Unique insights and actionable ideas from The Darnell Works Agency’s daily quest for greatness.
Several very prestigious design awards programs are currently open for entries – I thought you would appreciate the heads-up and some brief details, which I am presenting in order of the currently published submission deadlines. Best of luck, friends!
Read moreDesign Competitions from Fast Company, Core77, Creativepool, and Communication Arts
Chicago-based one-stop cross-media production company Sarofsky is opening its doors and inviting the world-at-large to take part in a series of educational opportunities. The ongoing workshop series is entitled Sarofsky Labs.
Company principal, creative director and director Erin Sarofsky, explains her reasons for lighting this fuse: “After speaking at global creative conferences including FITC, F5, DesignThinkers, the AIGA National Design Conference and OFFF, I realized that engaging in the community is just as important to the field as doing the work. What better way to do that than by opening up our studio and inviting talented people in for a workshop? It’s intimate, personal, and offers invaluable working experience inside our world.”
Courtesy of Motionographer: With Between the Keyframes, industry legends Austin Shaw and Erin Sarofsky take on hot topics in an effortless back and forth as they candidly discuss the crazy world of Motion Design, from their biggest mistakes to their ample frustrations to the unique insights that will tee up the next generation.
Read moreVisual Timeline and PR Case Study: Transparent House
Leviathan’s Reputation Soars Worldwide as Specialized Creative Agency Reinventing Design, Digital Media, and Interaction
Close Cooperation Between Management, Reps and DWA Maximized Stellar Opportunities, Positioned Company as Legitimate Rockstar
See also: Visual Timeline & PR Case Study
A key component of cross-discipline design and innovation consultancy Envoy Group, 
Leviathan is a specialized creative agency working at the nexus of design, digital media, and interaction. By bringing phenomenal narrative content and emerging technologies into physical environments, Leviathan transforms ideas into exceptional experiences for brands and creative collaborators worldwide. Established in 2010, Leviathan’s innovation has been recognized by top-tier publications including Communication Arts, The Creators Project, Fast Company, Forbes, The Verge, Vox and Wired, among many others.
This case study appears in Roger Darnell’s book, The Communications Consultant’s Foundation.
Based in Irvine, California, the principals of the hybrid creative agency ENVOY have built their company very thoughtfully, aiming to partner with bold leaders to make experiences and products that define the future. By focusing on the convergence of design and technology, and even being willing to invest capital, expertise and services, the agency has chosen to engage with a growing list of innovative startups, in addition to its roster of well established companies.
When we think about startups, we might imagine one or two impassioned individuals burning the midnight oil together in a garage or an attic, dreaming about taking their side gig full-time. This is a story about the other kind – where very savvy professionals who have achieved major success in the past join forces on a relatively sure thing. Meet Blossom, a company that set out to create a smart water controller that would cut utility bills and save water.
Read moreBest-Case Scenario: 2014 Blossom Launch, Powered by ENVOY
Creators was VICE’s arts and culture platform, covering every aspect of the creative process. Its mission was to make art more accessible to a wider audience with diverse voices reporting on emergent arts and artists.
From sculpture and light projections to street art and dance, the platform’s curators and contributors immersed themselves in cultural hotbeds and travel to the far corners of the globe to explore the spectacle and color of making art today.
I am very fortunate to have a lot of friends. These days, with the impact of the economy continuing to wreak havoc on many industries and a lot of lives, I’m regularly hearing from many of them who suddenly find themselves unemployed. While this is definitely a scary situation, I stand ready with encouragement and a handful of smart ideas that are proven best bets when it comes to finding great career opportunities. Clearly, Karen Post, a.k.a. The Branding Diva(R) has the same mindset. An international authority on branding matters and the author of the best-selling books Brain Tattoos and Brand Turnaround, Karen’s blog post entitled “Puking Pink Slips? Jumpstart your personal brand today” takes my personal rah-rah speech to new heights. Do jump on over to read it, and below, also consider my paraphrased and slightly adjusted listing of her spot-on career-rejuvenating suggestions.
Read moreCareer resuscitation advice from The Branding Diva, seconded by yours truly