Inkling Neckties
Tools of Change for Publishing Event
In 2012, Inkling Habitat was unveiled at the Tools of Change for Publishing conference at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. The event took place in two connecting rooms; the welcoming room was dedicated to the history of publishing and the presentation room was the unveiling of the technology to bring publishers to the next chapter of their industry.
As part of the conference, Inkling employees worked the event as staff. The staff needed a uniform to tie (pun intended) the brand elements together and for guests to recognize the event staff.
Concept Design
Sketching
Pattern Making
Sewing/Construction
Color Matching
Fabric Selection
Design Process
Working closely with Inkling's CEO an d Art Director, I concepted and designed the staff uniforms for the event. We wanted our staff to look professional and approachable. The uniform had to also be on brand, unisex, convenient, and simple.
We decided on neckties in Inkling colors. To keep things simple, we chose three colors from Inkling's palette: green, blue, and yellow. The colors were also used in all printed collateral. I worked with the staff at Britex fabrics to match the three colors as close as possible. For the fabric, I chose a Kona cotton. Kona cotton is easy to work with and comes in many hues. For the lining, I chose a lightweight, white-checkered polyester that complimented the cotton. Matching thread and interfacing was also purchased.
I drafted a necktie pattern from an existing tie pattern. I made some adjustments to the length and width. I added a loop on the underside of the tie to keep it in place and together once it was tied. I made a total of 60 neckties - one for each employee working the event plus extra. Each employee wore a white button up shirt and dark pants. They chose which of the three necktie colors to wear. The Inkling employees loved the neckties and event guests found it easy to identify the staff.
About Tools of Change
Since 2007, the O'Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing Conference has been the seminal event for professionals and companies engaged with the challenges and opportunities of new publishing technologies and business models. This premier conference brings together smart, highly motivated people from a wide range of companies and organizations to discuss innovative business models, share hard-won knowledge, and explore the strategic objectives of an ever-changing industry.
Inkling's CEO Matt MacInnis presented Inkling Habitat at the O'Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing Conference.
