Trash Talk: Our New Client Stash Design

March 12, 2014 Kris Murphy

There’s something to be said about that old adage “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Especially in the hands of the creative minds at Stash Design, our newest clients. At a time with recycling is top of mind, they take it to a whole new level: upcycling — where discarded items from fence posts to metal scraps find new life and new purpose as unique and artistic furniture, fixtures and finish-out.

If you’ve ever set foot in Bishop Arts hot spots Oddfellows or Bar Belmont, you’ve seen their work. Details from the door handles to seating and lighting and even the bar tops, floors and signage are the inspired touches of Stash designers Gary Buckner and Kim Linder. Not far from there, at The Foundry Bar on Fort Worth Avenue, they unexpectedly transformed re-purposed wood pallets into a spectacular outdoor stage — and next door at Chicken Scratch, you’ll find reclaimed wood used for the tables and quirky light fixtures made from old milk crates. Everywhere you look, there are layers of visual surprises. And Stash is keeping it local, with several other Dallas businesses having them to thank for their amazing interiors, each with its own flavor. You can see photos of all of them on the Stash Design site.

So, all this is to say, we had a field day visiting their retail space on Lower Greenville to research (shop) the types of finished pieces they offer. That was followed by an excursion to their workshop in Oak Cliff, to peruse the endless raw materials they have collected from scrap yards and trash piles and to see where it all comes together. It was quite impressive. Now, with our newfound understanding of what Stash Design has to offer, we’ll go to work on helping them repackage their branding and marketing materials. Our first step will be to succinctly communicate exactly what they do in a positioning line — which will be fun but challenging. Keep your eyes out for a future blog to see the results of our own renovation project as we refresh their printed materials (on recycled paper, of course) and web site.

– Kris Murphy, Senior Designer

Mercedes-Benz of Plano: A bold new look

February 26, 2014 Wes Phelan

Our client Mercedes-Benz of Plano approached us at the end of 2013 with the desire to revamp their advertising campaign for 2014 in a way that promoted their unrivaled customer service. They needed a solution that wasn’t overt or boastful, and was in keeping with the Mercedes-Benz brand standards. Thus, we came up with an attention-grabbing campaign that subtly, but effectively, juxtaposed attributes of their vehicles with the quality of their customer service and staff. We executed the campaign across a variety of media, using clever headlines and a high-contrast palette. Check out Mercedes-Benz of Plano’s bold new look for 2014.

We started this project by exploring print and outdoor executions that would communicate this comparison of quality quickly and effectively. Using large, clean type treatments in black on white, we were able to ensure readability on any media. Behind these type areas we multiplied bright, eye-catching, colors over vehicle images. This solution kept the messaging at the visual forefront, while maintaining vehicle recognition. We combined all of this with a memorable headline theme, and sincere copy that ends with an enticing call to action.

Then we took this motif, and produced spots for airing on network and cable television with powerful voiceovers and relatable imagery. The end result is a local dealership campaign unlike most you’ll ever see. It’s sophisticated, eye-catching, and something we’re all proud of. But, in the slightly edited words of LeVar Burton, you don’t have to take our word for it; take a look for yourself.

– Wes Phelan, Designer

The NorthPark Timepiece Book: just in time for the holidays

January 21, 2014 Kris Murphy

When it comes to shopping for luxury timepieces, NorthPark Center is the premier destination in the southwest. And that’s exactly what we wanted to communicate for our NorthPark client in the inaugural 2013 Timepiece Book. Large, detailed imagery, museum-like design and a perfect-bound format created a sophisticated piece for showcasing some of the most desirable brands in watchmaking, such as Breguet, Officine Panerai and Cartier, to name a few.

Knowing that the purchasers of luxury timepieces can vary — from the aficionado to the collector to someone simply desiring an extraordinary fashion statement — the Timepiece Book features a wide range of specimens in titanium, gold, platinum, leather, mother-of-pearl and diamonds. And with its timely mailing before the holidays to some of the most affluent addresses in the DFW area, we hope it also appealed to enthusiastic gift-givers looking for a gift to last a lifetime.

— Kris Murphy, Senior Designer