Community Topics
I'd like to welcome Clara and Katarina, the Design in Transit duo, to Los Angeles, California and the US of A.
These two adventurous ladies are here from Germany, taking a tour of the west coast and hoping to gain graphic design experience in the process. About a month ago, they emailed from Germany to set up a time to come by and get a tour of Studiofluid on their arrival in L.A.
So far we've collaborated on an advertising campaign, shared a few meals together, and I've pointed some cool design highlights to check out in Los Angeles. Next week I think we're going together to check out the Echo Park Time Travel Mart for some packaging and general design awesomeness inspiration.
I've also introduced the DIT ladies to a few other design firms in the area that might be interesting for them to visit. If you're in Los Angeles, San Francisco or maybe even Portland and you want to collaborate with Design in Transit, they'd love to hear from you. To invite them out for some good American beer or just say hello, you can get in touch at: designintransit @ hotmail dot de — and tell them Studiofluid sent ya.
POSTED ON Monday, October 12, 2009
FILE UNDER: Community, Design, Friends, Ideas, News & Notable
The design work we've been doing for the Pasadena Symphony is starting to pop up throughout Los Angeles. Right now, the Metro Rail Gold Line that connects Union Station to Sierra Madre is running the "Take Your Ears Out for the Evening" ad campaign, announcing the 2009-2010 Symphony Classics.
Photo courtesy of Tim Harwick.
POSTED ON Monday, October 5, 2009
FILE UNDER: Community, Design, News & Notable, Projects
The Pasadena Wine Festival is less than 2 weeks away, and since Studiofluid handled the event branding and web design, we've got a special treat for you…
We're giving away:
Two Free Weekend Passes!
Good for Saturday and/or Sunday October 3 & 4, 2009. The event will be at the beautiful L.A. County Arboretum, from 4:30-10p both days. These passes are going for $170, so here's your chance for the hookup!
How to Enter:
Post to twitter starting with "I want #pasadenawinefest tix"… followed with your best reason. The winner will be selected (based on creativity) and announced on the morning of Monday 9/28. We'll be in touch to for mailing address, comp passes will go out via priority mail the same day.
Good luck!
POSTED ON Monday, September 21, 2009
FILE UNDER: Community, Friends, News & Notable, Projects
This week the Pasadena Star-News ran a story on the Pasadena Symphony and POPS and how they're overhauling their brand strategy and visual identity. Studiofluid has been right in the middle of that process for the last couple months—partnering with the Symphony to design their new logo, season booklet, stationery and new web site—so I joined them for the interview and small photo shoot.
When it came time to speak about the brand strategy and our results, I had the floor for a few minutes to articulate our process and share about our new branding results. And what made it into the final piece?
I'm credited with saying “really cool.”
Probably did, too.
POSTED ON Friday, September 18, 2009
FILE UNDER: Community, Friends, Projects, Recognition, Studiofluid
The Pasadena Wine Festival is being billed as the largest lifestyle event of its kind. Festival goers will enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the Los Angeles Arborateum, sample wines and gourmet foods from around the globe, and experience lifestyle points of interest such as travel, leisure activities, cooking and entertaining.
Studiofluid developed a visual identity that captures the energy of the festival, and connects with the sophisticated yet fun-loving audience that will attend. Moving forward, we're building a multimedia marketing campaign to solidify event sponsors and attract attendees from Pasadena area as well as all parts of Southern California. Our advertisements for the festival have run in Pasadena Magazine and Los Angeles Magazine among others, and we've worked with sponsors such as Coffee Bean, Whole Foods, Rusnak Mercedes-Benz and KPCC to provide valuable brand exposure and make this event a success. The web site integrates with Paypal to accept credit cards and process ticket sales online. Using a sign up form, we've tied in the client's Constant Contact database to send out email newsletters to interested visitors.
Make sure you mark October 3rd & 4th on your calendar and reserve your tickets today! All ticket sales from the Pasadena Wine Festival will benefit the Pasadena Symphony Association in support of the cultural arts.
POSTED ON Wednesday, September 16, 2009
FILE UNDER: Branding, Community, Food & Beverage, Print Design, Web Site Design
I was recently contacted by Sabrina Vega to be a part of her online / book project. The image above is my postcard submission to her project, which is this:
“A couple of years ago in 2006 , right after I graduated from Texas State University, I had the idea to collect my name, Sabrina in every shape and form I could think of…”
Working on my submission was a rewarding experience—in particular getting my hands dirty with a soft pencil to fill in the background.
I was honored to be included among some high profile contributors such as Milton Glaser, Stafan Sagmeister, and Gary Baseman. I think my favorite is done by Kim Robertson, who created an anagram our of Sabrina's first and last names, turning it into "A Bar in Vegas."
Thanks Sabrina, and good luck with your book!
POSTED ON Thursday, June 18, 2009
FILE UNDER: Community, Design, Friends, Ideas, News & Notable, Projects
Over at the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, a group of entrepreneurs contributed their best strategies for staying focused and getting things done.
Ben's idea is featured at #10.
Here's a link the the Freedom App, which is highly recommended for those of you on the Mac.
POSTED ON Wednesday, May 27, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Community, Ideas, News & Notable, Productivity, Studiofluid
April 27th. Yes, today is the day we've been waiting for.
A wonderful day dedicated to celebrate the profession of graphic and communication design. And by celebrating, I mean that we're putting the finishing touches on some client work and drafting some new proposals.
Unfortunately I see no mention of it in our AIGA Los Angeles chapter.
And today is the 15th anniversary. Who knew? Now we do.
POSTED ON Monday, April 27, 2009
FILE UNDER: Community, Design, Ideas
It's been a flurry of activity around here. I just finished renovating my live/work space and my new office looks great and functions even better. I'm looking at a photo shoot soon so I can post some here.
