For All The Cat Lovers Out There

Hello Kitty: The Global Brand with Nine Lives

Thursday, March 27 / 6:30 pm
Indianapolis Museum of Art
DeBoest Lecture Hall
Free

The Asian Art Society and the Japan-America Society of Indiana invite you to attend “Hello Kitty: The Global Brand with Nine Lives,” a lecture and book-signing with author and The New York Times Business Reporter Ken Belson. Hello Kitty was Japan’s brilliant answer to Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse. As author of “Hello Kitty; The Remarkable Story of Sanrio and the Billion Dollar Feline Phenomenon,” Belson will discuss how Japan’s most famous cartoon kitten and other Sanrio characters have become a global cultural phenomenon, beginning in the 1970s with the Japanese concept of kawaii or “cute.” Belson will also talk about the inner workings of Sanrio, the company that created Hello Kitty, and how it succeeded in positioning products to appeal to consumers of all ages. Sanrio characters are now found not only on toys, notebooks and backpacks, but also on mobile phones, toasters and even cars!

6:30 – 7:30 pm Lecture
7:30 – 8:30 pm Book-signing and raffle of Sanrio character items

Debbie Millman Comes to Indianapolis

Why We Buy, Why We Brand

A historical look at the influence branding has on our every day lives – from branding ourselves and the world around us to the role branding plays in the products we buy and the way we live our lives. Debbie Millman has been in the design business for the last 20 years fulfilling her dream of working in branding and furthering the meaning, purpose and stature of brands in our culture. Debbie is a Partner and President of the design division at Sterling Brands, one of the leading brand identity firms in the country.

Lunch will be provided.

Students: $20.00

Friday, February 29, 2008
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM   The Westin, Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317.262.8100

Register Now

Why I Love the Graphic Design Profession (dripping with sarcasm)

Ed Roach over at SmallBusinessBranding.com has recently written and article entitled Why Graphic Design is the Worst Brand Ever where he details the current problem of graphic design as a commodity from a business owner’s perspective. It’s always great to get an outside perspective. This is a problem that needs a solution. If anyone has any ideas please leave a comment … or better yet, start solving it.

R/GA Comes to IUPUI

R/GA will be giving a presentation at Herron around 4:00 PM on Monday, February 25th in a room yet to be announced.

“The Agency for the Digital Age
We live in an era of rapid technological change, yet the marketing and advertising industries have been slow to adapt. R/GA specializes in harnessing emerging technologies to create new modes of brand building and to deepen customer relationships.” – portion of R/GA Vision Statement

UPDATE: This event is organized by the School of Informatics, but students from across IUPUI are invited to attend.