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  • Creativity in the Community: Steve Jones

    March 25th, 2013 / Comments (0)

    Creative Profession:
    Director / Producer

    Job:
    Owner of Digital DK

    Short bio:
    I knew early on that I wanted to work for myself so I started my own company, Digital DK, at the age of 21 with a strong desire to produce fun, challenging and ambitious projects. Having close to 17 years in the graphic design, motion graphics, animation and post-production industries, I bring a multi-faceted ability and approach toward my directing career.

    Like most creatives, I love movies, video games, music, comics etc … but my true passion is anything automotive.

    1. How did you come to Oklahoma City? And more importantly, why do you stay?
    Born and raised in OKC (Technically Norman).

    While I think my career could have taken a faster path to success in a larger market, you just can’t beat the cost of living in Oklahoma.

    With all the brilliant technology available today I’m able to work with clients all over the country. Where you live and operate a business isn’t quite as important as it used to be … If you’re talented, easy to work with, and charge a fair price – you can work with anyone, anywhere.

    2. Who was your greatest mentor?
    Creatively I haven’t had a mentor in the traditional sense. I’ve always trudged my own path in that regard. However, from a business perspective my father has definitely been my greatest mentor.

    Having been a successful software business owner for years, my father has always been my go to guy for business advice. While he is more a gun-slinger risk-taker than me, his advice is always helpful … and trust me, you need a mentor you can trust if you plan on owning your own business.

    3. Which project are you most proud of? Please explain why?
    Right now I think I would say I’m most proud of our piece opening the 2012 OKC ADDY awards.

    2012 OKC ADDY Awards Show Intro from Steve Jones on Vimeo.

    Having free reign creatively plus matched up with an incredible team allowed us to do some pretty different and “Cool” things with the project.

    Being part of the custom music creation with OKC native rapper Jabee, shooting in some of OKC’s unknown nooks and crannies, orchestrating a live delivery of the music at the event … all aspects came together to make an awesome and rewarding project.

    4. What is one thing other creatives can learn from your biggest success and/or failure?
    Success – You’ve got to have an incredible work ethic. It makes you easy to work with and inspires your team to try harder. Be humble but confident … No one likes a know-it-all. Set goals – both professionally and personally and kick your own ass if you don’t reach those goals.

    Failure – As creatives we tend to keep to ourselves. Generally, we suck at selling ourselves. I’m the worst at self promotion and getting myself out there. Maybe I should set a goal for that.

    5. If you could play a game with any creative in the community, what would it be and whom would you play against?
    I would play a ruthless game of Risk with Brian Winkeler, Kathleen Shannon, Simon Hurst, Brett Grimes and Casey Twenter.

    Tequila shot for every F-bomb dropped during the game.

    6. What is one thing you would change about your job or profession?
    Be gone deadlines….

    7. What is your best source of inspiration?
    I source inspiration from a ton of sources – movies / music videos for lighting, comics for composition, music for editing ideas. But, the single best source is jumping on Vimeo and viewing what your peers are working on … there is SO much talent out there and the community really presses me to go bigger and try harder.

  • Creativity in the Community: Simon Hurst

    March 21st, 2013 / Comments (0)

    Creative Profession:
    Commercial Photography

    Job:
    Simon Hurst Photography

    Short bio:
    Born and Raised in the south of England. First job after studying photography and advertising in Yorkshire, England was a cruise ship photographer. I traveled a lot of the world. I met my wife Brina whilst on my second contract in the Caribbean. She happened to be from Edmond and won the coin toss. Here I am, here we are 16 years later. I was a freelance assistant for a couple of years and shot a few things here and there. Then landed a full time studio manager job in Norman. In 2003, when I turned 30 I started my own company Simon Hurst Photography. It was part time, but by 2008 was doing well. I took the plunge and quit my day job to be Simon
    Hurst Photography full time.

    1. How did you come to Oklahoma City? And more importantly, why do you stay?
    I just gave the how I came to OKC. The reason I have stayed is because this is the biggest small town in America. That line is stolen from a good friend. It was not hard to see that this was a developing community and that good things were going to happen. I remember when Dell came to the city and I was asked to shoot for them. I thought that was really cool, especially as my images are still being used in their facility today.

