»  Ben's blog

Last week we saw the federal government (temporarily) abandon its pursuit of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) House anti-piracy bill and its Senate sibling, the Protect IP Act (PIPA). While this bill would have allowed lawmakers in Washington to block areas of the internet, similar to how China and North Korea currently do, it was obvious from the get-go that this sort of legislation was going to require far more research and public approval before it was implimented. And while companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft all publicly opposed the bill mainly due to the financial havoc it could possibly reak on the fragile system, at the heart of the conversation is the battle over copyright infringement by foreign entities. The push from the movie, entertainment and music industries to combat the bootlegging of it's content for profit is justified. While money is at the heart of this conversation, even those of us in advertising / marketing disciplines can sympathise with the need to safeguard your work. The ownership of intellectual capital, be it a song, or a script, or even a well thought-out marketing campaign, often represents countless hours of hard work and personal investments. To allow such artifacts to be traded and given away by third parties who had little or nothing to do with their creation is a travesty. Hopefully those in power can come up with a more targeted / level handed approach to squashing such activities without placing such broad restrictions on the public and those with legitimate e-commerce goals. One thing is for certain, our new digital way of life has only begun to challenge the way our democracy is govern on and off the grid.

Are QR (Quick Response) codes / 2D bar codes a mandatory for print in today's digitized society? Some feel that it's made trade publications relevant again while other think "how relevant can the technology be if such a small percentage of shoppers actually use it?" Perhaps they're just the crude precursor to augmented reality. Any way you slice it, these bar codes created in 1994 for the automotive industry for their ability to be scanned at high speeds have changed the way people interact with all sorts of printed media. If used strategically, and with viable content or compensation at the end of the line, it can extend the user experience and provide marketers with data. If you simply want to "take them to your home page" you're probably better off spelling it out for the audience. We've helped a number of clients"link" their traditional advertising with not so traditional means. If interested in hearing more call birdsong gregory at (704) 332-2299 and ask to speak to Jared. He loves to talk. No really.

Lowe's unveiled a few new holiday gift card designs this season. Two the the three pictured above were created by the team at birdsong gregory. We've long enjoyed a great working relationship with the good folks at Lowe's and had fun concepting for this project. Go out and grab one for the handyman/woman in your life and have a productive holiday season.

Birdsong Gregory has been a strong proponent and supporter of AIGA for quite some time. For those unfamiliar with the organization, "AIGA is the professional association for design, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing design as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force. Founded in 1914, AIGA today serves more than 22,000 members through 66 chapters and 200 student groups across the United States. AIGA stimulates thinking about design, demonstrates the value of design and empowers the success of designers at each stage of their careers."

In fact, the AIGA Charlotte chapter recently did a membership spotlight on our very own Rhonda Sergeant who has been a member for over 12 years now!

AIGA Charlotte is also known for bringing a variety of renown speakers to town and hosting its very own design related events. I was honored to place 3rd in their first ever Meet & Tweet event two weeks ago. Designers from all walks of life picked a tweet out of a hat and then had one month to illustrate the tweet in anyway they saw fit. The work was then printed, painted or stenciled and displayed at Common Market Southend for one night only. A panel of highly qualified judges reviewed the posters and honored the top 5 with invaluable street cred and spray painted birds. Carefull, I think they are still wet.

Photo Credit: Virginia Faircloth

And AIGA thinks it stinks. Looks like the Department of the Interior recently launched a campaign to obtain a new logo and some in the design community aren't happy with the way the government is going about it. Read more here.

There seems to be an online explosion of random everyday catch phrases being illustrated with some of the coolest hand made typeography known to man. Here's a smathering of some of our favorites that have popped up over the past month or so.

Ever have a great idea for a product but just don't have the capital to produce it? Welcome to Kickstarter. "Every month, tens of thousands of amazing people pledge millions of dollars to projects from the worlds of music, film, art, technology, design, food, publishing and other creative fields." The site explains "This is is not about investment or lending" and that "project creators keep 100% ownership and control over their work" but what a great way to get people to help fund your creative endevors. Learn more.

