meet sara.
Sara has now taken a pledge, and devoted her life to Plaid. She's the newest member of the Plaidalicious team, and makes the greatest agency in all of the land just a little bit sweeter.
Sara's got a really cool background. She's lived in Orlando, Miami, NYC, San Francisco, and now finds herself stuck in New England, with the rest of us. What better way to pass the time, than a career at Plaid.
Sara has joined us in the role of "Producer", even though we don't believe in titles around here. Her job role is to keep everyone happy. By making sure clients get what they need. And creatives have what they need. And that everything makes Plaid money.
Random things you probably didn't already know about Sara:
+ She likes the Gun Club and The Replacements
+ She survived a lightning strike
+ She's almost ten feet tall
+ Her sister is a model
Send Sara a big howdy at Sara (AT) thinkplaid (dot) com, or follow her on Twitter.
Welcome, Sara!!!
Labels: plaid
posted by darryl ohrt @ 9:03 AM
1 comments
"they don’t use social media in my industry"
I've heard that line countless times, as people read the hype, and don't realize how intertwined social media already is in our internet experience.
Think you work in a low tech industry that can't benefit? Like maybe fishing lures? Duct Tape Marketing has a great interview/case study for you. John Jantsch interviews Jason Brown, the founder of Brown Lures. Brown now has WAITING LISTS for his product.
Social media. Enjoyed everywhere, by everyone. Even fishermen dudes.
Labels: blogging, social media
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:44 AM
0 comments
hot to be a superstar
Advergirl has a sweet series of posts all about improving your career in the advertising industry. Most would apply to any industry - so pass them along to your friends.
Start at Advice for Newbies, or Advertising agency interview tips, or explore around on your own. And you don't have to be a girl to get in on the learning. Seriously great advice for any knowledge workers: man, woman, or elf.
My fave: Be as valuable your fifth year as your first year.
Labels: adindustry, productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM
0 comments
uniqlo t-shirt promo rocks. again.
Uniqlo, the greatest store in all of the land, has produced yet another awesome interactive piece to promote their new line of t-shirts. Users can sample "beats" made from clips of Uniqlo models, and put them together in a way that it creates an original loop.
The result is a never-ending loop, created by users. While listening/watching, you can vote on favorite loops - which then pushes more popular loops further forward in the "song".
This is amazing work on so many levels. Time to go t-shirt shopping.
Labels: fashion, Flash, japan, newyork, retail
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:29 AM
0 comments
mmmm. meatwater.
Brooklyn based designer/photographer Till Krautkramer has invented the most delicious and refreshing beverage ever: MeatWater.
MeatWater comes in all of your favorite flavors, including Beef Stroganof, Beef Jerky, Texas BBQ, and my favorite - Dirty Hot Dog. The same juice that powers the most awesome NYC hot dog carts. Mmmm. Get some. Pure parody fun. Found on Gothamist.
Labels: package design, parody, productdesign, typography, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:19 AM
0 comments
everything you ever needed to know about moleskines
Love Moleskine notebooks? As much as us? Want to try and bring them into your life? Wondering if you're addicted to them? Check out The Ultimate Guide to everything Moleskine.
Labels: productivity, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 9:21 AM
1 comments
stuff you can't do on an iphone
To showcase what you might be able to do with the new Motorola Z10 phone, agency Cake has produced a campaign that features a marriage proposal. A proposal shot and edited on the phone.
Oh yeah - the agency says that she said yes. I would assume that she called him to say yes, using a Motorola Z10.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 5:55 AM
0 comments
i see dead people.
Walters Schels and Beate Lakotta have produced a most unique exhibition. They've interviewed and photographed people whose lives were coming to an end. And then, photographed them after death, too. Like Heiner Schmitz, an advertising executive, pictured above.
At first, this is uber creepy, but then you realize that it's a window into the thing so many of us fear most. All of the subjects agreed to participate in the project, and wanted to share the story of their death.
