Cannes - A - City!

It's that time again. That time when I feel the urge to update my blog on what's been going on in my life lately, design wise.

On June 20th, the Dice team over at Barkley got notified we won a Bronze Lion at this years Cannes Lions Festival. This is such a huge accomplishment for the Dice.com team as well as Barkley too. The project we entered was the Dice "Code Talkers" Outdoor campaign which consisted of billboards, bus posters (both inside and out), and bumper stickers. The concept behind this campaign was to create billboards that tech people understood, geek speak or code talkers. Tech people have their own culture and their own language (well multiple languages), and so we decided to create billboards written in code to speak to those users who can understand them.  Three distinct areas were targeted, Dallas (AT&T), Seattle (Microsoft) and San Francisco (Google).

 

Another recent thing that has happened was the release of a Starbucks tumbler design I created in time for the whole All Star game craze! Basically, Starbucks currently doesn't have any Kansas City pride within their stores. No city mugs, no city tumblers, or even barista bears! Those of you who are avid Starbucks goers are familiar with that of which I am referring to. So, in an attempt to change that, I was asked to design a concept that would run in stores during the All Star game activities. It is said that Kansas City is suppose to be expecting thousands of tourists for this event, and we wanted to take advantage of that. In my attempt to capture Kansas City, I would say there's a little bit of something for everyone. I wanted to illustrate the link between Kansas and Missouri, and also wanted this to be an experience. An I-Spy experience or "Where's Waldo?" kind of experience. I also wanted the design to be seamless between the paper break, so there are many elements that are free flowing around the mug. As for the color palette, I wanted to reflect the warm, inviting, helpful nature of Kansas City that I experienced when I moved here.

I am so thankful for each of these very different experiences. I hope these tumblers do well in sales and that there will be more creative opportunities to come!

My life in the long run

My professor at my previous college once told me, "Lance, you're more than just coffee." I have worked for Starbucks for more than four years now, and it's really been tough to let go. This "job" has turned out to be a constant giving machine. It helped me get out of my shell (if you think I'm a quiet person now, you should have seen me before), it gave me coffee a free pound of coffee every week that I never drank, it helped me network to get my first ever internship with a small graphic design firm, it gave me an opportunity to illustrate chalkboards, it gave me furniture for my apartment, and the list just goes on. It's been hard to give up something that has turned out to be so rewarding. For a couple of years now, I have been saying that I wouldn't mind designing somehow within Starbucks, and it's still true. I wouldn't be totally against it. Plus, there are travel opportunities that come with it, and I would love that just as much.

Being a little more realistic I guess, I would like to stay local for a couple of years and work for a design agency, firm, house, boutique. I can see myself working for a couple of different places, though I'm not entirely sure I would be a good fit. I like the idea of working for Hallmark or Barkley, and though VML and Liquid 9 are more interactive/web based, I can see myself gaining a lot of experience and practice from either of those places. I'm not sure. I do know, I am not opposed to moving. The more of this world I can see, the better, and if graphic design is the way I will get to do it, ideal! I'm also liking the idea of doing more advocacy work. The Rosedale project was just the tip of the berg, but it was really great helping a community in need. I will need to research a little more into firms that do advocacy work.

2011 STARBUCKS LOGO

You hear correctly....



Taking away the type and leading with a mark.

Starbucks is about to enter the new year with a modified minimalistic approach to the old logo. How do you feel about this? I'm not sure how I feel about it just yet. In a way I like it and agree that the old one looked a little dated, but in another way I'm afraid the public won't respond as well with the change.




Check out the A Look at the Future of Starbucks video.
Images by Starbucks.com

FALL CHALKBOARDS!

Chalkboard #1 - Anniversary Blend

KC STAR!

Our Kauffman Center Mural Painting has made it into the KC STAR! Check out the article HERE!

I'm sitting in a chair in the backroom of my Starbucks on break. I'm sipping on a delicious Passion Iced Tea Apple Juice (because we were out of lemonade), and I'm rummaging through the KC STAR. I remembered the guy who came to "take notes" about a week and a half ago...and have been checking the paper everyday since (just about). Finally, I stumble upon a page with the Kauffman Center of Performing Arts on the front with CEO Jane Chu. I thought to myself, "This has to be the issue! This has to be the issue with our story!" And well it was. Immediately at that moment, my break was over. Sad, I know. My texting skills throughout the past few years have prepared me for a moment like this to happen. I quickly grab my phone, switch it to T9 and all caps and write "GRAB A STAR...WERE IN TODAY'S ISSUE! PASS THE WORD!" I sent it to the 7 mural kids who were on my most recent list. Then, you guessed it...back to work.

Here are a couple more related articles that came out recently also.

Building Relationships
About Glass Panels
Aretha Franklin
Richard Harriman
Letters

Chalkboards

HELLO SUMMER!

Life at the bucks is still in motion. Check out the new chalkboards!

Starbucks: New Chalkboards

From the process of our new remodel, we scored a sweet new large chalkboard. I got my hands on it pretty quickly. Here are the latest two signs that have been displaying. The frappuccino one below is the current one. Also, I just heard this weekend that our store isn't done with the remodel. Thank goodness, because I was beginning to get worried. Apparently, they were waiting to get more feedback from both customers and partners. I hear...they are staining the beams on the ceiling, replacing the bar style tables in chairs with regular height ones, and painting one of the walls a deep red. Can't wait for more changes...and warmth!

Chalkboards!

Here are the first three boards of 2010! Board #1 has a ton of information...I think I'm going to simplify it next time, but it displays the benefits for Starbucks Card holders. Board #2 is the Daily Offerings board and what we are pretty much focusing on this promotion. (So Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte's, Skinny Vanilla Latte's, and Vanilla Rooibos Teas-all very low in calories if you're one of those people.) Board #3 deals with Starbucks VIA Ready Brew...coffee in an instant. Since it is our "on the go" coffee it's great for anywhere. Keep a look out for the next couple boards in a few weeks on the Plaza. Thanks!

Winter Chalkboard Art

Board #1
This board has to be cohesive throughout all stores.


Board #2
We as a store have a little more freedom with this board. My manager wanted something representing Christmas Blend. Since it's the 25th Anniversary of Christmas Blend, I thought I would highlight that in some way.



Board #3
We have artistic freedom with this board as well. It was suggested highlight the pastries, so we can see rising sales within the pastry case.

Starbucks Chalkboard

Hey, if you're ever at the Starbucks on the Plaza, check out my board...as well as the larger board (not pictured) that I did.

STARBUCKS!

As some of you may or may not know, I've been working for Starbucks for about 3 years. Well, about a year ago there was a call for Chalkboard art done with favorite coffees. I just revisited the site and realized I WAS ON IT! They didn't give notifications or anything, and a couple weeks after it still wasn't updated. Anyway, you can see mine, along with many others online at www.starbuckscoffeeathome.com in the Barista Gallery. It even says I'm from Colorado Springs. haha. I actually created it using oil pastel...interesting.