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Ember Studio Ember Studio
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • NEWS & ARTICLES
  • CONTACT
Feb 27

5 Tips for Creating Powerful Trade Show Visuals

Design a trade show experience that will bring in visitorsTrade shows are bustling hubs of activity where businesses battle for attention in a sea of competitors. In this dynamic environment, eye-catching visuals play a crucial role in attracting and engaging attendees, drawing visitors in to your space and leaving a... read more →
  • February 27, 2025
  • Mike McDonald
Oct 01
acadia energy brand guidelines book

Why Every Business Needs Formal Brand Guidelines

Brand guidelines are an easy component of your visual identity system to overlook. You already spent money on your logo, website, maybe some business cards, an ad layout, and a few other items. Why invest in a piece of the brand that your customers will probably never see? The truth... read more →
  • October 1, 2024
  • Mike McDonald
  • No Comments
Aug 22

5 Essential Tips for Marketing a New Product: From Branding to Buzz

Launching a new product is a journey, one that requires careful planning to map out those crucial early steps in the process that will give your product the best chance at success. Making sure the product stands out in the crowded marketplace requires a well-thought-out strategy. A successful product launch... read more →
  • August 22, 2024
  • Mike McDonald
  • No Comments
Nov 28

Case Study – New York Rangers Logo Redesign Concept

Team logos are one of the most beloved parts of any professional sports organization's brand. Some sports logo designs span decades and are woven into the lore and nostalgia of the team's history, along with being firmly planted in the hearts and minds of the fans. They're a coat of... read more →
  • November 28, 2023
  • Mike McDonald
  • No Comments
Apr 02

Five things to avoid when getting a new logo design

Hiring a designer or an agency to create a new logo for your business can be a fun process, but it can also turn unexpectedly complicated. From initial design concepts through revisions and finalization, taking into account the opinions and feedback of possibly several stakeholders, as well as making sure... read more →
  • April 2, 2023
  • Mike McDonald
  • No Comments
Jun 26

Case Study – NJ Devils Brand Update Concept

A tried and true approach to rebranding a professional sports franchise is to do it slowly. Very rarely will you ever see the launch of a massive rebrand, completely new logo unveiled, or drastically altered colors. Pro sports teams and their fans are purveyors of heritage. Fans want to see... read more →
  • June 26, 2019
  • Mike McDonald
  • No Comments
Mar 01

The conflicting identities of the snow sports industry

If, hypothetically, your only exposure to elite-level skiing and snowboarding competition was the recent Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, your resulting perception of the sports might be slightly off. The Olympics, after all, aren't exactly a realistic depiction of pretty much anything. For two weeks every 2 years, the... read more →
  • March 1, 2018
  • Mike McDonald
  • No Comments
Oct 14

Rebranding weed – Evolving the cannabis brand

The legal marijuana business is being called the fastest growing industry in the U.S. According to the Huffington Post, "marijuana could become larger than the organic food industry." The potential for growth as a mainstream consumer product is unprecedented. Marijuana already has a substantial following and eager customer base. It has... read more →
  • October 14, 2016
  • Mike McDonald
  • No Comments
Jul 11

Your website is less useful than ever, and that’s ok

Recently I was asked during a video chat if I felt that my company website was an important part of the Ember promotional strategy, and where it fits in with our social media strategy. My answer was a sort of shoot-from-the-hip response but an honest one and also something that made... read more →
  • July 11, 2015
  • Mike McDonald
  • No Comments
Jul 07

Should live streaming be a part of your social strategy?

The popularity of live streaming apps like Periscope and Meerkat is fairly recent, and although live streaming has been around far longer than either of those two products, only this year has it become a viable mainstream option for social media strategies. But is it right for you and your... read more →
  • July 7, 2015
  • Mike McDonald
  • No Comments

About Ember

Ember is the branding design studio of Mike McDonald, specializing in creative brand development and graphic design support. We craft impactful visuals and branded systems that reflect the culture of your company and resonate with fans of your products and services.

Services

Branding, design, advertising, layout, trade show & event graphics, video production, apparel graphics, sports branding, creative services, brand support, and brand guidelines development.

Instagram

Built For The Adventure - Echo Ridge t-shirt desig Built For The Adventure - Echo Ridge t-shirt design. #tshirtdesign #tshirtgraphics
Verdant® branding. #logodesign #branding Verdant® branding. #logodesign #branding
Arctic Series badge design. #badgedesign #badgehun Arctic Series badge design. #badgedesign #badgehunting
James Homes builder & designer logo. #logodesign James Homes builder & designer logo. 

#logodesign #logodesigner
Departwest t-shirt graphics. Some of the highlight Departwest t-shirt graphics. Some of the highlights from the collection that included over 75 different designs. #tshirtgraphics #apparelgraphics #tshirtdesign #graphicdesign #badgedesign #badgedesigner
"Light It Up" torch illustration t-shirt design. # "Light It Up" torch illustration t-shirt design. #lightitup #torch #outdoorsupply #adventuregear #getoutandexplore #fireitup #campfire🔥 #apparelgraphics #tshirtdesign
"Run Wild" Echo Ridge t-shirt design. #runwild #ts "Run Wild" Echo Ridge t-shirt design. #runwild #tshirtdesign #tshirtgraphics #illustration #apparelgraphics #wolfillustration
FightPro branding. #mma #fightpro #martialarts #lo FightPro branding. #mma #fightpro #martialarts #logodesign #branding #sportsmarketing
One of my favorite ongoing projects has been graph One of my favorite ongoing projects has been graphics for my kids' Cub Scout group, and every once in a while that work has lead to opportunities to work with other scout groups and camps. Like this wild graphic I got to do for Camp Emerald Bay a few years back. 
#boyscoutcamp #boyscouts #scoutsbsa #girlscouts #BSA #emeraldbay #scoutcamp #camplife
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