Let’s light this candle!

After a year’s plus break from Creativille the company, I’ve decided to breath new life back into the brand, Creativille. But, of course, want to make it something worth while. This is where you come in. I would LOVE your feedback and comments one topics that move you. Bare in mind, my passions to write and create will ultimately focus on creativity in design, art, food, business.

Please. Send me any comments about what this blog site thingy can become, and I will certainly take note.

Filed under: 01 Be Simple. (Observations), 02 Be Passionate. (Inspirations), 03 Be Creative. (Questions)

Let paper help tell the story.

In the not-too-distant past, I quipped about the smell of paper samples. [ more here ]. That may have been a clue into how much I believe paper plays a roll in the selling the concept in a printed piece.

What younger designers struggle with is the use of tactile elements in their work. Gloss vs. dull. Laid vs. Smooth. What’s dif!? A lot. Where you should start is to question the concept, and pair the creative with the best suited paper. I use the following 10 question checklist (in no particular order) to help guide me in picking the right paper.

1) Does this piece need to be environmentally friendly? (this answer is “yes”)

2) Should this piece look expensive? High-gloss and high-textured stocks translate in expensive, although the actual price might not be. Mixing two different stocks in one brochure will move the piece to a higher priced perception.

3) What is the emotional mood of the design? Will uncoated help a calming and touchy-feely concept. Or, is a slick glossy surface needed for an essence of excitement?

4) Who’s handling this? Durability of the paper is a huge factor in handling through delivery, postage, high-traffic.

5) How substantial does the piece need to feel? Heavier poundage of paper will yield thicker books, brochures and stationary.

6) What backs up to what? Show-through after printing can ruin a piece, or enhance it. How thin can it be before seeing the printing on the reverse side ruins the page you are viewing. Look at a weekly magazine or newspaper to see the effect.

7) What happens when the ink hits this sheet? A few papers will print smooth and crisp. Some will print a modeled pattern in thick ink coverage. Some will allow the ink to “spread.”

8 ) How available is the paper? Time is money and missing a deadline because paper is not available will loose you a client. Pre-plan your paper in the concept phase so your prepared to order with your printer. Staying in constant touch with your printer and paper rep is crucial for a print designer.

9) How does it feel on your fingers? No matter how much you think your audience is turning to the web and social media, their fingers still need seducing. How will a laid or eggshell finish turn on those fingers, or a silky or glossy electrify those digits.

10) What is in, and what is out and why should you care? I’m not sure that linen is back in, but is it cool to use this retro texture in your next printed piece? How about printing an entire fashion catalog on butcher paper? Is your piece experimental or mainstream? Its ok to experiment, but make sure your client is cool with it, and more important, their audience will dig it.

Ultimately, we are just animals with five senses. Texture, weight and size tells a story all on its own, even before the audience begins reading. Use it to your advantage.

Filed under: 01 Be Simple. (Observations), coated paper, commercial paper, paper, paper mill, paper selection, picking the right paper, uncoated paper

What Summers are Good for. Take One.

What follows is a photo essay from the SkyView Drive-In Theater in Litchfield, Illinois–what has become our family’s weekend hangout.

As you enter the property with grain silos in the background

Only $2 a head, no grillin'

My youngest playing the playground below the drive-in screen

My middle child dancing to the 50's pre-show music. Yes. He chose to wear two differnt shoes.

A very patient oldest son, letting me test my "Old Camera" iPhone app on him

We're ready for the show.

Our favorite part...intermission animation reminding us to head to the concession stand

A dancing bag of popcorn. Yum!

Filed under: 01 Be Simple. (Observations), Drive-In, Litchfield, SkyView

Kern Twice, Cut Once

If the stone masons could kern these 1/2 ton letters, certainly today’s young designers could lift a few fingers to adjust their kerning. Note the stone work between the letters A and T, and the I and O.

Filed under: 01 Be Simple. (Observations), kerning, louis sullivan, stone signage

Tweeting the faceburger.

