El Jefe, Part Dos

Took a trip to Lynchburg, VA to prep for a new project with one of our favorite clients. While there, we took the opportunity to head over to El Jefe (our previous project with said client).

El Jefe Taqueria Garaje is a taco and tequila restaurant with the Parry Restaurant Group at Lynchburg's Bluffwalk. We have always had fun concepting and creating for them, and El Jefe was no different.

While we are still in the early stages of the groups' newest endeavour, we thought we'd show you El Jefe's iconic photo of head chef, Roger Murphy (taken by our own, Chris Harris) and there Growlers (designed by WORK Labs' Frank Anderson). 

These guys embrace creativity and fun at every turn. No wonder we're so excited to get started on the next restaurant!

When Your Client Is Yourself

WORK's latest project is still in the early stages to some degree, so there is little we can show at this time. That doesn't mean we haven't been preparing for this one for awhile now. You see, for this project, our client is ourselves. We are finally putting forth some time and energy into some concepts and products we have had sitting on the shelf for quite awhile.  We are so excited to move forward on this, and can't wait to show you all that we have. But for now, you'll have to settle for just a small taste  of what's to come.

P.S. Many thanks to our former intern, Keilani Mansfield for helping us out!

The Days That Take You Out of the Office

Some of the best days at work take place outside of WORK. In an attempt to nail down some location ideas for two different photo shoots, Wednesday took us passed the city streets and out to the country. Looking for wide open country roads for one client and deep green forests for another. These are the best days for reenergizing oneself and getting those creative juices flowing. 

While I can't reveal what these photos are for (not just yet), take a look and perhaps it will inspire you to get up, get out, and do some WORK in the great outdoors!

Weird and Wonderful Things I've Done While Working At WORK

It occurred to me as my boss was asking what the technical term for one of those amateur porn sites done by webcam are called (turns out it's just called a "webcam site") that from the very first day of working here, I have had some very interesting moments that go beyond what you would expect in a typical office setting. er

I have met a man named Burrito, participated in a photo shoot in my bathrobe, hosted a photo shoot in my bathroom, filled a baby pool with ice tea, lit candles glued to my boss' head, and even visited a condemned building for a photo op.

I've Googled things like.... George Mason reenactors, how to say "hi" in 50 different languages, why the Queens in a deck of cards hold flowers, and conspiracy theories. I've purchased sombreros, phrenology heads, and booty shorts. 

We've x-rayed flowers, raw turkeys, and jack-o-lanterns, spray painted a brick wall (don't worry, it was Cabell's), built a life-size snowman out of decoupage, and did a plaster cast of a former employee's face, making it into an award.

I know there are other jobs out there that present very weird moments and experiences, but as a desk job goes, there is surprisingly very few dull moments here at WORK Labs. I mean, at the end of the day, it's not the strangest job, but it definitely has its moments.

In Honor of Labor Day

YOUR JOB ISN'T AS IMPORTANT AS YOU THINK IT IS.

YOUR WORK, HOWEVER, IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MATTER.

You are not defined by a job description. You are not defined by the title of your business card. And you are most certainly not defined by your location on the management chart. No. You are defined by the effort and pride that you put into your work. A job is why the floor gets scrubbed. Work is why it is clean enough to eat off of. Do not confuse your job with your work. It is much too important.

Here's to all the hard WORKers.

New and Improved

Everyone needs to change up their look once in awhile. Something to reenergize and refresh. WORK Labs is no different, so we decided to do a little website makeover. 

We've changed up the format, added our latest and greatest work, made it responsive, and even have merchandise for sale if you are so inclined. So scroll through, check out our WORK and let us know what you think!

Nana Takes the Reins

Not one to settle for mastering branding and advertising, Cabell Harris has also taken it upon himself to tackle the publishing world. In an ode to his own Nana, Cabell, along with Kathleen Lane, has written a children's book series, called Nana. Their first in the series, Nana Takes the Case even won them Amazon's Top Ten Best for Young Readers in 2008!

