Cut & Paste: The 2008 Greeting Card Competition, AIGA Knoxville

As many of you may know, Designsensory is a proud and active member of our local chapter of the AIGA, the professional association of design. Given that Alison and I both serve on the Knoxville AIGA board we thought we'd do our part to get the word out for this year's greeting card competition.

The theme is handmade and the competition is open to everyone!  Here's more info:

We're encouraging you to step away from your bright computer screens this holiday season and get back to working with your hands. Create an original holiday greeting card(s) and mail it in to our competition by December 1st for a chance to win one of four locally handmade packages: 1st prize = $150 value, 2nd = $75 value, 3rd = $30 value, 4th = $20 value.

Then, join us on First Friday, December 5th at the kickoff of the Handmade Holiday Show in the former White Store Building on North Central (get directions). The Glowing Body / MagPies reception will open at 6.00 pm with music starting at around 8.00pm. Proceeds from the event will go to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee, Downtown North Redevelopment and AIGA Knoxville.
 
Fifty designs will be chosen from the submitted entries. All fifty chosen designs will be on display and offered for sale in a silent auction on December 5th.

So break out the pens, pencils, and brushes to show us what beautiful things you can make. Be it cross-stitch, screenprinting, letterpress, collage, illustration, spraypaint, etc...the options are limitless!

Go to Knoxcards.org today to download your application.

P.S. Also, don't forget we have our PM: Happy Hour coming up this November 18, 2008 from 6:30-8:00pm at the Urban Bar. Come join us for drinks and good conversation with folks from the local creative community in Knoxville! In fact, if you mention you learned about this event through this blog post, I will personally buy you a drink.

And...no, I am not resorting to bribery.  :-)    See you there!

Comments (2)|Posted by: Joseph Nother, 11 November 2008 at 4:40pm

Work Honored by Graphic Design USA

Just a few days ago the mailman brought a little dose of love in the form of a good ole catalog envelope. There was nothing special about the envelope except for what was inside---five awards for design excellence and a special note of congratulations. Our selections were picked out of a pool of 10,000 plus entries as part of the top 15%. A big pat on the pack to everyone who worked on these projects! Check out the certificates below. More importantly, click on the projects and see the work!

Recognition for the new Tennessee Theatre ID mark (logo)  |  View project»

Recognition for the Goodwill Industries 2007 Fashion Show Campaign  |  View project»

Recognition for the redeveloped AC Entertainment website, Concertwire.com  |  View project»

Recognition for Careers and Education website for the State of Tennessee  |  View project»

Recognition for the Lifesaver Luau 2007 Fundraising Campaign  |  View project»

Again, congratulations to everyone for their passion and hardwork. Awards are great but effectiveness and business performance are better. I am happy to report that in each case above, the customer AND their constitents benefited from great design. Anyone have a favorite?

Comments (6)|Posted by: Joseph Nother, 12 September 2008 at 1:39pm

A taste of our own medicine: Designing one's own Identity

Why is it so difficult to design and develop your own identity system, print collateral and web site? Besides the time and personnel commitment, many design and web development agencies often struggle to capture the essence of their organizations when it comes time to do all things brand, identity and web site. Perhaps it is deciding on one path from a myriad of creative possibilities. Or perhaps it is a battle between aspiration versus pragmatism with respect to positioning.

Be it a large, hundred-man enterprise or a small, two-person shop, it is always a decidedly difficult task. Having said that, focusing the mirror of the design process on oneself has its rewards as well. Turning a process reserved for clients on ourselves ultimately shows how painful, yet rewarding, the design process can be.

Comments (4)|Posted by: Joseph Nother, 5 August 2008 at 9:56am

Brandon Rochelle

Brandon, co-founder and technical director, oversees technology development spanning interactive work through online marketing.

Joseph Nother

As co-founder and creative director for Designsensory, Joseph oversees teams that deliver award-winning and compelling design.