An excerpt from the introduction on the website:
The majority of the subjects portrayed spent their last days in hospices. All those who come to such places realise that their lives are drawing to a close. They know there is not much time left to settle their personal affairs. Yet hardly anyone here is devoid of hope: they hope for a few more days; they hope that a dignified death awaits them or that death will not be the end of everything.
(Sorry to be such a downer.)
Labels: art, http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif, photography
posted by darryl ohrt @ 5:43 AM
1 comments
your logo needs to cost more than your lunch.
I always say that half of our job is education. And I love sharing, teaching and exploring with clients. After all - they don't have time for things like Twitter, Second Life or the latest branding trends.
But there's one thing that always gets under my skin. People's perception of logo value. I've been in countless situations, where an otherwise reasonable business person expects that a logo can be developed for $175. (As recent as last week!)
It's not their fault. They don't understand the time (or the life experience) that's devoted to the process of creating a new brand identity. They get it when it comes to sales collateral. Campaigns. Websites. Videos. But logos seem so simple and small, how difficult could they be?
Of course, we know better. So nothing but big smiles when I discovered this excellent post on why your logo should cost more than your lunch...
Labels: branding, design, identity
posted by darryl ohrt @ 5:35 AM
3 comments
do your retail stores scare germaphobes?
If you deal with the public, then you probably already know that they're all sticky, and carrying boogers on their fingers, and wiping untold things on your door handles, counters and products.
Some people don't like sticky, booger covered things. And that's created an opportunity for retail environments that can cater to the people with clean hands. Stores like Chick-fil-A are experimenting with new devices that will make life easier for this audience. Like L-shaped door handles.
Little things that make life easier make positive brand impressions. What can you do to cater to this growing, unsticky audience?
(Now excuse me...I just dropped an M&M on the floor, and I need to go find it.)
Labels: architecture, retail, trends
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:09 AM
3 comments
twitter from second life
Communicate with your friends who are on Twitter, while you're in Second Life!
Now you can use an old-school typewriter, from within Second Life, to type a message that gets published on Twitter. Once you hit enter, it publishes your 140 character or less masterpiece to the SLtypewriter Twitter stream.
I know! Who needs friends anymore? Or the outdoors? Starting next week, I'm officially becoming a pixel.
Labels: mashup, secondlife, social media, twitter
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:57 AM
1 comments
pixels are the new black
Pixels rock. And everyone says so. So, you should go out and get all pixeled up, right now.
If you're not man enough for a pixel tattoo, then check out the sweet pixel jewelry. Who cares if your mom doesn't understand it? That' the coolest mom's day gift ever. Or just enjoy the pixel perfect collection of pixel goodness that BuzzFeed has assembled for you. Mmmm. Pixels.
Labels: art, creativeinspiration, pop culture, trends
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:31 AM
0 comments
meet tomorrow's tech superstars
Wow. Noticed first by JJProjects.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:24 AM
0 comments
sun powered leds say light up the world
This massive light wall was built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Nothing you haven't seen before, until you learn...that the whole thing is powered by the sun.
Wow. Imagine Vegas, or Times Square - powered by the sun. Oh, the future is going to be a spectacular place. Sun powered, color changing cars. Entire streets as art projects. Roads that light up as you drive on them. And jetpacks will come in to play somewhere, I'm sure.
Labels: architecture, green, outdoor, technology
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:05 AM
0 comments
if you spent the weekend on your lawn, this post is for you
Ben Kunz points out that it's all about peer pressure. Peer pressure that's supporting a $57.9 billion industry of turf building. Supporting almost a million jobs. You work on your lawn, because you don't want to be "that guy" in the neighborhood. The one with the bad lawn.
In a way, that's what we're all supporting - not just in grass, but fashion, music, deodorant, real estate, automotive and consumer culture in general. All a part of a big peer pressure, branding machine.
