AIGA Charlotte

TALKabout: Recounting The Aaron Draplin Experience

Thu, 23 May 2013 08:53:00 -0400

On Thursday, May 16, 2013 AIGA Charlotte & Skookum Digital Works co-hosted a TALKabout with Aaron Draplin from Draplin Design Co. Rhonda Sergeant, VP of Communications for AIGA Charlotte, recounts the evening.

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Face-To-Face With A Celebrity Designer
Months ago, when AIGA Charlotte & Skookum Digital Works began talks to bring Aaron Draplin to Charlotte for a TALKabout, I did what I am sure a lot of people did: I got giddy that a big celebrity designer was coming to inspire our community.

I think we all tend to get a little starstruck when meeting designers that have been written up in big publications like Communication Arts or have widely successful brands like Field Notes but after meeting Aaron Draplin I realized that he’s just a regular guy who has amazing talent, works really hard, and really loves his parents. Imagine that.

Humble In The Beginning, Humble Today
Aaron started out like a lot of us. He didn’t really know what he wanted to do with his life and worked hard to figure it out. Along the way he designed stuff he was proud of (and probably some he wasn’t) and just kept moving forward. There is no one client that put him on the map or one project that changed the way he worked or the size of DDC.

Over time he’s made a name for himself and done some great work that has allowed him to earn enough money to take care of himself, his parents and whoever else he comes across. In other words, he’s just a regular guy.

Who Doesn’t Love A Good List?
For those who saw the presentation or frequent Aaron’s site, you know he loves lists. So, here are a few of my favorite observations/quotes from the evening, in list form:

-This was one of AIGA Charlotte’s best attended events in the 13-year history of the chapter.

-The food was really, really good. Common Market really outdid themselves. That pimento eggplant toasted thingy? Yum!

-Although Draplin has given this talk countless times (almost 30 in 2013 alone), it still feels really fresh. It was humorous, emotional, interesting and—of course—inspiring.

-“F*ck purple.” He really doesn’t like purple.

-I had heard about how much he loved to cuss so I thought it would be fun to try to count how many swear words he said. I stopped counting when it hit 60 during the two-hour presentation.

-“It’s not about bigger and bigger,” in reference to why he doesn’t grow DDC.

-I really enjoyed how unapologetically he adores his parents. Also, they seem pretty cool based on the stories he told.

-“I know how you vote down here.” He said it so many times someone in the audience felt the need to defend us.

-He loves the little guy. Just see the awesome work he’s done for brands like Cobra Dogs.

-“My friends want to go to India. I want to go to Indiana.” He said this when talking about his love of road trips in a van.

-There are parts of his presentation that he wants to keep under wraps (no recording, no Tweeting.) I really hope people respect his request because if they do it means even if someone does a ton of googling before seeing him speak, there will still be some surprises. In this day and age, that’s kind of cool.

-Like touring isn’t enough, he actually makes a poster for each state he tours to. The NC one is on my wall as I compose this.

At the End of the Night
I also had the pleasure of sitting across from him at dinner after the event where he continued to win me over by showing me pictures on his phone of his nephew’s birthday party and a giant color-spectrum afghan his mom made him and sharing stories about his perfect idea of a guy’s weekend, which was visiting the World’s Longest Yard Sale. Like I said, he’s just a regular guy.

AIGA Charlotte would like to thank CRAFTED for all the promotional materials for this event, including the banner at the top of this post.

AIGA Charlotte is Stepping Up its Design for Good Efforts

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:04:47 -0400

I just wanted to take a minute and introduce myself, as well as, talk a bit about some of the exciting initiatives AIGA Charlotte has around the corner. My name is John Fuller, and I am the new Design For Good Director for AIGA Charlotte. Design for Good is a platform for applying design thinking to social change. The Design for Good platform creates opportunities for designers to build their practices, raise their visibility in the community, and make a positive impact. We will connect and empower designers through tools, case studies, events, training and resources.

For additional information on Design for Good take a look at this video, produced by dress code, and hear from members of the design community about the importance of design thinking to solve many of the problems facing our society today. Learn how you can make a difference in your local community, your company, and the world.

We are here to help. I would love to chat with you about any social projects you may currently be working on, or any projects you are interested in getting started. Please reach out to me. In addition, the list below contains some resources, templates, and possible funding sources to help get your project off the ground.

Resources

Organizations - A brief list of organizations with existing programs. Look for some new programs from the AIGA Charlotte Chapter soon.
Learning Opportunities - Find a training resource or workshop to get you started.
Looking for Funding? Here is a list of potential funding sources.

Survey
Please take a moment and fill out this survey about our Design for Good initiatives. Your answers will help to guide us in how to best use our Design for Good resources, and provide you the tools you need to be successful.

Thanks, as always, for your support of AIGA Charlotte.

AIGA Charlotte Member Spotlight: Sally Jenkins

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 23:23:38 -0400

Sally Jenkins is a Charlotte graphic designer and the owner of page2studio, a firm she founded in 2010. Visit her site at page2studio.com. She has been an AIGA member since 2009.

Where are you from?
I am a true Charlotte native. My parents still live in the same house in Myers Park to which I was brought home as a baby. Thirty years ago their neighborhood was “transitional” so it’s been very interesting to see what it has become today. When we moved back after college, my husband and I bought a house in the Chantilly neighborhood, which I didn’t know even existed growing up. It’s a totally different city over here, with such a vibrant community of young people and a great urban feel. It definitely feels like the right place to be creative and inspired. And who knows what it will look like in thirty years?

What attracted you to the design profession?
I have been an artist since I was 4 years old. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t creating something on paper. But my type-A side knew that I wouldn’t be a great starving artist, so in high school my dad found several local designers for me to follow around for an afternoon. I knew then that graphic design would be the perfect marriage of creativity and business for me. Someday, I would like to get back to the canvas again and see what my style looks like after so many years of computer-based design.

