Recently, 5-Trees LLC, a long-time client of the zen kitchen, decided to rebrand as Botsford EcoTech Partners, a move precipitated by founder Krista Botsford’s decision to move her practice to Nashua, NH from its Burlington, MA location. 

Botsford EcoTech Partners provides private consulting services, educational seminars, and an innovative web-based software solution to help technology companies navigate the ever-changing landscape of global environmental compliance. The brand needed to communicate not only the professionalism and considerable expertise that Botsford brought to the table, but also the approachability and down-to-earth attitude that Krista is known for.

Working with Krista, the zen kitchen created a logo, website and marketing materials (still in development) that focused on a clean, professional, but approachable look. The brand and accompanying website focuses on clean lines, white space, and easy access to key information - a must when communicating with an audience of engineers and top executives.

To visit the new Botsford EcoTech website and see the brand in action, visit BotsfordEcoTech.com.

The Savvy Gal’s Guide to Online Networking (or What Would Jane Austen Do?) provides tips, tactics and etiquette advice for businesswomen who want to build professional relationships through email, online networks, blogs, and message boards. Dani Nordin of the zen kitchen was among the many professional women building their business online. Buy the book here.

Verdant Computing, an online retailer of computer parts and accessories, had a different vision for a computer store - one where the products were powerful and intelligent, but also green. they needed a look that told the story, and a site that would not only showcase the products, but would educate consumers about the environmental impact of technology. They needed the zen kitchen. See the site.

Brenda Stanton, founder of The Modern Woman’s Toolkit, helps women create businesses around the lifestyles they love. To move to the next level, she needed help telling her unique story to the women who needed to hear it. the zen kitchen did just that. See the site.

Okay, so it’s not a HUGE mention, but I’m there: on page 80, in the article called In the Greener Good. I’m one of the various experts (I guess I’m an expert, anyway) that author Roberta Cruger quotes on the topics of green design and building a greener studio. Not too shabby!

The only quick correction I should note is that I’m not in Northampton, I’m in Watertown. But that’s okay - Northampton rocks.

Last week, I got the chance to chat with Kelle Sparta on her weekly podcast, Agent Roundup. Kelle, a business coach that helps real estate professionals create the life and career they love, uses the podcast to discuss a variety of issues important to brokers, from understanding the credit process to better help your clients to getting your own financial life in order. In the interview, I discussed the importance of building a strong personal brand outside the one handed to you by your firm, and the importance of finding and hiring the right design professional for your needs, rather than finding the person with the cheapest price (a habit I’ve seen bite people back a bit too many times). And, of course, I get to talk a bit about the zen kitchen’s favorite subject, green design.

To listen to the podcast, visit www.agentroundup.com. Let me know what you think!

The logo for Branches Fine Gifts, created by the zen kitchen, was featured among 2000 other logo designs from top design firms around the world in Rockport Publishing’s LogoLounge III: 2,000 International Identities by Leading Designers. available now.

AMS Communications, a public relations firm based in Bedford MA and headed by PR veteran Annmarie Seldon, contracted the zen kitchen to design an identity package and website for both AMS Communications and for trendymommies.com, a style blog for moms which is currently in development. Seldon’s firm specializes in media relations and strategic communications for consumer clients, with specialized expertise in pregnancy and child-related products.