QR Code. Trend or Here to Stay?

You can't avoid them. QR (Quick Response) Codes are popping up everywhere. Yesterday you noticed one one in a magazine, today at the supermarket, tomorrow at the bank. Many may know what they are, however too many are confused by them and far more seem to care less. In today's fast pace society, ironically, we are in too much of a hurry to fire up our smart phone app and scan these silly checkerboard squares. Soon marketers will make it easier for you with incentives, free meals at fast food chains, fancy expensive prizes, and, of course 1 MILLION DOLLARS!

So will you jump on the QR bandwagon, or is it too much of a pain in the ass like Facebook and Twitter were? I'm in but can't stand the flat 2-d black and white variety so I tweak them a bit, like this blog's QRCode.

Technology moves fast, staying ahead of the curve can be a full time job but if you play the game and utilize the many free means of marketing and communication than QR Codes are for you. Standing out from the crowd can help differentiate your QR from the rest. You can manipulate up to 30% of the code and still have it work and with some trial and error you can make some pretty cool stuff! Check out this delicious code!

QReo is a scannable QR Code made out of Oreo cookies. It was created by ad agency Redpepper (see their making-of video).

GEAR GRAB

Working with Lobsters on the Fly and The Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation on their GEAR GRAB event where lobstermen and woman scour Maine coast picking up fishing related gear. Images of tee coming soon.

New Company Brand Cheaper than an iPad2

Not sure if you've heard of these new design competition sites popping the net lately but if you're a place looking for a cool new brand, site, or a tee-shirt, and want to offer little compensation to get it, well these places are for you. 99DESIGNS is one of them and I have to say, they seem to be onto something, but who is really making out here? The companies looking for a new look pays roughly $300 for a new brand and designers from all over the world upload their spin on the request. If the company likes one of them they pay the chosen designer $300 minus a few fees and what not.

I was intrigued and thought I'd give it a shot. Here's what I came up with for multiple contests all paying around $300.

No takers but it was a good exercise and has made me ask the question again, are the designers better off to have the ability to compete without even meeting a client or is the client better off getting hundreds of options for little upfront to no cost? Tough question to answer. I will always prefer the face to face approach but appreciate what 99DESIGNS is doing, I only wish the pay outs were more in tune with what a decent brand would go for. I understand why a Mom & Pop would jump all over this, but so are the big companies who look at this as a cost saving measure, slashing designers one by one!

However if you're a designer and think you got what it takes, and are in need of a little cash, check them out and good luck! 99designs.com

New Beginings

It's been a while since my last post, so I'm looking to start fresh, new, over. Since leaving my full time gig in April I've found a nice steady project to sell in a market that is all around me. Lobstering Is An Art has been a huge eye opener in the potential of what is possible and we are really excited about where this will take us. We've met so many great people in the lobstering community and looking forward to meeting so many more! We've also met so many talented artists and creative folks as well as networking with other designers and marketers in Maine. There is a lot involved running your own business, but with every hat worn and each new opportunity given, it's the best thing you'll ever do for yourself.

On top of LIAA I'm still doing my own personal work and freelance for select clients. As I go I'll be adding more to this blog including stories, images, opportunities, tips/tricks, freelance and other happenings while Andy is designing.

Enjoy and be well!

The Wall

The Wall is nearing completion. Pano shot, rough shot I admit, and some details of the city side. This project has been just what my creative juices needed. First started with spray paint then flat matte, cleaning up and adding detail with various markers and paint pens lying around the house. More shots to come soon.






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Unofficial PHISH Portland Maine Poster 11-29-09

For my 5th PHISH show at the Civic Center I've decided to design my own poster. Lately, well since PHISH 3.0, I'm seeing a shit load of fan based art, mostly tees and posters but a ton none-the-less. Since the boys will be in my backyard I thought I'd jump on the band-wagon and throw something together. Can't wait for Sunday Night! Click to zoom.

Make Art Today - With the Kids

The kids have so many art supplies it fun to get lost in a doodle with them. We made a pile of pieces, this one stuck out.

Alidoodle

Since the first time Alida picked up a pencil we knew she was meant for the arts. Here is her rendition of mom's garden on an envelope. I'll be posting more Alidoodles in the future!

First Aid

220 Congress Men and Women voted for health care reform which passed by the narrowest of margins in the House, but pass it did, even with a public option! Now it's time for the Senate to step up to the plate and follow suit.

Vote 2009

You know what to do.

Blank Canvasment

Our basement will transform from romper room to man cave in the next couple weeks. Jen has given me all the artistic freedom one could want, let's see what I can do...

