Kirby Kelley

This guy rocked Big Club Hall!

Filed under: Recent Projects

Tweeting to a better economy. #$hour or #economyhour

Just a thought, “what if all the tweeters posted a local product or service at the same hour, just before lunch or end of the work day?” Would this concentrated influx of testimonial/guerilla advertising encourage us to sink a little cash into our local economies. Would knowing that Margaret loves her new TOMS Shoes, encourage thousands to buy a pair. How about that yummy soup Steve orders–who will run out and purchase their favorite comfort food? Its a big, “what if,” but its worth a shot.

Beginning, well, now. Let’s all tweet our favorite product, or service or online shop the hour before Noon, and the hour before quitting time. Use the hash tags #$hour or #economyhour so we can track and refer to great finds. And, see what happens.

Maybe nothing, but hell, why not. Can the masses move us out of this slow economy? Come on @Oprah, give it a shot.

Filed under: Recent Projects, #$hour, #economyhour, @Oprah, Creativille, TOMS Shoes, tweet

Lamps. The Creativille Tenth Anniversary exhibit.

Creativille is celebrating its tenth anniversary by sponsoring and curating Impressed by Design: Letterpress in the Heartland at the Edwardsville Arts Center (EAC). What follows are twelve lamps that highlight work from the Creativille portfolio.

The lamps are equally spaced along the existing grid of the EAC Gallery ceiling. Using lamps from CB2, we designed lampshades printed on backlit film, and wrapped each one. Under the shade, we silk-screened a caption along with the Creativille Tenth logo.

Enjoy.

Filed under: Recent Projects, CB2 Lamps, Edwardsville Arts Center, portfolio exhibit, temporary exhibit, The Creativille Tenth Anniversary

Recent Project: Bin618

It was Monday, 9:00 a.m. when the email, “Import Wine Company,” came to me.

“[My partner and I] are starting a Wine Import Company and were wondering if you could come up with a Logo (and possibly also a name for it). We are sending people to Vinexpo on Friday and need a logo pretty quick. We have come up with a couple of name. None of which I like.”

Ok.

By 11:30 a.m., I’ve conjured up a strong list of names to share with my client, before I called him to say that I could do it. “Sure, I’ll have names to you by the end of the day, maybe a few logos.”

I suggested these names at first.

Cru618
Bin618
Oenology Import
Haut Annata
Uva Bushel
Viticouture Imports
Nuevino
Côtes du Goshen

By the end of day, I had ten identities for 5 names created to share and dropped them off at 4:45 p.m., I had a response an hour later with, “we like Cru618 and Bin618.”

Nice.

By the end of the next day, Tuesday, we had finalized the identity, and designed the necessary business cards for Vinexpo.

Whew.

What a fun project. It is not necessarily in anyone’s best interest to rush such an important first step of a company’s life, but, sometimes you need to just get it done. We added a temporary web page on the following Wednesday when acquiring the domain http://www.bin618.com.

Final Logo for new wine import company, Bin618 Importers, LLC

Why “Bin618?” 618 is simply the area code of the import companies headquarters, and “Bin,” is a common wine term for an area of wine storage.

Business cards are in their hands as the ready themselves to travel to Bordeaux, France. Safe travels, boys. Meet a few friends, and bring back some excellent samples.

Filed under: Recent Projects, bin618, brand identity, brand naming, Vinexpo, wine importer

The Creativille Tenth Anniversary Celebration

Creativille, Inc. will mark a decade of design by raising $10,000 for the Edwardsville Arts Center (EAC). By curating “Impressed by Design: Letterpress in the Heartland,” at the EAC, Creativille plans on gallery and gift shop purchases, party admission of $10 and general donations to reach the goal.

Visit the website: The Creativille Tenth Anniversary

About Creativille, Inc.

Creativille, Inc. opened its doors in September of 1999 by renting a one-room office from friend Karen Handleman at 501creative in Clayton, MO. Later, moved to the historic St. Louis Hill neighborhood, and shared space with Gregg Goldman and Scott Smith photographers. Today, Creativille resides in a pre-civil war brick colonial on Edwardsville’s Main Street in Illinois.

About Impressed by Design: Letterpress in the Heartland.

Other than great bar-be-que in their backyard, what do these artists have in common? The letterpress. What was once the standard in printing books and publications, has now become an artform based in letterforms, design and communication. These 5 letterpress artists will share a range of the printed art from the fine-art book to expressive folk art. During the 6 week exhibit, guests of the EAC will view posters, books, broadsides, greeting cards; purchase what they see in the gallery and in the gift shop; experience hands-on letterpress demos, lectures and a documentary film.

Exhibit Runs: August 26 – October 3, 2009

Exhibit Celebration/Anniversary Party: September 5, 2009 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

The Artists.

