mostly
design
Design for Music 1
Design for Music 2
Design for Music 3
Design for Music 4
Identity Design 1
Identity Design 2
Identity Design 3
writing-design
Cash Plus 1
L&H 1
L&H 2
Lowe Enterprises 1
Lowe Enterprises 2
Mobil 1
Mobil 2
"Wordsmithing" was what the folks at Mobil called it. I always liked that. It has a beefier flavor than "copywriting" which is what advertising, PR and journalistic types call writing. That always makes me think of green eyeshades. Beefier is better, I think.
I cut my writing teeth on big, beefy planning projects. I was working for an A&E firm that planned huge projects, like whole new towns. A lot of ideas, rationales and relationships go into planning — and describing — a new town. Clarity is critical. Almost as critical as selling the concept.
I've since learned there are other critical elements to high performance writing, but we can talk about those later.
Here's an eclectic collection of writing examples. Brochures, articles, newsletters, books...and even a story or two.
What I can't show you here are examples that contain clients' proprietary and/or confidential information. That knocks out virtually everything aimed at internal audiences: how-to manuals, training materials, workbooks, plans, reports, etc.
Most of the examples described below are provided in their original publication context, which means they have to be in Adobe PDF form. Just click the underlined links to download them. If you're impatient, you can read some right on the screen.
For some inexplicable reason, much of the heavier, more technical and weighty fare has risen to the top. Most of the out and out lies — some people call this fiction — have fallen to the bottom.
Market Microscope is an external publication of Lea Associates, Inc., a firm specializing in property economics. (3 pages; 212 KB PDF file)
Issues in Conversion Franchising is a somewhat esoteric article that appeared in the October 1998 issue of Convenience Store News. (9 pages; 264 kb PDF file)
At the Fringe of the Solo Zone is a much different sort of magazine article. This was the cover story for Acoustic Musician magazine's February 1997 issue. It's a guitaristic piece about two cutting-edge acoustic guitarists: Preston Reed and Grammy-winner Laurence Juber. It's from Miscellany, so just click on the title link to go there.
Lonely Island is the historical story of the infamous Dog Shogun and the last dodo. It's also from the Miscellany section, which means instant gratification...no download required.
The Fine Art of Reciprocity is an essay that describes the utility of weaving certain arcane tidbits of psychology into the design of communications. Yet again, cribbed from Miscellany; no downloading.
Mobil Franchise Recruiting Brochure is what Mobil called this one. It's a "first contact" piece showcasing Mobil's franchise offerings to potential operators. (12 pages; 1.3 MB PDF file)
Franchise Sales Pamphlet for Cash Plus, Inc. (3 pages; 492 kb PDF file)
The Santa Whisperer is Certified Holiday Entertainment having to do with a depressive Santa and a wise mouse. A drop of fiction balances sensibilities twisted by incessant sales messages. Another download-free tidbit from Miscellany.
Employee Recruiting Pamphlet for Cash Plus, Inc. (3 pages; 492 kb PDF file)
Sample from 24-page Capabilities Brochure for Laventhol & Horwath. (4 pages; 392 kb PDF file)
On the True Origin of Pizza appeared on the back of a menu for Tom Bombadil's Food & Drink in Hawaii. (4 pages; 356 kb PDF file)
The Legend of Ajo & Olivia and A Garlic Interlude from Recipe Rangers in the West: Book One, published by Wynderry Press. (9 pages; 212 kb PDF file)
The Luck of Madonna 13 is an award-winning novel (the hardcover Chronicler's Edition) that is both a first novel and first in a series. Here are the first two chapters of the new ebook edition. (62 pages, 748 kb PDF file)
