The only way I’ve been able to deal with the guilt of abandoning my sketchbook so many years ago is to immerse myself in the work of other illustrators. I have certain affection for pencil heroes, and I just recently discovered that an old classmate is still drawing and making a living at it. In all of my schooling, I was always surrounded by a ton of talent but I’ve found that not many are still honing their gifts. Mike Schley - always known as the best pencil in life drawing class - is still at it. And in a recent Facebook reconnection, it seems he’s been working in the gaming scifi-geekdom world that I still hold dear to my heart even long after being gone from the game company Decipher.
His body of work is rich with characters, stories and detail. But it’s not just his ability to scribe these shapes and lines on paper, but more his ability to understand a story from concept to visualization that amazes me.
Here’s the intro to his exploration Journal/Blog entitled “Strange Shores”:
“As an introduction, I think it would be useful to explain the purpose of this journal and why I feel the need to add to the endless stream of content pouring from your screen. First and foremost, these notes will serve to document what I am convinced is an aspect of our world that is as undeniable as the sky above us or the earth beneath our feet. Though they may seem to stretch the limits of imagination, whether you believe my stories or not carries less weight than the possibility that in reading them you might find yourself transported to a place where the division between what is real and what is imagined is a bit less clear. There are places in this world where the modern skeptical mind cannot travel without risking it’s hold on what it knows to be true. It is the exploration of these realms to which this journal is dedicated, so grab your hat, we are headed for Strange Shores.”
I’m going on a “Sagmeister” and relocating to Mike’s imagination for a few years…with my sketchbook.
After all of these years, I’m still amazed by Mike’s work but more about his ability to endure an unstable industry for the love of what he does. That to me is the magic compass.
For the past several months, I’ve taken a somewhat obsessed interest in learning more about video and exploring how movement, sound and character can communicate compelling stories. For me, it’s a goal to actually start learning how to do it. I’m a researcher by nature, so I’ve started to find what’s out there.
My morning work ritual consists of trudging to the kitchen for coffee, checking email, and a healthy dose of motion/video inspiration. I take a short visit to www.vimeo.com and randomly choose the first title or image that catches my eye. Some clips are funny, some are lengthy and strange, but the majority I find are inspiring. I’ve decided to share some of my favorite finds.
If anyone’s ever studied the history of sculpture, chances are you’ve seen the works of Elizabeth Catlett. Her name was passed over in a project meeting and my memory immediately flashed the “Mother & Child”. Catlett is best known for her politically charged expressionistic sculptures and prints. But to me, her large sculptures serve as metaphors for the struggles and stories that she has experienced throughout her lifetime.
I spent some time digging deeper into her life and her works. From dressmaking, painting, printmaking and sculpture, Catlett has spent a lifetime embracing every medium with such strength of inner voice that it’s hard not to be humbled by her work and her convictions. She is truly one the foremost African American woman artists of her generation.
Launch had the honor of creating a small sitelet to support her show at The Chrysler Museum. At age 95, the videos in her chronology show her gray hair and a sometimes fading voice, but she’s still just as dedicated to her life’s work – her family and her art.
“I am black, a woman, a sculptor, and a printmaker. I am also married, the mother of three sons, and the grandmother of seven little girls and a boy. I was born in the United States and have lived in Mexico since 1946. I believe that all these states of being have influenced my work and made it what you see today. I am inspired by black people and Mexican people, my two peoples. My art speaks for both my peoples.” - Elizabeth Catlett
For the past 8 years, Meridian Group and Launch come together in Joe’s backyard to compete in a barbecue competition to see what kind of culinary geniuses lie among us. Each person in the agency is divided into teams to come up with a name, signage and a unique menu utilizing the ingredients picked by Joe that year. Catch is - you don’t find out the ingredients, your team or if there is a “secret” ingredient until the day before. This year, we’re happy to report that 6 of us Launchers came home with a prize or a close close second. Chelsea (our dedicated and hard-working Intern) and Mel’s team won for Best Ribs; Jasmine and Melissa’s team won for Best Appetizer/Side/Salad using Bacon; Nick won the Corn Hole competition; and Zach Young came in a VERY close second in the pie-eating contest. For a recap and recipes from the event, scroll through Meridian Group’s WHY blog!
Team Sugar-Coated (Cause Bacon is Meat Candy) took home Best Appetizer Using Bacon award! Team members include (from L to R) Matt, Meliisa, Sharyn and Jasmine
Team "The Klothesline Kitchen" - Winners of Best Ribs! Team members include Chelsea, Matt, Erin, Katherine and Mel.
Corn Hole Competition - Nick takes home first prize!!
Zach and Matt stuffing their face during the Pie-Eating Contest. Good effort Z!
Launch Interactive is very excited to be participating in this year’s CreateAthon, which is a 24-hour event in mid-September where we will provide our services pro-bono to selected 501 (c) 3 non-profits in the area. This includes help with logo design, content management, social media platforms, web advertisements, search engine optimization and much more!
Over the past 11 years, CreateAthon has provided services to for hundreds of non-profit organizations totaling an estimated value of work at $2.5 million dollars.
Would you like your organization to be considered for Launch’s CreateAthon 2010?
Simply fill out the PDF application and mail it to us by July 16th. We hope to help as many as we can, but cannot promise that all applications will be accepted as we will be busy helping those that present the most need. Applications will be reviewed by our team in late July and you will be notified of your acceptance in early August. We hope to hear from you!
