
What does this sign say? Some designers try too hard to be clever. They miss the point–they’re not creating art. Design is a tool to help a company sell something. Many designers get so caught up in being fancy artistes that their…
What does this sign say? Some designers try too hard to be clever. They miss the point–they’re not creating art. Design is a tool to help a company sell something. Many designers get so caught up in being fancy artistes that their…
A logo is just a marketing tool. It’s one of many marketing tools firms use to convey your message to the marketplace. A logo is the first contact many prospects will have with your firm, for example, on a…
I have another least-favorite law firm ad. Some time ago, an advertisement with a crayon-colored scales of justice logo caught my eye. It used that faux-child-artwork style, like a first-grade teacher asked the children to draw a picture of what…
I was saddened in 2020 to learn of the passing of Steve Susman of Susman Godfrey. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to suggest that he was known as one of the nation’s top 10 trial lawyers. I had the…
Initials aren’t helpful. Words are. Names are. We know that for many professional-services firms (e.g. law, accounting, consulting, etc.), using initials is simply a necessary compromise — a less-controversial way to abbreviate the firm’s name. You get to shorten a cumbersome…
I love a good logo. There have been lots of lawyers on TV. Occasionally, especially in the cartoons, we get a quick glimpse of their logos or business cards. Most of them are comically bad, like these, for “Harvey Birdman,…
I collect hundreds of business cards every year. Under non-Covid conditions, I typically speak at dozens of conferences each year, attend a dozen more, and interview hundreds of lawyers in branding and website projects. So I have the occasion to…
It’s time to move on. To look forward. Many firms need to stop looking backwards at their Proud Traditions or long-dead founders’ historic accomplishments. No client has ever said, “Oh, if I could only find a firm that’s been in…
Giving is nice. Being seen giving is better. A true story. I published this true story in “The Reader” back in 1994. It shows how guilt, ego, publicity, and/or potential embarrassment can significantly increase charitable contributions. Here’s the…
Something for marketers and designers to remember: “You’re not an artist. You solve problems.” At Fishman Marketing, we design lots of marketing campaigns and websites. These days, most of the work, even the branding work, starts off as a website…