If you could be any super hero (existing or new), who would you be and why?
I would be a mix between Superman and Elastigirl (from the Incredibles). I started my own business to be able to keep my creative profession going while also being a great mom to my two kids, who are 5 and 2.5. But that means that every day I am in and out of the phone booth every couple hours, and often every couple minutes, putting my Mom cape on, then my Designer cape, all day and night. I feel pulled in all directions 24/7 maintaining this “balance.” But when I look back on this time later, I know I’ll be glad that I was able to maintain this creative part of myself while still being very involved in my kids’ childhoods. And my kids will see me doing a job that I love that also challenges me every day.

What would people be surprised to know about you?
I do all of this with no coffee. I’ve never had a single cup, it just tastes bad to me. I recently took up green tea just for the caffeine, but I mostly rely on the little sleep I get, the support of my amazing husband and friends, prayers, and adrenaline to get me though each day.

What are you currently working on?
I am working on the packaging for a new kid’s granola bar that will be hitting shelves later this year. It’s been a great branding project for me, involving lots of research into competitors, messaging hierarchy, and the nuances of packaging design. Many of my clients are start-ups who come to me with a great idea and the need for their product or company to fit appropriately and attractively into the right marketplace niche. I love being able to give them the confidence to grow their brand.

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 About AIGA Charlotte’s Member Spotlight

 Each month AIGA Charlotte interviews a selected AIGA Charlotte Member. It is a great opportunity for the Charlotte design community to see who AIGA Charlotte is along with all the amazing things our members are doing. If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed and appear on AIGA Charlotte’s Member Spotlight, please contact Patrick Saleeby, Membership Director.

2013 AIGA Charlotte Board Nominations

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 23:11:00 -0400

You may attend AIGA Charlotte events regularly. You may have volunteered a couple times in the past. You may have even been involved as a mentor in our Mentorship program. You’ve been drawn to Charlotte’s design community over time, and find yourself with a continued drive to do more, become more involved, and make more of a difference. If this sounds like the energy and passion you’re looking to provide, and if you are wanting to become more involved with our chapter, AIGA Charlotte wants you!

We invite you to become more engaged with AIGA Charlotte as we begin the election process for our next Board of Directors. We are seeking dedicated design professionals with a passion for advancing our craft and strengthening our creative community. We are looking for folks who crave being involved in something much larger than their daily routines and everyday work tasks. Join our Board of Directors and you too can help mold and shape the future of AIGA Charlotte.

To nominate yourself, or someone else, please send an email to AIGA Charlotte’s President, Kevin Brindley. Include the name of the individual, their email address and phone number, and either a brief statement sharing why you’d like to join AIGA Charlotte’s Board of Directors, or a short recommendation of why the person you are nominating is a good candidate. You do not need to nominate an individual for a specific position. AIGA Charlotte’s Nominating Committee will be tasked with matching nominees to appropriate positions.

Nominees will then be contacted by a Board representative and asked to participate in an informational interview session towards the end of May or first week of June. At this session, current Board members will discuss our Board of Director positions and the responsibilities attached to those roles. Nominees will participate in informal discussions with current Board members to help determine the best fit for each nominee.

To be eligible, individuals must be an active member of the Charlotte Chapter of AIGA and must be good stewards of AIGA’s Standards of Professional Practice.

If you have any questions about the responsibilities of being a Board member, please contact AIGA Charlotte’s President, Kevin Brindley.

The nominations close May 15th.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Domtar & AIGA Charlotte: Part Deux

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:16:00 -0400

We at AIGA Charlotte couldn’t be happier to announce that Domtar has agreed to come on as a Chapter partner for another year. Their contribution enables us to continue to provide inspiring events for the AIGA Charlotte community. We’ve asked Ashley Maydak, Domtar’s Sustainable Business & Brand Management Graphic Designer & Web Specialist, to fill us in on what they are up to as a company and to talk a little about what the partnership means to them.

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What’s New
Domtar is North America’s largest marketer of uncoated printing paper and a leader in environmentally responsible practices. We’re committed to the responsible use of paper, but we’re also committed to communicating paper’s place and value to the businesses and people that use our products everyday. Of all those people, we consider designers to be one of the most important. We understand that designers do more than just make pretty things. Designers play a huge role in communicating important messages to the world and we’re proud to have our products in the equation. Our year as an AIGA Charlotte Chapter Partner has given us a front row seat to this innovative group of individuals and allowed us to better understand the unique struggles and joys faced by this group.

Recently, we’ve launched our Cougar Paper Community, a gathering space for dreamers and doers. On a regular basis for many years, we’ve received incredible printed pieces from designers and printers from all over the United States and Canada. Recently, we decided to give these pieces a home online so we could share them with the world. Even though the site is brand new we’ve already received a large number of incredible submissions and we’d love to receive some from the Charlotte design community.

Our Partnership
Being partners with AIGA Charlotte encouraged us to get more involved with the organization as a whole. Last October, we were honored to be the paper sponsor for the GAIN: AIGA Design for Social Value conference in San Francisco, CA. Helping AIGA to promote design and the life-changing impact it can have all over the world was a wonderful experience.

We’re also incredibly excited to facilitate AIGA Charlotte’s relationship with one of the city’s local agencies, Eric Mower and Associates. In early June, Domtar will sponsor a Meet Your Neighbor event held at the EMA offices lead featuring Partner/Creative Director Patrick Short. (Keep an eye out on aigacharlotte.org/events in the next couple weeks.) Patrick is part of the ultra-creative team responsible for the development of Domtar’s PAPERbecause campaign. In addition to generating meaningful ads for us, they’re also always on the lookout for innovative ways to promote the campaign (most recently at SXSW with the Paper Hotspot.)

We couldn’t be more thrilled with their work.

Domtar is incredibly excited about what year two of our AIGA Charlotte chapter partnership holds. This group works tirelessly to make sure their events are engaging, useful and inspirational. So if you haven’t joined the organization, please consider doing so. I look forward to seeing you at the next event!

