kate wagenlander

science is progress?

for some years now people talk about making a turducken for the holidays. little did I know that is now so mainstream that you can get this same taste combination for your pets!

washington dc, 2013

ginger-pup, the receiver of this tasty blend, seems like a pretty lucky dog.

this next part is a bit gratuitous but I think you will be glad you stuck with me…

in September of 2010, I joined some friends, actually the proud parents of ginger-pup, for my first Minnesota state fair experience. It was life changing and I am convinced that my body is still struggling to recover.

beyond the wide range of amazing culinary delicacies, they also have live animals that you can visit with and learn from. candidly, when Sarah said we were going to explore the poultry barn, I had some concerns about how they “fair.”

but to my amazement, it was one of my highlights! two pictures capture this magic, one a bit more germane to the post at hand than the other, but again, I think you will be glad to have seen it.

first, we have a turken. nope, you read that right. sure, I am missing the duck for a full turducken experience but this feathery delight is alive and walking around and checks 2 of 3 boxes!! good enough for me…for now at least.

minnesota state fair, 9.2010

finally, a duck. while this may not seem like a big deal to you now or ever realistically but there is so much that makes this picture wonderful.

not sure why this is so special? please consider the following….

“Ducks, Any other duck, old duck” (quite a category name right?)
1^st place (suggesting there were more old ducks competing)
owner’s name is Donald (low lying fruit…sorry…)
please note the egg beside said old duck (well done duck! way to show them!)

and yes, there was so much more about the Minnesota state fair that made it magical, even in the poultry barn, but i figure i won’t push my luck…for now!

creative merchandising

creativity in merchandising can be driven by different motivations. for this post i want to focus on merchandising as a means of reinforcing brand character and as a creative approach to make a package do as it was not intended.

just imagine my excitement when i saw this haribo bear in the vancouver airport! an awesome example of reinforcing your fun brand personality/character. just so fun.

vancouver, canada 9.2013

however, sometimes you have to get creative. these are bags hanging that originally were not intended to hang. but with some folded tape and a hole punch…voila!! a lay down bag now hangs! feels like a successful tim gunn “make it work moment” to me. well played!

cancun airport 4.2012

branding / merchandising / travel - 02/13/2014

for the love of spam

my father is addicted.he has been for most of his life.

it isn’t uncommon.

he isn’t alone.

i have even been known to take a little jaunt down the rabbit hole as well.

and i bet you have as well.

yes, i am talking about spam.

(old san juan, puerto rico 1.2013)

i honestly, cannot think of another brand that brings me the same level of joy. sure it is mostly rooted in nostalgia and family jokes/jabs but i am continuously amazed by the new innovations they bring to spam. not sure you can read the products well in the pictures so here is the spam sum up from this particular store…

– spam oven roasted turkey

– spam with real hormel bacon

– spam light/spam light single

– spam 25% less sodium

– spam classic single

truly, i am not even sure what the first two are but i can say that they make me deliriously happy!

thank you spam! keep it up!

branding / fishing / packaging: graphics / packaging: structure / product - 10/22/2013

ooooooh…. texture

mmmm… so love it when companies really embrace the power of texture in their structural design.

take this gorgeous aviation gin bottle as a great example…

chicago gourmet, 9.2013

the texture on the lid just compels you to want to touch it.

and i did. and it was spectacular.

the lid matched the awesomeness of the rest of the package design as well. i love the way they took something so simple but created, for me at least, such a vivid story. i can almost imagine the aviators drinking it next to their planes decorated with colorful and cleavage forward nose art back in war time.

further, i think a really successful design is when it can be both beautiful and functional – and this is a ding ding! the texture of the ridges on the bottle helps you with gripping as does the lid.

branding / packaging: graphics / packaging: structure - 10/22/2013

camera 1… camera 2… camera 1… camera 2…

so i love to fish. as in, it might be a problem how much i love to fish. it is up there with packaging.i document everything that i can within a reasonable sense of reason (this “reason” statement might be refuted by other postings).

while i was reviewing my pictures from one day out fishing with the folks from martin pescador in chile (3.2011), one particular fish gave me a bit of a chuckle and made me question the idea of perspective.

first, enjoy camera one…

looks pretty big right? respectable fish by many accounts.

but now, let’s check out camera two….

somehow not quite so big.

these pictures perfectly illustrate the power of perspective.

now here they are together…

the implications of perspective is so far reaching in every facet of our personal and professional lives. just a little something to gnaw on…

OF NOTE: i would like to point out that this size and perspective thing related to fish size only happened once. all of my other fish pictures are totally as big or little as they appear. just saying….

fishing / perspective - 10/22/2013

the pigeon chronicles: an introduction

pigeons.

historically, i never thought much of pigeons but over the past few years i have found myself oddly intrigued by them and the roles they have played in various cultures and civilizations around the world.

you know i am making you curious.

so welcome to the pigeon chronicles! here you will be able to enjoy some of the little facts i have learned about pigeons and maybe even acquire a new found appreciation for our feathery friends!

as well, i talk a lot about perspective and while today we created our perspective of pigeons based on our own context, historically they were seen very differently and brought so much more to the table. i hope that as you read these pigeon chronicles they help you consider the unseen potential all around us and in places we never even thought to look.

seem like a possible over promise on my part? fair. but you check back with me after volume 5 and let me know….

enjoy!

communication / perspective / pigeon fun - 10/22/2013

best.rice.package.ever.

finding it hard to believe that a box of rice could get you excited?!if yes, then clearly you have never been rice shopping in san martin, argentina.

the success of this particular package is not really driven by traditional measurements but by the sheer fun and craziness of it.

am i building up enough excitement and anticipation yet?

ladies and gentlemen i present you with lucchetti’s diana arroz.

san martin, argentina 3.2012

yes, this package really exists. awesome right? but wait. it gets better. the advertising campaign that accompanies the package takes us all to yet another level i am not sure i knew even existed.

check it out…. i promise you will not be disappointed…

you are so very welcome!

branding / communication / hits / packaging: graphics / travel - 10/22/2013