At Gravity we’re  slooooowly starting the process of doing a major update to our own website. We love our current site and we get so many compliments on it that sometimes it’s hard to think of changing it, but the reality is times are a’changing and sites based in Flash (like ours) are becoming something of the past.

Just as we’re contemplating the use of Flash in our own site, the tech world as a whole is also in a huge debate over the role of Flash. Apple has made a strong stand against using Flash on the iPhone and iPad, and Adobe is trying its best to fight back.

Here are a few articles I’ve been reading that will help you get up-to-date on the current debate:

Thoughts on Flash by Steve Jobs

We Heart Choice (Apple’s response to Steve Jobs)

Adobe, You Brought An Advertisement To A Gun Fight

Flash, iPad, Standards

Why It’s Not A War, And Why Flash Won’t Die

-Brijean Brennan

As we face a new quarter and a recovering economy, we at Gravity Design decided it was the opportune time to rebrand. We wanted to reflect our colorful style, bold approach, and modern thinking. Our new look embraces our creativity, fresh approach, and energy. And as all creative people know, Comic Sans is always the right answer.

For some reason, there are a lot of rebrands floating around the web today so we’ve collected a few for your consideration. Enjoy!

» Read the rest of this entry «

A recent Harvard Business Review article by Alexandra Samuel titled “The Science of Swag” started me thinking about promotional items and what our clients should really consider before producing tradeshow giveaways.

Equating swag to science is understandable, but the whole idea of how to influence people with varied incarnations of promotional merchandise when troops of other exhibitors are doing the same all around you, has become more than science. This is war. » Read the rest of this entry «

Sailors do it. Musicians do it. And now even geeks and grandmas do it. These days tattoos are almost ho hum, almost de riguer. But still of intense interest to designers and other fans of visual art.

The reasons behind particular tattoo choices may be personal but a lot of people seem to be using their bodies like they use the bumpers of their car. If you can’t get that vanity plate you wanted, why not just pay to have someone permanently embed the message into your skin—with needles?

Maybe the weirdest decisions to do this are on the behalf of those that want to show their love of new technology. Tattooing your brand loyalty may have seemed hip in 1984 and could be cool in 2010… » Read the rest of this entry «

Turquoise, specifically Pantone® 15-5519, has been crowned Color of the Year for 2010. If it makes you feel like slipping on your sarong and sipping a Coconut Willie by the pool…well, then you are a very strange young man. But on trend, apparently.

Pantone, the global authority on color and color standards for the design industry, says that Turquoise (which they inexplicably capitalize every time they mention it) “evokes thoughts of soothing tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of well-being.” It’s also the color of a ’55 Ford Station Wagon I once had that was actually the cause of many of my everyday  troubles but we’ll let that pass. » Read the rest of this entry «

With the holiday shopping season upon us, and an intensely difficult economy surrounding us, retailers are coming up with creative solutions to responsibly entice customers and to survive the season.

Since a majority of Americans planning to spend less on gifts this year*, how can retailers attract holiday shoppers? » Read the rest of this entry «

If you take a picture of a specially-created 2D bar code with your cell phone camera,  you’ll be able to view the extended, multi-media experience consisting of reviews, video, directions, discounts, developing stories, or other info. Sears is placing them on in-store merchandise to show up-to-date reviews. And Nike has put them on posters which link to downloadable athlete videos, pictures, and fan data.* » Read the rest of this entry «