Ideas & Inspiration by Acropolis

So my latest idea struck me in the usual place. Making some coffee. But this time it was actually about coffee. In a nutshell, why couldn’t we make stuff out of the used coffee grounds that are produced by the gazillions of pounds daily?

Specifically, why not make coffee cups out of the used grounds? In theory, they are a fiberous material that could be made into a paper pulp and then turned into a cup. Or perhaps the grounds could be shaped by pressure into cups and coated with wax or some sort of sealant or glue?

So I looked into it and haven’t seen anything like this idea. But, I did happen upon a lot of material about used grounds being a good source material for bio diesel. Which means we could make fuel from used coffee to power coffee machines that brew coffee served in cups made from used coffee. How awesome is that?

I hope somebody reads this entry and steals this idea and makes it happen. You have my permission.

BG

Help for Haiti

By Ana Restrepo, Traffic/Production

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” –Aesop

As we have all heard, Haiti suffered from a catastrophic earthquake just over a week ago and yet another devastating aftershock on Wednesday morning. The people of Haiti are in urgent need of our immediate help and will continue to need our aid as they continue their recovery efforts.

In wake of this shocking catastrophe, Acropolis has joined in on the efforts to help the people of Haiti via donations to the Mid Florida Red Cross. Follow the latest updates about survivors and volunteer efforts right here in Central Florida on their blog.

Any donation, no matter how small, will be of immense help to the people of Haiti and the earthquake relief efforts. If you would like to help, there are many ways to get involved:

• Secure monetary donations
  • Red Cross: www.redcross.org
  • UNICEF: www.unicefusa.org
  • CARE: www.care.org/index.asp

• Text to Donate
  • Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross
  • Text “GIVE10″ to 20222 to donate $10 to Direct Relief

From the Acropolis Team

The tree is up in our lobby and twinkle lights dance around the office. A warm aroma of freshly baked cookies fills the kitchen and we’ve just put the finishing touches on our holiday cards. There’s no doubt the spirit of the season is in full swing here at Acropolis.

Although December is “the most wonderful time of the year,” the recession has left many in our community without jobs, without homes or without a stable financial situation. It seems almost everyone knows someone – a neighbor, friend, or family member – who is currently looking for work or struggling to make ends meet.

That’s why “goodwill toward men” is more important than ever before. Every child should have a present under the tree, and every family deserves a happy holiday.

So in lieu of sending holiday gifts to our clients this year, we adopted four families from the Howard Center for Children & Families. The local nonprofit – located just a few blocks away from our office – provides dignity and healing for children, families and individuals who face overwhelming challenges like child abuse, sexual trauma and developmental disabilities.

From purchasing a furry winter coat or a shiny new bicycle … to a new toy or game … or even the most basic needs like gas cards, bus passes, food cards and clothes and other personal items – we wanted to help make the holidays a little merrier, a little brighter for our neighbors. And we’re glad to be a part of a much larger effort across Central Florida.

So many partners and vendors right here at home have done the same for their own nonprofit and charity of choice. We are proud to live, work and play in a community that embraces its fellow neighbors with support and strength … not just during the holidays, but all year round, too.

From our family to yours … we wish you a full tree, a warm home, and the happiest of holidays.

We recently asked the Acropolis team to list what they are most thankful for this year. From our “family” to yours, we hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Terry: I’m thankful to have a beautiful, happy, healthy family that for the most part likes having me around. And I’m very thankful to work with the team of fantastic folks at Acropolis, great individuals who together make up a great agency!

Scott: I am thankful that I have two healthy children.

Kathy: I am thankful for so much!  My great family and friends. I’m thankful that I have a great community and a rewarding career. I am thankful that no matter how bleak things may look in the world there is always a something wonderful happening as well if you look for it.

Kate: I am thankful for the health of my family, for my house and my husband. And of course, for our wonderful clients and fun projects we get to work on daily!

Mario: The men and women protecting our freedom.

Karen: With the passing of my mom in ‘09, I am thankful for my atypical in-laws. They are amazing and truly my adopted parents now.

Dorothy: I’m thankful for the loving and wonderful people I have in my life – my husband, mother, family and friends. And of course my five babies, aka puppies that make me smile on even the hardest days

Holly: I’m thankful for the many freedoms we enjoy simply by living in the greatest nation in the world! Let us not take them for granted, and never forget those who fight to secure those rights.

Tracy: Family & friends. I don’t know where I would be without them.

Peg: I am thankful for a healthy, happy family; my girlfriends; dark chocolate; red wine; vampire books; warm Florida weather.