Amos Kennedy, Jr., Alabama
Ken Botnick, St. Louis
Eric Woods, Firecracker Press, St. Louis
Jim Sherraden, Hatch Show Print, Nashville
Brady Vest, Hammerpress, Kansas City

Buy tickets or make a donation to the EAC: The Creativille Tenth Anniversary

Filed under: Recent Projects, Amos Kennedy, Brady Vest, Creativille, EAC, Edwardsville Arts Center, Eric Woods, Firecracker Press, Hammerpress, Ken Botnick, Steve Hartman, tenth anniversary

Rockin’ a poster at the Edwardsville Arts Center

Poster on Display at the Edwardsville Arts Center, EHS Alumni Art Show

On May 8, 2009, a limited edition poster that I designed for a Garrison Starr rock performance will hang with 40 other Edwardsville High School alumni at the Edwardsville Arts Center. This is a big deal (to me). Curated by my high school art teacher, now retired Dennis DeToye, the show features artists who graduated between the years of 1942 and 2009.

The poster is silk screened on reclaimed billboard vinyl. The original art was created using a sharpie on film acetate. My friend Allen Levin at Handprints Silk Screening in St. Louis, added his magical touch to the actual screen with a little water jet roughening to open up areas of the art.

Last year, AIGA, The Professional Association of Design, Nationally and Locally has selected a Creativille, Inc. designed poster for Nashville rocker, Garrison Starr into each of two juried competitions.

For AIGA National, the poster has been placed in the permanent collection at the National Design Archives in Denver, CO; and was on display at the competition’s opening exhibit at AIGA’s Design Center in New York City; currently being showcased in an internationally distributed award catalogue and online archive. The show will then travel to locations around the country as part of the traveling exhibition.

Creativille’s creation was also selected by the local St. Louis AIGA Chapter for its own design competition, then exhibited at the Mad Art Gallery in St. Louis, MO.

The thrill is to have a completely experimental poster be on display at my hometown art center with other nationally known Edwardsville artists, plus on display with such tremeandous international design work.

Download a pdf that shows every version of the vinyl poster.

Filed under: Awards, Allen Levin, Dennis DeToye, Edwardsville Graphic Design, Garrison Starr, Handprints, Reclaimed Billboard, Recycled vinyl, silkcreen

Thanks for the nod.

Creativille has projects honored at the Fourteenth Annual AIGA St. Louis Design Competition.

Creativille has three projects that were honored at the April 3rd opening of the Fourteenth Annual AIGA St. Louis design competition at the Mad Art Gallery in St Louis, Mo. Work for the Edwardsville Arts Center, The Market at Busch’s Grove, and The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation were chosen by a panel of judges to be hung in the show.

Taking home a Judge’s Choice Award

The high honor of Judge’s Pick by juror Lisa Kitschenberg of Pentagram Partners, was awarded to The Edwardsville Arts Center’s Get Out the Vote Interactive Poster Exhibition, on their gallery wall at Sacred Ground’s Cafe in Edwardsville, IL.

This community exhibit included posters  taken from the AIGA Get Out The Vote campaigns of 2008 and 2004. The exhibit was held during election season on the gallery wall in a popular coffee shop, maintained by the Edwardsville Arts Center. The orientation of the posters predominately white spell out “VOTE.” Each poster was printed, padded in packets of 6 before hung, so that patrons could take their favorite to post elsewhere.
6 each of 132 designs were hung for an initial offering of 792 posters. During election season, all of the posters were taken and replaced one at a time. An estimated 1,188 posters were eventually hung, removed, and, then distributed by patrons of the coffee shop.

The Market at Busch’s Grove Brand Identity

Also, Included in the show is the complete integrated identity campaign for The Market at Busch’s Grove. The new high-end gourmet grocery in Ladue, MO contracted with Creativille, Inc. to produce a complete identity package from logo to advertising to Website to signage to introduce its brand to the St. Louis market. Creativille continues to assist The Market in telling its story through online social media, continued advertising and Website support. A complete document showing the branding package can be downloaded here. (Adobe Acrobat Required)

Thanks to the Judges for taking the time to fly in and judge the work of the St. Louis designer. Thanks to the organizers of the event. Each year, its a treat to see the best in design in the St. Louis area. And, thanks for the nod.

Filed under: Awards, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, AIGA St. Louis, Design Awards, Edwardsville Arts Center, Sacred Grounds Coffee Shop, The Market at Busch's Grove

Celebrating Lincoln as a Designer

The evening was a sublime anchor to a eventful and lengthy process of design for the 2009 Bicentennial Celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday at the Abraham Lincoln Association Banquet.

Over 800 people packed the room to hear President Barack Obama, Governor Jim Edgar, Senator Dick Durbin and Author Michael Burlingame.

