posted by Ashley Rundall @ 8:18 AM
Who says opera is boring? Opera Vista is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing the audience for new opera by providing contemporary composers a venue for their cutting edge productions to be performed; and the upcoming season is proving to be better than ever.
Savage recently donated the design of the invitation for their 2010-2011 season launch wine dinner at Julia’s Bistro on Thursday, July 29th. For $50 plus tax and gratuity, guests can enjoy a five course dinner, wine pairing and entertainment from Opera Vista.
To communicate Opera Vista’s passion for the operatic tradition and their efforts to expose the ‘uninitiated’ to a new and unexplored art form, Senior Designer, Ashley Rundall combined vintage engravings with a grungy splash of color and a clean, modern typeface. The quirky illustration gives just a taste of what the new operas entail…think elephants and transvestites. It’s not your granny’s opera.
If you are interested in joining the party, attending an opera or just donating, visit their site at www.operavista.org.
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5.25.2010
posted by Jackie Herrera-Wilkerson @ 9:54 AM
AMA Houston truly brought their “A” Game to this year’s Crystal Awards Ceremony. Majors props to Colin Hageney and Stacey Eddington, Co-Chairs of the event, and all event coordinators for their efforts to make this year’s event a huge success. In fact, attendance and award entries for 2010 broke a record.
The night was all about interactivity, and definitely met the wants and needs of all of us multi-tasking/ADD marketers. There were entertaining tidbits throughout the happy hour and the event to keep the excitement flowing, including sideshow dancers and photos ops with the “A” Game crew.
A live Twitter feed was projected on the big screen over the stage most of the night. For the first time in all the galas I’ve attended, I felt like I was having a conversation with the entire room and not confined to my 7 gracious table mates.
This was also the first year that the event was fed live on the Internet. You could read the tweets of those watching the event from their offices. Sad posts about wishing they were their, but admitting they were dedicated to yet another late night of marketing for their prospective companies. Also, AMA utilized a cross of video and live entertainers which made the night feel “4D-ish”. Truly a fun filled night!
The stars of the night were all the finalists and winners. As I walked through the finalists display area, I was inspired by the diversity of design and the approach to projects that companies and agencies took. From small marketing campaigns to worldwide campaigns, from consumers brands to corporate brands, all the finalists brought their “A” Game. Of course, I did my secret cheerleader dance when I walked up to the Business-to-Business website finalist display board because our very own Savage campaign was up, the WHR Architects corporate website! Even though we didn’t take home a Crystal, we were honored to be in a class of success.
The night was great and Savage was, as always, excited to be a part of it all.
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5.19.2010
posted by Savage @ 2:45 PM
Hey! Marketing works!
We can’t take all the credit but, as creative partner of the AMA Houston Crystal Awards, Savage’s dedicated direct mail campaign and targeted e-blasts helped sell out the 2010 awards dinner.
The theme this year was “Bring Your ‘A’ Game. The concept evolved from the Crystal Awards committee kickoff meeting. “If you expect to score a perfect ’10′, you better bring your ‘A’ game,” said Kenny Ragland, Senior Design Director, Savage. “Because it’s the Crystals, we knew we had to bring our ‘A’ game, and we did!”
Props to Colin Hageney and Stacey Eddington, Co-Chairs of the event, and Gary Carson, who gave the committee great strategic advice on what works and what doesn’t. Obviously, we took their advice!
To win a Crystal Award is proof that a company’s marketing stood above the competition in its overall effectiveness. Savage’s proven results-driven process and marketing deliverables mirror the awards’ focus on rewarding marketing solutions.
The event’s being held tomorrow (Thursday) night at the Hyatt Regency downtown. You still might be able to snag a ticket if there are any no shows. If you’re attending, stop by and say “hi” to the Savages you know.
Check back Friday for an event wrap-up.
