Rick’s Blog

When Good Projects Go Bad

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:03:55 -0700

Last Friday, Darin and I were presenters at the Spokane Regional MarCom Association May meeting. Our 60-minute presentation was titled, "When Good Projects Go Bad". The discussion centered around how design, advertising, website, marketing and PR projects can "go bad" and what to do to get them back-on-track when they do.

"When Good Projects Go Bad" at Spokane's Lincoln Center.

The presentation was held at The Lincoln Center in Spokane. The venue was prepared with a couple of stools set up on the stage in front of around 80 attendees. Our discussion was videotaped by a crew from The Hamilton Studio. (Thanks, Don!)

In our presentation, we outlined ways that projects can get derailed and highlighted that by sharing examples of about a dozen Klündt | Hosmer projects where budgets, timelines and expectations didn't turn out as planned. We then shared what we did to maintain the client-relationship and work-out the issues.

Many aspects must fall into place – from the initial project estimate to the final delivery or launch – in order for a project to be successful. We discussed these issues and shared how clear communication, accurate project descriptions and estimates, setting expections, and honesty are critical to finishing projects successfully.

To wrap-up the presentation, we shared our own Top 10 List of tips to keep projects on track:

1. Expect things to go well and implement plans so that they do.

2. Develop a clear project scope and mutual understanding with the client.

3. Adapt your communicaiton style to match the client's personality.

4. Have milestone recap meetings or emails to keep everyone on track.

5. Never give up on a project or client.

6. Always use the MRI (most respectful intent) when dealing with clients and teammates.

7. Outline the criteria for successfully accomplishing the project.

8. Re-establish the project goals and criteria when presenting your solution to the client.

9. Try to separate personal "needs and wants" from the project.

10. Don't be afraid to be honest when communicating "challenges" with a client.

We had a great time doing the presentation and based on feedback we received from attendees, they had fun too – and learned something in the process.

Darin and I hope to deliver similar presentations to other associations and business groups in the future.

The Creativity of J.G. Quintel

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:22:08 -0700

Sure, I keep up on the advertising and design industry.

I subscribe to Communication Arts, Print Magazine, HOW, and Adweek. I even mix in contemporary business publications like Fast Company. But lately, I've been getting inspired by a Cartoon Network series that my 14-year-old daughters turned me on to: The Regular Show.

The Regular Show features an eclectic mix of characters and storylines that I really enjoy. I've been getting caught up on episodes streaming on Netflix. While I think that most broadcast television is utter crap, this is a television program that both my daughters and I can watch together. Although, I think I appreciate the show's visual design, music and writing more than they do.

This afternoon I was going through my business mail and came across the latest issue of Adweek.

In it was an industry interview (like they have in each issue), but in this issue the featured interviewee was J.G. Quintel, the creator of The Regular Show.

In the interview, Quintel shares how as a student at the California Institute for the Arts, he developed the characters. He also shares how his creative team comes up with fresh ideas for each episode (over 160 episodes so far).

It was a strange collision in my head when the creator of my new favorite TV program showed up in my Adweek magazine.

If you haven't watched The Regular Show on Cartoon Network, you really should give it a shot. You may even get "Free Cake! Free Cake!"

Bringing it Since 1987

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:19:53 -0700

Facing a blank wall covered in chalkboard paint is an undeniable temptation to any graphic designer. Fueled with a box of chalk, it is certain that the wall will not remain blank for long.

Diane Mahan recently had the wall behind her desk painted into a magnetic chalkboard. As soon as the paint dried, it became covered with small drawings, notes and NCAA tournament picks.

But last weekend, Tyler Kracht came into the office armed with an eraser and a box of chalk. In a short period of time, he turned that black wall into a typographical masterpiece.

Klündt | Hosmer visitors and clients are now welcomed to our office with a hand-drawn message celebrating the 26 years we have been 'bringing it' to the field of graphic design and visual communication.

While the photo above may be only 400 pixels wide, in real life, the graphic is over 8 feet wide.

We're already wondering when one of our other designers will have the guts to erase this artwork and put up their own masterpiece.

A hot color combination?

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:26:46 -0700

I am working on an upcoming presentation for a marketing and communications group. My partner Darin and I will be talking about what to do when projects go "sideways" and how to get them back on track.

After 30 years in the graphic design business, I have seen a lot. And I have discovered that often (not ALL, certainly…) but OFTEN times when a project goes awry, it's because the client thinks they understand the design and production process when they really don't, and that lack of understanding hitches the process.