The President spoke of Lincoln determination and hard work; he drew comparisons to inheriting a troubled nation; and he left us with the theme, “we are the last best hope on Earth.”

Humbled, I realized my part was insignificant to the task before us. The need to enrich the world we live, the need to keep mindful of the larger fight and not our daily peeves. What can I do to push the world around me to become a better place? I’m not sure the program I designed for the event was it, nor was the commemorative book Creativille designed for the event attendees.

Inspired, I believe I certainly shouldn’t diss the work that I do. The products of a designers labor have the power to evoke change, summon empathy, and inspire action. If I can pass along any wisdom that I absorbed from the speech by President Obama in the light of Lincoln’s legacy, is that its our duty as designers to step up to the challenge of transforming our times to a positive era as influencers of commerce, culture and community.

If you can, please share what you can do to improve the community in which you live and work.

AIGA share’s a few ideas

Filed under: 02 Be Passionate. (Inspirations), Recent Projects, 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial, Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, Edwardsville Design Firm, Influencer

Mary Todd Lincoln: First Lady of Controversy

Here are a few spreads from the catalog for an exhibit of the same name.

There’s Something About Mary [Todd Lincoln].

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation and Museum called upon Creativille, to design the the companion book to their current exhibit, “Mary Todd Lincoln: First Lady of Controversy.” Written by Tom Schwartz, resident Lincoln historian, and packed full of artifacts and ephemera from Mary’s life, this catalogue introduces the controversial First Lady to Lincoln fans and historians as no other book has before.

Creativille takes care in representing the content and context of any piece in the final design. In Mary’s case, this book conveys the sophistication of a first lady with a touch of opulence with a foil-stamped monogram (based on Mary’s personal wax stamp) and a debossed texture of Mary’s handwriting.

“I’m very proud of this book,” Steve Hartman says, “its a beautiful catalogue, it’s very respectful to one of America’s most interesting First Ladies, and a great artifact of both American and Illinois history. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is a first class institution and a great client. I think this book really captures their excellence.”

Mary Todd Lincoln: First Lady of Controversy is published by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, 96 page book, double cover.

This one-of-a-kind book is still available for purchase at the Museum book store, online.

Filed under: Book Design, Creativille, First Lady, Illinois History, Mary Todd Lincoln, Steve Hartman, Tom Schwartz

Abraham Lincoln Cookbook Design. Plus Recipe.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Volunteers have created this top-selling fundraising cookbook using Lincoln Era Recipes paired with recipes from the volunteers’ and staff’s own cupboard.

Creativille Designed Cookbook Goes on Sale to Raise Money for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Volunteers.

Take a pinch of history, sprinkle it with historic artifacts, mix well with recipes from staff and volunteers, and prepare to enjoy a new cookbook from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM).

The A. Lincoln Cookbook:  A Cookbook of Epic Portions is available in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum Gift Shop. The $39.99 cookbook features 623 recipes contributed by staff and volunteers, and includes a section of Lincoln era and Lincoln family recipes.

The dividers feature photographs of dining-related artifacts from the Library and Museum’s Lincoln collection.  Sections include appetizers and beverages; soups and salads; vegetables and side dishes; main dishes; breads and rolls; desserts; cookies and candy; and this & that.

Proceeds from the A. Lincoln Cookbook will help support programs for our volunteers, including continuing education, our volunteer resource library, and special tours.

There is a distinct stereotype of the fund-raising cookbook. If you are a collector of this genre, this is a must have. “We did not sacrifice the quality of work that we do for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, or any other client,” Steve Hartman states, “just because of what you think a fundraising cookbook should look like. The Volunteer’s Group didn’t want that. What we gave them was a museum-caliber design that eclipses the genre of non-profit volunteer cookbooks.”

The following recipe was adapted from “A. Lincoln Cookbook: A Cookbook of Epic Portions.” It was previously printed in The Ladies’ Home Journal of May 1923.

Mary Todd’s Pecan Cake

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
6 eggs, separated
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 pound pecan pieces
1 pound raisins, chopped
1 cup orange juice
1/2 nutmeg seed, grated

Cream butter lightly and cream in the sugar. Beat egg yolks until frothy and add to sugar mixture.

Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda. Dredge nuts and raisins in 1/4 cup of flour mixture.

Alternately add orange juice and flour mixture to sugar mixture. Beat well.

Add pecans and raisins. Add nutmeg.

Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into batter. Pour into greased and floured pan (tube or fluted) or two smaller round cake pans.

Bake at 350 degrees 50-60 minutes.

Makes 12 servings.

Buy the cookbook for $39.95 online at the Museum bookstore.

Filed under: Book Design, A. Lincoln Cookbook, Abraham Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Cookbook Design, Creativille, Fundraising Cookbook, Steve Hartman, Volunteer Cookbook