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4.01.2010
posted by Nicolette Beard @ 12:08 PM
Sustainability, or sustainable development, as defined in corporate America refers to a company’s ability to balance the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations by balancing the environmental, social and economic demands of all stakeholders. The economic buffeting we’ve experienced in the U.S. specifically has Americans embracing sustainability on a very personal and singular level.
According to a recent study of post-recession consumer sentiment, sustainability is the new American dream.
Among the key findings is that “having it all” is an unrealistic goal with 75% of those surveyed saying they would rather get out of the rat race than climb the corporate ladder – and instead, 76% said they would rather spend more time with family than make more money.
The recession has revealed important new consumer priorities with quality of life and peace of mind at the top and a focus on living life in a more sustainable way both from an environmental and financial point of view.
“Consumers didn’t fully understand the idea of sustainability until they found themselves living unsustainable lives themselves – working too hard, carrying too much debt, and not living or planning for the long term. Now consumers are re-imagining their lives for a sustainable future for themselves and their families,” said Manila Austin Ph.D., Director of Research, Communispace.
Complicated & Cautious Consumers
Consumers have increased dramatically the research they conduct before making purchases, large or small. Not surprisingly, trust in banks, established institutions and media continues to shrink. They also view themselves as self reliant, in control and the ones who will help pave the country’s way out of the recession, not the government or banks.
As hearth and home continue to resonate with consumers, brands must tap into building relationships and focus on more one-on-one marketing. Creating a positive experience and celebrating a customer’s self-determination should be part of your promotion and brand messaging. Communicating your value proposition clearly and educating the consumer is more important than ever.
Marketers with their head in the sand want to start paying attention. Consumers’ worldview has moved past the recession, but many marketers are still projecting the stresses of the economy.
The study entitled, Eyes Wide Open, Wallets Half Shut, quickly tells the story in the title. Navigating the challenges of connecting with a post-recession consumer may take more time.
*Source: Ogilvy & Mather, Chicago and Comminispace
For a PDF download of the consumer study, visit the Energy Bulletin website, a program of Post Carbon Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the world transition away from fossil fuels and build sustainable, resilient communities.
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3.17.2010
posted by Nicolette Beard @ 3:45 PM
The Internet has created in us the need for speed. Some days I’m moving so fast, clicking from link to link, that I hope none of my coworkers ask how I arrived at my conclusions. If I had to source every link I clicked and website I visited, there wouldn’t be time left in the day to actually CREATE.
Seth Godin describes this behavior in a recent post: Driveby Culture and the Endless Search for Wow.
The illusion of speed creates unrealistic expectations for both consumers and businesses. The reality is that designing a website that works or solving a complex problem takes time.
The Twitteratti want us to believe that you can create change in snippets. As Jeffrey Hayzlett, CMO Kodak, said, “How can I be a thought leader in 140 characters?, when asked why he wasn’t leading the social media charge for B2B companies.
Godin writes, “More and more often, we’re seeing products and services coming to market designed to appeal to the momentary attention of the clickers. The Huffington Post has downgraded itself, pushing thoughtful stories down the page in exchange for linkbait and sensational celebrity riffs. This strategy gets page views, but does it generate thought or change?”
As any creative artist will tell you, designing for the masses is a soul-less pursuit.
The Internet is so vast that we (marketers) need not succumb to the zero-sum game of pursing the latest in what’s popular. The “idea merchants” who are succeeding online ignore the click and leave crowd. Instead, they’re focusing on their true fan base. It only takes a tiny slice of the Internet audience to make your voice heard or your product known.
Just ask Hugh McLeod, entrepreneuer, who launched a boutique wine solely using the Internet. In his spare time he draws cartoons on the back of business cards. He sent an email in January announcing that he was pulling back on cartooning (gasp!) to invest more time in the audience that matters: customers who return and also take action.
As Godin states, “When there’s no commitment of money or time in the interaction, can change or commerce really happen? Just because you can measure eyeballs and page views doesn’t mean you should.”
Spreading ideas, changing mindsets and creating something worthwhile for an audience that cares, takes time and effort. But when design merges with a cause, then the clicks can matter.
