Mardi Gras – No Laughing Matter

MARDI GRAS - No Laughing Matter

An illustrative design crime is no laughing matter. Contrary to “Casablanca” there are no usual suspects when it comes to brand larceny and the victims of these retinal felonies can be directly or indirectly effected on many levels.

FBI headquarters received a call from our New Orleans field office regarding such a case involving a local corporation trafficking a counterfeit identity.

Our FBI agents coordinated with local design authorities who brought us up to speed regarding this companies history in the local marketplace and abroad. Once we thoroughly reviewed the existing evidence, “Operation Joker” was set in motion.

We brought in an FBI design profiler who reported the following: “This business has operated for decades using this eye sore of a mark. And over time they’ve built up a false sense of security, forming a seemingly impenetrable marketing callus that visually contradicts the quality of the work they produce themselves.”

The FBI profiler confirmed our own findings. Blaine Kern Studios is considered one of the world’s leading makers of floats, sculpture, and props. Other associates that have called upon their services is Disney and Orlando’s Universal Studios. Yet their own criminal identity made them look like a creative forgery rather than authentic.

CASE SOLVED

Festive sophistication.

With profile in hand we interrogated the old mark and within a few minutes under the hot lights this clip-art excuse for design spilled his guts.

“You know, back in the day I was somebody. No one questioned my effectiveness. I even fooled the “Mystery Van” kids and their meddling dog! I didn’t mean to hurt anyone, I was just surviving man.”

Unique business cards.

The FBI continued to glean more intel from our profiling and we used the identified attributes to uncover new unique visual clues we could capitalize on.

With the old mark brought to justice and new cards in hand the company is now better equipped to represent themselves and the quality of work they do for the local community and abroad.

A whole new identity.

The most rewarding aspects of being an FBI agent is witnessing a visual felon turn away from a life of design crime and become a successful member of the marketing community.