Over the past few months we've been working tirelessly on a Birdsong Gregory brand-refresh. One of the things I stumbled upon and found particualry interesting and inspiring was the work of Maya Lin.

"Maya has created a number of public art works, memorials, and has increasingly shifted her practice towards studies of landscape, often rendering rivers, geographic relief, and water lines. Many of her recent works are made exclusively of reclaimed materials—silver from jewelry, computers, and photographic process, and lumber from sustainably harvested wood."

In addition to her pieces being so visually compelling, she's able to incorporate a strong concept and back story into her work that creates relevance that lasts far beyond the initial impression. An approach that works just as well for a shopper marketing agency as it does a fine artist.

To say that this blog post is way overdue would be an understatement. By the time I've finished writing this, progress on SXSW 2012 will have already been made and the details of this years conference will have faded. As a first timer to both Austin, TX and the festival, I spent the first day or so just getting acclimated to the city and figuring out what's what. By the end of it all, I was both exhausted and excited by the things I had experienced and heard. Plenty of articles have been written as "a rookie's guide to SXSW" but here are the top 10 things that left a lasting impression on me, in no particular order of course.

10. Book your trip sooner than later. The longer you wait, the more expensive every single aspect of the conference / trip will be. Procrastinate till the last minute, and you might be forced to rent a bedroom apartment in the ghetto and bike 2 miles each way back and forth into the city.

9. Plan ahead. There is so much to do and so many people competing for entry into each event that unless you get a head start on the day, you better be prepared to move on to the next best thing.

8. Free food isn't always good food. No matter how good a freshly fried donut topped with potato salad and pork BBQ might sound, it doesn't always work out so well under the scorching Texas heat.

7. QR codes are lame. OK, you're going to have to give me more information than a giant bitmapped square on a poster in order to get me to scan your QR Code. I don't care how cool your site is, when you are competing with a million other promotions and well designed graphics, a single QR code just isn't cutting it.

6. Too far off the grid. I've never seen such a wired up bunch in my life. Could have sworn I saw someone talking on a blue tooth while texting someone as he checked his gmail on a laptop and surfed the web on a tablet. As marketing and design people we must often remind ourselves that less than 20% of consumers are these hyper tech savy purchasing machines. Sure you'd love to convince your client that developing a mobile application is in their best interest, but depending on the demo, chances are a well conceived traditional marketing plan with solid follow-up can be just as effective.

5. Flash isn't dead. Toby Miller and Elliot Chong did a entertaining job of arguing both the pros and cons of the debate between HTML5 and Flash. While the primary purpose of Flash seems to be shifting at the end of the day they are both tools, and it's the developer's responsibility to know when each is applicable and appropriate.

4. Cinnamon Bourbon isn't all that bad. Especially at 3:30 in the afternoon with a Lone Star chaser.

3. The Game Layer is here! Seth Priebatsch from LBS Scvnger was the keynote speaker on the first Saturday of the conference. Amazingly energetic and sharp as a tack, Seth presented a pretty convincing argument on how game dynamics can influence behavior and ultimately create better markets. Check out his speech.

2. Social Media is just that. If the recent events in Egypt are any indication, social media is a great tool to get the word out there, mobilize your base and grow fans. But as the euphoria of a potential democracy fades, we see that social tools like Facebook or Twitter provide very little in terms of taking it to the next step. Yes, you're able to assemble protests using social media, but it won't write a constitution or stop corruption.

1. It's all about human behavior. The underlying theme of many discussions, new platforms, and applications being unveiled at SXSW point at one thing... getting to know what makes humans tick. And that is precisely the goal that drives the creative we present to our clients. The sooner we find out what is relevant to people, the closer we get to understanding one another. The better we communicate that relevance, the closer brands will become to a consumers heart.