The Web Content Manager will take strategic role in managing the day-to-day site content management for a health care provider in the Hampton Roads Area. This position will be responsible for working with content stakeholders to manage content development and workflow. In addition the qualified candidate will be responsible for Web content creation, creation of e-newsletters, and generating new ideas for adding interactivity and driving traffic to the Web site.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Manage the consistency and accuracy of the overall site presentation, including content, design, and navigation
Coordinate with management, marketing, and public relations teams to implement new content ideas that present an on-target message and evolve the site to meet the end users’ needs
Participate in design meetings for new Web solutions, provide feedback to team members on recommended approaches, and research new interactive solutions
Write compelling and engaging content for the web site, micro sites and email marketing campaigns
Update the content on the Web site as needed
Adhere to accepted industry standards and best practices for Web development and administration
Participate in cross-functional teams to define next-generation requirements, seek ways to enhance functionality and personalization
Provide monthly analysis of web site traffic trends
Perform additional duties as assigned by management
QUALIFICATIONS
Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills. Knowledge of AP Style a plus.
Proven ability to produce high-quality content packages under tight deadlines
Strong oral and written communication skills
Good project-management skills and attention to detail
Ability to self-start and work effectively under minimum supervision but be able to be a great team player
Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills
Ability to organize and manage multiple project priorities simultaneously and effectively
Proven experience resolving project issues, developing cross-departmental consensus, collaboration and coordination in difficult business and technical situations
Familiarity with HTML/Dreamweaver/Web content management tools
B.A. in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, English preferred
Experience in the healthcare industry a plus
No phone calls please. Please e-mail resume with a cover letter and samples to: elizabeth@launchint.com
It’s been almost a year since my VCU BrandCenter training. In addition to bringing back renewed energy, insight and industry connections, I brought back small nuggets of reality. Some of them I found delicious and others, still hard to swallow. Enjoy!
Creative is NOT a department. It includes every position in the agency.
Pull EVERYONE for resources and experiences. Ideas can come from anywhere.
Boundaries are fading. 0% tolerance for hat wearers; 100% for pioneers/risk takers.
NO ONE knows what they are doing digitally. Few only appear to know, because they have a clear path of determination.
Creativity & Imagination + Business Context = Innovation
Own your weaknesses and don’t pretend that you don’t have them. Be the agency that you are, not the agency that you think you should be.
Our Brand is just as important as theirs.
Our Business is just as important as theirs.
Dictating clients can ruin the culture and the brand of our agency.
Guns don’t kill people, PPT does.
Most people have vivid fears and vague dreams.
Spend more time on the things you think you can’t do.
Birth the idea first, then find it a home.
Subserviant Chicken was born out of a creative brainstorm meeting for TV spots. Collaboration of teams brought it to life.
Creative agencies are a band of musicians. If you have too many solo acts, you will not grow to be rock stars.
If an agency is integrated, the work will be integrated. Model the agency that way.
Never let them take away your creativity.
Only 6% of consumers believe the ads they see.
Disregard organization charts. Do regard relationships with the people you work with.
Always find the truth in the brand. Then tell that story in creative, memorable ways.
In order to be a great story teller, you have to know the story well enough that you are a character in it.
Your current customer audience is more important that the audience you want to have. Use them as bait to catch the audience you want.
Culture is the colorful crunchy outer shell of creativity. Only feed it to those who believe in what you stand for. Tell the others to find their own candy.
Boats that move swiftly have no weights of negativity. Toss the whiners overboard, no seriously. Get rid of them. It’s only a matter of time before they will sink you. There is an abundance of energetic young people looking for jobs. Find them.
Only hire people who have amazing talent and aren’t afraid to stray from it.
Hire your replacement.
We are only strong as our weakest team member.
We are only strong as our weakest alliance.
Evaluate each team member not by their strengths, but their ability to admit their weaknesses. These are the ones that will prevail when things get tough.
The Lago Mar Resort and Club attract discerning travelers from around the world with its spectacular private beach, sophisticated ambience, South Florida charm and impeccable personal service. And now that we have finished redesigning, their website now reflects this same sophistication.
This project is a great example of how we focus on integrating the beauty and function with clean navigation, booking capabilities and beautifully written and illustrated content throughout.
Too bad the launch team can’t take a week to relax on their beautiful beach before moving to our next project. But what’s stopping you? Visit the new site and we are sure that you’ll want to go too.
The Hampton Roads chapter of AIGA just recently held their first annual Design Derby and a few our resident cub scouts entered some creative set of wheels.
We would like to think that we rocked the pinewood block and raised the bar for next years event. There were so many good entries. You can view them here on Flickr.
Ice Princess
Humpty D
We All Scream
About Hampton Roads AIGA
Because no creative is an island, the Hampton Roads chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design, formed in March 2005. Our thriving community now has a bridge to everyone interested in the creative communication arts – inside and outside of our local area. The improved flow of ideas and communication across that bridge can only help raise awareness and professional standards for ourselves and for future generations.
Fear is hard on creatives. Most of us spend our days facing the struggle between our inner selves and the irrational fears that show up just to sabotage our progress. Invisible forces undefined, the creative process remains a mystery with few ever honing their abilities to identify, control and conjure it at will. Live in an agency + time restraints + client pressures + fear = how can any artists trapped in responsibility survive.
I believe, just like author Elizabeth Gilbert, that it’s this pressure and anxiety that is causing the artists of our century to become obsolete.
Since when did we lose our courage to be creative?
Why do we judge ourselves so harshly? How do we silence the noise and continue doing what we love?
I stumbled upon this video and found a renewed battle cry. Negatives beware, you’re not going to take my spirit without a fight. And really, I don’t care if you like what I do. I show up and do my part, that in itself is enough for me.
