The Evolution of Pantone’s Color of the Year
As a branding expert, it's fascinating to delve into the origins of Pantone's 2024 Color of the Year, discovering a rich connection to 19th-century ornithologist Robert Ridgway. This year's choice, peach fuzz, reflects comfort and belonging, echoing Ridgway's...
Brand Essentials: The Art and Science of Typography
Typography, the art and technique of arranging type, is a silent powerhouse in the realm of graphic design. Far more than just choosing fonts, it plays a pivotal role in shaping brand identity, conveying messages, and influencing user experience. Let's delve into the...
Identity Design — Strong Brands Require Solid Foundations
For many businesses late winter is an ideal time to regroup and plan for the coming year. It's also a good time to reevaluate your marketing strategy and evolve your branding efforts. Where to start? An essential building block for any successful marketing program is...
Characteristics Of Effective Logos
A strong corporate identity (logo) is the foundation of any successful marketing program. The visual tone and symbolism in a logo should work to inform all other visual communications. A good logo should convey an organization’s core mission and brand personality, not...
Brand Essentials: Company Naming Basics
In today’s competitive landscape, selecting the right name for a company is more important than ever. A strong name resonates with costumers—it acts as a conduit between customer and brand. No other element, other than a logo perhaps, advances a brand to create a...
Engine 8: Bozeman Northside Tour
Engine 8 is pretty lucky. We are not only fortunate to be based in one of the most gorgeous cities in Montana, but we also have found ourselves right in the middle of a blossoming community. Bozeman's Northside area (NoBo) was for so long forgotten about. It...
Cultivating Creative Communities
At Engine 8, we feel fortunate to call Bozeman, Montana home. Like several Rocky Mountain towns, Bozeman has its jaw-dropping vistas, access to world-class outdoor recreating and a strong local economy. So what gives the Bozeman area its X factor? Look past the...
A Look at Brand Identity Guidelines
Imagine buying a new car without understanding how to operate it. Let's say you have the keys to a high-performance vehicle, elegantly stylized, designed to perfection. Without a manual, you're not getting that beauty out of the garage. Now, think of your logo as a...
Brand Essentials: Experience is Everything
I often get asked, “what exactly is branding?” You could say branding is similar to Zen--both concepts are casually tossed around and misused to the point of becoming cliches. While this analogy may be a stretch, considering Zen is based on personal enlightenment and...
Engine 8: Cannery District Tour
Bozeman, Montana is known for it's stunning scenery and endless outdoor activities. But lately we have been all about the unique businesses popping up! And our favorite destination is The Cannery District. What were once an abandoned and desolate canning buildings,...