One of the challenges of high end design is the ability to say a lot with very little. Fortunetly for Ghostly International, a progressive record label out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, they've got design ace Mike Cina up their sleeve. Mike has been creating jaw dropping artwork for a variety of artist on the Ghostly label since 2008 and has help create a visual asthetic that fits the electronic/atmoshperic qualities of the music perfectly. There's been some banter likening the Ghostly approach to that of Factory Records (Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays) which is apt. However, Cina and folks at Ghostly have done an amazing job of updating the formula and created something truely unique and all their own. Well done!

Unfortunately it's not always as simple as having a great product or service and telling people such. It can take years and dedication to a particular approach to break through and reach the desired effect you are hoping for. Nike is perfect example of a brand that seems to constantly have its finger on the pulse the market but in the early 2000's couldn't break into the skateboard market. This was during a time when the X-Games still hadn't truly taken off yet and addressing skateboarders on their own level seemed about as easy as a 720 Bullflip. So what did Nike do? They customized the product to fit the specific needs of the target audience, they associated themselves with the leaders and in that industry (ie. Paul Rodriguez and Lance Mountain) and partnered with retailers that are seen as tastemakers in the industry. Although this was not an overnight process, Nike has continued to gain prominence amongst the skateboarding elite and sneaker-heads alike by showing that they actually care about skateboarding. This is accomplished in part by dealing with the market on their own terms and continuing to push the product in a way that addresses the tastes and desires of that particular consumer.

In short, R&D and focus groups won't always tell you everything you need to know about a particular market. Sometimes you have to roll up your sleeves and actually be there. Experience what they experience and speak to them in their own language. In an era of smart phones and even savvier shoppers, connecting with customers in a way that is relevant is more important than ever. What's your approach?

Anyone in advertising or ID / product development knows that coming up with a great name for a brand, product or a service can be a challenging task. Well it just so happens that it’s only slightly easier when doing the same for a child. Granted you don’t have it get it “cleared by legal” but every name you can possibly think of must make it through the same repeated scrutiny as it would for a client. There’s even a number of books and websites dedicated to the art of selecting the proper name for your offspring. But do you really want to call the little ones the hot celebrity name of 2011?! Lets face it, for every name you can come up there’s a hundred different reasons why it’s not the best choice. Sure everyone is willing to give you their opinion on what they think fits but there’s always a case of one of your pregnant friends already claiming the name or perhaps you know some dirtball with the same name and you rather not be reminded of him while speaking to your child on a daily basis. The list goes on and on. Then of course there are the family names. I think most people like to pay homage to family and it’s nice to let your love ones know that you care about them by including some form of their name in your child’s signature. So I was super interested to see what titles came up when my mother-in-law sent us a list of her family names dating back to the 1600′s. And while there are definitely some good ones… there are probably a few that are better left in the 1600′s. Here’s a few that didn’t make the list.

Thankful
Ebenezer
Asenath
Zephaniam
Lucretia
Ransom
Ephram
Patience

Note: Ben and his wife Kara are expecting twins this spring. The photo above is Ben's great grandfather Jacob Weaver, shown during what is believed to be a fraternity initiation at Penn State in 1915.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then Apple is blushing over the new T-Mobile campaign for their 4G MyTouch smartphone. Any time a brand like Apple is able to create such fervent advocates of their products, there will always be detractors who question the legitimacy of the hype while simultaneously taking notes on the more successful aspects of the strategy and design. Enter T-Mobile.

Not only does the name "MyTouch" emulate the "i_______" naming convention of Apple products, but as you can tell from the current television ad campaign, T-Mobile has decided to use Apple's now famous "Get a Mac" campaign format from years past. However, with the exception of two people standing on a white background trading jabs while quirky songs play in the background, the two ads are vastly different. The Apple ads injected a fair amount of humor and irony while spelling out differences between the two products that were already blatantly obvious to existing users. Unfortunately, the T-Mobile ad isn't quite as clever and AT&T's shoddy network is just an easy target at this point. This angle seems even less pertinent seeing how it's only a matter of time until AT&T is no longer the exclusive service provider of the iphone in America.

