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Your Silent Messenger Growing up, I recall the cold visages of winter in Michigan. Steel, monochromic skies forced me to remain inside watching the warm colors of the crackling fire in the hearth. Eventually, cabin fever would set in - specially mid-February- when there wasn't a blade of grass in sight and I'd be forced to don 3 layers of tights and socks, hand-me-down long underwear, an ugly black snowmobile suit, scarf, gloves and mittens (yes, both!) and a ski-hat. Near the barn where it was quiet, I'd lay on my back in the snow swinging my arms and legs like a wooden marionette doll, leaving an iconic trace of my version of a snow angel. With my face to the sky, I'd imagine the cirrus clouds above were a warm sandy beach waiting for me to leave my transient mark with bare feet. We all enjoy leaving our marks behind, believing we can add mystery beyond the mundane. Some marks are more permanent and symbolic, created by native people, such as those who reside within the circumpolar region of our Earth, the Inuit. While in Canada for a short stint last month, I grew to understand more about the community of Inuit. I learned that the Inuit built symbolic landmarks call Inukshuks (pronounced IN-OOK-SHOOK) meaning "in the image of man", silent messengers of the Arctic. Magnificent lifelike figures of stone which were erected by the Inuit throughout the Millennia, they stand along Canada's most northern shores, and are unique to the Canadian arctic. Moving into the third Millennium, they also stand as eternal symbols of leadership, encouraging the importance of friendship, and reminding us of our dependence on one another. Originally, they were built as landmarks to aid in navigation, acting in the place of a human messenger, supporting survival, giving direction, leadership to all who pass them on the vast, featureless tundra of the great Arctic. The Inukshuks are a nuanced, complex, and vital form of communication and were traditionally used by the Inuit to help in hunting Caribou. From a distance these cairns resembled a human form, and were built of large stones, placed in lines on the top of hills on either side of a narrow valley. Other similar stone structures were objects of veneration, indicating places of power or the abode of spirits. In the Baffin region, the traditional meaning of an Inukshuk has to do with direction. An Inukshuk on land with two arms and legs means there is a valley, and at the end of the valley, you are able to go in two directions. The same Inukshuk near the sea means there is a channel, and at the end of the channel, you will be able to go in two directions. An Inukshuk on land with no arms, but both legs, means one-way passage. The same Inukshuk by the sea means there is a channel that allows for a one-way passage. An Inukshuk with no arms and legs is simply a guide for a hunter in unknown territory. My favorite arrangement is the directional "deconfusers"; windows framing significant places. As you peer through the framed window that resides inside the rock figure, you'll see additional formation of rocks simply lined that lead you on a path to the heart of a community. Today, the Inukshuk has been adopted as a symbol to remind us of our dependence on each other. It says, "I've been here before and you're on the right path." This is where ECS|DC emerges as your guide, as your deconfuser for your company's identity. Your logo and branding are your silent messengers when you're not around. Because you cannot be everyplace at once, your identity continues to speak to others, informing them of your company's position, products, or services. Consistency is vital to your identity and your position in the marketplace should exalt vitality and defy the stereotypical, mundane, monochromic marks of your competitors. As your creative partner, ECS|DC can aid your journey as directional deconfuser for your company. As the Inukshuk remind us, we've been here before and you're on the right path. |
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 If you'd like to learn more about how a silent messenger can be applied as part of your design thought strategic planning process, contact Lisa Stewart. |
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