Recent Project News

Carrotfishcots.

2012-04-26T19:53:00Z

Chefs, open your baskets: Carrots, grouper, apricots, and olives?

At least there was no sea cucumber. Or licorice.

This whimsical artwork is fourth in a series of collage illustrations for our favorite fine dining establishment, Biga on the Banks, for their current ad in Texas Monthly. From just one key word, we get the challenge of creating a fresh image each month, to promote Biga's ever-changing, chef-inspired daily menu.

BTW, everyone send positive vibes to Bruce Auden, who is nominated for Best Chef, Southwest, by the prestigious James Beard Society. Presentations in May, good luck Bruce!

Design sherpas.

2012-04-12T19:07:47Z

The Khumbu Climbing Center project — to design a web site documenting a studio project for the School of Architecture at Montana State University, Bozeman — came through an old friend who now heads advanced architecture studios at MSU. Michael Everts has led successive teams of students through this stunner of a project, sited in the Kingdom at the Roof of the World - Nepal. Engaged by the international alpinist community, who had lost one of their own on Everest, the School has designed a community center and climbing school for a small village named Phortse, a base camp site along the ascent. Issues of cultural appropriateness, sustainable building practices, and innovative energy systems all came into play, informing an aesthetic expression unique to time and place.

Website is scheduled to be completed by MSU SoA students in summer 2012.

Humor in Marketing

2011-08-26T23:09:25Z

Sometimes a little levity is the perfect pitch. For this save-the-date card for the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum, I mined the client's collection of vintage postcards for an opportunity. My client is a great party host, with a background in hospitality, and knows that a touch of wit helps keep the mood light and interest sparked. Working with material related to cowboys, we are careful to resist corn-pone humor. But here, we poke sly fun at our modern Texian lifestyle, through a little talking-horse Mr. Ed humor.

Alamo Architects Update

2011-08-10T17:24:55Z

Starting a brand refresh for Alamo Architects, working with the notion of collaging elements of urban context. We're using vintage neon signs for a playful anchor to this new look. Who doesn't love old, weathered neon can letters? Fortunately for this effort, the letters in *Alamo* appear a lot — in "motel" and "eat" signs. More to come.

Tech tool: QR Codes

2011-04-13T16:58:31Z

Quick Response codes are cropping up everywhere. This particularly nice looking one links to the Pecha Kucha event happening this Saturday in support of survivors of the recent earthquake and tsunami disasters in Japan. http://global-day.pecha-kucha.org/

Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, the architects who started the Pecha Kucha night, are based in Japan, and have initiated a world wide event to spark giving. Japanese for "chit chat," or the sound of conversation, Pecha Kucha has come to mean a creative gathering where participants zip through twenty slides at twenty seconds each, a high-energy group share of latest interests and projects. Read about Klein-Dytham at http://www.klein-dytham.com/ and more about the Pecha Kucha movement at http://www.klein-dytham.com/pechakucha/what

Summer Internship at Zeitgraph

2011-04-07T22:06:53Z

Are you a college level student in communication arts looking for an intensive summer work experience? Zeitgraph is offering a summer internship, sponsored jointly by Alamo Architects, from June 6 to July 29, with an optional extension to August 12. Some highlights:

June 6 - July 15, adapting new photography and text to Alamo Architect's web site and in-house marketing system
June 18 - July 29, work with Zeitgraph on print and web design projects, tbd
August 1 - 12, optional additional work with Alamo Architects

Foundation skills needed:

Solid working knowledge and experience with Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign and PhotoShop
Professional office etiquette (play well with others :)

In return, you can expect:

weekly org meetings to guage progress
direct supervision by me and coworkers for help and feedback
stipend commensurate with experience level
bonus: Zeitgraph will sponsor your student membership to the AIGA for one year
bonus: a two year subscription to Communication Arts

Interested? Kindly email me with a resume and work samples if you are interested in this opportunity no later than April 19, 2011. We are setting up interviews for the last week of April and first week of May, 2011.

Run Wild 5K

2011-03-25T20:44:25Z

Personal best for logo finish time! A quickie logo for the San Antonio Parks Foundation's first 5K sponsored run. Nice get-to-know-you project, and a terrific organization.

AIGA

2011-01-12T21:03:50Z

It's official, San Antonio has its own chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts. I had a great experience as a Texas board member in the late 80s early 90s, when we met quarterly in our four markets. I'm delighted to be a founding member of this brand new group. Here's to a new year and fresh road ahead.

Update: Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum

2010-08-27T17:57:53Z

Signage is in!

We've installed ADA and directional signage in the Annex, as well a dedication plaque, and a special donor dedication upstairs in the Community Center. Material vocabulary picks up on wood trim detailing but hews to a modern, museum-neutral palette. And, true to Chisholm Trail's strict style guidelines, we've added a bit of playfulness whenever possible.

Thanks to old friend Kai Jensen for great workmanship and white-gloves installation.

Ten Years Already?

2010-03-03T19:43:09Z

Nice to be working with old friends at Biga on the Banks – a shout out to Special Events Maven Perny Shea and the much-loved chef Bruce Auden. This dimensional button gives our original sirena a playful tagline and color tuneup (time for a day at the salon), adding the anniversary message to ads and promos this year.

http://www.biga.com