AIGA Charlotte Member Spotlight: Andrew Lichtenhan

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 21:09:00 -0400

Andrew Lichtenhan is a Graphics Coordinator and Technical Writer at Wix Filters. An AIGA member since 2012, he also takes on freelance work via Tall Oaks Design.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I dislike the use of a Mac for my design and computing devices. I build my own PC Desktops, use an Android phone, and my tablet of choice (should I ever own one) would be a Nexus 7 or 10. It’s not that I dislike Apple products, but they do not for the money make technical sense for my experience, skills, preferences, and uses. I also do not use a Wacom tablet at all. My justification: play Counterstrike for a good number of years and see just how accurate and controlling you become with a mouse. While on that note, I loathe the Magic Mouse. I have to have real buttons.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

I would say either film-making or video game design. I have a lengthy background in music (both writing and playing many instruments), photography, art, writing, technology, and storytelling. Those two fields I see many of my skills coming together for large collective projects. Those two media outlets also are the largest sector of entertainment now in our culture. I am amazed how much they borrow from and bridge one another.

What’s one goal (professional or personal) you have for the future?

I feel a position such as an art or creative director would be fantastic. I always felt that my very expansive and diverse learning habits, along with my multi-levels of creativity along many fields, are in ways cultivating me into such roles. I feel in many situations in working on teams (when I have the privilege) that I had a gift of bringing out the best of ambition and skill in my teammates. Outside of work for my personal life, I would love to have the woodworking and carpenter skills that my father and great-grandfather have shown. Time will tell for all, but many dreams exist far and in between.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

When you critique, never use the words “like” or “love.” When I was in school I had some great faculty personally instruct this concept. Their point was that when you use such wording or thought processes you are letting a personal bias cloud your viewing and critiquing of the work. This goes not just for design, but artwork and contextual creativity as a whole among many other fields. I realize that I will always have some bias, but that instructed concept helps me step back further than I might not have before and see a work’s effectiveness—even if my personal dislikes are prevalent. When applied to my design, and tastes beyond that for that matter, that piece of advice helps me pinpoint a more effective viewing and appreciation for what a work stands for in and of itself.

What sound or noise do you love?

I have a few that always come to heart and mind. A loud rain or storm echoing through a chambered room; the ocean roar and blowing breeze; those are a few that might sound a bit more cliché. More to my own tastes I’d say I love the rumbling idle-purr and redline roaring of a classic American muscle V8. On a sillier note, the landing noise of a Type 40 Tardis whose pilot leaves the brakes on makes me smile every time.

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 About AIGA Charlotte’s Member Spotlight
 Each month AIGA Charlotte interviews a selected AIGA Charlotte Member. It is a great opportunity for the Charlotte design community to see who AIGA Charlotte is along with all the amazing things our members are doing. If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed and appear on AIGA Charlotte’s Member Spotlight, please contact Patrick Saleeby, Membership Director.

Mentor Matchup :: Design Study

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:30:00 -0400

We asked mentor, Mark Iafrate, and mentee, Megan Dobrusin, to share with us their experience with the Mentor Matchup thus far. Here is what they are working on…

Their meetings so far
Meeting #1 @ Caribou Coffee
Mark: We got together for our first official meeting and reviewed each other’s portfolios. We talked about individual pieces and what made some great and others no-so-great. We determined that apart from technical and aesthetic aspects, our favorite work was done when we had an emotional connection to it, when we took longer to work on it with multiple iterations and when we focused on the little details. We also chatted about the process that goes into good design and briefly discussed freelance work and the importance of presenting yourself just as well as you present your work. We also setup the rules for our game of “Volleyball Design.” We will volley a poster design back and forth each week and iterate on it throughout the MentorMatchup program (see sample below).

Meeting #2 @ Amelie’s French Bakery
Megan: We met at Amelie’s for coffee and this meeting was much more informal than the last. Generally, we talked about what had been going on the past week. I was working on some freelance projects and was talking to people at FIG marketing, and Mark gave me some details on how his interview went for a freelance project. We also talked about our love for letterpress and screen printing and other design topics for the rest of the time. Even though we didn’t have a set structure for the meeting, it was still a good way to catch up and learn about new topics.

Meeting #3 Carolina Ale House
Mark: For our third meeting we decided on a specific topic of discussion: freelance. Megan came up with a few great questions and we went through them together. Topics included how to get your portfolio noticed, good networks or groups to be part of, ways to improve your work in your downtime, pricing projects and coming up with hourly rates and how to handle different types of clients. I think it was one of the most productive and information-filled meetings we’ve had so far, and it helped a lot too because it got me talking about topics I hadn’t thought about for a while.

Meeting #4 @ Paper Skyscraper
Megan: We met at Paper Skyscraper on East Blvd and perused the aisles of books and funky items in the store. We talked about current fads, like how mustaches are everywhere, and classic designs that are here to stay. We went through some of the books and talked about how cool they were and the good ideas people had put into production. It was nice to be able to talk about each cool item we found from one designer to another. We learned a lot about the other’s interests and design style by what we appreciated in the store.

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Mark and Megan will give us an update in a couple months to let us know how their mentorship partnership completed. Stay tuned…

Guest Blog: “_________” Happens

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:46:50 -0400

Thinking what I’m thinking? That’s right… MERGERS happen.

Disappointed? As Duke Energy and Progress Energy finish sewing together their collective parts to become the largest U.S. utility, I can say, “so am I.”

Why? It has nothing to do with their conglomeration of power stations and transmission lines nor with the political and economic fallout that we may yet have to deal with (nothing to see here; move along). My disappointment is borne in what they will be sewing on their uniforms, affixing to signage and applying to their fleet. Yes, I am talking about the other “_________” happens.

REBRAND happens.

When Duke and Progress announced the ink had dried on their merger in July of last year, I knew it was coming. Duke has carried the large, red D with the white swoop through it since 1997 following the merger with PanEnergy. Who could blame them? I mean 16 years is a long time to have the same logo. Just ask Pepsi. But I wouldn’t have blamed them if they had stood pat.

Duke was the larger of the two; they brought the majority of customers to the table along with the money and the political influence. And what would it matter given that the two names the company will use due to federal regulations both carry the Duke name?

Instead, March 25 begins the official rollout of this:

Gyroscopes, orbits and swooshes, oh my! The Duke D, for all its generic 90’s clichés, at least gave you a sense of knowing what you were getting. The large D conveyed at least the scale and weight of a large utility. Add to it the psychology of the color red - strong, active, dare I say, power?