    2. Who was your greatest mentor?
    There have been many. But the most important has to be Shevaun Williams. I worked for and along side her for 10 years. She is very talented and a good teacher. I started working with her freelance when we were still shooting film. We had color meters, dozens of filters and could shoot some wicked transparencies. It was great to go through the digital transition too.

    Her work still inspires me today.

    3. Which project are you most proud of? Please explain why?
    There are several. In the last year or so I have been shooting for Slice. Last years Fall Fashion shoot was really cool. The cover got featured in a national magazine article. But one of my most proud moments was being asked by a company out of Connecticut to shoot the Devon Tower. Once the cranes were taken down I was to shoot it at different times of day and stages of completion. I shot a skyline shot that has been used many times from that shoot.

    4. What is one thing other creatives can learn from your biggest success and/or failure?
    Failures? Of course there are none ; ). Successes? Well, the phrase “ You are only as good as your last shoot” resonates with me. That keeps me on my game. “ Do you have any shots of ------?” “Yes but give me a couple of days to find it”. Then go and shoot it. Success comes from loving what you do. I love my career. It is different every day.

    5. If you could play a game with any creative in the community, what would it be and whom would you play against?
    I would play a drinking game with Brian Winkeler. Its really fun watching him get toasted.

    6. What is one thing you would change about your job or profession?
    Nothing. I love it. Although I would like to be more of a techie when it comes to the equipment. Last year I went to a photo expo in New York and was asked about the gear I use. I was asked about some setting deep in the auto modes. I replied “ sorry mate, I just shoot manual”.

    7. What is your best source of inspiration?
    In one word. Life...................

  • Creativity in the Community: Chris "Quit" Nguyen

    March 8th, 2013 / Comments (0)

    QuitNguyen

    Creative Profession:
    Photography/Advertising

    Job:
    Freelance photographer

    Short bio:
    Born and raised in Houston, TX, educated and enlightened in Austin, TX, and now chasing dreams in Oklahoma City. I am an artist by nature. I graduated with a degree in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin.

    Before falling in love with photography, I was a traditional pen and paper-type artist. Portraits and superheroes was my thing. The idea of being a “photographer” didn’t come to me until I was 17 when my mom bought me my first entry-level DSLR. From there, I followed my friend around as he was also beginning photography, and we shot tons of different subject matter around Houston.

    In college, my photography took a leap forward when I was asked to help to start a student-run fashion publication. Spark Magazine was born in April 2009, but it wasn’t until a few months later, that our style really became clean. Photographing the editorials really allowed me to explore different lighting techniques and test my skill.

    Fast forward to today, and here I am in OKC, doing me.

    1. How did you come to Oklahoma City? And more importantly, why do you stay?
    I met this girl. The plan was to get her to move to me, but when I visited OKC, I saw the potential. I guess the feng shui of the city felt right. There is an opportunity here for me to be great. I stay because I want to be a part of a city that can only go up.

    2. Who was your greatest mentor?
    My greatest mentor would have to be award-winning sports photographer, Elizabeth Kreutz. She made me realize I can turn my passion for photography into a profession. She told me it’d be tough, but it’d be worth it. She taught me what personal relationships meant, and that even if you’re the greatest photographer on earth, if you’re a dick, it wouldn’t matter.

    3. Which project are you most proud of? Please explain why?
    The project I am most proud of, though others may not agree, is my “The Cinnamon Challenge Project” series. It started as me just photographing my friends and I attempting the Cinnamon Challenge. I currently have 28 photos in the series and am hoping to add more as volunteers appear.

    The Cinnamon Challenge took the internet by storm last year. The object of the challenge is to swallow a spoonful of Cinnamon within a minute. Many have tried, few have succeeded.

    4. What is one thing other creatives can learn from your biggest success and/or failure?
    My biggest failure in college was not finding an internship at an Advertising Agency. This is a failure to the AdMan side of me, not the photographer. Ad agencies won’t look at you without prior agency experience, and will only give you an internship if you’re still a student. But fear not! Because of this, I was able to put my strengths into my photography. Can’t join them? Be your own boss, and show them what you can do as a partner, not an employee.

    5. If you could play a game with any creative in the community, what would it be and whom would you play against?
    I’d love to play a game of Draw Something with Blake Behrens of RadFive Creative.

