Sunday, September 30, 2007

A Budding Exhibit

This spring, the Berkshire Museum plays host to a different type of artist: the Floral Arranger. These skilled artisans from floral shops throughout the Berkshires will festoon the Museum with clusters, bouquets and garlands of beautiful flowers. Below is the mark for the event, designed by Raeanne—who knows a good arrangement when she sees one.


Saturday, September 29, 2007

Still The Sagamore

The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing is the place to spend the holidays.
Across the snow-dusted bridge holiday memories and magic await:

* The delicate clink of glass, a toast to the years ahead.

* A roaring fire that warms, while fragrant evergreens romance the air.

* Hot mulled cider by candlelight or toddies and music in the cozy environs of Mr. Brown’s Pub.

* The eastern sun, dancing on the crisp, Adirondack snow, gently stirs you from your winter slumber.

* The morning’s first coffee awaits in the Veranda.

The majesty of the Adirondack mountains and the incomparable beauty of Lake George, beckon.

Snowflakes swirl in a wintery dance, the bellman calls a cheerful goodnight, and the door opens, welcoming you to the tradition of days gone by, and the magnificence of The Sagamore at the holidays.


Friday, September 28, 2007

A Jump from the Tramp

Sandra Hutchinson: mother, columnist, camper, worrier, and writer—is about to publish a book. Trampoline has had the good fortune to work with the Chronicle, the paper for which Sandy writes, in the past. We got the nod to design the cover for Jumping Off Cliffs and Other Short Essays, due out before the 2007 holiday season. Here, you'll find a sneak peak at the artwork. Hutch: thanks for taking the leap—can't wait to read it.




Friday, September 21, 2007

EVERY GOOD THING to RUST

Not to sound like the braggart three barstools away who annoys the hell out of you, but...

We know a film maker.

Yep, mmm-hmm.

No, serious. He's a friend.

He's actually married to a woman that works here.

How cool is that? John Yost, the RIT educated (go Tigers) film phenom is putting the finishing touches on a feature length movie.

EVERY GOOD THING TO RUST is, as described on the website: a dark, eerie portrait of social meltdown, that questions the loyalties of friendship and challenges any illusions of safety and order.

Sean was lucky enough to snag a DVD for a director's-cut preview in late summer and thinks John is one talented guy.

He's also lucky—John married a true designer. Raeanne has put a beautiful face on the film, and launched a simple, stark website. This project was in the works long before she came to Trampoline, and we can't take credit for any of the work, but we certainly have an appreciation for the kind of creativity and drive needed to pull off a project like this one.

That said, we're pleased to host the film's premiere in the unfinished, exposed-brick, so-raw-it's-cool space behind our office here at 196 Glen.



WAYFINDING SIGNAGE >>

Just a quick post to show off the latest project for a client up north: the Saranac Lake Library. Back in 2004, Trampoline worked with the library on the design of a permanent exhibit. The creative focused on the work of Charles W. Dickert, an Adirondacker who helped furnish the original great camps with all types of rustic accoutrements. Mostly items invloving antlers or hide or glass eyes. Or all three.

This time the project was wayfinding. No one wants to get lost in the Adirondacks—least of all in a library. Check out the directionals below. We're especially fond of the lumberjack-in-the-elevator icon, and the hiker decending a staircase icon.

Derek: The Design King

Nice invite dude. Anytime you can work a crown into the design—you win!



This particular request for attendance went out to Hedge Fund Managers, Self Made Millionaires and Philanthropically Inclined Partiers in Manhattan. The benefit will take place on the 5th Floor of Saks 5th Avenue sometime in October (no we're not saying when). The proceeds from the event—featuring an alice + olivia designer showcase, custom shirt fittings, chocolate tastings, and Bobbi Brown consultations—will go to benefit the Double H Ranch in Luzerne, a longtime Trampoline client.

We were told that this was an easy sell, since this particular circle of wealthy twenty-and-thirtysomethings are looking for ways to help their favorite Hole-In-The-Wall camp upstate. Which was great for us to hear, as the ranch is a marvelous place.

What's your score?

Earlier this summer, we met Wayne Cook. The man was one of those walking heart attacks that are the tragic heros of cautionary tales told in cardiology practices nationwide. On a lark, he took advantage of a coronary artery calcium scoring promotion offered by the Saratoga Imaging Center (a Trampoline client). We marketed the heart scans as part of a Valentine's Day promotion, generating education about the risks, and interest in the procedure. Actual scans, too.

Wayne's results were, um, shocking. Our buddy Wayne posted the highest score the Imaging Center had ever recorded.

Coronary artery calcium scanning is like golf: low score wins.

Wayne was at risk and he knew it. He booked an appointment with his Cardiologist to review the results—who, in turn, scheduled a cardiac catheterization. Seven minutes into the procedure, Wayne said the doctor looked worried.

"If you ever see your cardiologist go pale, hold on. You're in for a wild ride." Wayne explained.

