Vintage Print Ads

Many of us follow advertisements. But do we know that how did some advertisements of yesteryear's look like? They were socially acceptable then, for sure. Have a look at some vintage ads!

Disclaimer: Some image(s) or text(s) may seem to violate today's social acceptance norms. Please understand that these are of a different era where different norms existed. I am deeply sorry if it hurts sentiments of anyone. :)

Is Your Boss Rude?

Rudeness, Indifference, Bullying.
In the recent years where sexual offense has taken the front seat of in-company questionable behavior, these actions have blossomed in it's shadow. 20 percent say their company or boss doesn't care how people treat each other. A whopping 60+ percent in India say so. Complaints aren't taken seriously, and we've often heard that those who speak up pay the price. Some people say, no matter how strict the policies are, or how fancier the steps taken to curb those actions be, these people will continue committing such deeds. So how would one need to do to counteract these behaviors?

For Organizations:-

• Make civility a priority and set guidelines.

People are busy, but how long does it take to smile, say "hi," or refrain from a zinger? A healthcare organization in the US has an interesting policy. The 10/5 Way. It says that if you're within ten feet of someone, you must make eye contact. Within five feet you say hello. Such companies surely report greater patient satisfaction and an increase in patient referrals.

• Provide training.

It just might help. Behavioral training sometimes is the best solution for such cases, say people are constantly quitting an organization because of the rudeness of the boss.

Individuals can:

• Walk away.

Ideally, people will speak up and management will respond, but I know that speaking up isn't always realistic. In those cases, the best response is a measured one. If a boss/manager keeps shouting at you on an issue, you can tell him, "Sir, let's talk in a civil way on this issue." If it's a peer, you can also walk away till he is cooled and ready to talk again. Leaving the conversation until civility is restored is often the only solution.

• Learn from it.

When somebody's being rude it's tempting to give back the same or take it out on somebody else. But it might be a learning opportunity. Rudeness hurts both the giver and the recipient. That's why it's better to act as calm and possible.

Did You Notice These New Logo(s) in 2012?

Logo is the identity that's fundamental to building a brand and communicating with the target audience. Many well-known corporate brands change their logo to achieve the perfect identification because the identity’s creation is not an occasional activity, but a permanent one.
However, a brand identity has to represent the ongoing trends. That is why a logo has got to change & evolve over a period, keeping with the present context.

Some of the biggest brands in the country ditched their old logos for new ones this year, mostly due to the reasons of evolving, to look younger and more human, and to communicate in a better way about the brand.

As Twitter blogged- “Our new bird grows out of love for ornithology, design within creative constraints, and simple geometry. This bird is crafted purely from three sets of overlapping circles – similar to how your networks, interests and ideas connect and intersect with peers and friends. (…) a bird in flight is the ultimate representation of freedom, hope and limitless possibility.”
And Chris Brandon, a spokesperson of Domino's, tells, "We certainly remain a pizza company first and foremost—but people can now get so much more from Domino’s, (...) As shown by the way we have spoken to consumers in the past couple of years—it’s less about just a pizza and more about a relationship and an experience."
Have a look at these redesigned logos and brands.

                   

Finally a Windows Decline..

For years, people have been predicting the death of Microsoft's Windows dominance. And in the last two years, it's finally happened. The rise of iOS and Android have made Microsoft's operating system significantly less important.

Luckily for Microsoft, this hasn't meant the death of its business overall. Thanks to the strength of its Office franchise and its Servers and Tools business, Microsoft is still very healthy.

But, there's no escaping that Windows is what drives the whole company. CEO Steve Ballmer calls Windows, "the heart and soul of Microsoft from Windows PCs to Windows Servers to Windows Phones and Windows Azure." And that heart is beating a little bit more weakly today than it was in say, 2005.

This chart from Asymco earlier this year illustrates the decline of Microsoft's Windows monopoly as Apple has risen.

                    

Going into 2013, this will be one of the major stories to watch. Microsoft released Windows 8 in an attempt to reverse the decline of Windows' importance. It has touch elements which are meant to mitigate the rise of the iPad, and Android. But so far, it's off to a slow start. Can Microsoft reverse it in 2013? Or is this time different? Are we really, finally, seeing the end of Windows?