On average, any job that is posted in a creative or tech related field receives hundreds of applicants. When faced with the arduous task of reviewing each application, the following tells are a sure way to get deleted before anyone of importance ever gets to your resume or work samples. If you can successfully do the following 5 things, you'll be amongst the elite few who make it to the top of the list, or at the very least, don't agitate the poor sap who has to pour through hundreds of unqualified candidates.

Design, when done right, influences culture through an experience that is largely sub-conscious. Beyond core utilitarian content and functionality that is consciously consumed, there are a myriad of psychological factors that help connect an audience to any given design experience. These factors are primarily emotional, and lie beyond the layman's ability to dissect fully, and for good reason – good design should quietly curate an experience, provide appropriate atmospheric conditions and be a conduit for functional communication. 

A not so quick rant on why most design programs fail their students...

Look inward
Thoughtful brand experiences begin with a heaping dose of introspection, understanding the what and why of your company before the who and how of the market it's in.

Define purpose
Most companies were founded on greater ideals than simply paying the bills or meeting the bottom line. What are the values, passions and personalities behind the scenes that will ultimately lead to an authentic brand experience?

Understand the audience

2010 was an amazing year for music, with no shortage of quality releases. It was quite the task to cut my list down to the 10 best albums of 2010, but low and behold: Mike's definitive musical guide to 2010!

Here's 10 awesome items you can get me this year on the cheap (they might make good gifts for others as well). Tis the season!

Getting HIGHly excited to see Your Highness next year! Brought to you by the fine folks who made Pineapple Express

Check the trailer out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx_zo5CCURs

As creative people, we all need to derive inspiration from somewhere – and – it's especially nice when you don't have to get out of your chair to find it. Here are my top visited sites for inspiration of all kinds...

When I was a kid, Halloween was a big deal. Every youth in the area would be pounding on doors for hours trying to procure pounds of candy, while their parents dreadfully waited for the unavoidable sugar high. These days however, it seems that trick-or-treating has become passe. Where five monstrous bags of tiny confections used to barely serve the cause, it's a rare holiday if you can even go through one anymore.

I'm not sure how any generation of child could lose their zeal for free sweets and cosplay, but I have a feeling it might have something to do with today's version of the over protective parent. If you fall into any of the following 4 categories, perhaps you should lighten up a bit and let your kids in on the fun...

We talk a lot about branding on our blog, but we rarely discuss our thought process in the design phase. Design is a key tool in communicating a brand experience, and even the soundest strategy can fail if not communicated correctly through design. There are a wide range of variables when approaching design, however there are several considerations that we believe are essential to every project... Read on for more details..