    6. What is one thing you would change about your job or profession?
    I would change the way clients view our role. They think it’s our job to give them exactly what they want rather than giving us artistic freedom to work together and deliver something greater than they expected.

    7. What is your best source of inspiration?
    The internet is the best source of inspiration, but also the best way to put you down. Tumblr, Flickr, Behance and other creative blogs like the OKCegotist are my usual spots.

    People watching is also a good source of inspiration for me. People do the darndest things when they don’t know someone is watching.

  • AIGA: Design Lines Allan Chochinov

    March 4th, 2013 / Comments (0)

    Presented by AIGA Oklahoma & Funnel Design Group

    "We are dazzled by the design products and services of our time, but perplexed at rationalizing their ecological and cultural consequences. This talk by Allan Chochinov will travel the blurry line between design that provides and design that collides.

    Allan Chochinov serves on the AIGA National Board and is a partner of Core77, a New York–based design network serving a global community of designers and design enthusiasts, and chair of the new MFA in Products of Design graduate program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City."

    No admission fee
    Tapwerks/6:30pm
    To register for this event visit: https://www.etouches.com/DesignLInes
    or see us at the door

    *Cash Bar Available

  • The White House reacts to work by Ackerman McQueen

    February 27th, 2013 / Comments (0)

    Guns, God and beer are what many claim our nation was founded upon. While you may disagree with this statement, the NRA continues to fight for the second amendment right, and the OKC based PR firm, Ackerman McQueen, strategizes their moves. Their latest spot quickly caught flack from the White House for including the President's children. But after managing the brand for over 30 years, AM has had their fair share of fire and controversy.

    Check it out here

  • City Arts Center is now Oklahoma Contemporary

    February 26th, 2013 / Comments (3)





    In case you haven't noticed the signage around 10th and Broadway, City Arts Center has a new look and name. Overall, the logo by itself isn't very special or can identify with Oklahoma City or Oklahoma at all. We would hate to see the invoice for hiring someone to typeset your name in Gotham Bold and put lines between the letters. Feels like Gotham has become the 'go-to' font for a lot of designers, and will just become the equivalent of Helvetica in the 70s. That being said, this 'contemporary' mark will look dated in 5 years. The mark is an improvement of the stale, old type, as it leaves room to incorporate some of the Arts into the printed pieces. The new mark is boring, but the new poster treatments are superb.....we'll see how long they actually stick to it.

    What’s done is done. City Arts Center paid for a solution and they received one.
    Time will tell if their investment paid off.

    Were these folks ignorant of the wellspring of local professional talent? Or did they simply make a sound business decision with the information they had available at the time?

    What does it say about the creative community in Oklahoma when organizations look somewhere else for good work? Does it say, “Quality creative is only found on a coast.” Or perhaps it says the more damning, “Your Addy doesn’t matter.”

    It may simply say that we as a creative community are failing to communicate our relevance to the local marketplace. We are failing to excite potential clients to look around the corner for excellent creative work.

    It’s our fault. Will we choose to learn and course correct or sulk and complain?

    What do you believe the business actions taken by City Arts Center say about Oklahomas creative community? More importantly, what are you going to do about it?

    Leave us a comment or hit us up on Twitter. You can catch some of the conversation from rest of the nation over at Brand New. Also, thanks to Walkingstick for sending this in yesterday on Twitterland.

  • Creativity in the Community: Dustin Gilpen

    February 26th, 2013 / Comments (0)

    Creative Profession:
    I’m co-owner/designer/printer at Tree & Leaf Clothing, a screenprinting shop and retail store here in OKC.

    Job:
    I do most of the design work for our brand, our collaborative shirts (The Spy, DailyThunder, and The Lost Ogle), and all of the poster printing done here at our shop.

    Short bio:
    Dusty is the third generation of a family of commercial artists and illustrators. A college dropout and self-taught printer, his design style is thoroughly influenced by typography, cartoons, and graffiti. Nearly all the branding and design work at Tree & Leaf is done by Dusty. Join him every Thursday at the Tree & Leaf shop for Drink & Draw, or follow his animated life on Twitter and Instagram: @TRUdust.