Make Art Today - No On One

This weeks project was a little more focused than I'm accustom too. In Maine we're about to vote on repealing a new law that legalized same-sex marriage. "Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry?” A yes vote takes away the right, a no vote keeps the right of same-sex couples to marry. With all the problems in our world should we really make it harder for people to live in peace? Live and let live, vote NO on One.

Make Art Today - Smiles Upon Us

Sometimes it is difficult to get away from being a full time designer worrying about typos, kerning, bleeds, deadlines and commitments and to just let loose and make art for the fun of it. Today I'm dedicating Sunday mornings to Making Art. Here is my first piece, a combination of ink, sharpie and Illustrator titled "Smiles Upon Us". Look for a new piece each Sunday!

iBlogging

Now I can post from anywhere!! Not that I travel much but for $3 this app should come in handy, BlogPress. Saw these two on the drive home the other day, sweet ride, looks like the ole boy is about to jump!


-- Post From My iPhone

10DOWN Cube Tee

Tee's came out great, well minus the unprofessional nature of the screen printer. Anybody have a good source to a decent screen pro?

10DOWN Cube Tee

The final touches have been added and the boys at 10DOWN are sailing with these 3 finals. Look for them soon at a Disc Golf Event near you!

10DOWN Cube Tee Process

Currently working on a new tee design for 10DOWN Disc Golf. Ben asked me to take his concept and do my thing to it. Not quite there yet but gettin close. Look for a final design soon and tees thereafter!

Two of My Favorite Things

Sunday night at Fenway is sure to be a thrill, can't wait for the mash-up of two of my favorite things merge before my eyes. If only the Red Sox hand the night off and could make the show, could help Ortiz get his groove back.

10DOWN Crown Shirt

10DOWN's Crown Shirt is heading to the presses, and the first chance to get you hands on one is this coming weekend at an event in Limington, ME. **CORRECTION FROM PREVIOUS POST** These shirts are given out to anybody whom shoots a 10DOWN, or 10 below par on a professional Disc Golf Course, par 54. So anybody who scores 44 or less, enjoy!

Alida 1.1

45 and Counting

45 down, 65 to go. This has been so much fun I'm not sure I'll be able to stop after 100! Check them out at lobsteringisanart.com

10DOWN Disc Golf

My friends at 10Down are back at it and this summer may blow this start-up through the roof. Ben, Tyler, and their new partner Jeff have found a perfect niche and have asked me to help out where I can. Ben and I sat down to conceptualize some logos for Award Wining Tees to be given to any player that beats another by 10 stokes (10Down). Disc golf is played like regular golf, except you use discs instead of clubs and balls, and you shoot for chained baskets rather than a hole in the ground. Most professional courses, and there are 2000+ nationwide, have a par 54 for 18 holes rather than 72 for typical golf courses. Some of the holes are over 1200 feet long, twice as long as the longest hole I've ever encountered (The Beast at Enman), of which I could barely get a "5" much less a "3". As mentioned to get one of the shirts you need to shoot 10 less than anyone else at any tournament that 10DOWN is sponsoring, not in easy feat for it only happened 10 times last year! The shirts will only be given to these exceptional players, kinda like 10DOWNS Green Jacket, well sort of.

I'll also be lending a pro-bono hand to help get these guys website up and running which will host a ton of info on Disc Golf, Events, Sponsorships, Merch and much more, stay tuned!

pubbuilders.com

I just finished the initial design for pubbuilders.com, and will be adding more to at as time passes. The client wanted a simple clean site to promote his business, and because my freelance time is limiting I opted for using web.com to make it easier for me and eventually handing the site over to the client for maintenance. After a couple of weeks working on it I realized that web.com is more of a challenge than I thought. It's designed for non-web geeks to create their own site but it has many hurdles to master, ridiculous templates and a very old school interface. All in all it worked, but will defiantly be the last time I use web.com for anything. There are many template sites out there and can be a great resource for web deisgners with limited time on their hands, but choose wisely for you may be asking your self, what have I gotten my self into?

PUB Builders

Our friends at PUB Builders, Peter and Kim Noone have asked me to give their construction business a face lift including logo (above), signage, business cards, brochures and website, all of which coming soon. Stay tuned for preview and links.

Alida 1.0

Lobstering Is An Art

Check out my series of Lobster Prints to help support a new fund I created for Lobstermen here in Maine. As you may be aware the price of lobsters has tanked and they're struggling to get by. What is even more frustrating is while their hard earned catch can cost as much as $75 a plate, they are only making a couple bucks per pound for it, not cool.