Molly: I am thankful to have a family with a great sense of humor; a wonderful group of friends who make life a blast, and a fantastic job that I look forward to every day! Life is good.

Ana: I’m forever thankful for my amazing and supportive family and friends! From my parents letting me talk them into skydiving with me, to my roommates having dinner ready when I get home from work, it’s never a dull moment with all of them around. I’m so very lucky for the joy and love that they bring to my life every single day!

Lawrie: I am thankful for my supporting family, friends and coworkers. I have had a rough year and they have all been there for me! I am also thankful for the little things… like that one text you get that puts a smile on your face from that someone you have not talked to in awhile. That simple note you get from someone unexpected that says ‘thank you.’ Sometimes the small things can mean the most!

Kristina: I am thankful for my family and friends! As well as: Starbucks (as is Dorothy but she must have have forgotten! ), hazelnut fat-free creamer, iTunes, gLee, blue BIC round stick grip pens, never-ending supply of snacks in the creative room, Aquanet hairspray under the office bathroom sink, and lastly, working with a wonderful group of people that have made Orlando my home away from home!

By Karen Farber, Production Manager

It’s no secret: From newspapers to greeting cards, traditional print items are going digital. Think about it: How many e-invites or marketing e-blasts do you have in your inbox right now? Maybe you’ve received a “get well” e-card from a friend. Maybe you’ve sent one lately, too.

Without question, the advent of the digital age has made these paper-to-computer options possible – and the print industry has adapted accordingly. But now that the “green” movement is becoming an established norm in corporate culture, the print industry has yet another reason to create and adopt environmentally- sound paper products and procedures.  That’s where the consumer comes in.

Everywhere we turn, we are called to do our part to “go green” – but it’s important to remember that this isn’t just a call to action on a personal level; it’s a decision that can also be made in our professional lives as well.

Buy Print with a Conscience

Case in point: As a print buyer, I’ve seen alternative eco-friendly paper mills make an aggressive push to roll out new and reformulated paper solutions.  In the first few years, this seemed to be an industry-driven initiative that took awhile to find its legs on the market. That’s because printing on recycled paper meant producing an inferior product at a much higher cost. Fortunately, that’s no longer the case.

Today, I have the option to choose from a long list of eco-friendly paper options for my clients. Recycled paper is more affordable and more abundant than ever, offering quality alternatives to printing on virgin paper (made with 0% recycled content). Businesses large and small have discovered that these greener paper choices deliver huge benefits: they satisfy shareholders and enhance their image with customers.

Be A “Green” Professional

If you’re tasked with specifying paper for your clients’ needs, make a commitment to guide them down the eco-savvy paper trail. Ask your paper merchant to show you stock choices with these green options:

• Recycled Stock. Look for paper that contains “post-consumer waste” (PCW) content.  This paper was used by consumers and then returned for processing.  There is a wide range of choices ranging from 10% to 100% PCW.

• FSC and/or SFI® Certified. Purchase paper that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. These labels indicate that all wood and paper products come from well-managed, sustainable forests – backed by a rigorous, third party certification audit.

• FSC Recycled. With FSC paper, you’ll get 100% post-consumer waste product that was created within accredited mills. Although paper product options are limited in this category, end users get the best “green” initiatives of both worlds.  

By Lawrie Talansky, Art Director

According to surveys and research, consumers spend between 10 to 20 seconds making a purchase decision – and in most cases, they stick to what is familiar, and what brands they know. That means several products are probably getting left behind on the retail shelves … is yours?

As a designer, I hear the big question from our clients all the time: “So how do we get consumers to notice and select our particular product among all the rest?” While there are millions of packaging options available for your product, the key is to focus on creating excitement and efficiency. That’s why companies are turning to agencies to think of new ways to make their products unique yet efficient … to create excitement while staying environmentally conscious.

Here’s what package design guru Ted Mininni has to say:

“When packaging a new line or refreshing an existing one, think about what you can do to surprise, delight or deliver a commodity product in an unexpected manner. These are all emotive qualities that connect consumers to brands in a memorable way. Think: how can you disrupt your whole category, generate a lot of buzz, excitement & sales?”

But now the question becomes, “Do we want to break the restraints of everyday package design?” Take it from a few companies who said yes:

Kleenex recently “colored outside the lines” of packaging with their “Perfect Slice of Summer” tissue box series. The challenge was to create a unique design that encourages consumers to enjoy what they are purchasing. Working together with HirokoSanders, these beautifully executed packs (which can be recycled) deliver a true “slice of refreshment” and immediately grab the consumer’s attention:

Another great example that truly broke the mold of traditional packaging is Method, a line of home care products. Instead of designing a typical stash-it-under-the-sink bottle, Method debuted a sleek, see-through bottle that is both clean in form and function. The bottle shape’s visual appeal makes it a decorative piece on a counter – keeping branding in front of the consumer – while its “deeply dented” front- and back-label panels provide easier gripping.

