Visual Design Trends for 2014

The Process of Branding: Naming

When trying to create an identity for a product or brand, the naming process is one of the first things most people think of. They also think that it's one of the easiest steps. But it takes more than a five-minute brainstorm session. Much, much more. Here, brand teacher Sasha Strauss (@SashaStrauss) outlines an effective and exhaustive naming strategy.

Five Worst Super Bowl Ads

#Brandbowl watchers and ad geeks must have been as disappointed as Broncos fans at the sorry crop of commercials to smack America's eyeballs this year. Really, I cannot believe millions of dollars went into the production of these "ideas."

Anyway, there were a few that were good ads, including Tim Tebow's T-Mobile spot. But here is our list of the worst.

5. "Cool Twist"

Sweet graphics, Bud Light. Oh, and nice caps.

4.  "Wings"

There's only one word I associate with this ad: "gross."

3. "A Better Web Awaits"

Squarespace went out of their way to tell us how creepy and chaotic the web is, but didn't really highlight the simplicity and cleanliness of their own product.

2. "Need for Speed Movie"

I was like, "Oh, Aaron Paul!...Wow that looks terrible."

1. "The Right Music"

Ellen, like my mother, is the last person I want associated with Beats Audio. She deserved a better spot to showcase her humor instead of her dance moves. Right music, wrong endorsement.