A last minute jaunt to the quaint little antique town of Lebanon, Illinois, I stopped for a burger in a townie bar. I sat at the bar, ordered their burger and a plate of fries and the rare Budweiser. It was good. I was alone, and the push-up bra-tender across the maple plank before me didn’t offer much in the area of conversation (yes, it was an honest to goodness saloon)–I decided to tweet my status: “Bud, burger and fries at a townie bar.” The response was interesting, so I Tweeted a question: “Where is your favorite burger: name the town, venue and grilled vs. fried.” What was not expected was the fond-ness of the burger from friends around the country. In order not to lose this hit-list of burger joints through the states, here is the record of response (in no particular order) for future use (not everyone gave up the heat source, so I left it off):

Fast Eddie’s Bon Air, Alton, Illinois
Carytown Burgers & Fries, Richmond, Virginia
Burger Lust on Vinton, Omaha, Nebraska
JG Melon, 74th & 3rd, New York, New York
KUMAS, Chicago, Illinois
Zip’s Cafe, Cincinnati, Ohio
Yo Mama’s Bar, New Orleans, Louisiana
Crown Burger, Salt Lake City, Utah
“at a bar in their downtown,” Clare, Michigan
Flip Burger. Atlanta, Georgia
Bobcat Bite, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Stagger Inn Again, Edwardsville, Illinois
Laurie’s, Edwardsville, Illinois
Custom Burger, San Francisco, California
King Kong Gyros, Omaha, Nebraska
In-N-Out burger, anywhere they are
Mike Duffy’s Irish Pub, Chesterfield, Missouri
Wally’s Drive In, Breese, Illinois
Hamburgers, Sausilito, California
Balls, Dallas, Texas
Tuckers, St. Louis, Missouri
McGurks, St. Louis, Missouri
Blueberry Hill, St. Louis, Missouri
O’Conells, St. Louis, Missouri
Fat Daddy’s Nifty Fifties, Cave Springs, Arkansas
Seamus McDaniels, Dogtown, Missouri
The Tombs, Georgetown, Virginia
Clancy’s, Ballwin Missouri
Blanc Burgers and Bottles, Kansas City, Missouri
Brown’s Diner, Nashville, Tennessee
McGuire’s Irish Pub, Pensacola, Florida
Duffy’s, Utica, Illinois
Town Topic, Kansas City, Missouri
Sub Zero, St. Louis, Missouri
The Market At Busch’s Grove, St. Louis, Missouri
The Warf, Decatur, Illinois
Lurk’s Bar, Afton, Minnesota

My next trip back to Lebanon, Illinois should produce some fodder about a bar-b-que joint I spotted–Uncle Huffy’s–and was my original goal of today’s adventure. Be at the ready with your favorite “Q” joints… I’ll be asking. Till then, I’d like to thank Crystal, the push-up bra-tender of the day at Brewer’s Bar and Grill in Lebanon, Illinois for being less than inspirable.

Filed under: 01 Be Simple. (Observations), Duffy's, Fast Eddie's, favorite burger, ground beef, hamburger, Illinois, in-n-out burger, inspiribility, Lebanon, push-up bra-tender, stagger inn

The Original Social Network

Folks are burying their faces into the online social network, but are neglecting the original community common thread–the local barber shop.

It occurs to me as I discuss Facebook while in line at Eakers Barber Shop in Edwardsville, Illinois. The proprietor refuses to befriend online social media, which prompts me to claim, “Kari, you are the original Facebook!”

As seen on TV, in the theaters and in real life, town folk sit and chat and gossip on anything from politics to sports to deals at the local butcher. What’s so different and enjoyable about a local barber shop over online social media? Maybe its real and tangible–the experience of it all. Not that sitting around in your underwear updating your status isn’t an experience, it is. It’s just not socially acceptable.

I encourage you to visit your local barber shop this week (with pants on) and spend a little time, face to face, not face-in-the-book.

To visit Eakers Barber Shop in Ed wardsville, IL you need to do it in person at 227 N. Main St, Edwardsville, IL 62025-1603   p: 618 656 1128

Inside Eakers Barber Shop.

Filed under: 01 Be Simple. (Observations), barber shop, Creativille, Eakers Barber Shop, guerilla marketing, Main Street America, Sacred Grounds Coffee Shop, social networking, Steve Hartman, viral marketing

Self-Generated Viral Marketing

This is an example of a fan-generated response in the form of graffiti that defines self-generated viral marketing. It is the result of a groundswell of public support for a quality product. Other examples would be a Harley-Davidson tatoo, Nine Inch Nails graffiti, or a hand-made political sign. What are other examples that you can think of?

Filed under: 01 Be Simple. (Observations), Creativille, graffiti, guerilla marketing, Harley Davidson, Nine Inch Nails, Sacred Grounds Coffee Shop, Steve Hartman, twilight, viral marketing