And finally, Help Remedies – a brand of simple healthcare products for headaches, body aches, allergies, sleep issues, cuts and blisters – recently re-launched their packaging. By creating a friendly, fun package – made of paper pulp and bio plastic – they not only stripped away some of the complexity and fear in the health industry, but also created an environmentally friendly, biodegradable product.

For other great examples of package design, check out www.thedieline.com and www.lovelypackage.com

By Holly Smith, our resident RSS Expert!

Are you taking advantage of RSS feeds? Although it’s one of the most amazing features on the Web these days, RSS – that’s “Real Simple Syndication” – remains somewhat of a mystery. What exactly is it? And how can we use it?

I got the need. The need for feeds.

With millions of blogs and Web sites out there, keeping up with all your favorites can be a daunting task. That’s where RSS comes in. Instead of making your daily blog rounds to see what’s new, the blogs come to YOU. Similar to subscribing to a magazine, you can sign up to receive different websites’ RSS feeds, which will automatically let you know when they’ve updated online content.

Get up, stand up. Set up RSS.

First, you need something called an RSS Reader. My personal favorite is the free service provided by Google. Just visit the Google homepage and click  the “iGoogle” link, located in the right-hand corner. You’ll see a page like this:

The best part about iGoogle is that you can create a personalized home page to hold all of your RSS feeds. It’s a user-friendly environment that takes little time to learn. If you have an existing Gmail account, simply log in with your account information. Don’t have a Gmail account yet? What are you waiting for? Click “Create account now” and see what Gmail can do!

Subscribe. Then prepare to be amazed.

Now that account is activated, it’s time to subscribe to your first RSS feed! Let’s say you want to subscribe to www.cnn.com for news updates. Go to the Web site, and you should see a blue or orange RSS icon on the right-hand side of the address bar (see screenshot below):

If you do not see this icon in your address bar, there is usually another link for RSS feeds elsewhere on the Web page. Often, it is located flush right, flush left or at the bottom of the page.

Keep in mind that many Web sites – especially large news outlets such as CNN, have multiple RSS feeds. Usually there is a drop-down menu. Select the feeds you want to subscribe to, and wait a few seconds to be directed to your iGoogle account.

It’s Feeding Time.

Now you’re ready to add the Web site or blog to an RSS Reader. Click the “Add to Google homepage” button for quick browsing. Within seconds, you’ll be redirected to your iGoogle homepage, where the CNN news RSS feed box has been added!

Determine how many items or news stories you wish to display in your RSS feeds. The default is typically three feeds per Web site, but for news Web sites I prefer to change my settings to display the top seven stories, since they update so rapidly.

The Finish Line.

That’s it! You’re done! Continue to subscribe to RSS feeds on all of your favorite Web sites. iGoogle has great features that allow you to create category tabs along the left-hand side, select a theme for your page, and more! Here’s a look at my RSS feeds under a category tab I’ve named “Design:”

Check out an awesome video further explaining this process: http://www.commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english

So, like what you see here? Add the Acropolis Ad-lib blog to your RSS reader today. Or, contact us at social@acropolisinc.com for more info about how to add a feed off of your site – so customers can stay up to speed with your company developments.

by: Scott Major

One of my personal philosophies – and one I feel Acropolis is deeply rooted in – is trying to keep a positive attitude everyday. Recently we were recognized as one of Orlando’s Best Places to Work, and to me – keeping a positive energy at the work place played a huge role in that, and also contributes significantly to why our clients are successful.

Check out this excerpt from www.intent.com.

I hope this kind of attitude motivates you as it motivates us!

“Our thoughts are not simply ethereal pieces of information that enter our minds and then disappear. The words and ideas that we think can shape our lives and drive us toward success and happiness or failure and distress. How you think and feel can have a profound effect on your ability to recognize opportunity, how well you perform, and the outcome of the goals that you’ve set for yourself. When you maintain an optimistic outlook and make an effort to harbor only positive thoughts, you begin to create the circumstances conducive to you achieving what you desire. You feel in control and few of life’s challenges seem truly overwhelming because it is in your nature to expect a positive conclusion. An optimistic mind is also an honest one. Staying positive does not mean that you ignore difficulties or disregard limitations. Instead, it means spending time focusing only on the thoughts that are conducive to your well-being and progress.”