Yikes, Ben. Thanks for pointing this out. Time to go paint my lawn black, and install some obnoxious yard art. Or, keep it all green, and support my brand industry. Damn. Now I'm more confused than ever.
Labels: branding
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:48 AM
4 comments
please, don't let this be true
The Animal reports that Shepard Fairey may be losing his eyesight, due to Diabetes. They claim that he could be legally blind by the end of the year.
Shepard's work is polarizing. He's been heralded as this generation's Andy Warhol, and he's been labeled a fraud, by people who believe he's borrowed elements of art from existing media.
He's garnered a new level of publicity this year, as he designed some of the most beautiful political posters that you ever laid eyes on.
And now, his own eyes may be failing. This would be sad news. Although if true, I know that Shepard's got a plan. He'll see things in different ways, crank the Obey machine into high high gear, and turn it into something that none of us can see today.
All the best, Shepard.
(photograph by Elizabeth Daniels)
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:30 AM
2 comments
this week at Plaid
Here's what happened this week at the world's most awesome design and branding firm:
Sara started! We'll formerly introduce her to you in a post next week. She's in the role of "producer", and basically keeps things moving, keeps people happy, and keeps our agency profitable. So we like her a lot.
Sara, Steph and RJ ordered business cards. We don't believe in titles at Plaid - so employees make up their own, when it comes to business cards. We've got some good ones in this batch:
Sara: Duchess of Awesome
Steph: Evil Genius
RJ: Assistant to the Director of Miscellaneous
I've also updated my title, to Internetologist.
Dave and I enjoyed a fun casting session for an upcoming video shoot. We met some pretty talented actors, and pushed them to their limits.
RJ went prop shopping, for a couple of shoots that are coming up. Which prompted a call from Citibank, about his new company credit card. "We've received a few suspicious charges on your card, that we'd like to confirm"
"A cupcake mousepad?"
"Security guard uniform?"
"Something from Woopass Enterprises?"
"A police radio?"
"Hotel room keychains?"
"Puma sneakers?"
We laughed as RJ confirmed the purchases to Citibank, and realized that wasn't even an unusual day of shopping at Plaid...just wait RJ.
David and Steph launched the first stage of the PlaidNation tour dashboard. This is where we'll broadcast every aspect of our upcoming Plaid summer tour.
Matt and Renato launched a video that we produced for crayon, and oovoo, to commemorate the MyooVooDay event that took place a few weeks ago.
Spring means the end of school - which brings happy and sad news. Katie has completed her internship at Plaid, and we'll be sad to see her leave. Although we did enjoy some vanillicious 'last day' cake (pic above). Katie doesn't do well with chocolate - so we baked a vanilla cake, with vanilla frosting, with a chocolate graphic. (And by "baking" we mean ordered it at a bakery.)
End of the school year also means graduation for former intern Brian Garofalo. Brian has done a plaid-load of cool things while at our agency, and even served as technical producer for last year's Plaid summer tour. We attended his portfolio show, earlier in the week. He'll be a real score, for any agency looking for new talent!
The weekend brings lots of grey skies. Just like every other day in New England. See ya next week!
Labels: thisweekatPlaid
posted by darryl ohrt @ 10:15 PM
0 comments
accidental branding: the "i didn't read it" review
Here's the thing. Publishers send us books all the time, for review on BrandFlakes. But I've sadly given up books for everything internet. There are some really, really hot books out there. Worthy of reviews. But there's only 24 hours in a day. And at least a few have to be devoted to sleep, for now.
So here's an attempt at a review, for a book that I haven't had time to read. I'll highlight the things that you might find helpful, if you're considering purchasing Accidental Branding.
But let me be clear: I didn't read this.
(All ratings are based on a 1 - 10 basis, 10 being "excellent.")
The book's concept: 9
How a handful of really cool people have built some very successful brands. Each chapter is devoted to another personality. Really, really cool people that you'd like to know more about - Craig Newmark (Craigslist), Gary Erickson (Clif Bar), Roxanne Quimby (Burt's Bees), and other super influential business people.
