NAMES, especially brand names and company names, evoke a certain feeling or reaction. They are either intriguing, welcoming, innovative, to the point or just plain bland. A good brand name sets a foundation on how a company is perceived. When you hear the word Apple it’s interesting that you don’t think of the fruit much anymore, but the tech giant founded by Steve Jobs and Mike Wozniak. You think of quality computers, phones, operating systems, and other fun and innovative gadgets. That is extremely strong branding. But “Apple” has nothing to do with the products they sell. The rumor is that Jobs came up with the name after a visit to an apple orchard because it sounded “fun, spirited, and not intimidating.(1)”  I thought it was because of Isaac Newton and the infamous revelation of the laws of gravity since Apple’s first logo was a picture of Newton sitting under an apple tree. Apple = innovative thought. But it turns out to be much simpler than that.

For the purposes of this blog, I racked my brain on a catchy, thoughtful and purposeful name (with metasearch in mind). The word “design” was to be at the core of the name so that it could show up in searches. Since I am a designer and that’s what I do, it made sense that it should be a part of the name. Not to bore you with all the details, but a lot of the names I wanted were already taken. (There’s metasearch in action for you!) I also have the support of a wonderful girlfriend whom I was able to bounce ideas off of. Collaboration is key in this business! I want this blog to survive post design school so it was crucial to have a name I liked and can stick with for the long term.

I also wanted my last name in the title. There’s only about a billion Joneses in the world, but I think it’s a good name with a strong branding of its own (“Keeping up with the Joneses,” anyone?). Lastly, I wanted to evoke a business in the name. So if I decide to become a full-time freelancer, I’ve got that covered. I like words that pertain to industry and the glory days of manufacturing when quality was the norm not the exception. The word “Works” came to mind, and in adding this word to Jones Design it became a double entendre which sealed the deal for me. You can read the name two ways “Jones Design Works” (company) and “Jones Design Works” (it’s good design that works). And I suppose a third: “These are the works of Jones Design.”

And that’s how this blog got its name.

(1) How Did Apple Computer Get Its Brand Name? by Steve Rivkin https://www.brandingstrategyinsider.com/2011/11/how-did-apple-computer-get-its-brand-name.html#.WI52u0UrJPM