Interview with Obama Logo Designer
If you liked my post about the creative nature of Obama’s campaign, be sure and check out this New York Times interview with designer responsible for the ‘O’ logo. Read it here.
The thing that struck me the most:
Q: What were you thinking when you conceived this idea?
A: When we received the assignment, we immediately read both of Senator Obama’s books. We were struck by the ideas of hope, change and a new perspective on red and blue (not red and blue states, but one country). There was also a strong sense, from the start, that his campaign represented something entirely new in American politics — “a new day,” so to speak.
Shows you how important that research step is in creating any kind of creative campaign.
The Creative Campaign of the Century
Disclaimer: I did cast my vote for Obama. However, this is not a post about politics. This is a post about the creative marketing strategies of a well-run campaign. My political opinions and beliefs are of no consequence as I discuss the logistics of Obama’s bid for president.
They are finally catching on.
Don’t get me wrong. There are still plenty of them that don’t get it. But, there’s hope.
It’s hard to break out of a cycle that’s been the norm for more than 200 years. Ever since the earliest of presidential elections, political campaigns have focused on one thing: the candidate. “Let me tell you about me. See how capable I am. Did I tell you how much better I am than my opponent?”
No wonder we can’t stand politicians.
Defying The Norms, Yet Defined By A Scream
With Howard Dean’s 2004 campaign paving the way, Obama’s team openly and vulnerably embraced the thing every presidential campaign should revolve around, and made it their one focus.
Americans. After all this is our country, and our government. The president may run it. But we own it, and that means we decide who runs it. It’s the beautiful part about this whole democracy thing.
Joe Trippi is a name familiar to those in politics. He’s worked on more than 100 political campaigns, and he was one of the very first to “get it.” In his book “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Democracy, The Internet And The Overthrow Of Everything,” Trippi discusses his stint as Campaign Manager on the Dean For America campaign.
The whole book is filled with gems of insight and inspiration from a man who helped change the face of political campaigns forever. Each story, anecdote and musing is filled with Trippi’s priceless experience and wisdom. However, there’s one passage I always return to when I pull the political memoir off my shelf.
This is the difference between the Dean for America campaign and every other presidential campaign of the past 20 years. Every other candidate has started out by saying — Look at me, aren’t I amazing?
But every time Howard Dean got up to speak, every time his campaign staff got on the web to blog, the message was Look at you, aren’t you amazing? And they were; 60,000 people committed to a new democracy.
Aiming At The Right Target
Picking up where Dean’s campaign left off, Obama redefined the meaning of a grassroots campaign.
In today’s world, we are a community of bloggers and twitterers and texters. Obama and his staff recognized that there are countless ways we take in and soak up information. Instead of forcing us to receive a campaign message on their terms, they delivered it on our terms — our thousands of unique, individual terms.
Art for the artists. Technology for the innovators. Poetic prose for the readers and writers. They adapted their message and presented it through thousands of different mediums. And, guess what….an incredible thing happened. A campaign all about hope gave people hope - hope for the future, hope for their country, but most importantly, hope and belief in themselves.
Most failed political campaigns are unsuccessful for one reason. It’s usually the reason for any failed marketing or advertising campaign. Missing your target.
The Obama campaign nailed a perfect bullseye. It’s the people, stupid.
4 and a Half Decades of Leadership → 4 Lessons From Sen. Ted Kennedy’s Legacy
{1} Sticking to Your Principles and Beliefs Is Important. Constant Evaluation of Your Beliefs and Consideration for Others’ Is Even More Important.
He may not have invented the word compromise, but Sen. Edward M, Kennedy certainly perfected it. Reaching across party lines to work WITH Republicans, he has helped create some of the most significant legislation this nation has seen in the last half century. Despite regular criticism from his own party, Kennedy learned long ago that compromising on the issues doesn’t have to mean compromising yourself.
{2} Tragedy Does Not Mean “Defeated.”
The number of Sen. Kennedy’s triumphs is numerous, and sadly his tragedies number just as many — the shocking deaths of two brothers, a car wreck that included a dead female staff member and a LOT of controversy, a failed attempt at the 1980 Democratic Presidential Nomination and many more character building trials. And, all had to be faced in the public eye.
For a family America subconsciously associates with tragedy, Edward M. Kennedy has been the face of strength, the patriarch who carried his family through their most trying times. Even as the one with a malignant brain tumor this time around, he seems to be taking on that very same role - rallying the troops through another one of life’s hard lessons.
{3} Nurturing Your Relationships - Family, Friends, Colleagues - Is the Most Important, and Most Honorable Investment You Can Make in This Life.
One thing in particular has stood out while watching all the media coverage on Sen Kennedy in the last 24 hours: the genuine respect, honor and affection that Sen. Kennedy’s colleagues have for him.
My thoughts, and my humble prayers are with Senator Kennedy, my dear friend Ted, with his wife Vicki, and with the members of the Kennedy family. I hope and pray that an all-caring, omnipotent God will watch over Ted, and keep Ted here for us and for America. Ted, I love you, and I miss you.
He’s not just the patriarch of the Kennedy family. He’s the patriarch of our family.
He has the time, the patience, and the talent to argue his case, and sometimes not so quietly. You can have a very vigorous exchange, and two minutes later he’ll be slapping you on the back.
…it’s our job now to support him in the way that he has supported us for so many years. He’s not just a great senator, he is a great friend. He is beloved by me, and beloved by my colleagues.
{4} You Don’t Have to Be Top Dog to Make an Impact and Initiate Positive Change.
Sen. Kennedy’s failure to secure his spot as the 1980 Democratic Presidential Nominee was a personal loss, but one of the greatest gains the citizens of this country have received. I guarantee Kennedy’s hand played a significant role in at least one, if not many, pieces of legislation that you depend on.
Just to name a few…
- Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA
- Fair Housing Act Amendments (FHSAA)
- National Military Child Care Act
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Family Opportunity Act
