Connecticut creative agencies are a philanthropic bunch, giving back to the community and to causes and non-profits near and dear to their hearts. We talk with a handful of them about how they select causes and non-profits and why they feel it’s important to give back.
2011 was another great year for events from Connecticut’s leading creatives and creative professional organizations — here are some of the highlights. All remain relevant in the new year, as most if not all are continuing the dialogue and creativity through sequel events in 2012.
We talk to five recent graduates — from the best design schools in Connecticut, now employed at some of the top agencies and companies in Connecticut.
Perhaps every creative’s dream is to make the leap and start their own agency or one-man shop. We asked a bunch of Connecticut creatives this intentionally vague question: What was the defining moment in starting your own agency?
The Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council (MCSAAC) recently launched a new media campaign with the help of CO:LAB. The theme? “Join the Majority of Parents Who Say ‘No’ to Underage Drinking.”
Many Connecticut creative professionals are dabbling in one-of-a-kind, handmade and short run products; their unique skill set allows them to not only create but also brand and promote their ideas, and maintain creative control. We take a look at a handful of designers and the shops they’ve set up.
Letterpress comes back home to Connecticut, as Lucky Duck Press of Winsted opens up shop.
Fall brings a new batch of agency website relaunches, this time for Fathom, The Pita Group, Bligh Graphics, Signature Advertising and Response.
As The Big E opens up for another season, we thought we’d explore the marketing materials behind it and talk to their agency of record, Mascola Group in New Haven.
Elements’ Amy Graver chatted with Paul Pita, principal and executive director of Pita Group, on balancing family and work, and how the agency has grown and expanded in the last 15 years.
Perhaps the greatest designer of the 20th century, Paul Rand left his mark on Connecticut and the CADC.
Outthink of Essex recently launched a rebrand of the Ivoryton Playhouse, playing off their rich history to create inspired messaging and visuals.
Grant Copeland, President & Chief Creative Officer at Worx Branding & Advertising in Prospect, shares his thoughts on getting his attention, getting an interview, and getting the job.
Mark Snyder is Associate Professor in the Visual Communication Design program at the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, and runs the design consultancy object|resonance with partner Kevin Sepe.
Gabardine opened up shop in 2009, on the Post Road in Westport, creating a space that reflected their brand personality — open, inviting, calm and creative.
Darryl Ohrt, “Prime Minister of Awesome” at Humongo in Danbury, shares his thoughts on how to use social media to score that dream job — and maybe even the dreamiest job of all at Humongo itself.
As Don Carter works on a series of exhibits spotlighting Connecticut children’s book illustrators, he gives us the ten illustrators that inspired his own work.
EXHIBIT: LOGOS & MARKS is a compendium of logos
and marks designed by Connecticut agencies, curated by conncreatives.com.
For nearly five decades, Graphic Design USA starts off the year with their list of People To Watch. We check in with six winners in the last decade.
The Bananaland, a boutique design agency headed by Marcella Kovac, took space at the Arcade in Bridgeport in November of 2010 as part of the city’s downtown revival.
Cronin and Company of Glastonbury have created an engaging brand campaign focused on what it feels like to be an Amica customer. The campaign launched January 17, with two 30-second and two 15-second television spots.
Think Creative Group, a full-service agency in New Haven, launched two new high-profile websites in recent months, for New Haven’s Long Wharf Theatre and The Greater Hartford Regional School Choice Office.
As the Conference enters its second decade, we get a brief history from three people who were there at the beginning: Paul Pita, Jack Tom and John Gibson.
When they are not throwing their own events, salons and workshops under the PUSH umbrella, kHyal and Karl Heine are supporting the creative community by attending a mind-blowing number of events. They agreed to give a summary of some of their favorite Connecticut events of 2010 as only they could.
On August 1 of 2010, Elements moved from their studio on Grand Avenue in New Haven to their new Main Street location in Branford — a perfect fit for who they are and how they work.
A visual tour through Taylor Design’s new office space on 247 Main Street, Stamford — a renovated 1920s loft that breeds collaboration.
An agency is often its own worst client, making the execution and launch of its own website a particularly painful process. Which makes the relaunching of four state creative agencies in recent months all the more notable.
At one time, it was said, “every business needs a website.” Today, it’s “every business needs a blog.” With many feeling forced and bandwagonesque, a handful of Connecticut agencies have found a voice that resonates.
Silver Creative Group in South Norwalk has just launched a new website for a construction luxury rental building in Midtown West / Manhattan.
Bertz Design Group of Middletown recently helped launch Nurtur — a health and wellness enterprise, the merger of two established companies — which they named, branded and positioned.
