Culture


Cat chillin in cat town
Monday, September 22, 20254 Steps to Creating a Strong Brand Message that Sticks

Brand messaging is about capturing just the right language that embodies your brand and makes it stand out from the pack. Here are three steps to get you there.

Cityscape focus
Tuesday, September 16, 2025The Secret to a Strong Branding Message? Focus.

In the mind of the customer, you get to be one thing. One. That matters because the customer's mind is where your brand lives. Not in your headquarters. Not on your website. Not in your PowerPoint deck. Here's how to make sure your message is memorable.

Message signal
Wednesday, September 10, 2025The AI Companies that win won't have the Best Tech—they'll have the Best Story

Your AI is brilliant. Too bad no one knows what it does or why it matters.

A vibrant city skyline reflects transformation, blending cool dawn blues with warm sunset hues, symbolizing reinvention and unity.
Tuesday, December 3, 2024Five Years. Five faces of reinvention.

5 years ago, we took a leap, pivoting to a Liquid Workforce model. The journey was tough, but reinvention led us to amazing places.

Kobe Bryant
Sunday, January 26, 2020Kobe's True Court Vision

In 2009, Traction was hired to launch Alibaba.com in the US. A few of us had the honor of being invited to see Kobe Bryant be interviewed about leadership by Jack Ma.

Friday, June 28, 2019This 4th of July, Give the Gift of Crap

Here comes the Amazing Crap-O-Matic Gift Generator: ’Murica Edition—just in time to celebrate our nation’s independence.

Monday, December 17, 20182018 Dumpster Fire Collectible Table Ornament

2018 has been such a tremendous year of human drama, that the Merriam-Webster dictionary added “dumpster fire” to their next edition.

Monday, October 22, 20182018 Midterms: Show up or Shut up

With the current polarizing political climate and midterms approaching quickly, everyone is talking about the future of our nation—but so far, it’s been mostly that: talk.

Rooftops in Cartagena
Tuesday, October 16, 2018Purpose, Politics, Disruption & Business Growth

Last week, I had the honor and good fortune to be invited to speak at the +CTG Latin American Summit (a.k.a. "Mas Cartagena").

Tuesday, September 19, 2017Re: Donuts, Risk Taking, & Being Irreplaceable

Adam has a chat with Bob Purcell, former CEO of Dunkin' Donuts, Noah's Bagels, E-LOAN, and 100% Pure (just to name a few).

Sunday, May 21, 2017Re: Story, Thinking, & "Oh Shit" Questions

Jenn Maer of IDEO talks about her background as a story/copywriter, IDEO's "design thinking" approach, and the big "oh shit" questions that they strive to answer.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017Why We're Offering Paid Leave for Activism

Introducing Days of Action.

Friday, October 14, 2016The Mainstreaming of Comic Culture

Comic books and graphic novels are enjoying a boom, with August 2016 hitting a 15-year distribution high since December 1996.

Friday, July 1, 201615 Years of Traction

Last week, Traction celebrated 15 years of history. When we started the agency in 2001, we were very humble in our ambitions.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016The Tale of Two Flags - A Foray into Vexillology

Until recently I didn’t know what vexillology was.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013'Tis the Season for Crap

Back by Popular Demand: The Amazing Crap-O-Matic Gift Generator.

Thursday, August 8, 2013Even Hold Music is Interactive

Here at Traction we pride ourselves on making the most of art and technology for our clients. We dig a little deeper. We look for opportunities for interaction where people don't normally look. Hold music for instance.

Monday, March 18, 2013The Winners and Losers of SXSW

Barbecue, cantankerous felines, food trucks, Al Gore, the fear of missing out, and the word "innovate" - Adweek breaks down the data on SXSW with this convenient infographic, including a quote from our very own Adam Kleinberg.

Monday, March 11, 2013The Last Word on SXSW Cat Stereotypes

Yes, it is true that we have been having some fun with SXSW and cat memes of late.

Monday, December 10, 2012Apocalymas — We're all Doomed! Happy Holidays

With the Mayan Calendar predicting an eminent galactic alignment signifying the possible end of days, Traction has created Apocalymas: a 12 day counting down to the end of the world... or maybe not.

Monday, September 24, 2012Hello Internet! A Presentation on Memes

Memes are important. Why?

Culture | Insights | Traction