Sharing secrets: Scion Motivate’s “Visual Identity” panel

I have written in the past about the serious 2013 campaign automotive brand Scion launched to help motivated young professionals scale their careers upward. Those multifaceted efforts included a series of brand films where they convened very bright and successful creative industry achievers to provide spot-on insights about key business imperatives. You can see for yourself that what they created packages the real, proven stuff. In the 10-minute episode embedded above, in order of appearance, you get to meet Justin Thomas Kay of Doubleday & Cartwright, Joshua Prince aka Dust La Rock of Fool’s Gold Records, Cody Hudson of Struggle Inc. and Longman & Eagle, and artist Kenton Parker… and hear their candid responses to these questions:

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Marketing Innovation: Under Armour

On July 17, top executives from the world’s major sports marketing companies gathered in New York City to honor the best in sports advertising, design and communications at the first-ever Clio Sports Awards. That night, Steve Battista proudly accepted the Brand Innovation Award on behalf of Under Armour, where he serves as senior VP brand creative. Behind the scenes, I know that many of the companies and talents I have had the privilege to work with are also celebrating this monumental win. For example, global creative agency ATTIK provided key support for Under Armour’s launch of Armour39 (wearable tech that helps you track your workout intensity), as did creative production company Shilo… which also produced many of the epic brand films (including the one above) that have made Under Armour’s YouTube Channel must-see TV for serious athletes.

A story by Austin Siegemund-Broka for The Hollywood Reporter chronicles the brand’s growing success, and offers this insight

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Have you seen our cosmos?

The National Geographic Channel and Fox teamed-up this year to launch the new 13-part documentary series starring astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson, who has proven to be the perfect person to fill Mr. Sagan’s enormous shoes.

Days we are sure to remember

Richmond, California-based Mountain Hardwear creates performance apparel and equipment designed to empower outdoor athletes to live boldly. At the time when this post is going live here, if you wanted to find me, you’d have to travel to the Kalaloch Campground in Forks, Washington, along the outer edge of continental USA’s northwesternmost coastline in Olympic National Park. My family and I have been planning this excursion for the past couple of years, and it’s a dream come true. Apparently, my dreams are a lot like those of the individuals behind Mountain Hardwear… and their customers.

Earlier this year I started noticing the company’s “Days You Remember” video series, and I bookmarked it as the perfect thing to share in today’s blog post. All the videos are tagged with this statement that resonates very deeply with me:

Read moreDays we are sure to remember

Flavor’s on the rise at Cutters Studios…

It’s been almost 10 months since Cutters Studios rebranded its design and VFX division, which since 1997 had built a solid reputation in Chicago as Sol Design FX. With the addition of executive creative director Brad Tucker and executive producer Darren Jaffe, last August the company opened-up shop in Santa Monica and began life with a new name: Flavor.

At the time, Cutters Studios president and CEO Tim McGuire shared these insights: “Something new and exciting is happening in the design industry and it’s time to refocus our talent and effort to make a statement. Brad and Darren are true leaders in motion design known throughout the industry. They will work closely with all of the Cutters Studios locations.”

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Sarah Klein, Tom Mason and Redglass Pictures: Thanks for the documentary

What is the magic that allows us to connect across any span of time, distance or imagination to experience the lives and lessons of others? Of course, it’s what we simply call the story. For me personally, some of the most riveting and impactful storytelling of my lifetime has been courtesy of filmmaker Ken Burns. Like legions of other Americans and fans of quality historical entertainment all around the world, Mr. Burns’ epic works have reached me thanks to television and the internet. And while his past projects have helped shape my world view and my aims for living, beyond his work, he is mostly a mystery to me. For all of these reasons, I’m very thankful to the filmmakers Tom Mason and Sarah Klein of Redglass Pictures who created the powerful short film embedded here… to offer us all more insights into Ken Burns himself and his unique perspective on story.

“We live in a rational world where absolutely we’re certain that one and one equals two, and it does,” Burns says in the short film, “Ken Burns: On Story.” “But the things that matter most to us, some people call it love, some people call it God, some people call it reason, is that other thing where the whole is greater than the some of its parts, and that’s the three.”

Read moreSarah Klein, Tom Mason and Redglass Pictures: Thanks for the documentary

Coming soon to HBO: “Silicon Valley”

I find it interesting that the executives behind “Silicon Valley” chose the recent SXSW Film Festival to host the world premiere for their new HBO series. From everything I’ve seen, anticipation is ramping up quickly for the official April 6 debut on HBO. I thought I’d share the trailer with you and also pass along a taste of the great review by The Hollywood Reporter’s Tim Goodson. Be sure to check-out the full story.

In Goodson’s words, “The Mike Judge-created series about life in modern-day Silicon Valley

Read moreComing soon to HBO: “Silicon Valley”

Explore brand as possibility with Lippincott

Lippincott is a leading brand strategy and design firm with a 70-year heritage crafting authentic stories, memorable experiences and winning strategies for the world’s most iconic brands. Its expertise spans all aspects of brand building including strategy, design, experience innovation and organizational engagement. Recent clients include 3M, Delta Air Lines, Hyatt, Infiniti, Samsung, Starbucks and Walmart. Lippincott is part of Oliver Wyman, a global professional services organization owned by Marsh & McLennan Companies.

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WIRED Video

From Silicon Valley to the depths of the ocean, from alien planets to the human brain, WIRED shows you how science and technology are remaking our world.

And now they bring you WIRED on Video. Mr. Know-It-All answers your urgent questions with scientific rigor, John Hodgman and David Rees partner up for a little surveillance comedy,

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LOTS to be found at “Lost”

Lost At E Minor is an online publication of inspiring art, photography, music, and more for creative people. Founded by brothers Zolton and Zac Zavos in 2005, Lost At E Minor is an imprint of Australia’s Conversant Media, also publishers of the country’s sports opinion site The Roar. Lost At E Minor’s worldwide team of editors and writers based in cities from Bogota, Berlin, New York, Melbourne and many locales in between report from 21st century civilization’s leading edge, providing a constant source of creative inspiration.

Read moreLOTS to be found at “Lost”