Lest you think that I am being too judgmental, check out the website: Clients from Hell

As I scrolled through the real-life client/designer encounters in the website, I came across one that I really want to share with you:

Client: I don't like the color. I have the correct color in my Photoshop.

Designer: Well, you can provide me a color code that you like…

Client: Black is 10%. Yellow is 26%. Magenta is 82% and Cayenne is 100%.

Designer: Cayenne?

Client: Yes… as in CMYK! Don't you know your colors?

It is part of our job as designers to help our clients understand what we need and when we need it to accomplish the project. But sometimes (especially after reviewing some of the Client from Hell stories), no matter what the project budget… it's not enough.

The Brand is NOT the Logo: A 20-minute video

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:52:21 -0800

Klündt | Hosmer has developed nearly 500 corporate brand images (logos) over years. It is an important facet of our business and it is vital that our clients receive a professional design that conveys the correct image for their organization.

But (as author, Ted Matthews states in this video), The Brand is NOT the Logo.

Your brand is not what YOU THINK about your business or product. It is what OTHER PEOPLE think about your business or product.

If you are a business owner or in-charge of the "brand" of a company, invest 20 minutes of your time to watch this video.

If you'd like to bring the conversation to a personal-level, pop over to our website's CONTACT US page and give Darin Klündt, Jean Klündt or me a call. While Ted Matthews wears a tie and has more grey hair than we do, we speak the same language (without some of Matthews' expletives) regarding impactful brands.

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Branding Outside the Bottle?

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:47:01 -0800

Why is it impossible (or at least a very challenging) for a company to develop it's own effective branding, marketing and social media strategies?

http://www.agefotostock.com/en/Stock-Images/Royalty-Free/IMZ-car0157

According to Recourses, a management consultant to marketing service firms:

"It's so hard to discover your own firm's positioning because you're inside the bottle, and you can't see the label."

–David C. Baker, Recourses

So stop trying to think out of the box. Klündt | Hosmer will show you the world "outside of the bottle".

Mind Over Type

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:41:19 -0800

Thanks to Lloyd Kahn's blog (via Paul Wingate’s message) for posting this:

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Klündt | Hosmer "Rides" at Red Shoe

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 09:27:00 -0800

Last Friday night, Jean, Diane and I had a blast competing with Zipline Interactive in the Red Shoe Draw-off at the Luxe Ballroom in Spokane. The Draw-off was part of the Spokane Advertising Federation's annual Red Shoe Event and Benefit Auction, which helps fund scholarships for Spokane area college students studying the arts, advertising and design.

Diane, Jean and Rick working on their Draw-off painting.

The competing teams were given the theme: When I Was in School. We were provided an 8′ by 8′ blank canvas, black and red paint, brushes, markers and a time limit of two hours.

For Klündt | Hosmer's piece, we created a painting featuring elements from when we were in school – including a Schwinn Sting-ray bicycle (with flowered banana seat), a troll doll, a Hostess cupcake, Snoopy and other elements from the '60s and '70s. An oval "Schwinn-emblem" between the handlebars featured the lyrics to "Bicycle" by Queen, an iconic group from the '70s.

A requirement of the artwork was that it include a red shoe. We chose to draw a red Converse All-Star hanging from the handlebar, along with a lucky rabbit's foot – a symbol of good luck to the students receiving scholarships funded by the competition and auction.

The two hours went by very quickly. We had a great (yet exhausting) time working on the painting, enlarging our original 8-inch square design to an 8-feet square format.

The voting for the Red Shoe Draw-off competition was done by the audience members contributing $1 per vote for their favorite drawing. It was a very close competition and between the two teams nearly $800 was raised in scholarship money. In the ultimate vote tally, Zipline was victorious.

Art prints of the two pieces will be available for purchase soon at Zazzle.com.

After the evening's event, our team celebrated and recovered at Catacombs Pub and the Post Street Ale House.

Red Shoe Draw-Off on Friday!

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:38:00 -0800

Jean Klündt, Diane Mahan and I are creatively preparing for our upcoming Red Shoe Draw-off, a live 3-on-3 art battle where we'll compete against Zipline Interactive.

At the Draw-off, we'll create an 8-foot by 8-foot piece of black, white and red artwork based on the provided theme, "When I Was in School".

The artwork will be created live, starting at 5:30pm on Friday, November 30 at the Luxe Coffee House. We'll be going head-to-head against three fine folks from Zipline, who will be working with the same theme.

The Red Shoe Draw-off is a fundraiser at the Spokane Advertising Federation's annual Red Shoe Event, where custom-created art furniture will be auctioned off to raise money for the Toni M. Robideaux Scholarship Fund, assisting regional design and advertising college students with their education.

You can view an interesting video of a previous Draw-off competition here.

Come watch Jean, Diane and me give our "artistic all" for a great cause.

The Red Shoe Event
Luxe Ballroom @ Luxe Coffee House
1017 W 1st Avenue
Spokane, WA
Friday, November 30
5:30PM

Tickets are $15 and available from Diane at Klündt | Hosmer, or online at www.aaafspokane.com.

Good Design is Good Business

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 11:44:42 -0700

"Good Design is Good Business."—said in 1973 by Thomas Watson, Jr., legendary IBM CEO

In an earlier blog post, I mentioned picking up a copy of the October 2012 issue of Fast Company to read while waiting for a client to pick me up at the Seattle Airport. I wrote that this issue reminded me why I had subscribed to Fast Company years ago and made me wonder why I had let my subscription lapse. The issue really is that good.

Today I received an email from Diane Mahan (one of our art directors) with a link to an article in that very publication. It is timely and important and I want everyone visiting this blog to have a chance to read the article, even when the issue is no longer on the newsstand.

If you ever wonder why graphic designers do what we do and if you ever wonder if our work really matters, take a bit of time and read this article by Cliff Kuang, titled "Good Design is Good Business."

At the end of the article, the author shares the words that Thomas Watson, Jr., used to lead up to his soon-to-be-famous statement. "We are convinced that good design can materially help make a good product reach it full potential."

That's why designers do what we do. And that's why our work really matters.

The Smile of Success

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:04:08 -0700

A whirlwind, yet very productive day yesterday.

Up early, I headed into the office to put finishing touches on a branding presentation that I would make later that evening to a group of physicians in Bellevue, WA. Diane Mahan did a great job on the presentation and Henry Ortega masterfully redesigned the layout of several reports that were part of the presentation and discussion.

Heading to the airport mid-morning, I went through the presentation in my mind. Fortunately, our client contact would be picking me up from Sea-Tac and delivering me back to the airport that evening, following the presentation, so I only needed to think about what I was going to do and say at the meeting. It was nice not to have to mess around with getting a rental car or driving around trying to find the meeting location in Bellevue.

The Hyatt in downtown Bellevue is a wonderful venue for a dinner meeting and presentation. The presentation went well. The technology worked (computer, projector, streaming video) - always a relief, and the print-outs of the new report designs were very well received

It is always interesting when I talk with very intelligent people (in this case, experienced physicians) about a subject that they know very little about (in this case, branding and marketing). Fortunately, this group was willing to listen and learn. They asked good questions and I think I gave them good answers. I am very optimistic about working with them on upcoming branding and visual communication projects for their company.

For a great story on the creation of this logo for Alaska Airlines, click the link at the end of my blog.

As I boarded the plane late last night for the return flight to Spokane, I was very pleased with how things turned out that day. Looking at the Alaska Airlines logo on the tail of my plane, I think even the Eskimo was happy for me.

Oh, as I waited for my flight, I picked up the current issue of Fast Company. I used to subscribe to that magazine years ago, when it first was published. For some reason, it fell out of my " must-read" list. The October 2012 DESIGN issue has changed that. This is a great issue and I will again become a subscriber. Grab a copy, if you aren't already a Fast Company reader.

http://www.oregonmag.net/MyEskimo.htm

Sketchbook: Day 2

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 08:10:51 -0700

I feel like I need to make a confession to the priest of artists. "Forgive me father for I have sinned. It has been over two weeks since my last sketch."

Following a backlog of branding, website and writing work; travel, presentations and more work, I finally came in to the office early enough this morning to sit on the balcony for 20 minutes and continue my sketch of the Spokane skyline as seen from 216 W Pacific Avenue.

Here's today's installment.

Sketchbook: Day 1

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:32:13 -0700

I have always been able to draw.

Like most children, my young abilities with crayons, pencils and markers gained the compliments of my parents. Once in school, my teachers encouraged my artistic endeavors and friends would tell me I had talent.

Day 1: Morrison Moving and Storage from the balcony at 216 W Pacific, Spokane.

Those compliments were nice to hear, but to me, they felt similar to having someone tell you that "you sure do breathe good". Drawing well was just something I could naturally do. It was easy. It didn't feel like anything I "earned" or worked hard to achieve. It still doesn't.

While it has been many years since my first crayon scribbles, I still enjoy drawing. But it is something that I rarely do in my everyday work. Writing, meeting with clients, developing proposals, determining communication strategies, art directing... this is the work I do. And drawing really isn't part of it, anymore.

When Diane Mahan, a talented designer and our digital media specialist, returned from an American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA) conference in Boston, MA earlier this year, she came back with a renewed interest in drawing. Recently, I have watched Diane work at her sketchbook and see how translating what she sees into graphite images on a page has inspired her.

I have decided to pick up a pen and sketchbook and go on this journey for myself. To take a few steps each day toward an unknown destination.

This afternoon at lunchtime, I sat out on our balcony and started drawing the view looking toward downtown Spokane. While I didn't get very far in the 10 minutes before Henry Ortega came out and engaged me in a conversation, I did make some progress and am determined to continue the drawing next week.

To keep me motivated, I decided to scan and post my progress to this blog.

Let's see where this goes...

Art for Arts Sake

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 13:36:41 -0700

At Klündt | Hosmer, we spend all of working time creating art and design... or at least as graphic designers, we do. Clients pay us to create this work for their branding, websites and other corporate communication projects. It's challenging and it's fun.

But there is another "species" of artist/designer out there that creates art that no one ever pays for. It is work that never graces an annual report cover, print advertisement, or website home page. It is art that doesn't shout to be seen, or strive to be interpreted in any specific way.

I came across this example in downtown Spokane while walking back from the bank this afernoon. An interesting 11" x 17" piece, pasted high on a wall above a door. A simple Rorshach test-inspired piece, signed with the last name of its maker.

It strives to sell nothing. It asks nothing from the viewer. It just is. And for some reason it caught by eye. It caused me give it consideration. It encouraged me to stop, reach up, take its photo with my iPhone and post it on this blog.

Keep making art for art's sake, Yoskolo. People out there are noticing.

Got an Interest in Pinterest?

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 08:26:19 -0700

Really? Another social media "opportunity"? What's with the interest in Pinterest?

Compete, an online research company, recently posted article at blog.compete.com highlighting research they have conducted on Pinterest users and how Pinterest has influenced their behavior.

Here's a few facts on Pinterest that you likely didn't know:

• Pinterest has grown from 700,000 users to almost 2 million unique visitors in the last year.

• About 25% of social media users report that they are spending less time in other social media sites in favor of Pinterest. (This may be reflected by the 3% decrease in user time spent on Facebook in the past month.)

• 15% of Pinterest users report that they do not use any other social media sites. Among consumers making less than $30,000 a year, the number climbed to 23%.

• For companies that "pin" images to Pinterest, the site is not only raising brand awareness, but is also driving purchase behavior. About 25% of consumers report that they have purchased a product or service after discovering it on Pinterest – and that number jumped to 37% for male users.

Klündt | Hosmer has waded slowly into using Pinterest to enhance our brand and our image. The Klündt | Hosmer Pinterest page currently contains 10 boards with about 80 images, showing not only our work and office, but things we have found that we like or that inspire us.

If you haven't checked out Pinterest, we encourage you to do so. Start at our own page: pinterest.com/klundthosmer

If you are a personal Pinterest user, consider how it might be used to enhance the brand, products and services of your business. Diane Mahan and Katie Kolahi in our office can help guide the conversation.

Consumers are taking an interest in Pinterest. You should be, too.

Medieval Tech Support

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 10:47:01 -0700

At Klündt | Hosmer, our graphic designers, web designers, programmers and support staff have to deal with computer hardware and software, everyday.

Computers, servers, wireless routers and myriad software – InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and many others, including (gasp) Microsoft products – are necessary for us to get our work done.

While we are fortunate that most of our IT issues can be handled by our experienced and helpful staff, sometimes even they have to resort to calling tech support.

Mastery sent everyone a link to this video that depicts how tech support would have been handled in the Middle Ages:

Besides being funny, the video will give you a great opportunity to brush up on your Norwegian.

Words to Blog By

Thu, 31 May 2012 14:50:56 -0700

The enemy of blogging is being busy. I preach to my clients that they need to be consistent with their blogging not only for their readers, but for search engine optimization benefits. All that preaching and I haven't published anything to my own blog in over a month... sorry about that.