Will this this new campaign move the dial for the T-Mobile's My Touch? I tend to think that such blatant mockery of a successful campaign tends to remind us of what we liked about the original. Google's Android campaign (like it or not) is a perfect example of how a completely different approach than that of your direct competitor can garner greater market share. Take note T-Mobile.

Anyone who pays even the smallest amount of attention to college football knows that the Oregon Ducks are a force to be reckon with this year. Even more impressive than their undefeated record (10-0), or the fact that they are in the BCS' top 3 this past week, is the way they bring their game plan to life with creative play calls.

That's right, The Ducks have an unorthodox way of quickly calling out plays from the sideline using large signs that feature images that correspond to certain formations and plays. Coaches explain how the use of simple icons and photographs make it easier to convey information to theplayers on the field that the convenmtional hand signals. This system allows their no-huddle offense to save time and create such a fast paced game that it usually runs the opposing defense ragged in no time.

More than anything it's such a great example of how simple visual communications combined with a solid strategy can garner game changing results. Go Ducks!

The creative team from Birdsong Gregory will be participating in the 2nd annual GUTS competition. This years event will be held Thursday - October 28, at the corner of Trade and Tryon in uptown Charlotte.

"GUTS is a friendly pumpkin carving competition organized and created by HAWSE, A Brand Agency in Charlotte, North Carolina with assistance from Charlotte Center City Partners. It's purpose is to provide Charlotte creative professionals can enter into healthy competition with their peers that creates awareness of the talent in Charlotte, and more importantly, raises money for Levine Children's Hospital."

Check out the site to learn more on how to donate or purchase merchandise.

Photos by Jen Pierce


Charlotte’s street-wear stalwart The Niche Market recently reopened it’s doors this past weekend under the new ownership of Adam Cook and Stephanie Michelle Genter. Niche operates in the Historic South End District and has built a online reputation over the past 5 years for being one the few retail stores of its kind in the US to carry well-known boutique brands and limited releases from labels like Nike, Vans and Johnny Cupcakes.

In an economic environment like this, the value and vitality of private retailers who cater to such a small segment of the market will always be questionable, especially if they’re not fully immersed in that particular scene. Impostors are easily identified and labeled as such through social networks and banished to a life a mediocre sales and limited support by those who don’t fully “get it”.

Fortunately, this store has managed to retain it’s roots in the arts, music and skate culture while elevating the in-store shopping experience. This is achieved in part through the owners DIY attitude, the blu-collar / trouble-maker theme that runs throughout the men’s product selection, the hand painted type, and an eclectic mix of relics from early 20th Century Americana. Most importantly, the updates feel like a natural extension of the new owner’s personal style, not some pre-defined fad or stuffy interpretation of one. Well done!

A couple years back I was doing what amounted to some pro-bono work when the client offered up an old mountain bike as a token of his appreciation. I might have rode it 5 or 6 times but otherwise it sat dormant in my garage until I found out about TRIPS FOR KIDS. "The program works with kids to develop their bike maintenance and repair skills, and after completing a 6 session program, the kids EARN the right to own the restored bike of their choosing. Excess repaired bikes will then be re-sold to the general public with the proceeds revolving back into the re-cyclery program to cover the costs of needed bike parts and equipment."

So if you have an old bike that's been banished to the nether regions of your shed or been sitting in your yard so long that you mow around it, swing by TFK and help them out. They are doing great work in the community plus you'll get to check out some amazing paintings by Charlotte, NC artist William Puckett.

I recently heard this statement by a fellow designer who saw no merit in design annuals...and apparently he's not alone. I on the other hand, do not completely agree and wanted to hear the rational behind such a bold proclamation. After all, almost anyone involved in advertising, packaging design, web design or some sort of marketing has leafed through a Communication Arts or CR at some point to gain insight, find inspiration or pass the time.

