So I know all of you have been wondering where I have been for the last few weeks. I haven't called, I haven't wrote... but I have been designing my ass off.
AstoundSound™ a new and cherished client of NGAGE recently underwent a complete brand overhaul which included a new website. Initial design by David Johnson, but blown out site wide by yours truly (masterfully developed by Jay Criscione).
AstoundSound™ is a sound software company dedicated to taking the crappy sounding compressed music that has been bourne out of the MP3 ear-bud generation, and bringing it back to the fuller more expansive sound of vinyl, or theatre sound in the case of movies. Basically giving you a better sound experience without expensive speakers or headphones. Specifically, AstoundSound's product Expander 2.1 is built for the movie or music enthusiast that wants their audio experience to be as dominant as possible.
Sorry I have been out of sorts lately. I was on vacation, where I destroyed at least 5 burritos, frolicked on 2 beaches and took in a whole lot of sunshine in San Diego. Also, work has been crazy lately. We're cranking out a website and promo pieces for Astound Sound. They're an audio software that takes your compressed music and movies and expands the sound without stretching it. Its pretty incredible, and the work we're doing for it is very cool. The new site should be live in a couple weeks. Here's the banner I'm working on now, just to give you a sense.
But also, we found out a few weeks ago that my company NGAGE has merged with an agency known as Hughes, and that we are going to retain their name. Hughes has been around for more than 30 years, and has about 30 clients. Scottrade, our biggest client, will remain so for Hughes, but we are also bringing our other beautiful clients, much needed digital expertise and agency culture/brand. Here's some of our combined work, I did some of it.
As I said, Hughes has been in existence for over 30 years, and has seen at least two generations of Hughes at the helm. They have been profitable, versatile and extremely thorough. They specialize in the front end, and the back end. The research, and the PR proliferation. We are charged with bringing them a better creative product, opening doors in the digital space and most importantly breathing some new life and freshness into the company.
The immediate question from everyone when I tell them is, "Is your job ok?" The answer is an overwhelming yes. First off, I plan to approach the situation like my job is in danger, even though it's not. I'm going to dominate. But, lets go through the list of pluses in my court:
1. Hughes is an agency that falls more in line with my educational background (though I feel like my education may have been a bit outdated), and NGAGE has prepared me for where Hughes and the marketing world is moving. I'm covered.
2. My Creative Director will remain my CD, and immediate boss. This is huge, and if I was jumping onto a whole new creative team, I think I might be a bit more concerned. Though new creative thinking is never a bad thing, it's nice that I am on the inside of this transition.
3. I don't have to move offices again. Hughes (South Campus as we're calling it) is coming here. Which means a new creative floor. Thus less shushing from the AEs and more creatives being creative; collaborating. Never a bad thing.
4. More clients. More variety. We're like Y98 over here.
5. New people, more people. Fresh blood, fresh ideas. More business contacts. More growth potential.
So, I'll keep you guys up to date on how I feel moving forward, but as of now, I'm pumped.
A few weeks ago my boss Dan Curran of NGAGE gifted a few of us at work with a case study of Bonobo’s, an online pants retailer for men. They brag about avoiding, “the khaki diaper butt problem”running rampant in mens trousers these days. Anyway Inc. Magazine ran an article using their website as a case study of what is right and wrong with this successful start-up, and their website.
Well I took a screenshot of the site after reading the article and was going to use its elements for the Kristin Kahle site, which I might be redesigning. You can see it above.
Well, recently Bonobo’s took the advise and you can see where they have directed their site just since before November 2008. Its not radically different, but the changes make a big difference.
I recommend that everyone read the article. It is very helpful and useful to anyone interested in the direction that successful digital marketing and branding is going. Actually read the whole thing, its great. Then take a look at the direction they went in, and what elements of the critique they focused on.