Well, I finally committed to write something. And as a public service to readers, I am offering up a list that Diane Mahan (our digital media specialist) gave me. She asked me to use these words and phrases in my blog postings in order to assist our own SEO efforts:

NOTE: IN MY ORIGINAL POST THIS PARAGRAPH CONSISTED OF ABOUT 25 PHRASES DESCRIBING THE TYPE OF SERVICES WE OFFER AT KLUNDT | HOSMER. WHILE I INTENDED THE POST TO BE EDUCATIONAL AND EVEN A BIT HUMOROUS, DIANE INFORMED ME OVER THE WEEKEND THAT GOOGLE WOULD NOT BE AMUSED THAT I INCLUDED ALL OF THESE PHRASES INTO ONE BLOG POST... SO I DELETED THEM. WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T PISS OFF GOOGLE!

Now, it may appear that I wrote the prior above paragraph just to trick search engines into finding our website. And I am certain that Diane did not intend that I use that entire list of words in one, gratuitous blog post. But I think there's validity here beyond what it looks like.

Take a look at your own business blog postings. Whether you are in high tech, health care, manufacturing, or professional services, you've likely got your own list of words and phrases that potential clients and customers are searching for. Use the above paragraph [well, I guess now you can't] as an example and incorporate your own versions into your blog posts. But do what I say, not as I did... use those keywords and phrases judiciously.

How's that, Diane?

Klündt | Hosmer Sparks Creativity and Performance

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:17:56 -0700

Klündt | Hosmer competes in local and national design and marketing competitions on a regular basis. It's good to see how our work compares to that of other design firms around the country and it's always nice when our work is recognized and awarded by industry professionals.

Henry, Mastery, Diane and Ashley with our winning projects recongnized at the Spark Awards.

One competition that we always enter is the Spokane Regional MarCom Association Spark Awards, where participants submit samples of their work for judging, along with a write-up of the project goals, budget and how the project met the client's goals. So beyond merely judging the projects on how they look, they are also judged on how they perform - which is the ultimate measurement of our success in the eyes of our clients.

Last night we attended the 2012 Spark Award event, which was held at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, in Spokane. Klündt | Hosmer entered six projects in the competition and we received awards for the following projects. We are proud of our collaborative work with these great clients and congratulate them and our creative team on a job well done!

Excellence: 2010 Avista Annual Report

Excellence: Kalispel Tribe of Indians 2012 Calendar

Excellence: StepUp Spokane Logo Design

Merit: Klündt | Hosmer's "Mug Shot" Facebook Campaign*

*If you attended the event and found a KH mug in your goodie bag, don't forget to snap a pic of yourself with the mug and email it to ashleym@klundthosmer.com to be included in our Facebook "Mug Shot" gallery.

Q&A at GU

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:23:09 -0700

I had a great time last week working with Dean Davis Photography and Carie Weeks from Gonzaga University while interviewing students and a professor for a feature story I'll be writing for the upcoming Gonzaga University recruitment view book.

Our team is providing the graphic design for the publication, as well as developing a recruitment website design.

Since the book won't deliver for a couple of months, I can't share what the article will be about. But I sure enjoyed conducting the interviews and art directing some of Dean's photography.

Brilliant students. An insightful, passionate professor. All the makings of a great feature story.

2012 ADDY Awards

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:33:23 -0700

The 2012 Spokane Advertising Federation ADDY Awards were held last Friday evening at the Masonic Hall in downtown Spokane.

Advertising agencies, design firms and interactive development companies were well represented in the competition and at the event. The judges goal was to award the best advertising, graphic design and web design produced in the Spokane region in 2011.

Klündt | Hosmer was proud to win awards in multiple categories at the competition

• Gold ADDY and Best of Division for 2010 Davidson Companies annual report
• Gold ADDY for 2011 First Night Poster
• Silver ADDY for SmartTop/Leisure Concepts tradeshow exhibit
• Silver ADDY for Kalispel Tribe presentation folder
• Silver ADDY for J. Craig Sweat Photography website
• Silver ADDY for Megiddo game board design

We also were involved in the art direction of a Silver ADDY award-winning photograph for Avista shot by J. Craig Sweat. Congratulations, Craig!

The above projects will advance to the American Advertising Federation District XI judging, where they will compete against 2011marketing and design projects produced in Washington, Idaho, Alaska, Montana, Oregon and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.