This new logo — designed in-house — attempts to hit on all the old clichés and tosses in a few that were less important 16 years ago to effectively become a fine example of design-by-committee. We only need to reference the press release from September that announced the new logo to see the meat that made the sausage.

“The logo represents a new beginning for a unified and stronger Duke Energy,” said Jim Rogers, chairman, president and CEO. I swear to God, is there a Rebrand Press Release template in MS Word® that I don’t know about? Of course the new logo represents a new beginning. What else would your new logo represent in a merger? And guess what? Unifying under the existing Duke Energy identity accomplishes just that.

Mr. Rogers’ statement continues,“It also recognizes the rich histories of both Duke Energy and Progress Energy, reflecting the image of a world-class energy company.” Yes, Duke energy is 109 years old and Progress almost hit the century mark so a rich history of service and leadership is something to talk about. But there is no history in either company’s logos. IBM and Coca-Cola have rich histories in their logos. Bass Brewery has a rich history in its logo — look it up. Further, none of the equities from either Duke nor Progress Energy’s were spared. Not the colors. Not the typography. You could make a case for the swoops they shared but really, are swoops equity? You could also make the case that Progress is represented more in the similar shape of the mark itself.

So what about those colors? “The colors of the new logo reflect Duke Energy’s commitment to sustainability, technology and energy efficiency.” Granted, all three characteristics are admirable qualities you want in a utility — especially when you don’t have a choice in said utility. But the problem is trying to shove those ideas into color choices and is exacerbated when you choose to pander with green and blues. Which one did you say stands for technology, again? Just because you want to communicate that trinity, it doesn’t mean the logo — nor its colors — should do the heavy lifting.

Continuing, “The new logo depicts forward motion, representing energy for the future,” said Ginny Mackin, Duke Energy’s chief communications officer. “It draws on elements from the legacy companies’ logos: Progress Energy’s ‘star’ and the ‘swoosh’ in Duke Energy’s ‘D.’” Again with the legacy of two companies. It doesn’t matter. This is on paper, a merger but we know where the power (figurative) is held. The company would simply be Duke Energy if not for those meddling feds. What legacy is there to hold onto? You haven’t merged two family farms. No, these are billion dollar utility companies. And they are about as faceless as the high-tension lines that cut through those old family farms. The only way we know who owns those lines is because there is only one company that could own them.

To the first part of Ms. Mackin’s statement, I see no forward motion. I see circular motion — both horizontal and vertical — but nothing forward. And what of that “energy for the future”? Are we to believe it represents a commitment to wind, solar, geothermal, nuclear? Or is it a metaphorical energy for the future that exists within the company?

It’s difficult to say because it’s not really saying anything.

Beyond the corporate speak, the new logo is uninspired and watered down. I wonder if there was a little “heh-heh” uttered when the logo was set in Futura. A typeface that is ill-proportioned for this lockup and is set pretty much straight out of the box with little attention to detail other than taking the time to clip the sharp overshoots on the “N.” It also feels rushed. The “Y” is really hanging out there by itself, perhaps trying to coax the registered trademark to also come back to the group. Further, I’m confused by their expressed desire to present a softer, gentler giant but yet they settled on an all-caps setting of the name.

Like any company going through a merger, Duke Energy had an opportunity to do something significant. Unfortunately, it is a missed opportunity and possibly an unnecessary one. Again, I wouldn’t have blamed them if they had decided to keep the the current Duke Energy identity.

My hope is that companies great and small will fight the desire to say something meaningless about their merged brands at the risk of avoiding creating something equally as vapid in the process. I can more easily swallow an explanation of “our focus is on serving our customers by transitioning only a portion of our acquired fleet, locations and other assets; a decidedly better use of our resources and capital while growing our brand in newly acquired markets.” Rather, we continue to hear, “our new logo represents everything past, present and future about our two companies all at once.”

Like I said, “_________” happens.

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About our guest blogger
Contrary to popular belief, Brady Bone does actually like a lot of things (though spec-work, abysmal writing skills and a blatant lack of critical thinking are at the bottom of that list). He is a founding board member and former President of AIGA Charlotte. Most recently he was Director of Design at LKM. Currently he is a freelance art director and strategic design collaborator.

An Update on The March to 50

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:07:21 -0400

As we cross over the middle of the month we wanted to let you know we’ve hit 20% of our goal for this month’s AIGA Charlotte membership drive. The “March to 50” set a lofty goal, but with such a quick start we’re more confident than ever that we have an opportunity to add 50 new members before the end of the month—especially considering our “Bowling for Members” Meet|Market event, which takes place at 10 Park Lanes on Thursday, March 28, was specifically designed to help push us over the hump.

Please don’t forget to reach out to any and all creatives about the benefits of your local AIGA chapter. For one month a year we ask all of our members to help our chapter grow even stronger, so that together we can continue to be stewards of the design profession. As you know, we are One AIGA. So whether it’s bringing a friend to bowl next week, or singing AIGA’s praises to a fellow designer, we appreciate your efforts to strengthen Charlotte’s AIGA chapter.

Project Feature: Live by Your Own Compass

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 08:01:31 -0500

Myjive, a local full-service digital experience agency, recently finished up a project with Regal Boats. Here Creative Director, Ron Edelen, talks about how they captured life and luxury.

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Journey Starts Here
Regal Boats wanted a new website that would build an inspiring, life-long relationship between its boats and buyers. We couldn’t resist collaborating with a brand that shares our core values of forward thinking, innovation, high standards and a bold taste for adventure.

The Innovators
Regal Marine Industries has set world-class standards in the boat making industry for four decades. The company has been awarded for its dedication to craftsmanship, its employees and family. It’s obvious in the quality of their sport boats, cruisers and yachts.

The Anchor
Before taking off, our challenge was getting in the boaters’ minds. Regal Boats spoke to a wide audience. We needed to reach both loyal customers and prospective ones, so we discovered a universal desire: People buy sport boats and cruisers for luxury and ultimate leisure.

Strategy & UX
The strategy focused on empowering anyone interested in boating to experience the lifestyle and the product for themselves. With Regal Boats, Our course was to immerse audiences in the brand’s boats and stories to inspire them to live by their own compass.