The agency formerly known as Plaid has been acquired by Source Marketing (an MDC Partners company) and will now become… Humongo.
58th Annual Ad Club of CT Award Show Call For Entries Deadline March 9
The Ad Club of Connecticut’s 58th Annual Award Show is rapidly approaching. Deadline for entries is Friday, March 9, 2012. Complete rules, forms, drop off locations and payment information is on their site. Judging will take place the end of March and all winners will be notified soon after. The Show will be held on Wed, May 23 at the Curtis Cultural Center, 175 Main Street, Meriden, CT.
Madison|Mott Celebrate 13 Years in Business
Madison|Mott of South Norwalk celebrate thirteen years in business, with a new website and a blog post by co-owner Luke Scott. “Through it all, we’ve endured, and evolved. We even changed our name, to better represent the way in which our firm, and distinctly different partner personalities, provide clients with a better balance of all this new technology, coupled with the classic advertising techniques required to build and sustain a successful brand.”
Connecticut Creatives Make the Connecticut Magazine 40 Under 40 List
Peter Sena, founder of Digital Surgeons in New Haven, David Klineberg, VP of Client Services at Response LLC in New Haven, and Ali Parmelee, co-owner of Think Creative Group in New Haven, all have made Connecticut Magazine’s 40 Under 40 List. “If you’re worried about Connecticut’s future, you’ll probably feel better after visiting with the people on these pages — nominated for inclusion by their co-workers, neighbors, business associates and even family members. We hope you gain as much encouragement from meeting them as we did.”
"Ted Bertz: Posterized Impressions from the Durham Fair" — Felt & Wire
Be sure to read this wonderful article on Felt & Wire: “After recently finishing a personal project, a book commemorating posters completed from 1987 to 2008 for an agricultural fair held each year in Durham, Conn. — Fair Play: Twenty-three years of Durham Fair Posters — Ted Bertz, founder of Bertz Design Group, reflects on the evolution of the graphic design industry over the same period.”
Taylor Design Included in 2012 HOW International Design Awards Annual
Sarah Lawrence College magazine, designed by Taylor Design in Stamford, was selected for inclusion in the 2012 HOW International Design Awards Annual. The issue was designed by Hannah Fichandler and edited by Suzanne Gray, and features work from photographers Andrew Lichtenstein and Don Hamerman.
Ken DeLago of Wilton Featured in Communication Arts Typography Annual
Ken DeLago of Wilton, Design Director at Golf Digest / Condé Nast, has made it into the Communication Arts Typography Annual for his identity for Hertz Construction Company. Said Ken of the mark: “A two-man construction team makes up Hertz and the two Cs in the logo do double duty as the CC in Construction Company as well as representing the two men involved. The negative space creates the ‘H’ in Hertz. The stencil effect on the hand-drawn letters create a building block motif.”
Taylor Design Annual Places in Graphis' 100 Best Annual Reports 2011
Keep America Beautiful Annual Review “My World Tomorrow” — produced by Stamford’s Taylor Design — was selected as a gold award winner in Graphis’ 100 Best Annual Reports 2011. The volume contains the best Annual Reports and Interactive Annual Reports of the past year. Only thirty companies were awarded a Gold Award, all of which are accompanied by a case study Q&A with the award-winning design team.
Taylor Design Launches New Blog
Taylor Design in Stamford has launched a new blog, 24/7 Main. “Some might call it an obsession. When one of us comes across a beautiful piece of design, learns a hot tip, or creates something new, we like to share it with our friends. Which is why we publish our blog 24/7 Main.” The blog categorizes its content under three “channels” —Share, Tell and Create. And true to Taylor Design form, the blog is beautifully designed, with great use of Typekit webfonts.
The Shelter Me Project's 2012 Calendar Just Released
The Shelter Me Project is a photographic fundraiser for animal shelters and rescue organizations, created by Karen Stevenson of Thumbnail Designs in Lyme. Their 2012 Calendar is here, featuring all new photos in the same award-winning design. “My heart has always gone out to animals in need of their forever homes,” says Stevenson, “and so I have decided to reach out to them through my camera lens. The images in this collection are very personal portraits with which I wish to raise both funds and awareness: the proceeds from all sales are donated to the shelters. And through this project I hope to share the beauty, playfulness and dignity of all of these wonderful animals.”
Two Connecticut Printers Honored in GD USA's American Printing Awards
GD USA introduced the American Printing Awards this year, and two Connecticut printers made the cut. Finlay of Bloomfield won three awards, while Allied Printing in Manchester picked up five. “The focus is on the kind of projects that matter most to designers, on how great printing enhances design and on making sure that print buyers see the winning work of these top performers via GD USA.”
