TAKA DESIGNS

Strike three for Samsung. Did they just copy Apple again? This time it’s not a phone or a tablet, but a commercial called “The Way We’re Wired” for its new Galaxy S II phone. They must have run out of devices to copy. The video looks frightening similar to Apple’s famous “Think Different” commercial, right down to the narrator’s voice (Apple used Richard Dreyfuss). You be the judge and compare.

Continue reading →

Has Twitter become so ubiquitous in our lives that brands and journalists are now using tweets readily as endorsements and quotes? It’s been happening for some time now, but with the rise of major brands like American Express and The New York Times now on the bandwagon, Twitter continues to be a major source information and value. Let’s take a look at some examples of how tweets are being used.

Continue reading →

One of the great things that I love about Foursquare are the tips that people leave for restaurants and venues. When trying a new restaurant, one of the first things I do is check and see what food tips people have left. If you like a tip you can also “like” it. Think of it as the “Like” button for Facebook, but on Foursquare.  Tips are also listed by the number of likes, with the highest at the top.

So when I decided to check-in to Urth Caffe in Santa Monica recently, I noticed one particular tip that had over 800 likes. However, it wasn’t from a person. It was from a brand. Not just any brand – it was Bravo. They had leveraged their TV personality Patti Stanger from the show Millionaire Matchmaker to endorse Urth Caffe by leaving a tip.

Continue reading →

Tucked in the middle of a tiny strip mall on the corner of Overland and Woodbine lies an ice cream shop. You’d never notice it driving by, especially at night, because there’s no permanent sign up yet. Only a small banner hangs above the entrance that proudly reads “Scoops Westside.” The shop’s interior is minimal at best: a few tables and chairs, a small coffee press that serves Intelligentsia coffee, and a laptop with speakers playing music from Pandora. But drop by in the evening on any given day of the week and there is a continuous flow of people coming in and out. They’re eagerly anticipating a menage e trois of flavors such as coconut white chocolate wasabi, brown brown bread, salty white chocolate and black sesame chai. At times the shop has gotten so busy that it has to close early because it’s run out of ice cream.

Continue reading →

A look at what’s happening in social media, branding and marketing on the web.