Charting the Course
When it came to UX and UI, our challenge was to tie Regal Boats’ products with a diverse set of lifestyles. Regal’s surplus of product information required an intuitive flow to help guide users. We planned content relevant to each boat and helped audiences find the model suited for them.

Getting Ready
We moved swiftly from mockups to wireframes and then a prototype, complete with a functional navigation to help our teams and the client see how the site would feel. We took an adaptive design approach to improve the usability of the experience for all screens.

Direction
Our mission was to elevate the overall emotion of the site. A new look for Regal’s brand emerged through a digital style guide of new typeface selections, copy and primary and secondary brand colors. Photos were carefully chosen to elevate the brand’s position as an innovator whose product takes you almost anywhere.

Design
The website pulls you in with the first image you see. Full screen photos of boats-in-motion capture the essence of boating for the thrill of it. Our print ad also extends Regal’s new direction by carrying the visceral emotion and innovation.

Owning the Experience
Choosing your boat takes you to individual models on the site, where you can see and fully customize all of the options. Swapping between colors, features and innovations takes seconds.

Beyond the Water
A huge part of the boating experience is being a part of an exclusive community. To encourage buyers and prospects to join the lifestyle, we added social media feeds including Twitter and Instagram on the website for owners to share their Regal experience.

Technology
We updated designs and the technology of the website for the digital age. An adaptive site lets viewers experience a different feel on desktops and mobile phones. Our dynamic CMS also gave Regal an easily manageable system to update almost every component of the website including latest events and promotions. In addition to the consumer-facing web presence, we created a dealer iPad app to help unify the entire sales experience.

Launch
Regal Boats’ core values of quality and innovation are captured in a brand new website that conveys the visceral feeling of being on the water. Through meaningful stories and relevant content, we take audiences through the experience of owning a lifestyle of luxury. The boat owner’s dream becomes yours to take.

Experience Regal Boats’ new digital presence: www.regalboats.com

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About our guest blogger: Ron Edelen is the creative director of Myjive. He has more than 10 years of experience in creating interactive stories for broadcast, mobile, web and installations. Edelen is a partner and a co-founder of Myjive, a digital agency, proven to create interactive and engaging digital marketing solutions. Myjive works with brands including Volvo Trucks North America, Regal Boats and the Hilton Corporation with a mission to help brands evolve in the digital age. For more information, visit www.myjive.com or follow us @myjive.

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From time to time AIGA Charlotte likes to feature a cool project by someone in the Charlotte community. Do you have a project you’d like to share? Contact Rhonda Sergeant.

AIGA Charlotte Member Spotlight: Leslie Kraemer

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 06:01:00 -0500

Leslie Birdsong Kraemer is the Founder and Creative Director at birdsong gregory, an 11-year-old design and marketing firm in Charlotte that focuses on shopper marketing. She’s been a member of AIGA since 2000.

From where do you get your inspiration?
The short answer to this question: I don’t know. A few years ago AIGA screened the film Art & Copy at the Manor Theater, a superbly done look at the American advertising industry and the men and (far fewer) women who have made an indelible impact with their vision, intellect, and talents. I remember someone off-camera posed a question to Hal Riney about where he gets his inspiration, and his response was that one of the hardest things about being a creative person is you have absolutely no idea where any of your thoughts come from, which, to me, speaks to the true meaning of inspiration.

Good ideas bubble up from the depths of your sub-conscious, but at the same time, when you’re facing a deadline to come up with original and distinct ways to help a client sell something, you don’t have the time or luxury of waiting until inspiration descends from the heavens like a little white bird.

You have to prime the pump. And to do that, I typically leave the office, go on a run, rummage through books and magazines that inspire me, and drink good wine.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I’ve always dreamed about being a pastry chef. The artistry of that field intrigues me and the fact that sugar, eggs, and chocolate are involved. But you have to get up way too early, stand on your feet all day, and get shouted out by the head chef, so I prefer the working hours and conditions of the creative industry. I also love interior design and dabble in collecting mid-century modern pieces. In an alternate universe, I would drive around the countryside hitting estate sales in order to cultivate a booth in a Chelsea showroom with furniture and accessories.

What is your favorite food and why?
Chesapeake Bay blue crab. I grew up in Norfolk, Va, and there was always plenty of opportunities to eat freshly caught steamed crab right from the dock. As far as proper technique, if you ask 10 people around the Chesapeake Bay how to break open a crab, you’ll get 10 different answers, but here’s my method: pop open the back, take off the top shell, scrape off the gills, crack the crab in half to get to the backmeat, and then eat the claws last. If you start with the claws, then you don’t have anything to hold onto when you crack the crab.

What are you currently working on?
At the moment, a fun mix of B2B and B2C. We’re currently helping an apparel manufacturer create inspirational POS in Walmart. We’re also working with Lowe’s on a series of ongoing shopper marketing projects. And we just finished rebranding a national healthcare products company and are now starting to think about effective ways to support and promote the new brand.

What sounds do you love?
The sound of a spring rain hitting the roof of my screen porch. The giggles of my one-year-old son. The pop and fizz of a fresh can of Diet Coke. And live music at an outdoor festival in the mountains.

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The March to 50: AIGA Charlotte's Membership Drive

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:45:00 -0500

March is always a special month. Spring taunts us, and though she flirts we still embrace her with open arms as the cold weather gradually disappears until next year. The practice of filling brackets takes over mid-month, as collegiate teams battle for supremacy in sport’s ultimate do-or-die tournament. But in 2013 March is even more special, since your local AIGA chapter—along with its national brethren—will take part in a membership drive with the hopes of increasing local membership numbers, as well as shining the spotlight, once again, on design itself.

Now that the new membership levels have settled in (see our video from last fall that explains the new structure), everyone knows that there’s no better time to become an AIGA Charlotte member, and that you’ve never had more options to do so. That’s why your Queen City chapter has set the bar high—at 50—for this year’s goal for new members.

“The March to 50” takes place the full month of March (obviously) and our goal is to receive 50 commitments from brand-spanking new members. Of course, we can only do this with the help of our current membership. So tell a friend, use your social media sway, or scream it from a mountaintop. But you have to do more than simply spread the word that we’re having a membership drive. You must spread the word about what you love the most about AIGA, and how it’s benefitted you personally.

