One of the largest and oldest professional organizations for design provided another opportunity this year for local North Carolina design agencies meet and chat with colleagues and potential employees, interns, & vendors. The American Institute of Graphic Arts Raleigh Chapter hosted a Studio Open House in the Raleigh-Cary area. Eighteen graphic, web, and advertising companies opened their doors Friday evening to clients, peers, those seeking employment, and to those just curious in what kind of work they do.
I am so glad that I had the chance to attend this awesome [and FREE!] event. As a nearly-finished student and artist, particularly interested in graphic design and branding, this was an excellent opportunity for me!! After researching all eighteen agencies, I narrowed down my tour to seven firms I was particularly interested in - those who focused on graphics, logo design, branding, and print material layouts more so than web design.
My first stop on the AIGA Raleigh Studio Open House Tour 2012 was a customized interactive & event planning agency. Named for its "Leave it to us" attitude, Back Home Productions invites its clients to sit back, relax, and let their team take care of their business and advertising needs. This firm was a little too far on the technical side for me but still very creative and in what seemed to be a fun environment! BHP's team specializes in Videos & Interactive Diagraming, Event Planning (down to the nitty gritty!), Customized Networking Servers, and e-Learning Solutions. I had the pleasure of speaking with their producer/writer, Bob Langford, and enthusiastic individual who emphasized their need for an Event Coordinator, Field Producer, Account Manager, and Director. My expertise and skill level didn't really fit it here but my visit at Back Home Productions was definitely entertaining! If anyone feels competent in the positions mentioned, visit
Back Home Productions and check for openings!!
Next on my map was G E N E R A T E DESIGN. A design firm that catered more to my skill level and passion, the collaborative team at Generate Design works on websites (apps, SEO, social media, advertisements, video...), logo design & branding, printed materials (brochures, reports, magazines, ads, packaging, displays...), and general design from copywriting & editing to video production. To them, "Brand affects the personality of a product, company, & service; Thoughts, feelings, perceptions, images, experiences, attitudes..."
(G E N E R A T E DESIGN). I was able to speak with Paul Barth of Generate as well as their current design intern who was most helpful! She spoke about her experience working with this team and the breadth of projects she has worked on from 8:00 - 5:00 everyday as a graphic design intern. She mentioned working with logos and digital editing to working on filming videos. Her internship is about to end, leaving Generate Design in need of a *new* design student to mentor! You can check for other
job openings here or contact them at careers@generatedesign.com.
"Blend[ing] creative design with strategic branding"
(brascodesign+marketing). This full service marketing company helps business clients gain customers through branding, web development, marketing management, and online marketing, specializing in brand identity, logo & print design, web development, and business planning. I didn't have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with a team member, just a bit of eavesdropping! I did however notice that despite this more business oriented agency, their were no cubicles!! Like my first two visits,
Brasco Design + Marketing is a very head-strong, highly productive firm but one that gets work done in a healthy, friendly, enthusiastic manner.
The folks at FWV were a dynamic bunch! "Created through Richard French & Associates, the largest independent public relations firm in the southeast, and West Vaughn, a highly recognized creative advertising boutique" (FrenchWestVaughn). With locations in Raleigh, New York, Tampa, Dallas, and LA, its hard not to believe the major clients French West Vaughn has acquired! Offering advertising and marketing expertise from strategic marketing plans, research, print & broadcast marketing, branding, to sales, FWV caters to companies like Wrangler, Whole Foods, Moe's Southwest Grill, U.S. Polo, RBC Bank, and Tweetsie Railroad just to name a few. This team seem fun to work with but very organized and success driven. They were very attentive to my curiosity in their work and the design industry, insisting that they area always looking for bright, creative minds who are passionate about what they do and can handle the energy required in the design world.
A little further into Raleigh, Baldwin& does it all!
Advertising, design, brand content & product development, strategic planning & development, interactive, web development, marketing audit, trend analysis, consumer research, and measurement of effectiveness is just a few from the list that I could remember (and still had to refer back to their
website!). They create brands and create companies while following an inspiring philosophy... "Do great provocative things that have an effect in the world. Have fun doing it. Have good quality of life outside of work. Run a great business!"
(baldwin&) These guys pull in the big names as well - IKEA, Polaroid, Audi, BMW, Burt's Bees, Sony, and NASDAQ just to give you an idea. Check out these
upbeat team of fun professionals!!
With barely enough time as the sun had long set, I was able to peek into the studios of two full service communication firms,
Mellonaid and
Capstrat. Both explore digital & marketing communications and public relations. Both indulge in strategy planning, branding, graphic design, advertising, media planning, web interactive, product identity, and event management.
Mellonaid in particular extends their services to copywriting and editing, photography and illustration, 3D rendering and animation, and even radio/tv broadcasting - all things (except copywriting) I have plenty of experience in and interest in further exploring!!
I am so thankful for AIGA's open arms and the participating agencies' time spent sharing their work as well as helpful advice and encouragement. This was by far the most helpful networking event I have attended yet - maybe because of the energetic, laid-back yet driven atmosphere common among the firms I visited, or maybe because Graphic Arts has always appealed more to me throughout my career as an Interior Architecture student. I was able to leave behind a business card and several agencies, like Generate Design, were happy to take my resume. I contacted the later ones through email to find out more since I became rushed toward the end of my tour.
Fingers crossed for some responses!! :)
**ALL ILLUSTRATED LOGOS/COMPANY NAMES WERE SKETCHED BY ME WITH REFERENCE TO EACH COMPANY'S BRANDING.
For centuries, Another balance is established within the transition from the outside in. While the exterior remains entirely classic as in the original design, occupants are greeted with a light slight update as they enter the interiors. By using as much salvaged material possible, such as the pine flooring and refurbished brick, elements of the American Arts and Crafts Style begin to introduce themselves through the exposed wooden ceiling beams on the first floor, neutral hues, straight lines, and wood details as found in the acoustical wall panelling and partitions. A light blue-grey barn wood sweeps the floors of both levels to preserve that rustic authenticity felt among the town of Pittsboro. Sections of the original brick wall are exposed in rhythm to sheetrock walls painted a soft bone color to lighten the spaces and contrast with the wood trim and flooring. Craftsman furniture pieces state that this is a building for and by the people of Pittsboro. Upstairs, the wooden rafters are visible in between handing baffles while the floor fixtures completely mobile and made for easy storage to accommodate various arrangements and uses.