Our clients are great folks. I'm continually amazed and blessed by high caliber people that I get to partner with on a daily basis. Currently we're working on:
Identity and Retail Packaging for a healthy snack food company. Can't say a whole lot about that one now, but we're stoked about everything is coming together.
Branding and Website for the Pasadena Wine Festival which will be held at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden this fall. Our site will handle ticket sales and event sponsorship. All ticket sales from the event benefit the Pasadena Symphony.
Branding and Website for a remodeling company. We're helping the owner connect with his clearly defined target audience in Southern California. His website includes a content management system (CMS) and will clearly communicate their commitment to quality, community focus, and will encourage visitors to get in touch for a free estimate.
And a few more are in the pipeline, but it's a bit too early to say...
POSTED ON Thursday, April 16, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Community, Design, News & Notable, Projects, Studiofluid
Trendwatching has an interesting article about how more people are taking entrepreneurial steps to supplement their income. Keep scrolling, there are a lot of solid ideas and unique business models made possible through our increasingly connected world.
POSTED ON Monday, April 6, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Community, Ideas, News & Notable, Technology
Jessica Helfand and William Drenttel put together a short film posted on the AIGA site (American Institute Graphic Arts) based on her thought provoking text on the presence and pervasiveness of Graphic Design in our world.
“…Graphic design is the boldly directional arrows on street signs and the blurred, frenetic typography on the title sequence to E.R. It is the bright green logo for the New York Jets and the monochromatic front page of the Wall Street Journal. It is hang-tags in clothing stores, postage stamps and food packaging, fascist propaganda posters and brainless junk mail…”
Graphic Design is deeply rooted in the past and the meaning we've assigned to images and symbols over many centuries. Understanding and reinterpreting those meanings is one aspect of graphic design that I find so fascinating.
POSTED ON Tuesday, March 31, 2009
FILE UNDER: Community, Ideas, News & Notable, Technology
If you've got a great idea for a business, but and you're not quite sure what the next step would be, make sure you check out the resources available to you at SCORE.org (Service Corps of Retired Executives). In partnership with with the SBA (Small Business Administration), SCORE is a nationwide network of volunteers who have made their mark in the business world and desire to give back to the community by helping emerging entrepreneurs.
“Surround yourself with gray hair and listen.”
Those are some of my favorite words* to live by, and for business guidance, the wisdom is accessible to you. If you're located in Southern California, you'll want to check out SCORE Los Angeles with headquarters in Glendale and other branches across the city. There you can sign up for free individual counseling sessions with a retired entrepreneur, who can help with writing a business plan, walk you through funding options, or answer questions specific to your business.
SCORE also offers helpful workshops on a variety of topics, at a bargain price of $25-35 per session. I continue to attend the workshops because I usually walk away with something useful, and it is a great way for me to stay tuned to the pulse of the entrepreneurs that Studiofluid regularly helps.
And a bonus for the ladies out there, make sure to check out Ladies who Launch. I've got a few friends who enthusiastically recommend that one as well.
* First heard by twin filmmakers Noah and Logan Miller.
POSTED ON Friday, March 20, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Community, Ideas, News & Notable
At Startup Weekend Los Angeles, my team developed "Yummyware" in less than 48 hours from concept to working prototype. Our inspiration came from the real-world frustrations of one of our team members who works for Hotcakes Bakes, a bakery here in Los Angeles.
Yummyware is a simple, internal software solution for Bakeries that streamlines custom orders, while keeping things organized from production through delivery.
ABOVE: Yummyware branding and customized login screen.
ABOVE: Daily view shows projects to be completed and employee messages.
ABOVE: All orders available at a glance by week.
ABOVE: Order form tailored by each bakery, and helps capture detailed information with custom orders.
We developed Yummyware for Hotcakes Bakes as the prototype customer, with the ability to scale the product and sell it as a monthly subscription service to Bakeries and other confectioneries in need of simple customized management help. (Just get in touch if you would like to license the product).
I worked with a team of 6 entrepreneurs to push out a working version during our weekend. I led the software architecture, user interface, visual design, product naming and logo design. My teammates built the database, implemented the HTML/CSS, proposed a business and marketing plan, led the pitch presentation and made valuable contributions to the UI and product as a whole. Many thanks again to teammates Talya, Tracey, Madeline, Craig and Joel. You guys rock!
Like Hotcakes Bakes, it is all too common for entrepreneurs possess a unique skill or product, while being unable to convert it into a successful business—failing to consistently deliver a quality product at a profit. By implementing a reliable, repeatable, streamlined system (like Yummyware) a skilled artisan/craftperson/hobbyist can make the leap to thriving business owner.
If a simple, customized solution sounds like something that could benefit your small business, get it touch. We'd love to hear from you and help you become profitable.
POSTED ON Tuesday, March 3, 2009
FILE UNDER: Business, Community, Design, Ideas, Technology
Each year, Studiofluid makes a point to close the doors and head down and be a part of the action on the corner of Fountain and Edgemont. See, every year Hope International holds the East Hollywood toy giveaway, and each year the place packs out with scores of kids and lines wrapping around the block. Last year, we had 950+ show up. No advertising, no flyers, just good ol' fashioned word of mouth.
There are plenty of ways to pitch in, but I've had the pleasure of photographing as my regular job. In 2006, we photographed all 655 kids on their way out the door, moments after receiving their loot (Some favorites are posted over at Flickr).
Seeing those faces. Sharing the joy and meaning of Christmas with a bunch of kids who wouldn't probably have much of one otherwise. Wouldn't miss it.
POSTED ON Friday, December 19, 2008
FILE UNDER: Community
