This year, we saw a one-minute Super Bowl spot from Toyota featuring a Paralympic athlete and the journey she took to increase her chances of winning a gold medal. Heartwarming and inspiring—no cars were featured in the ad, which promoted the phrase, “When we’re free to move, anything is possible.” So what does this say about what we value as consumers? Are features and benefits our main concern? The fact is, in a world with so much variety, availability, and interconnected commerce, we subscribe to the brands we choose to invest loyalty in, not the products we choose to buy.

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It’s February and love is in the air. The time has come for red and pink to color our worlds and to celebrate those we hold dear.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect romantic spot for you and your significant other, or you’re just ready to treat yourself to a meal that you deserve, there’s a place for everyone in Austin this Valentine’s Day. Known as a destination for culinary invention and gourmet classics alike, Austin continues to bring delicious and delectable food to its people year after year. Here at HMG, we have compiled a list of some of the newest restaurants and dives for a taste of the best that this city has to offer.

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Hello hello, I’m Courtney Bateson, HMG’s new Marketing Coordinator. I am so thrilled that my journey has brought me here, and I can’t wait to dive into this role to give it my all.

Born and raised in the north of England, I’m a lover of all things creative. Traveling, photography and food are my main points of interest and I usually find a way to combine the three in my spare time. I studied Marketing Management at University in Manchester and it was here where I had the opportunity to study abroad. Enticed by the scorching hot summers and the endless supply of BBQ that Texas had to offer, I chose to study at Texas Tech University. Next thing I knew, I was in the high plains of Lubbock, adapting to a new academic system and integrating into a completely different culture. I screamed with excitement when I saw a tumbleweed rolling down the street for the first time – embarrassing, I know.

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As we all know, SXSW is just around the corner, which means expansive opportunities for the exchange of new ideas, the introduction of multiple industry advancements and crowds of the biggest and brightest innovators of our day and age. Keeping up with the constant stream of developing media and technology can be a big task. Fear not. This time around, we’re bringing you the top 5 panels that will aid in staying on the cutting edge of branding and marketing. Learn what makes these some of the most instrumental topics for the future of our industry.

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It has been a decade since Apple released the first generation of iPhones that changed technology forever. This revolutionary product digitized many industries and built a world dedicated to instancy and connection. This September, Apple announced the release of the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X. Since the latest release, in many cases, consumers did not feel the iPhone 8 met their expectations for innovation and the iPhone 7 has been selling more than the iPhone 8. The iPhone X will be released on Friday, November 3, with the intent to give consumers the futuristic phone they’ve been craving. With competitors like Google and Samsung lingering, here are a few capabilities of the iPhone X that set Apple apart:

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Festivities and events are on the rise as the fall and winter seasons approach, and as a full-service marketing agency, we are well aware of the design and print needs of most companies during this time of the year. HMG Creative is offering major savings on high-quality design work and commercial printing throughout the month of November as events and company parties continue to creep closer and closer. Continue…

With the introduction of the new iPhone X, augmented reality has created a significant buzz in the digital world, even being named “the next big thing” in the industry. Researchers and engineers are now pulling graphics off the screen and integrating them into real-world environments. For example, Pokemon Go was one of the first successful applications of AR and has spearheaded the development of many more games and apps utilizing this kind of technology. As technology continues to progress, augmented reality will become prominent in the digital industry.

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Slack is the fastest growing business application in history. Launching in 2014, Slack is a platform that connects teams with the apps, services, and resources they need to get their daily work done. With access to over 1,000 apps and a strategic API, Slack works with partners and developers globally to create apps and integrations that make your work more efficient, automates tasks and brings better content into your conversations in Slack. Not only is it a great tool for communication and project management, it also creates a more social work environment by allowing individuals to send quick emojis and gifs. We love Slack, so we thought we’d compile our favorite Slack hacks.

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The holidays are here, and so are the year’s best discounts. Whether you are a shopaholic ready to binge, or a shopaphobic, you should take advantage of all of the savings Black Friday has to offer if you’ll be doing any Christmas shopping. Black Friday shopping can be daunting, so we came up with some tips to make the most of your holiday shopping.

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In history classes growing up, we’ve studied the importance of the printing press and how it led to a revolution: the rise in literacy rates and the spread of knowledge across the world. More recently, however, we have encountered another revolutionary invention that democratized the digital world and pioneered graphic design. The introduction of the Macintosh computer in 1984 changed the design world forever with its featured font menu. After taking a calligraphy class at Reed College, Steve Jobs understood the importance of typeface and later integrated this feature into his computer. This type menu has transformed design forever and become an integral part of artistic composition. As you devise your branding and marketing efforts, keep in mind the importance font plays in identifying with target audiences, gaining the attention of consumers and creating an image that resonates with them.

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