The Horrors of Political Marketing

Wrap-Up: 09

Author

Robert Vidaure
October 31, 2024

We’ve all felt it – the flood of political marketing this election cycle that sometimes feels overwhelming and, frankly, easy to tune out. But think about it, if so many messages are just blending into the background, what can we, as marketers, designers, and community builders, do differently? With endless outlets and tools at our disposal, we have a unique opportunity to stand out by crafting messages that resonate on a personal level. How can we shift from noise to meaningful conversation and make a genuine impact in the communities we care about?

I hope you enjoy this month’s Wrap-Up. I've moved these to the end of the month going forward.

ARTICLES

Billions Spent on Swing State Political Ads is Leaving Voters Frazzled

Swing state voters have been bombarded with robocalls, texts, campaign visits, billboards, flyers, and social media messages.

Elizabeth Goodspeed on the new battleground of political swag

From ‘Kamala Walz’ camo trucker hats to Trump’s infamous red ‘MAGA’ caps, modern campaigns know that the right piece of merch can say more than any policy speech.

The National Park Service Goes From Paper to Pixels

How do you design an app for 431 diverse national parks and monuments? Learn how a small team adapted Massimo Vignelli’s seminal design system for a digital interface.

BOOKS

Design as Democratic Inquiry: Putting Experimental Civics into Practice
by Carl Disalvo

In this counterpoint to the grand narratives of design punditry, Carl DiSalvo presents what he calls “doing design otherwise.” Arguing that democracy requires constant renewal and care, he shows how designers can supply novel contributions to local democracy by drawing together theory and practice, making and reflection.

Meaningful Inefficiencies: Civic Design in an Age of Digital Expediency
by Eric Gordon & Gabriel Mugar

Public trust in the institutions that mediate civic life-from governing bodies to newsrooms-is low. In facing this challenge, many organizations assume that ensuring greater efficiency will build trust.

PODCASTS

Shaping the Future of Creativity and Inclusion

Kwame Taylor-Hayford, the new president of D&AD and co-founder of Kin in New York, to explore his mission of empowering the next generation of creative talent.

The Urbanist: US Election Special

The upcoming US election to put a spotlight on American cities and the challenges they face. We discuss housing struggles, how to get around, the changing world of work, the resulting state of downtown cores and how apps are altering our urban fabric.

PROJECTS

Branding a Borough

The Borough of Newtown is one of only nine boroughs remaining in Connecticut. And, since 1824, it has been the soul of Newtown. At the heart of the Borough is a famous American flag. You can't miss it — it sits in the middle of the road, for crying out loud. At Map Agency, we knew the moment this project walked through the door, the flag had to play an important role in their new brand identity system. Since at least 1876, it has been a part of the village's story.

Agency: Map

People Before Data

U Group didn’t want to just stand out from its competitors — they wanted to challenge and shake up the data industry. To do this, we first needed to help them reframe the story of data — and we quickly discovered that helping brands understand data really meant helping them understand people. Rather than just treat data as intangible code, here was an opportunity to find the human meaning in the data point.

Agency: For The People

RESOURCES

Archives.Design

A digital archive of graphic design related items that are available on the Internet Archives. This collection is compiled and curated by Valery Marier.

U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence

The U.S. Alliance for Election Excellence is a nonpartisan collaborative that is bringing together election officials, designers, technologists, and other experts to help local election departments improve operations.

EVENTS

Smart Cities Connect Fall Conference and Expo
December 3–5, 2024 | Austin, TX

Smart cities have evolved from a futuristic vision into a tangible reality, creating fundamental impact for people and the planet. From pilot projects that showcase innovative technologies to enduring infrastructure investments, smart city solutions align with urban challenges.

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