    1. How did you come to Oklahoma City? And more importantly, why do you stay?
    I was born in Oklahoma City and never thought about leaving. I legitimately love this city and state. Starting a business 6 years ago has only increased my passion for this city. Watching and being actively involved in the community over last 6 years has been amazing. The amount of growth in culture and development is astounding. I’m anxious to see what the future brings for OKC, and that alone is a great reason to hang around a little longer.

    2. Who was your greatest mentor?
    My greatest mentor is my father, Greg Gilpin, and his greatest mentor would be his father, Dick Gilpin. Both have been commercial artists, illustrators, and graphic designers their entire lives in Oklahoma City. Their humorously illustrated lives have taught me not only how to draw, but how to communicate with clients, friends, and others through cartoons and laughter. Growing up in a household and legacy of artists only propelled and encouraged me to where I am today.

    3. Which project are you most proud of? Please explain why?
    The projects I’m most proud of are projects that I’ve had the most fun doing. My two favorite projects I’ve produced have been the painting of a delivery van for Dirty Water Coffee Co, and a screen printed poster I designed and printed for a beard growing contest we hosted at the shop. I don’t think either of the projects even grossed a profit, but they were a lot of fun to work on. There are larger and more prestigious jobs I’ve had, but these were really fun and that’s what counts.

    Dirty Water Coffee Co VanDirty Water Coffee Co Van

    Grow A BeardGrow A Beard

    This is the wall inside Tree & Leaf, it was a lot of fun and definitely one of the bigger productions I’ve been involved in. Collaborative painting by (Tanner Frady, Tanké, Dylan Bradway, and myself)

    Tree and Leaf WallTree and Leaf Wall

    I proposed recently, and that is something I’m really proud of as well.

    I Love You graffitiI Love You graffiti

    4. What is one thing other creatives can learn from your biggest success and/or failure?
    Successes: Work hard and happily with others. Remain humble and you’ll learn more. Remember that working with others is a privilege.

    Failures: Don’t be arrogant. Don’t assume entitlement. Think before you speak.

    5. If you could play a game with any creative in the community, what would it be and whom would you play against?
    I’d probably play Rummy or Dominoes with Burt Seybourne, Bruce Eagle, Bob Jacobsen, Dean Wilhite, and my dad. That would probably be pretty educational. I’d rather draw than play cards though...

    6. What is one thing you would change about your job or profession?
    I really can’t think of much else I’d rather be doing. If I get bored with designing on the computer I draw, when I get bored with drawing, I print, when I get bored with printing, I paint.

    Sometimes (with any contract job) you have to sacrifice creative direction to the will of the client. It would be nice to have more freedom when approaching contract work, but that has been a dream for as long as a skilled workers have done work for a know-it-alls.

    7. What is your best source of inspiration?
    My best source for inspiration is through an archive of art I’ve been collecting of my grandfather's work; Drink & Draw is a huge source of inspiration and encouragement to work harder. Generally just being around other artists keeps me on my toes and pushing to work harder.

  • 47th ADDY Awards Recap

    February 26th, 2013 / Comments (0)

    OKC's finest creatives were out Saturday night to pat each other on the back for all the great work that came out last year. For those of you that missed it, you missed a few jokes about the creative studios around town and 3 hour long (seemed like at least 8 hours) powerpoint slideshow showing all the winners.

    We don't have near enough time to cover everything, so here's a few of the big winners:

    Best of Show
    Funnel Design Group: Science Museum Neil Armstrong Poster

    Jeff Fontanta Humor Award
    VI Marketing and Branding: 80s Jingle

    Best of Interactive
    Liquidfish: Flint Website

    Best of Print
    Funnel Design Group: Science Museum Neil Armstrong Poster

    Best of Video:
    VI Marketing and Branding: Selectquote

    Seems like VI was trying to pull the nostalgia factor on their work, with the 80s jingle and Selectquote spots. It worked really well on the commercials, but the jingle fell short for us. But you have to give them an A for effort though, it has to be a daunting task to try to make Paycom sound cool. Liquidfish's Flint site was a good, but really not sure how "interactive" the site really was. Suppose looking at 15 different menus was enough for the judges. We felt that Funnel's work was strong, but the Selectquote commercials really stole the show. In any case, you can download a PDF of the rest of the winners here

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