The Story

It’s something I’ve heard several times over the past four or five years. And each time, it’s felt like fingernails on the chalkboard to me. A client has been presented with a strong concept–an actual idea communicated creatively with conceptual elements. You know, saying what you mean without saying it literally. Last time I checked, […]

…is hereby banned from client mouths at Creative Brand Communications. Here’s why.
I can appreciate that “I’ll know it when I see it” seems like common sense. We’ve all said it before, I’m sure. And sometimes it’s valid…like when you’re buying pants.
Unfortunately, though, credit union branding and strategic marketing for banks is not about common […]

It’s no secret that the banking industry is not known for excitement. I think it could be–it should be, maybe–but it’s not.
A brief conversation around the office today made me realize it even more.
So we’re hiring for a graphic designer. We simply posted the job description on craigslist–big here in Portland (and most […]

I was recently on a CBC business trip with a colleague to meet a client to discuss, what else, but their branch environment. So not surprising that on the way, we noticed another bank whose construction of a new branch was about 80% complete. Furniture seemed to be the final item on the to-do list.
Even […]

I recently conducted some research on one of the larger community banks here in Portland, Oregon, West Coast Bank (www.wcb.com). My intention was to dig in, check them out, and see how well their bank marketing strategies, branches and overall experience tells and proves their story. I began digging around and checking them out, […]