However, it seems that there are an increasing number of creatives who do not believe or agree with what amounts to design competitions, if simply for the fact that they reward firms and design shops who can afford the entry fees. And let's not fool ourselves, it is a numbers game. If you can afford to enter 20 pieces, your chances of getting accepted are probably pretty good, unless the work is garbage. These are usually the same sort of designers who do not believe in accolades or recognition as a vital part of a career. To that I would have to say "who doesn't like a pat on the back?!". Granted if you are Bruce Mau or Austin Howe, it's easy to subscribe to this viewpoint because you are already established. But for up-and-coming designers or firms looking to make a name for themselves and garner attention, these publications offer a chance to do just that and came make the difference between a bad year and a successful year.

There are also those who feel that most of the annuals amount to nothing more than eye candy. A narrow representation of design that celebrates shallow execution and does nothing to highlight or explain the strategic thought behind the design that is often the backbone of successful creative. To some extent I sympathize with this assessment. I would also have to implore viewers to think more about what went into creating the work. An idea without action - execution is nothing more than a thought that exists only in the mind. Even though execution is one small aspect of design, most people's immediate reaction is to the visuals that they are presented with. So without successfully emplementing a concept, even the greatest ideas in the world are lost on those who only see poor design.

So to the creatives that dislike these publications or see them as relics, I think it's more about the individual than the actual magazine. In many cases I think it boils down to a change in taste over the years. The things that young people find amazingly interesting as a design student or fresh out of college might not stimulate them further in their career as they begin to delve deeper into the specifics of their disciplines. But just because you've developed a healthy appetite for highly caffeinated coffee drinks as an adult, doesn't mean that the hot chocolate you loved as a kid isn't any good.

My wife and I took a last minute trip to Chicago a couple weeks ago after she found some inexpensive tickets online. Neither us had been to the windy city and we were looking for an excuse to get out of Charlotte so it seemed like the perfect time see a ball game, sample the cuisine and put away the work for just a moment.

We hopped on an early flight into O'Hare and met a friend at Hot Doug's around 10 am Saturday morning. While enjoying our foie gras hot dogs and duck fat french fries he suggested we take the Architectural + Historical Cruise. I appreciate the local's taste in encased meat products, but I'm usually not one for being herded like cattle through bus terminals and sweaty guided tour lines while waiting to catch a glance of something that never quite lives up to the hype. Despite my hesitation, we inquired with the concierge at the hotel and were greeted with a poster sized folded brochure with tons of factual information and two beautifully designed Chicago Line passes. They looked like European currency and featured large portraits of those responsible for sculpting Chicago's skyline over the years. I'm a sucker for good design, count me in!

The next day we catch a cab to the River East Art Center and make our way down the docks past newly renovated studios that face the water. Once the boat is full with anxious tourist and egger students we set sail out of Ogden Slip and make our way to the Chicago River. Our tour guide was more than thorough and paused only once to clear her throat after becoming visually upset while mentioning the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. I don't want to bore you with the details but the next hour of our ride was filled with some of the most amazing architectural vistas I've ever seen, truly unbelievable. The Chicago Sun-Times had this to say about the tour "Without question the best architectural tour available in Chicago". I'd have to go a step further and say it's one of the best things to do in the city, period! Everyone enjoys unplugging and getting away from the day-to-day to reenergize, but to learn more about this American city that bounced back from disaster to design and create architecture the entire world marvels at was quite inspiring.

Benjamin Gelnett is the new Senior Graphic Designer at Birdsong Gregory and has worked professionally as a graphic designer since graduating from SCAD in 1999. During this time he's created a variety of advertising campaigns, packaging and POS components, brand identities and sales and marketing materials for brands such as Gulfstream Aerospace, Bombardier, Renyold's Alcoa, Hunter Fan Co., Ecko Unltd and Muzak.