Littlefield), senior copywriter Judith Garson, designers Kendall Schlichting and Stella Kang (now in Chicago), and myself were asked to design restaurant category menus to show possible dessert groupings. We tackled Italian, Brassiere, Tropical, Steakhouse, Cafe, American, and Fusion to round out the categories.

I put together the gate-folded pocket portfolio where the menus nest as well as the Italian, American and Fusion menus.

The booklet is crammed with ideas helping restauranteurs get in the dessert buying mood.

Lej Eyewear Booklet

It's been a while since my last post. The month of July was busy with work, freelance and travel. But, now it's time to catch up...

Local ear surgeon and inventor, Scott Estrem, had great success with the Ototek Loop, a tool to clean impacted earwax (yummy). Overcome with the entrepreneur spirit, Dr. Estrem set about attacking the semi-omnipresent scourge of humanity: The sun.

Lej eyewear seeks to solve the problem of top-down sun glare and brow sweat. The Marlin creative team of Chris Rock, Michael Stelzer, Dan Schultz, and myself set about to name the new product, develop a logo, a brand identity, marketing position, tradeshow presence, and associated collateral. Though the glasses are unconventional, they we’re a big hit with Maria Sharipova’s coach at the SGMA show in Las Vegas.