Two Connecticut Agencies Honored in GD USA's Web Design Awards 2011
Two Connecticut firms were winners in the GD USA American Web Design Awards — BroadcastMed, Inc. for broadcastmed.com and Padraic for 15ftl.com.
Two Employers of Creatives Make the List on Hartford Courant FOX CT Top Workplaces 2011
Hartford Courant / FOX CT announced their winners for the Top Workplaces for 2011. Making the list: Adams & Knight in Avon and Valassis in Windsor. “Pay and benefits are just small pieces of the puzzle, less important in this competition than teamwork, ideas, leadership and open communication. But it all comes down to two big factors: Respect and execution.”
Bertz Design Group Releases Durham Fair Posters Book
Hot off the presses — the Durham Fair Posters Book, a collection of the 23 years of commemorative posters created by Ted and Bertz Design Group with authored captions by Ted himself. Ted will be at the Durham Fair signing books while supplies last. You can also purchase online. A portion of the proceeds are being donated to Farm Aid.
Jargon Boy Project Highlighted in Communication Arts
Jargon Boy of Fairfield was featured in the Exhibit section of this year’s Communication Arts Design Annual for his poster for Bridgeport Arts + Cultural Council — specifically his poster on “local hero” Igor Sikorsky. “With a funky color palette, layered visual language and a modernist sensibility, the campaign was inspired by poster master Victor Moscoso and artist Robert Rauschenberg,” said art director Gregg Chinn.
CT Represents at AIGA BoNE Show 2011
Connecticut was well represented at the AIGA’s biennial Best of New England (BoNE) Show, held June 9 in Boston — Ethan Bodnar won for his work for Cultivate; Keiler & Company for their work for Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford; and CO:LAB for their work for Bated Breath and Design Is Love. A traveling exhibit of all the winners comes to Connecticut this fall, courtesy of AIGA CT.
PUSH Design Camp Will Return in 2012
PUSH Design Camp will return for a second installment in July 2012. Check out the Flickr album of this year’s, or secure your spot for next year — early bird sign-up runs through December 31.
JB Design Appears in CA Design Annual
JB Design of Norwalk won a coveted spot in the Communication Arts Design Annual 52, for a logo for client 55 Wine Bar and Restaurant in Fairfield.
CO:LAB To Appear in LogoLounge Vol. 7
Two logos designed by CO:LAB in Hartford have been selected to be included in LogoLounge Volume 7, to hit bookstores in July. The logos were for clients bated breath: a theatre company and AIGA Connecticut.
Julia Balfour Wins Ten GD USA Awards
Julia Balfour, LLC in Lyme announced that it will take home ten GD USA American Graphic Design Awards this year, for clients such as Ashlawn Farm Coffee, Smashing Darling, Pet Dreams and the-e-list.
2011 Winner of the AIGA CT Scholarship Announced
David Zarovny was announced the winner of the AIGA Connecticut Student Scholarship for 2011 at a ceremony honoring Mike Scricco — AIGA Connecticut 2010 Fellow — on May 12.
Ad Club's 57th Annual Awards Show Winners Announced
The Advertising Club of Connecticut announced the winners of their 57th Annual Awards Show. The Gold Pen went to Keiler & Company for their Stanley ad campaign; the Gold Brush went to Outthink for their Ivoryton Playhouse branding and advertising campaign, and Best of Show went to TracyLocke for their Mountain Dew spot. Other winners included Adams & Knight, Digital Surgeons, Elements, Fathom, Cashman & Katz, silver creative group, Colangelo and Smart Graphics.
Winners Announced for Ad Club Out of Home Competition
Congratulations to Avid Marketing Group for their first and third place wins, and Gariphic Design for their second place win, at the Ad Club of Connecticut Out of Home Competition, announced February 24 at the event.
How 2 Design 2011 Promotion
Felt & Wire has a well-illustrated profile of an exciting How 2 Design 2011 promotion. Those on their mailing list have received the first installment of a bi-monthly series of faux 45 rpm records (really a geniusly disguised piece of ultra-thick Mohawk Superfine) that double as a calendar. H2D selected charities for each record/calendar to parallel the story told by their song choice.
Chris Piascik In First CA Typography Annual
Artist and designer Chris Piascik was chosen to appear in the first ever Communication Arts Typography Annual, with his hand-drawn, letterpressed series of business cards. The entry gets the star treatment with a full page dedicated to his piece.
Print Regional Design Annual 2010
Print’s Regional Design Annual 2010 is now online. Connecticut is less prominent than previous years, with only MX Mitchell Designs representin’ (though multiple times). CC wonders if the competition is more stiff, with the former “New England” being folded into the larger category of the “East”?