For more information and an ongoing gallery of lobsters please visit my other blog at:
http://lobsteringisanart.com/

Good Ridence 2008

Now that it is 2009 I thought about reflecting on 2008 and how in many ways it was the worst year I can remember. Right from the jump my beloved Patriots, taking a perfect season into the game of all games, failed to the NY Giants. From that point on 2008 snowballed into a cluster fuck of a year. There were some highlights, a new President, um, well, that's about it. Fortunately for me personally 2008 was not too bad, but around the world it appeared dismal, bleak, uncomfortable, strange, hostile, and going completely down the tubes. Let's hope in 2009 we as a human race can pull our collective heads out of our collective asses and begin to work together as one equal race of humanity to solve problems, create jobs, better our economy, stop fighting and war mongering, and for a change start reporting and discussing all the positive things that are going on to be shared and make a difference. As they say in journalism, "If it bleeds, it leads!", how sad, will this ever change, or are we doomed as a society and will simply sit comfortably in our suv's looking at the world as an accident on the highway, slowly driving by and gawking. Best of luck to you and yours in 2009. Go Pats!

Actually, I'm Not Hungry Anymore

How do they do it? Every time I see an advertisement for food I ask myself this question, more specifically is how the fuck do advertisers get away with false advertising? You and I know that you never get what is advertised, especially fast food, but where do you draw the line when creating ads that portray products as being so perfect when in reality they are anything but. I know the semantics game is to lure you in to buy their crap but wouldn't it be nice if just once BK or McD's used actual representations of their grub? Cigarette companies had to pull their ads for false representation yet apparently our brainwashed society couldn't care less for we still crave what is uncraveable! Imagine the cars and trucks advertised on the tube were pieces of scrap metal when you arrived at the dealership, or that new video game console is a box full of broken pieces. I love that drug companies need to actually say the side effects of their products when advertised, you know "taking this can cause stroke, severe headaches and serious side effects", why shouldn't the buger joints follow suit?

When Good Design is Too Good

James Dyson, the guy who failed 5000 times before coming up with his Advanced Dyson Cyclone™ technology, maybe a genius, or a carpet investor in disguise. The wife and I just picked up the DC17 and I must say, it's the best vacuum I have ever used, and being a former Kirby door to door salesman (yeah that sucked) I would know. My only beef, it's almost too powerful. I've managed to rip up yards of thread in my carpet and rugs get almost completely sucked up in the thing! You do not want to get close to the curtains with these babies, watch out for loose clothing, and keep an eye out for your cats tails.

Surge Bird

I'm digging these Surge markers and Paper. Surge Bird looking for some land-locked salmon.

Owen - Left Handed

Working on Duck on a Surfboard (below).

Duck on a Surfboard

A compilation with Owen using Crayola's new Surge Markers and Paper, color pencil and crayon. Remember the days when an 8 color box of crayons and a pad of construction paper was all the rage and you could get both for about 3 ducks, I mean bucks!

Dustin MVPedroia

Attah boy Dustin, 2008 Most Valuable Player!

Disc Golf Night @ Portland Pirates 11/29 7:00 pm

From the fellas at 10DOWN, nice disc!

"Disc Golf Night" at the Portland Pirates game on the Sat after Thanksgiving, 11/29 @ 7:00 pm. This is huge for disc golf! This is our chance to introduce nearly 5000 people to our sport. We'll have an information table in the lobby as you walk in, we've made t-shirts which are to be handed out in some fashion. We've made a video that will be played on the scoreboard and there will be some sort of demonstration on the ice during the first intermission.

The Pirates people have reserved a section for golfers, friends, and family and reduced tix to $13. It's really important that we have strong support in our section so I would love to have you there to make some noise. Unfortunately, you can't just go to the box office and get the special price or the correct section so if you're interested in attending, shoot me an e-mail and I'll grab tix for you.

Email Ben Dunlap for more info.

3G in Maine?

I just checked out at&t's coverage viewer and finally it appears as though 3G is now available. Only problem is the single is so weak it my iphone does not switch to the more robust 3G. I love my iphone but have been paying extra for 3G and it doesn't work, even when there site says it should. Come on at&t, what's the dealio?

Logo Competition - Midcoast Magnet

Logo design = image = good or bad = win or lose = money or wasted time = better than chores! Local community group in Maine looking for a new image, calling on creatives, submission finished, results processing, decision Nov 27th.

Turkey Hunting

My first animation, Thanksgiving 2001. Happy Thanksgiving!

rip thirdshiftstudio

all good things must come to an end, and with that end comes a new beginning. ok, who wrote this? tss may be over but the creative monkey in my mind will never rest. check back to see what andy is designing, drawing, taking pictures of, riding, writing, and just plain up too.