Throughout the month we’ll keep you posted on our progress. And our drive will culminate on Thursday, March 28 with a special Meet Market event entitled “Bowling for Members.” For this event AIGA Charlotte members are encouraged to bring a non-member friend to bowl, eat, or simply rub shoulders with fellow creatives. We certainly hope to see you all there—and to receive your support throughout the month.

The Day a Designer Was Created

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 21:09:00 -0500

At last week’s Mentor match up kick off event, mentor speaker for the evening, Dréa Leonetti, read this piece she created just for fun. Check it out in case you didn’t make it.

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On the 11th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “This is good - I mean really good, but I’m gonna need some back up.” So God made a graphic designer.

God said, “I need someone who can take, colors & pictures, letters & numbers, thoughts & information, a concept that isn’t theirs with a deadline that was sometime last week and create an elegant piece of art.I need someone who can see the beauty in Mrs. Eaves, the strength in Helvetica,the utility of Arial and can still find the humor in Comic Sans.” So God made a designer.

“I need someone who puts their soul on each page of a portfolio and willingly subjects themselves to the judgment of others. Someone who can run in copy, proof read and edit, handle ‘Unexpected Errors’, know when NOT to bevel and emboss, can rasterize, convert to paths and scale a vector in a single bound and meet the clients deadline with the coolness of Jay Z and Betty White.”

God said, “I need someone to stay up all night rendering video and have their have their hard drive crash. Then dry their eyes, remember they saved the most recent version to the external drive and say ‘I’ll try again tomorrow’. I need somebody who is excited about plug-ins and upgrades, automatic software updates and short cuts. I need someone who appreciates style sheets and key commands in an unnatural way.” So God made a designer.

“I need someone who can explain their career choice to Grandma. Who with a smile can politely say ‘No, Grandma - I won’t have to die to make money at this.’ Someone whose creativity and resourcefulness are in constant competition. Who can take the smallest budgets and create the biggest successes.”

God said, “I need someone who recognizes their own worth, because few others will. That they are blessed with a gift that makes it easier for folks to find their way around the mall or buy that special gift for Dad on Amazon or just quickly grab a Coke at the gas station. I need someone, who out of frustration or creative block will say, ‘Why can’t I just walk dogs for a living?!?’ But there is no way they could just do that, so they sit back down at their desk, select File…New… and will start again.” So God created a designer.

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About our guest blogger: Dréa Leonetti has been a graphic designer for over 13 years and currently serves in the role of Creative Director for 19 branches and two resident camps that fall under the umbrella of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte. Online portfolio can be found at www.drealeonetti.com.

Mentorship Love

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:01:00 -0500

AIGA Charlotte asked two past mentees from past years to share the love about their experience with Mentor match up. Here is what they had to say.

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Mentee in 2011: Adam Iscrupe
 In the three years I have been an AIGA member, AIGA Charlotte’s mentor program has been one of my favorite events. Having Joseph Schlosser as a mentor was one of the best experiences I had while I was a student. Not only did his expertise in the industry guide me to finding a position where I would be happy, but the program also encouraged me to get further involved with the chapter and joining the board.

During the three-month program, Joseph took me on a tour of his office where I met some of his coworkers who also shared their advice. I had him look over my portfolio and website to give me advice on how I could improve the two. An exchange of work to get each others feedback was mutual. It was great that he wanted a second opinion on some things he was working on. To this day, we still do this. Some days we would simply meet for coffee, or introduce me to a paper supplier and fill my bookshelf with paper sample books.

Joseph may have started out as my mentor, but at the end of the program I gained a new friendship.

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Mentee 2011: Laura Knight
 The 2011 mentor matchup experience for me was a defining point in my life. While passionate and excited about pursuing a career of graphic design, I had no real concept of what that meant and what I wanted it to look like. I was the bug-eyed gal who wanted it all and had no direction.

Thinking back to the day of the meet and greet: To be honest I was a bit skeptical of who I was going to be paired with and what commitment level he/she would actually be up for. To my surprise it turned out to be a perfect “Jack and Jill” match. My mentor challenged me to take responsibility for my design, not just aesthetically but intelligently with conceptual solutions. There is a difference between decorating and designing. My mentor, Tim Rebich, taught me to never just make something different, but to give it meaning and significance, to make it better. Tim challenged me to look at creating in a whole different way that my design classes and personal experience had yet to teach.

Yes, through this experience I gained an understanding of what I want in the future and the knowledge of how I will accomplish that, but I also learned to enjoy the little things around me, to slow down and be inspired and not to be so hard on myself.

Fast forward two years: Through networking and staying in contact with people I met through Tim and AIGA events I was honored to have the opportunity to intern and design next to two incredible creatives at Saturday Brand Communications. From that experience I received my current job at Little Red Bird where I work under two more great designers.

Being a part of a mentorship is not “what can they give me” or “what can I gain from this”. It’s about the pure unadulterated desire to become a better designer with purpose, to be driven to push yourself harder than you ever have and to discover more about who you are, what you want and why you want it.

See Laura and Tim’s account of the experience in 2011 here and look for Laura’s presentation at this year’s kick off event on February 13.

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Want a little more mentorship love? Check out Joey Ellis and Maribeth Kiser’s account from last year.

The Mentor match up kick off event will be held at Warehouse 242 on Wednesday, February 13.

AIGA Charlotte Member Spotlight: Lauren Bowles

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 06:00:00 -0500

Lauren Bowles has been an AIGA member since 2011 and is a designer/illustrator for Theory House in Charlotte, NC. You can view her personal portfolio here.

