So the site’s done finally. Well, not really, but as far as you’ll know it is. There are still a lot of backend changes that we plan on making along with some more content. The link to this blog is now gone, so who knows if anyone is reading this. Maybe I can stop writing then? I like the site, but…I think I may have went a little overboard on the graphics. I suppose you could call it rich, but I think it might be a little much. Though, it doesn’t matter much. We plan on a total over-haul before the end of the year. I’m envisioning something much cleaner. Although I must say, it’s a not a bad looking site. We continue to improve our image everyday. The gap widens for anyone that wants to compete with us. I just don’t think it’s going to happen at this point. Now it’s time to do that with 420 Scope. We’ve already gotten orders for it. Production is set up and rolling and within the next 90-120 days scopes are going to be everywhere. Everywhere I say!
June, 2007
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website
June 29, 2007 by admin
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AIGA Leadership Retreat Miami
June 25, 2007 by admin
For those of you that don’t know what the AIGA is about, here’s a little lesson. The AIGA is the oldest and largest association for design in the nation. I sit on the board of directors for the Arizona chapter. Last week I got to attend a retreat in Miami that gathered the other boards from 57 chapters across the country. It was simply amazing. I drank the pulverable AIGA koolaide and I’m hooked now. I’m suffering from a bit of withdrawal at the moment. It was refreshing to be surrounded by so many other designers all dealing with the same problems that we are in our local chapter. I don’t know that I’ve ever met so many people in such a short time. I’m on social overload right now. I don’t want to see anyone for a week. I’m also very short on sleep. Designers like to party. Excessively. Or maybe that’s just me, but it seemed like everyone was suffering from some sort of hangover in the mornings. I think clocked in 12 hours of sleep over 3 days. Not to mention not sleeping at all on Saturday night due to the fact that our plane left at 6:30 in the morning.
420 Jars and 420 Scope were promoted quite well too. Any time that someone asked me what I did, I pulled out our current ads and showed them what was up. I had the chance to smoke with some very lovely people and made some lasting friendships. Needless to say I’m excited to go next year, although we won’t be on South Beach. Omaha doesn’t know what it’s in for. Either do I quite frankly.
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What we’ve been doing…
June 19, 2007 by admin
Well my daily blog entry goal went down the tubes. At least I can say I’ve been busy. With what? Taking over a company…Yes, I’m going to break the news here. 420 Jars has acquired Weed-O-Scope. Now called 420 Scope. (Clever I know) In less than 2 weeks we’ll have created a whole new company and product. Here’s the first ad that’s going into a wholesale mag that we advertise in. We have page 2 for the first 2 months. Blowin up the scene yo.
We put this together in about 4 days. Including logo and photography. (It’s my girlfriend’s hand. She’s going to be famous. Or that’s what I told her at least)
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On the horizon
June 15, 2007 by admin
Things have become interesting around here. This week we acquired a new product line that’s going to take our industry by storm. Well that’s the idea at least. Now I have until Tuesday to rebrand this product. That means coming up with a new logo and a full page ad for the trade magazine we advertise in. Page 2 even! We’re pretty excited about it. All our customers always ask if we sell anything else. Now we can say “why yes we do”… It’s going to take some hard work and long hours to get everything up and running, but it’s nothing new to us. A lot of the work lies in my camp. Design, design, design. That’s what I’m here for though. Now I have 2 brand identities to manage. They’ll fold together nicely. I’ll post some of the new designs when I get a little further down the road with them. Until then…
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Our New Website
June 11, 2007 by admin
So an updated site is in the works at the moment. The current site is what we looked like this fall. Lots of black. These days everything is green & blue with lots of white space. Although the white space has been driven away for some bold green and blue graphics. Our look is always driven by our print ads. They change often, so our look is always evolving. Which makes us stand out in an industry of stale advertisements that rarely change, but it’s also a challenge to have a consistent image out there. At least our logo stays the same. Anyway, the new website is looking pretty sweet. We’re going to make some much needed interface changes and try to incorporate some Flash video. We’re concerned that people aren’t as smart as we think they are, which is usually the case with website design. What’s obvious to us (or the designer) isn’t always obvious to the general public. Then there’s the challenge of web vs. print design. I prefer print. That’s no secret, but at least I have Matt to take care of all the code. I make it look good, he makes it work. It’s a beautiful relationship.
So the site should be up in the next couple weeks. There are some more pressing design projects at the moment, so this one just gets pushed back. Always adjusting…Click the thumbnail for a preview.
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In House – 2
June 11, 2007 by admin
These days we spend more time refining our design and it shows. Our website looks old to us after 6 months, so we change it. Our magazine ads rarely run for more than 3 months. New posters, sticker and magnets every 6 months. New jar designs all the time (12+ this year)…the list goes on. It keeps me busy. There are a lot of different vendors and art requirements.
As an in-house designer I have a pretty awesome job. I couldn’t really ask for more. Great hours, nice equipment and total unbridled creative freedom. Which can be a bit daunting at times, but it’s better than having some client dictate to me what I should be making. Instead I have the duty of keeping our look fresh. It’s not too hard when the company is part of your life the way 420 Jars is. It’s our baby. I’m the luckiest designer in the world.Category 420 Jars, Design | Tags: | No Comments
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In house – 1
June 8, 2007 by admin
Graphic design. It’s our edge. The reason that our business is where it is today. I’ve been designing since I was a teenager. I had CorelDraw 4 on my first computer. I would make album covers for my favorite bands. Now, over ten years later I’m sitting in front of a setup that would make any designer drool. I’ve earned it. At least that’s what I convinced Matt of. Not to mention how much better my designs are going to be. (That’s what I told myself.)
Everything you see that is 420 Jars is all me. Matt is involved in some of the creative process and also tells me when I can stop working on something (because it’s done). But I’m the one man design show for this place. Web or print. Multidisciplinary. It could be say that theses days it’s better to specialize with design and that would be true for me if I didn’t design/work for my own company. When you’re the only one your specialty needs to be getting things done. Fast. For the first few years things were done by the seat of my pants. Designing for someone else during the day and having to come home and design for 420 Jars doesn’t leave much for creativity. But now days…things are different.
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Getting started
June 6, 2007 by admin
Everything is changing. I choose to embrace change. What choice do we have? For us, change is constant. Since I’ve posted last…I don’t even know where to begin. There is new resolve in our organization. A new path starts here.
With that said, today I embark on a new mission. To write. Here. I’m not sure who’s going to read it, but someone will. What do I have to say that’s worth sharing? Nothing. But I’m going to say them anyway. I have a voice. I see many things. Things I want to show others. Things that they need to see.So I’ll write. Write about design and art. Write about reform and change.
Today I’m going to write about logos. Well maybe not write as much as refer you to this article.
I couldn’t agree with Seth more. I try to preach this to all my design colleagues. But it’s not something that you can go an tell an client. “oh, it’s not important what your logo looks like” – so we have to find more creative ways to say it. Being a small business owner give me a unique prospective on how import it is to have good customer service. If you don’t have good service or a quality product, your logo isn’t going to mean anything. Other than a reminder of your crappy business. Just pay me some money and I’ll make it look good. You worry about making your service good. Everyone will be happy. The end.
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