He stayed on the same gurney and got wheeled up to the OR. His doctor kept pace alongside and notified his collegues that they had an emergency, and bluntly explained to Wayne that the principal side effect of this next procdure was, well, death. Later, after his same-day bypass surgery, his doc told him what he had seen that made the color drain from his cheeks.

Three of Wayne's coronary arteries had been 100% blocked. The fourth was nearly 80% plugged.

Wayne's life had been saved by a surgery, a team of dedicated medical professionals, and 10 minutes in a CT scanner.

Do you know your score?

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

I Pity the Faux

Back in 2005, we won a NORI Award for outstanding packaging. The project was done for a friend of ours—an artist, craftsman and free spirit named Erin Lonergan. She works in plaster, and takes great pride in the medium, its history and stature. It might sound silly, but the entire process of recreating an interior with venetian plaster is quite romantic. And the results are stunning. These are not faux finishes, here, people. This is the real deal. Without the horse hair.

We designed materials for Erin's business, Lonergan Designs, LLC. A mark and message: Texture Your Life, were developed and used on materials and collateral that doubled as a label for the container Erin uses to send out samples to clients.



Most recently, the Lonergan Designs logo is found at the top of Erin's website, which will be launching (it's up on the Trampoline test-server: gigabounce.com) before September is through. A recent Lonergan Designs interior will be gracing the pages of Better Homes & Gardens, and quite possibly the cover of the same, in an upcoming edition.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Shot with a Rae Gun

Raeanne gave the bounce blog a new look. We'd post the design, but you're already looking at it. Thoughts? Feelings? When we asked Rae if she was happy with it, she said:

"...as happy as I can be after staring at something all afternoon..."

Show the girl some love.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Do they even wear T-shirts in Death Valley?

After another successful Pedal to Cure Diabetes this year, we're happy to report that the event raised over $6,000 toward Diabetes research. It's a great feeling to know that we were able to help Tambrie Alden and co. raise awareness for this effort. The T-shirts and water bottles were a big hit with both spectators and riders, and now the extra merch is heading out west for the National JDRF Ride in Death Valley.

Everyone said the shirts were cool.

Let's hope they were right.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

What Happens in Vegas...

Goes to Market.

This summer, we wrote about the design of a packaging project for a local client, SaraBear Baskets. Amanda's parent-friendly prose combined with Derek's shelf-stealing design made for one gorgeous box. At least we thought so. The proof would be when an advanced shipment of 25 packages arrived from China (where they were printed) so that our client could take them with her to display at a trade show in Las Vegas.

Fingers crossed.

We got an email from Sin City this afternoon:

" Dear Derek, Just have to share with you…we’re at the trade show, and you should know that the packaging is completely selling this product. Buyers are ga-ga for the boxes. The larger international distributors are making deals, and it’s the boxes that are truly working to make up their minds. Thought you’d like to know this cool tidbit of info." —Melissa

Here's to a job well done, baby.



Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Wide Angle Creative

Our clients often ask us: How did you come up with that concept? Who wrote that headline? Whose idea was this?

The team at Trampoline is compact, but creative. It's in meetings like the one pictured below that the real work gets done. Messages and images are bounced back and forth across the room, with both client and audience perceptions hanging in the balance. It's our favorite part of what we do, and ultimately it's our product. Ideas, perspective, and approach all serve to create a better form of communication, no matter the medium.

Our thanks to Jon Katz, a Trampoline client and gifted photographer (who also happens to be an author, farmer, shepherd, gospel aficionado and curmudgeon) for stopping by and capturing the moment.







Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Some Assembly Required

Sometimes it's nice to get away from your desk. Friday, Derek and Sean headed for the Berkshire Museum to install the latest round of support materials for their ongoing capital campaign A Wider Window. It was good, hard work—after enough time in our office at 196 Glen, it was great to get our hands dirty and wield screwguns and saws instead of exactos and lattés. Six hours, several banners, case panels, interpretive signs and a system of stenciled icons later, we were bound for home. Weary from the day, but proud of the work—both physical and creative. We were grateful for the three day weekend to recover, and grateful to have a client like the Berkshire Museum that allows us to have fun with design.


On your left: great creative.

Derek is not afraid of heights.

Sean puts the screws to the final interpretive panel.

Three panels or one?

Stenciled icons make any project better.

Monday, September 3, 2007

Are you a Member?

Trampoline recently completed a membership piece for the Albany Ad Club and we just had to have a little fun with the project. In order to make the Ad Club look even more appealing, we put it in the company of these other noteworthy organizations. Can you guess what they are? Leave a comment with the correct answers and we'll send you a Trampoline Design Jumpin' Jacks set for FREE*. Have fun.

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*Quantities are limited, shipping restricted to the US & Canada. Employees and their family members are not eligible to play. In fact, employees should be working, now, shouldn't they? That goes double for family members.