NE Creative

Jacek Utko: Can Design Save the Newspaper?

Jacek Utko is a newspaper designer who doing some amazing stuff with newspaper design. His philosophy extends out beyond newspaper design to design in general stating that "Design can change not just your product, it can change your workflow, it actually can change everything in your company." Design can't do it on its own. Jacek took an architectural rule about function and form and translated it to content and design. He has many more wise words, so just watch the video.

Print Media Gets a Lifeline

Another funny industry related video from Landline TV. This video is about a blog that hires some old media guys who've been laid off. Copy!

DownsDesign Helps Launch RockDex

DownsDesign created the new logo and website for Music Arsenal's RockDex project. RockDex allows you to see ‘Internet chatter’ about a band or musician kinda which can help you to learn new ways to increase the buzz. RockDex pulls from social media sites like Blip.fm, Eventful, Flickr, Google, iLike, Last.fm, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube to find the information about your band.

Updated: Village Points "Art on the Pointe" Event Logo Competition

From @drewoxide I've just been told that after understanding how spec work is damaging, Village Pointe has suspended their competition.

Yeaaaaaah! Score one for the creative community.

Village Points "Art on the Pointe" Event Logo Competition

Saw this over the Twitter wire and I had to say something. If you agree that this is a slap in the face of the design community please feel free to contact the people below and express you disdain for such a competition.

• Marjorie Maas, Fair Coordinator and PR contact, 402.991.1560, marjorie@palettepromotions.com
• Kim Jones, Village Pointe Director of Marketing, 402.505.9773, kjones@villagepointeshopping.com

In my opinion the creative community must make a stand. If we stay quiet we are saying to every small community and small business that it’s okay to not pay for creative or design. Then big clients will soon be asking why they’re paying so much for their work when they could just hold a contest and save themselves some money. Getting paid fair value for our work is already difficult enough. How many small design shops here in Nebraska depend on small clients and logos for their existence?

Please be civil when you contact send your email or phone it in. Vulgarity and threats would hurt our cause. Please ReTweet, repost, comment even on the topic.

Here is the pdf version of the call for entries. Download

Laptop Hunters: Homeless Frank

Someone was going to parody the new Mircosoft "Laptop Hunter" campaign, it was only a matter of time.

Flutter the New Twitter

Calling All Independent Industry Professonals

Are you an independent copywriters, designers or web developers? Want an opportunity to get in front of around 100 business owners and potentially bring in new business? Well here is your chance.

The Omaha Federation of Advertising (OFA) in conjunction with the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce is inviting advertising and media professionals to participate in the second annual "Smart Spending. Big Profits" event. The seminar invites small business owners to learn how to market and advertise in more effective ways. Roundtable discussions will center around ten topics presented by local advertising executives.

Currently the OFA is looking for independent designers, copywriters, web developers and marketing/advertising consultants to participate as trade show vendors in our trade show area at the event. Their role would be to provide business owners the opportunity to interact one-on-one and inquire about the solutions their business offers. Each vendor is provided with their own table and encouraged to setup in any way they feel necessary. Along with our partnership with the Omaha Chamber of Commerce and with the promotional materials already in place, we are expecting another year of increased attendance. It costs $300 to participate but you can make that up with the new business you could pull in.

Media and production professionals who are interested in participating in the tradeshow can contact Christin Goetz, Bozell, at 965.4369 or cgoetz@bozell.com. For more information visit www.omahaadclub.org/smart-spending-big-profits.

Swanson Russell Redesigns Weatherby.com

Swanson Russell has relaunched a newly designed Weatherby.com. The massive website includes an ecommerce store, Flash video gallery, Flash mainfeature on the homepage and build your own rifle or shotgun selector that helps you find your perfect gun.

Heart Ministry Center - Pathway program

Brochure and identity work from June for the Heart Ministry Center. The Heart Ministry Center assists individuals and families throughout North Omaha. They have services such as a walk-in food pantry and clothing closet as well as educational opportunities and health outreach events. The Pathway program is for single mothers who want to create a better life — both for themselves and their children.