Cover design: 3
This one won't pop off the shelf. You've got to look for it. I would have given this a "2", but I'm in a good mood today.
Font size/typography: 6
Nothing uber creative, but nothing annoying or intimidating either. Clean layout, clean type, done well.
Pictures/info graphics: 0
No photos. No sexy info graphics. I think that's ok, given the subject matter. It's about the people, and their stories.
How it feels in your hands: 8
There are three kinds of books:
a) The kind that your English teacher assigns you to read, and is about 900 pages too long, and 43 pounds too heavy.
b) The pamphlet that's trying to pass as a book, but really isn't a book at all. It's a brochure.
Accidental Branding isn't either of these - it's a appropriately sized. Like a good book should be. The kind of book that feels good in your hands, after you've bought it. Your messenger bag will accept it, and it will feel just right to open, on a long train ride.
Other reviews that I would believe:
Greg Verdino
The Marketing Spot
ToddAnd
Scale of "I'd like to read it": 8
We can learn so much from others. Accidental Branding is chocked full of stories from people that you can't help to admire for their business and brand success. I swear that I intend to read this one. I just need a free weekend. Or a couple of nights...
Labels: books, branding, publishing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM
7 comments
how to send off an employee
When Art Director Tim Blount left Modernista, they sent him off with a video, to remember the good times. Not just any video. But a shot by shot remake of Journey's Separate Ways. Awesome.
Labels: adindustry, video, workplace
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:33 AM
2 comments
jetpacks just totally rock.
Not just for cool blogs. Some dude actually got to ride a jetpack, for a promotional stunt for the new movie, Iron Man.
Dude. The coolest stuff really does happen in Austin, Texas.
Labels: film, streetteams, stunts
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:15 AM
0 comments
when is your service not appropriate for ads?
So, you may or not know about this new personal cosmetic thing that's going on. If you're even slightly conservative in the sexual area, stop reading now.
Anal bleaching. (Here's a completely safe for work explanation) Invented first on the west coast (no surprise), and now it's in New York. Supposedly, there's only one anal bleaching provider (?) in all of New York City. And, he wants to spread the word about the services he provides.
People in NYC are getting upset. And they don't want to see ads with pics like the one above (from the Face to Face NYC website) on ads, on their streets. The campaign is currently running in gay magazines, posters, and phone booths (yeah, phone booths. they still exist).
My favorite quote from the TimeOut NY article: “There’s no market for anal bleaching on the Upper East Side, unless I’m in the dark.” Oh my.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:11 AM
2 comments
what people look like in denver
Someone once told me that one of the most read pages in Time Out is the person on the street interview. Where they choose a person off the street, ask them about their lives, and delve into their fashion.
The DenverEgotist points to TWO blogs that showcase street fashion, from Denver. Yeah, I know - I would have thought Denver to be more backwards than New England. But it turns out there are loads of cool people there. Check out The Streets of Denver and The Intersection, for proof.
Labels: fashion, newyork, trends
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:04 AM
1 comments
how to handle sex ed
How do you produce sex ed, without being stupid, still be relevant, and be entertaining in a cool way, not a "this is ridiculous" way?
Take Care Down There has done exactly that. Send the link to your teen. They've successfully covered the major topics in just enough detail, to answer any of those questions. Or to set straight some misconceptions.
And, you may learn something too! I learned a few new names for condoms. (Boner bucket. That's a good one.) From AdRants.
Labels: nonprofit, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:49 AM
0 comments
what if life were facebook
What if real life were more like Facebook? From Tim Brunelle, via Twitter.
Labels: facebook, social media, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:22 AM
0 comments
| Darryl Ohrt |
| David Plain |
| Justus Johnson |
| Rob Biddiscombe |
| Matt Hunsberger |
| Steph Fuda |
| RJ Fenn |
| Sara Champion |
| ATOM Site Feed |
