reactions

Every week at staff meeting, each designer brings in something that inspires them. Recently I’ve found that I’m often showing the Anthropologie catalog as an example of truly inspirational art direction and sales strategy. Such is the case with their recent issue focusing on the printing heritage of the Hatch Show Print Shop.

Hatch Show Print Shop is the nation’s oldest wooden type printing press. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Hatch made its mark printing posters promoting country music stars. In fact, it is now maintained by the Country Music Hall of Fame.

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Every time I see the new Prius commerical, it make me instantly happy. It’s a far cry from the generic, sleek, celebrity-voiced-over car commercial. Instead of shooting the car in some dramatic, coastal landscape, they’ve created their own landscape with carefully choreographed people. In fact, every element of the landscape is a person. As the car drives through, the people transform into elements such as trees, clouds and water. The craft is so amazing that I almost didn’t realize they were people. The concept of integrating man with nature is fantastic, and the execution is flawless. My favorite touch is the subtle pulsation of movement that is created by each of the participants moving independently. It’s the perfect balance between focusing on the individual people and the larger scene unfolding. Pure magic.

Check out the behind the scenes clip showing the making of the commercial after the jump.

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I’ve become HD-obsessed. I refuse to watch anything on television unless it’s at full 1080 resolution. I’ve also recently purchased a digital camera which shoots HD movies and have become so enamored with all the detail it captures, that can barely care what it is that I am shooting. (So much so, my hard drive is petitioning for an upgrade).

The flip side to seeing everything in crisp resolution is that you see, well, everything… especially the flaws. I’ve heard stories about famous actresses who cannot be cast because their bad acne now shows up clear as day on everyone’s living rooms due to the HD Revolution.

Naturally, there is a line of  make up to capitalize on this new reality and try to remedy it…

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Since 1876 Anheuser-Busch products have been conceived and manufactured in my hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Recently after feeling pressure that sales were not growing enough or that commanding 50% of the US beer market wasn’t good enough, the Busch family turned over the reigns to the Belgium based company, InBev. The sale was intended to increase A-B’s foothold in stronger and emerging beer markets such as Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Eastern Europe.

With all this in mind, I’ve become increasingly more and more upset that A-B — now after 133 years of American ownership — has decided to market their American Heritage first with the switch of  Budweiser’s tagline from “The King of Beers” to “The Great American Lager,” and more recently with the introduction of the new product, “Budweiser American Ale.”

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Thank you to all who came out on Saturday (despite the weather) and Sunday to experience our exhibit, and join us for out picnic.

Not only was the feedback overwhelmingly positive for Watershed, but for the Figment festival, featuring over 400 artists to exhibit their work, and just over 13,000 attendee for the weekend (up 30% from last year).

Click below to see more photos…

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MSLK’s effort to raise environmental awareness through Watershed, an art installation, is highlighted by trend-spotting websites.

“Watershed: The Burdens of Our Consumption of Bottled Water”

PSFK, blog
June 17, 2009

Eco-friendly Mag, blog
June 21, 2009

(HD) A More Perfect Union from Andrew Sloat on Vimeo.

The Macktez Summer Stipend back again for it’s 5th season. Started by our good friend, Noah Landow,  the stipend is a grant for creative development. Each year they try to reach out to junior designers, interns, and other creative individuals for whom a little extra cash could be the difference between a great idea and a great, finished project. Andrew Sloat won the stipend in 2007 and filmed the video above.

They have a simple set of criteria: originality, relevance, and conviction. They’d  also prefer a project already underway that $500 would push across the finish line. If you can wow them with your great idea, you’ll get $500 from Macktez to make it happen. It’s that simple. Apply online at www.macktez.com/stipend by July 24.

Watershed, an art installation comprised of 1,500 water bottles, raises public awareness about mass consumption.

“Bottle Bill On Hold in NYS while NYC Art Exhibit Depicts Water Bottle Pollution”
Examiner, blog
June 12, 2009

Having a cold in the summer should be a crime, however seasonal allergies get the best of everyone and if you’ve got to curl up with a tissue box this June, I highly reccomend the new “Perfect Slice of Summer” Kleenex packaging for Target, illustrated by Hiroko Sanders. Talk about an affordable luxury, nothing brightens my day more than a fruity, clever, and beautiful Kleenex box.  I even love the dynamic shape, blended perfectly with the visual. Especially when my alternative options are packaged in blue grey swirls and “cottony soft” patterns. Egad! I personally hate tissues boxes so much we are toilet paper only household, but I will buy these—simply for the packaging.

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After a day of hoisting, tying, tugging, and lifting, Watershed was installed by MSLK yesterday on Governers Island without a hitch. Please join on Saturday at Figment for our Art Picnic and experience Watershed for yourself.

I filmed some brief clips, along with a time-lapsed version… take a look: