COOL PEOPLE: JAMES ROBERTSON

Hard Work is as COOL As It Gets

Our lives are interesting rollercoasters, aren’t they? It is easy to say that all we have to do in life is work hard and that through hard work, we will give our lives meaning. But what about when times get tough? What do you do then? Well, if you’re someone like James Robertson you find a way to keep going.

As a 56 year-old Detroiter, James has most likely had his fair share of hard times, but I’m not sure he was prepared for what was to come. You see he works at a factory in Rochester Hills, which is 23 miles away from his home. And up until about 10 years ago he would take his 1988 Honda Accord to work everyday; but that all changed when the car died on him.

Because of that James had to find another way to get to work, so he started using public transportation. Since the public transportation system could not take him all the way to the factory he worked at, he had to walk the remaining distance. “So what?” – You’re probably asking, “people walk to work all the time”. Well, as true as that may be I doubt they’re walking as much as he is. The closest he can get using public transportation is 10.5 miles. That means James is walking an extra 21 miles every weekday.

Now here at COOL Creative we like to celebrate amazing fashion, art, design, innovation, and such, but we also believe in celebrating amazing individuals. Individuals like James, that continue to show hard work, dedication, and passion for their work regardless of profession or how tough life is. We consider this as #CertifiedCOOL as it gets. Because even though he has to embark in such a journey every weekday he still maintains a perfect attendance record. He has never missed work. And even more so he never complains, simply stating that he can’t see himself not working.

Because of this, the Internet in all of its glory has banded together to create a kickstarer campaign to get him a car, and after only one day over $50,000 has already been raised. If you’d like to be a part of helping this hero of a man, just click here: http://www.gofundme.com/l7girc

The world needs more people like you, Mr. Robertson. You are an inspiration, and in our eyes, #CertifiedCOOL.

By: Oliver Pernt

See more COOL here

BRAND BUZZ : The New American Is Arriving!

In our last post, our new contributor Tymeco, asked the very important question,"When can a brand rebrand?" In this post we'll see a big brand that did.

By: Tymeco Pyles 

(our COOL new contributor!)

The airline that America has grown to know and love is undergoing a DRASTIC, INNOVATIVE, and BOLD change with their fresh approach on the flying experience. American Airlines has joined forces with US Airways, using the tagline “Two airlines coming together to make something better.” This massive move has sparked the rebranding of a small piece of history, since American Airlines has been around for nearly 80 years. Are you ready for the bright, new, modern American Airlines?

The redesigned American Airlines logo represents a number of things that are important to the company. They call it The evolution of an icon. According to their new website introducing the recent identity update, the fresh look symbolizes their passion for progress by incorporating the colors and symbols you've come to associate with American.

Reflecting the soaring spirit that is uniquely American, the new logo — the Flight Symbol — contains the eagle, the star, the "A," and refreshed shades of red, white and blue. Together, they represent a clean and modern update to the core icons of the company.

With such a dynamic change, there is bound to be some mixed reviews on the pioneering design. I stumbled upon an article in USA Today entitled: American Airlines’ New Look: 

Thumbs up or Down? The logistics of the article basically boiled down to this:

THE GOOD

1.    While it may not be as classic as the old one, it does bring some elements of the old into the new. If you look closely at the new logo, you can see the beak of the old AA eagle.

2.     The design and logo looks terrific. At first glance, the tail looked overwhelming but it's grown on the eyes and now it proudly shouts American.   

3.    It was hard to translate American Airlines' efforts to be at the forefront of technology and social media to their ancient, out-of-date branding. The new look will help align their brand identity with their newly-found innovative spirit.

THE BAD

3.    The minimizing of the "American Eagle" is a huge misstep in their brand identity. It has been such an icon for so long to minimize it to the degree that they did shows that they are disregarding those who have been loyal to the brand even through their worst years.

      Personally, we think its COOL and change is good. Just please take away baggage fees!

See more COOL here.

COOL PEEPS : THE KING

Martin Luther King was and still is one of the coolest people to live. Anyone confident enough to put themselves out there to promote virtues will always get cool points in our book. So here are some of the great MLK's most essential words of wisdom to marinate on.

WORK: All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.

LEADERSHIP: A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.

ETHICS: Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek. The time is always right to do what is right.

SERVICE: Life’s most persistent and urgent question is:  “What are you doing for others?”

JUSTICE: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

VALUES: If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values – that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION: Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love. Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.

THE END OF DISCRIMINATION: I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

VISION & PERSEVERANCE: I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. (From Dr. King’s final speech the night before his assassination).

BIG SHOUT:
Thanks to Mark Toth for pulling these great words of wisdom from MLK.
Thanks to H.Q. Roosevelt for the amazing photos!

See more COOL here.