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

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