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Golf and Goodwill at “The Randy”

randy smith cart graphic

Randy Smith Memorial Golf Classic  – October 2014

The 20th Annual Industry Specific charity event, the RSMGC, was held in the Atlanta suburbs recently.  This unique event is an exhibit industry tradition that brings members of the exhibit community in from across the country to participate and contribute to a great cause.

We recently had the honor of attending our first “Randy” event and were moved by the generous amount of emotional and financial support the event provides to industry families in need. Held at the beautiful Chateau Elan, outside of metro Atlanta, the evening event was an enjoyable and heart warming experience championed by founder Rich Johnson.  The creative energy and compassion Rich brings to the event is impressive and his annual film series is quite memorable. The afternoon golf outing is the big event and another worthwhile experience we’ve been yearning to attend. So for next year’s Randy our calender is set and we’ll be bringing our clubs.

To learn more about the foundation and the heart warming stories within, visit the website here: www.rsmgc.org 

Spatula City!

meyer cookware ewert design group

 IHA International Housewares Show – Chicago 2013

The Original Spatula City – Watch the Commerical

It’s time for the International Housewares Show again in Chicago! We’re proud to show off our biggest and best design to date for Meyer. From a conceptual sketch through designing the details of workstations, this project evolved into the largest exhibit on the show floor in a matter of months. Design challenges were solved within four weeks and then Metro Exhibits had approximately six (6) weeks to produce the components. Finally installation teams have about five days to unpack the crates, set it up, merchandise the product and be ready for show time. And then four days later, I&D  teams have three days to take it all down and pack it up. Makes the three-ring circus seem easy!

Going on now March 2-5 2013 || McCormick Center, Chicago USA  

PORTFOLIO -Explore sketches and photos of Meyer exhibit

SPATULA CITY – Must Watch! Best Housewares related video ever!

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Photo Credit: Metro Exhibits

 

 

Randy Party Shocks Guests and Everyone Else

How to Freak Out Your Client, Just Ignore Their Values – Completely

Listening to clients and understanding their motivations and values is essential to delivering the right message. The recent debauchery at a Sundance Film Festival after-party, hosted for a venerated brand name agency, is a shocking example of lost perspective and bad judgement.

Many times a client will say they need a “WOW Factor” when crafting a new event. After several layers of conference calls, a sprinkle of Hollywood culture, and this common request might become an un-caged animal of an idea. That’s cool, we love crazy ideas. We love the journey those ideas take us on and the unexpected results that follow. But keeping perspective is essential, and a key role of the creative agency.

The successful outcome of any campaign rides on the ability to translate that wild idea into a fitting concept that ensures the integrity of the hosting company. Admittedly, this is not always an easy task.

Getting Reckless – We’re calling it out; this recent event at Sundance has the semblance of a brash and excitable valet driver joyriding an ‘A’ lister’s Bently off-road through the Wasatch Range. Cameron Frye would be pissed. And like Cameron later realized,              Read more…

influenced image- Magic Wok vs McDonalds
We Must Ask the Question:

Was the direction of the new McDonald’s brand architecture influenced by a 2003 road trip from New York to Chicago? Perhaps by a rest stop at Exit #59 along I-80 in Maumee, Ohio? Hmmm… Read more…

EDPA Access-Day 3

Closing Party

It’s been a busy week and we just wrapped the EDPA Access 2012 event. The final day was full of breakfast roundtable discussions, interesting lectures and final networking.

The event offered two separate tracks for attendees, one with a business focus and the other concentrated on.. Read more…

Discussions & Networking – EDPA Day 2

Discussions, Dinners, Drinks

After a fun dinner for the French themed welcome reception, Thursday proved to be a full day of insights and networking. There was a speed networking secession with suppliers which was good for meeting lots of vendors in one swoop.

Then things got interesting when the discussions opened up to the topics of the industry, its financial state of affairs, and … Read more…

Away we go! ACCESS for EDPA

It’s wheels up and off to Palm Springs! This event is looking to be a lot of fun and a great chance to expand our industry knowledge, explore some new techniques and learn from the best. Specifically, I’m excited to dive deep into the topics outside of the design perspective, and soak up insight on the aspects of costing and marketing leadership.  These are inter dynamic issues crucial to shaping winning concepts. It will be great to grow our skills and bring more insight home to our clients.

I’ll be posting some random updates from the EDPA ACCESS 2012 and looking to keep it interesting and relevant. I’m also looking forward to seeing industry friends, meeting new peers and partners. We’ll also be introducing our talents and design services to builders. We had great success recently, winning the EDPA Midwest’s Designers Challenge, and would love to show more companies what we can do for them. See our 1st place concept here.

Escaping the impending mid-western winter seems like a great idea too. Maybe I’ll see you out there!

Erik Ewert
Principal
 
 
 
Traditional and comfy leather saddle

Bicycle Attire: Style and Function

Even with the resurgence in 1990’s bright colors there has been the simultaneous up-swelling of all things 1912ish. From craft cocktails, and riding boots this re-purposed era is finding many new fans, including  bike culture.  It’s actually a revolution, not in the style of political unrest, but a return to an era of  materials and fabric which were practical, stylish  Read more…