2009 November

Picture This – A Successful PR Campaign
November 27, 2009 by Christine
The Importance of Creative Photography

One of the most important elements for an effective PR campaign is good photography. I constantly tell my clients this and encourage them to book my photographers of choice. We are lucky to have some really talented photographers in Cork who can follow a brief and come up with their own creative ideas just the same. This is priceless in the hunt for a great photographer.

Eyecatching photographs can turn a ‘maybe’ story in to a “we have to use this” story. I always like to come up with some creative concepts for photocalls rather than portray the usual model shots or the corporate ones of the subject looking in to the distance with their arms folded. It is all part of the job to present the client with something really different and by building good relationships with photographers, it ensures that an idea can be brought to life.

Announcement of CSO's 1812 Concert (Miki Barlok)

One should never skimp on photography either for their corporate literature or website as you will be stuck looking at it along with the rest of the world every time you open your brochure or log on to your site. It pays to spend a little extra for what you want rather than just make do with it for now as it can save you a lot in the long term.

For newsdesks it is extremely important to ensure that the photographer you choose has a good relationship with the target publications, that they will embed the captions, distribute to the correct picturedesk addresses and follow up on them for you – most picturedesk editors don’t like or have the time to speak to anyone who isn’t in the know!

Donncha O' Connor and Colm Cooper pull together to support the resumption of the Cork Swansea Ferry as the West Cork Tourism Co-Op battle to raise €3m for the cause. (Don MacMonagle Photography)

Sometimes you may have to try a little harder to land the pics so if you can be flexible with a release date it usually helps and many photographers are able to guide you as to what day may not be as busy.

Overall, the more creative the better – don’t be afraid to do something a little different. You need to stand out from the hundreds of other pictures that editors must trawl through every day – if not for yourself, then at least give them something exciting to look at for a few seconds – you might just put a smile on their face and they’ll put your face on their pages…which is the name of the game!

Launch of the Grandmother's Recipe Competition in conjunction with A Taste of West Cork and Ballymaloe. (GMC Photography)

Here are some of my favourite pictures from photocalls and assignments I have worked on in the past while – with thanks to Miki Barlok (Cork Symphony Orchestra photo), Gerard McCarthy/GMC Photography (Darina Allen and West Cork Tourism photos), and Don MacMonagle (footballers photo). Each of these stories achieved incredible media coverage across the national and regional papers, due in no small part to the eye catching pictures. These guys are always great to work with and more of their amazing work can be seen on their sites;

http://www.barlokphoto.com/

http://www.germac.ie/

http://www.macmonagle.com/

http://www.corksymphonyorchestra.com/

Arrival of the MV Julia to Cork as she sails past Blackrock Castle. (GMC Photography)
Category: DMprTags: A Taste of West Cork, Christine Duggan, Cork Photographer, Cork PR, Cork Swansea Ferry, Cork Symphony Orchestra, DM, DMdesign, DMpr, Don MacMonagle, Gerard McCarthy Photography, Miki Barlok, West Cork | Comments (0)
Come Hell or High Water – The IQ Keeps Moving!
November 26, 2009 by Christine
IQ Survives the Floods…Others Need a Jump Start!

Last week saw the worst floods in more than 20 years visit West Cork and many parts of the country. On Friday morning thousands were greeted to dead batteries and waterlogged engines – including my husband who couldn’t get his Honda Accord to start! How I laughed as the little car that he pokes such fun at was needed to breathe life in to his pride and joy!!

It just goes to show that size really doesn’t matter and it’s the small things that make the difference!
Category: Toyota IQTags: Cork PR, DM, DMpr, Flooding, Flooding in Cork, IQ, Jumpstart, Toyota IQ | Comments (1)
Can the Small Car Survive the Downturn!?
November 6, 2009 by Christine
Over the past number of years Ireland has seen an influx of small cars with their popularity beginning to peak at the beginning of 2008 when the tide began to turn from the big guzzlers to something more environmentally friendly and more manageable in traffic. It seems just as this began to happen that the economy started to fail and so the talk of people changing their cars is today almost non existent. Unlike before, it seems that people are now only trading in only when they need to with many deciding to “run theirs in to the ground” until things improve again.

It ‘s really a shame for the small car market that this has happened, and a shame for drivers of normal sized cars on the road as we’ll now have to put up with the big 4×4’s who think they rule the road for another few years! Just when the popularity of the small car was beginning to soar it turns out that people can’t really afford them now.

Although there are good incentives to purchase a small car in some European countries – these incentives don’t seem to exist in Ireland. You don’t get cheaper insurance, the car tax is cheaper – but it’s free in the UK with cars such as the IQ! Small cars are still expensive to buy here in comparison to the UK also – where all of the extras that you pay more for here seem to come as standard there. Although this is a problem with all cars it is particularly annoying when it comes to the smaller and more environmentally friendly cars such as the IQ.

The IQ has loads of advantages – it offers better manoeuvrability and easier parking, better fuel efficiency, and fewer resources are used in its production to make it way more environmentally friendly. It is also a joy to maintain as well as looking happy on the road – obvious by the number of people who just smile when they see it!

I have already converted two people to the car – one of whom is buying one in 2010 while the other is saving up! I would love to see more IQ’s on the road in the New Year but unless the government does something to incentivise the purchase of small cars then I really can’t see this happening which is a shame.

I would however, encourage anyone thinking of trading in to take the IQ for a drive – you’ll be surprised with what you find and you may never return to your guzzler again!
Category: Toyota IQ Comments (0)
Now this takes the biscuit!
November 3, 2009 by Siobhan
This country is well known for passionate producers of fine food and at DMdesign we are very lucky to work with many of them. Most of these producers start out at the farmers market and eventually make the big transition to the supermarket shelf. This is the route Pâtisserie Régale decided to take. A huge step for any company and a big risk also, as it is no longer possible for them to stand beside their product and sell to the passers by at market. This is when good package design is crucial – the new packaged product must stand out from its competition on the shelf and entice that initial impulse buy.

Susan and I met with Richard and Jane Graham Leigh of Pâtisserie Regale last year at their bakery in Dunmanway. Their confectionery bakery is a hidden treasure tucked away in the hills above Dunmanway. They produce the most amazingly delicious French patisserie and biscuits. In fact Darina Allen has described Pâtisserie Régale as “the best bought confectionary you are ever likely to find”. A deserving compliment I might add!.

Cookies of Character is the first of Pâtisserie Regale products to be designed and packaged in the way that supermarkets demand. The brief was to create a suitable design to house their mouth watering Chocolate Chip and Oat and Raisin cookies, a design that reflected the quality of the baking and the rewarding treat that no two cookies are the same. As with any good package design, photography plays a vital role in the success of the final look and with this in mind we briefed the very talented photographer, Jörg Koster, on how we envisioned the product to look. Good photography combined with thoughtful design = an attractive product that reflects the taste and quality of its contents…it will entice the impulse buy and the quality of the content will definitely lead to plenty repeat purchases!!
Category: Graphic Design, Package DesignTags: Cookies, DMdesign, Jorg Koster, Package Design, Patisserie Regale, Unique Design | Comments (0)

DMblog the world of DM - pr & design

Picture This – A Successful PR Campaign

Come Hell or High Water – The IQ Keeps Moving!

Can the Small Car Survive the Downturn!?

Now this takes the biscuit!