What is the best purchase you’ve ever made?
My letterpress, hands down. I’m that designer who was a fine artist first, so that definitely influences my perception of what design can be. I’m not afraid to use my hands, get dirty, and really create something with amazing craftsmanship. I crave that kind of humanity and artfulness in design, so it was easy for me to make a commitment to purchasing a press. I’d been looking for about a year before I made my purchase; partly because I wanted to do my research, study all of the online tutorials, and teach myself as much as I could about the letterpress printing process — but also because it just took that long to find a press to purchase. I’d constantly search Briar Press for listings, scour eBay and Craigslist, and keep my ears open for an opportunity, but because of the rarity of these presses now it took a while to find one I could house, and one I could afford. It turned out that a pressman in Pendleton, SC, who’d been a printer for Clemson University for more than 20 years, had a Honher Pilot Clone he was willing to part with. I found the listing on eBay and got lucky in the bidding war. I jumped right into printing and learn more with every project.

Where do you get your inspiration?
Anywhere and everywhere. I’m certainly a believer in immersing yourself in good work — that is, paying attention to what’s going on the design/art community. There’s a list of about 20 blogs I follow, not all related directly to graphic design, but all relevant to inspiration. Then there are more traditional routes — remember books? Yeah, I’ve got tons of those. I also frequent antique stores, flea markets, and salvage yards. There’s something about the search that gets my creative energy flowing, not to mention the beautiful textures, patterns, and typography you can uncover in those places. Finally, I make an effort to express my creativity in ways outside of design, like music, dance, painting, print making, ceramics, and drawing. I think that having other outlets forces you to experience the world differently and gives you the advantage of multiple perspectives.

What attracted you to the design profession? Did you have particular mentors or experiences that opened the door for you?
I honestly don’t remember a time when “artist” wasn’t a part of my definition. Strangely enough, I had no desire to pursue visual arts as a career path while I was growing up. I was convinced I’d go to Julliard and become a professional ballerina. Even still, my family encouraged me to continue stretching my visual art muscles through summer programs, state fair entries, and art classes at school. It wasn’t until I met Mr. Mason, my high school art teacher, that I realized how vast my options would be if I pursued a profession in visual arts. He really opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities, and truly became a mentor for me.

Falling in love with design was a process. I attended the University of Georgia with an intended major in Digital Media/Film Editing. After two semesters and a peek into the design program, I realized I wanted to shift my pursuit. I was completely taken by the program and couldn’t wait to try my hand. The program was super-competitive, but I was fortunate enough to get in, and after those years of sweat, tears, and crazy hard work, I landed an internship at an agency in Columbia, SC. I have to say, if I wasn’t already in love with design, I fell head over heels once I landed that first job. I worked with some of the coolest and most talented people who pushed me and made me better. I’d say I’m really one of the very fortunate ones to have had the opportunities I did so early in my career.

What are you currently working on?
I’m actually going through a fairly major transition. I came to Charlotte two and a half years ago for a job with an agency in town. My experience there was a great one. I learned so much and grew tremendously over those few years. Recently, the president from that agency and a group of its employees (me included) started out on a new venture, an agency called Theory House. We have the luxury of starting off with some amazing client relationships, but we’re hungry to grow and do smart, beautiful work that inspires and pushes our field forward. One of the biggest (and most exciting) projects on my plate currently is the 2013 ad campaign for Palmetto Bluff, an exquisite community and resort in the Lowcountry of South Carolina (not far from Hilton Head). That’s just a peek, but you’ll be hearing a lot more from us as the year progresses!

What’s one goal (professional or personal) you have for the future?
One of my goals for the future has to do with my letterpress and my dad. I lost my dad to cancer in June of 2011. It was only eight months from the time we found out he was sick to the day he passed away. It’s truly the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through, but in the time I had with him, it was so cool to see how excited he was about my decision to purchase my press. He really got into it. He’d always been mechanically inclined, so I expected he’d find it interesting — but his excitement really stuck with me. When he passed I made the decision that I’d start a project on the side designing and printing paper goods to sell. I’d then donate a portion of those proceeds to a charity in honor and memory of him. As he was John Bowles III, this project will be called JB Three. I think he’d like that.

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Guest Blog: Creative Swapper

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:54:00 -0500

Jon Bergmann, an AIGA West Michigan member, contacted AIGA Charlotte to tell us about a cool project he is trying to get off the ground. Check it out.

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Have you ever wanted to change jobs but didn’t want to give up the security of your long-term employment? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Some call us fence sitters, but we are not indecisive or uncommitted. We know what we want and it happens to be the best of both worlds—the security and accomplishments of your long-term employment and the ability to gain experience and learn new ideas and skills. That’s where Creative Swapper comes in. It’s a way for creatives to gain those new ideas, skills, and perspectives by temporarily trading places with someone else in the creative industry.

How it works

1. Sign up and create your profile 
Do you need to push your creative reset button? Or maybe you’d like to temporarily exchange your designer for an illustrator? Tell us a little about your company, yourself and your work.

2. Find your perfect match 
You know that movie, “The Parent Trap”? It’s kinda like that except that the person you’re swapping with doesn’t necessarily look anything like you, your parents aren’t really involved and you probably won’t be engaging in any comedic trickery. (But who’s to say for sure?)

3. Shake virtual hands and swap places
 Our magic lawyers use their wizardry to write up a simple agreement that covers swap parameters and legal stuff. You sign it, they sign it, we sign it and bing, bang, boom you’re ready to make the switch and get to work.

But wait, there’s a problem. Creative Swapper doesn’t exist yet. We’re in the process of raising money to fund Creative Swapper through Indiegogo. Our goal is to create a simple profile-based website where creatives can connect and start swappin’. I hope you’ll check out the campaign, learn more about Creative Swapper and hopefully get involved. We really appreciate your support.

http://www.creativeswapper.com
Http://indiegogo.com/creative-swapper
General comments or questions: info@creativeswapper.com
Twitter: @creativeswapper
Or email me directly: hello@jonbergmann.com

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About our guest blogger
Jon Bergmann is a graphic designer from the third coast. He graduated from Ferris State University and works at Concept A, a small design studio in Grand Haven, MI. He believes good design makes life better and good root beer is more sassafras than vanilla.

Coming in March, Student Portfolio Development Review

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:44:00 -0500

On Saturday, March 23, 2013, AIGA Charlotte will be hosting a portfolio development review focused on helping students and recent graduates.

