The naming and branding blog

Category / Tag: pop culture

“Skin Flik” launches, named by Igor

Posted: November 16th, 2011 by Steve | Filed under: pop culture, product names| No Comments

Because they are skins that change color with a flick of your finger across their surface. There was a second reason…but memory fades…

Happily, they use no power whatsoever from your portable device. It’s true. Highly reflective LCD technology.

Currently available for iPod Touch, coming soon for iPhone. Check out all the designs at the Improv Electronics site.

Skin Flik

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Stair Nomenclature

Posted: February 11th, 2011 by Steve | Filed under: language, pop culture| No Comments



EROTIC CAPITAL


Etymology of Car Names, part 71

Posted: November 4th, 2010 by Steve | Filed under: pop culture, product names| No Comments

The Ford Lincoln-Mercury Sable is:

“A personal conveyance named after its inventor, an assassinated ruler, a character from Greco-Roman myth and a small furry mammal.” – Beldar Conehead


Igor makes two appearances in current edition of Business Week

Posted: October 25th, 2010 by Steve | Filed under: Igor, company names, pop culture| No Comments

Welcome to the End of Days, as the final two signs of the Apocalypse were checked-off late last week. Igor’s own creative director Jay Jurisich spouts off in not one, but two articles in the current edition of BW.

“It’s the end of the world as we know it…”

Some of Igor’s latest work: DirecTV Audience network


Will Igor spin wildly out of control?

Posted: September 8th, 2010 by admin | Filed under: Igor, pop culture| No Comments

As if the naming industry wasn’t already overflowing with hot air, now there’s more on the way: Tropical Storm Igor forms over eastern Atlantic. Here is a high-tech graphic from the National Hurricane Center:

tropical storm Igor

Now we just have to hope that Igor (2010 Hurricane Edition), doesn’t go on a destructive rampage like his cousin Katrina did five years ago, or our name is mud. On the other hand…more name recognition!

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Kevin Costner’s oil spill clean up machine & patent

Posted: June 11th, 2010 by Steve | Filed under: company names, pop culture| 1 Comment

At Igor we deal with intellectual property rights every week as we search thousands of trademarks while naming products for our clients. It’s not enough to have a good idea, you need one that you can legally own.

Kevin Costner’s much publicized Ocean Therapy Solutions company developed a soon-to-be-implemented oil and water separation machine. BP has ordered 32 of them thus far to help deal with their latest environmental disaster.

You can view the patent filing, description and drawings for Costner’s oil spill clean up machine here. Click on the pic in the upper right corner to see the full diagrams.

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Babies, teddy bears and flowers!

Posted: May 27th, 2010 by Steve | Filed under: advertising, pop culture, taglines| No Comments

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Xfinity – a Dunder Mifflin idea

Posted: March 2nd, 2010 by Steve | Filed under: company names, name changes, pop culture, product names| No Comments

There has been much speculation and pontification on whence the name Xfinity came, but look no further than the looming Comcast-NBC merger. Whilst kicking the NBC tires, surely even a beast as slow-witted as Comcast fumbled across the NBC property ‘The Office”.

Dunder Mifflin logo

The Dunder Mifflin logo sports an infinity symbol

Xfinity is meant to signal Comcast’s foray into the future of high tech possibilities, while at Dunder Mifflin, “Infinity” is the name of the internal initiative to bring technology to the failing paper company.

Why would the comedy writers of “The Office” chose the name “Dunder Mifflin Infinity” for the high tech effort? Because it is silly, obvious, pitiful and ridiculous, in keeping with ambiance of the show.

The name was such a hit that DunderMifflinInfinity.com is the show’s official fansite.

In the second episode of the fourth season titled “Dunder Mifflin Infinity”, regional manager Michael Scott best summed up the idea of “Infinity” (or Xfinity, for that matter):

“Everyone always wants new things. Everybody likes new inventions, new technology. People will never be replaced by machines. In the end, life and business are about human connections. And computers are about trying to murder you in a lake. And to me, the choice is easy.”

“Comcast Xfinity. The possibilities are mindless”

Erotic Capital

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iPad v. iPod

Posted: January 30th, 2010 by Steve | Filed under: pop culture, product names| No Comments

In the Boston Apple store, how will they know if people are asking for an iPad or an iPod?

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Here comes the Judge

Posted: January 6th, 2010 by Steve | Filed under: advertising, language, pop culture, product names| No Comments

Paul Revere and the Raiders schilling for the ’69 Pontiac GTO Judge. The “Judge” name came from the popularity of “Here comes da judge!”, a cultural catch phrase made popular on “Laugh-In”.


The Igor-named “Aria” resort and casino opens its doors

Posted: December 15th, 2009 by Steve | Filed under: Igor, pop culture, product names| No Comments

Igor’s latest naming work, The MGM / Dubai World hotel and casino “Aria”, has its grand opening in Las Vegas tomorrow. This marks the fifth hotel thus far in Igor’s naming portfolio.

MGM Aria, Las Vegas

MGM Aria, Las Vegas

Via The Las Vegas Sun:

The centerpiece of CityCenter — the Aria Resort & Casino — will open Wednesday, marking a day of grand opening celebrations for the $8.5 billion project…

…The 4,004-room resort and casino will feature more than 150,000 square feet of gaming space, a 215,000-square-foot pool area with 50 cabanas and an 80,000-square-foot spa, the largest among MGM Mirage properties.

The resort also will include 10 bars and lounges, and 16 restaurants. Aria will be home to Cirque du Soleil’s newest show, “Viva Elvis,” which takes guests on a trip through Elvis Presley’s life and music, with first performances beginning Friday.

Until Wednesday, VIPs and company executives will be testing the waters at Aria, ensuring the resort is ready for its first public guests.

Don’t fret, we weren’t invited either.


“Spell My Finger” is a brilliant name for this video game.

Posted: November 24th, 2009 by Steve | Filed under: pop culture, product names| No Comments

But did they come up with the title or the game first?