STUDENTS: Would you like to meet with several advertising and graphic design professionals at one time to get their feedback and opinions on how to develop or complete your portfolio? Well, here’s your chance. Students and recent graduates (after Dec 2012) don’t miss this opportunity! Since space is limited, click here to reserve your space today.

ADVERTISING & DESIGN PROFESSIONALS: Would you like a chance to peek at several up and coming portfolios while helping students put the final touches on their portfolios? If you are interested in being a part of our review team or would like to volunteer to help with this event contact Giulio Turturro. (We would prefer reviewers with a minimum of 5 years of professional experience.)

MENTOR match up is back!

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:43:00 -0500

MENTOR match up is back for Winter 2013 and is accepting applications for mentors (Professionals) and mentees (Students - must be an AIGA Contributing member or above.)

How it works:
Once mentors and mentees have applied, our AIGA Charlotte board will match you based on your interests and desired career path. At the kickoff on February 13, you’ll meet your mentor / mentee, hear great ideas for how to start your mentoring relationship, and receive specifics about the program itself.

Potential Mentees: (priority given to first time participants)
Mentee participation is open to AIGA members only (Not a member yet ? Join today.) who are looking to continue their education where the classroom cannot. Mentees should be current students or recent graduates (after December 2011).

Potential Mentors:
It’s your chance to give back. We are looking for candidates who have a minimum of five years of professional experience and have time over the three-month program to meet with a mentee on a regular basis.

Visit the AIGA Charlotte site to find out more and to register.

Note: Application does not guarantee a spot into the program. Because of the need to match on an even basis, applications will be approved based on the number of mentors/mentees that apply and if any have to be put on a wait list for the next mentorship program, money will be refunded accordingly. After you sign up, you’ll get an email with an application to fill out and then applicants will be notified of acceptance into the program a few days after.

AIGA Charlotte Member Spotlight: Steven Fisher

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 15:01:00 -0500

This month’s member spotlight is special because the man affectionately known as “Fish” has recently transitioned into a board position with our local AIGA chapter. Upon relocating to Charlotte last year, Fish joined AIGA shortly thereafter in March and by November he had been tabbed our Communications Coordinator. He is currently the Art Director at Powell & Partners Creative.

Where are you from?
From the land of the Buckeyes, Honda, Scotts Lawn Company and long cold, gray winters: Marysville, Ohio.

Where do you get your inspiration?
The breeze, crackling sounds and burning embers of fires, coffee stains, music, ambient noise, light refractions, food, smells, textures, dreams and the perpetual need to feed the beast of curiosity and to make a difference. One thing I do not do too much is pour through books to see what other people are doing… I like to make the exploration of ideas a little more interesting. Most of the time, however, truly great and defining moments of inspiration come while mowing the lawn.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I would like to attempt cooking. Wait — I did! I needed a break from advertising/design/art directing, etc., and I really enjoyed cooking anyway so one thing led to another. Cooking is just an edible canvas as opposed to a visual canvas. I worked stages (for free) in a wide variety of kitchens throughout the Chicagoland area while trying to get full-time employment as a cook. My first job was a prep cook for “9” restaurant in Chicago and I quickly worked my way up to Saucier’s Apprentice (makes sauces, soups, braises, dips, etc.) and to Saucier. I also had the opportunity, very early in my cooking career, to cook at the famed James Beard House in NYC with Gary Danko at his Best Chef dinner. I worked on other restaurants in Chicago, Ireland and in Ohio before getting back into the creative, design and advertising game. Of course, I would not be too surprised that if you ran into me sometime in the future I was a chef/cook at my own business.

What’s one goal you have for the future?
To be teaching on-line creative thinking/art/design courses while traveling around the USA with my wife in our RV. Currently in an MFA program at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, I hope to continue to reach new heights in the creative field and then eventually get into teaching.

What are you currently working on?
At Powell & Partners we are currently working on B2B business marketing and advertising creative. Personally I am, as stated before, working on my MFA in Advertising (Art Direction), and my abstract paintings and exploring ways to let loose the creative energies that continually flow and seek the light of day.

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About AIGA Charlotte’s Member Spotlight
Each month AIGA Charlotte interviews a selected AIGA Charlotte Member. It is a great opportunity for the Charlotte design community to see who AIGA Charlotte is along with all the amazing things our members are doing. If you or someone you know would like to be interviewed and appear on AIGA Charlotte’s Member Spotlight, please contact Patrick Saleeby, Membership Director.

Merry Mingle With AAF: Designers Do Good For Dogs

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:37:00 -0500

AIGA Charlotte and AAF Charlotte sure knows how to spread the holiday cheer into the New Year.

On Monday, December 10th, 75+ Charlotte creatives braved the rainy winter weather for a night of mingling, munchies and a merry good time. Our gracious host was Triple C Brewing Company, located just around the corner from our selected charity for this year, The Humane Society of Charlotte.

To add to the holiday festivities, the Charlotte design community came together to help raise money and goods for The Humane Society of Charlotte. The HSC recently competed in the ASPCA Rachel Ray 100K Challenge, a national competition to inspire animal shelters — and those who support them — to go above and beyond to increase pet adoptions, reunite lost pets with their families and save more animals’ lives. Within three months (August-October), HSC saved 1,101 animals, an increase of 549 lives. On November 30th they found out they are the Southeast winner in the challenge, and they’re set to receive $25,000!

AIGA Charlotte and AAF Charlotte wanted to help them with their cause by donating 100% of the Merry Mingle entrance fee to the HSC (which totaled over $300). Additionally, we’re proud to have helped them shrink their holiday wish list this season by 75+ items.

Photos courtesy of Sarah McGraw of McGraw Photography. Clockwise from top left: Devo; Max; Stripe; Marley; Nesbit; Parrish; Dempsey; and Tilly. Due to daily adoptions, the above dogs may no longer be available. Please visit the HSC website for available pets.

About our guest blogger: Kimberly Diedrich is an in-house graphic designer for Jack Henry & Associates. Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.® provides integrated computer systems for in-house and outsourced data processing to commercial banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions primarily in the United States. She received a BFA in Visual Communication Design with a minor in Art History from Winthrop University in 2009. Kimberly has been on the AIGA Charlotte Board for 3 years, currently serving as the VP of Programming.