The Nana books showcase a unique grandma who refuses to settle down quietly into her old age, and instead takes on different, rather precarious occupations, such as a detective, trapeze artist and, in the case of Nana Takes the Reins, a bull rider. She's sneaky too! Often hiding her experiences as a deep sea fisherman, or a hockey referee, in a journal marked, The Joy of Napping. After all, the best way to keep a secret is to wrap it up in something boring!

So, to celebrate Cabell's tales and Nanas everywhere, tell us your best grandma story (you can message us on Facebook, at WORK Labs) and we'll send you a free copy of Nana Takes the Reins.

Not So Safe for WORK

When asking around the office for suggestions on our next blog post, I did not expect to hear the words, “show them our porno”. But alas, this is one of many reasons why WORK labs is like no other job.

Working with one of our favorite clients, Cobra USA, we decided to have a little fun (maybe too much) with our commercial concept for their new brochure.  But can you really blame us? That catalog is one sexy beast!

Spotlight on WORK Labs Laboratory Rat #RCD016

This week, WORK Labs would like to spotlight Lab Rat #RCD016, otherwise known as Rian. Rian is a Brand Strategist from the VCU Brandcenter. And while she may have thought she was coming here to further her education in advertising, we are the ones who are reaping the rewards. Aside from her brand strategy work for our clients, Cobble & Stone, DieHappy, and Macy's, she's also assisting us with our own projects, including the WORK site and WORK apparel. She's had several art shows for her photography, and was even hired to create the branding and web design for educational travel and immersion agency, True Immersion.  www.trueimmersion.org

Like a breath of fresh air, Rian's energy and excitement for branding, strategy and design has permeated this office, and has given us a all a new sense of enthusiasm for what we do!

Check out some of her beautiful photographs below, as well as her website www.rianchandlerdovis.com

Our Most Exciting Project

We've been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work on so many wonderful projects this year, but we have to admit, one we're most excited about is our own website. Taking a few minutes here and there throughout our busy days, and with the help of some fantastic people (Think 804, we're talking to you!) , we've been able to slowly make some big changes to our site, worklabs.com.  Now, we're not done yet, and poor Chris has a lot of coding still left to do, but we are coming up on the final lap, and are so excited to show off our hard work...or should I say, Chris' hard work.  So hang in there. Check in with us soon, and we'll have a brand spankin' new WORK Labs sight for your viewing pleasure.  

Just look at him go! Doesn't he look excited?!

Happy July 4th

WORK Labs would like to wish everyone a happy and safe July 4th weekend. But we would especially like to send good wishes to those who will be spending the holiday weekend working. These individuals will not only have to work on a day that is more commonly a vacation for everyone else, but will often have to work even harder BECAUSE it is a vacation for everyone else. From fireworks crews who will help to highlight your evening with a gorgeous light display, to restaurant workers serving up your favorite celebratory foods and drinks.  To the policemen, firemen, and ER workers, ready to help you when your festivities do not go as planned, to our service men and women who never really get a day off from defending our freedom. Happy July 4th to all of you. This day could not be celebrated if it wasn't for you!

Spotlight on WORK Labs Laboratory Rat #FRK2010

This week's spotlight focuses on our fantastic designer, Laboratory Rat # FRK2010, Frank Anderson. His quiet demeanor and stealthy ability to move around the office without anyone hearing him has earned him the nickname, Ninja. But don't let his soft-spoken and modest personality fool you, his design skills make one heck of an impact, forcing any design lover to stop and take notice! Check out just a few of his many incredible designs below, and even more at http://fraktothefuture.dribbble.com/ .

Spotlight on WORK Labs Laboratory Rat #CRH014

Every once and awhile, WORK Labs likes to spotlight, not our own collective work, but that of our employees. Today we are looking at Lab Rat #CRH014, otherwise known as Christopher Harris. While not at WORK, Chris likes to spend his free time scouting the perfect locations for his beautiful photography. These locations often border on being less than easy to access, to straight up illegal. But hey, that's the risk you take for art! Check out some of his work below. You can even purchase his cityscape photo here https://www.chrisrossharris.com/products/rva-sunset

Well done, Chris. Now get back to WORK!

Just Another Day at WORK - Kitty Edition

While concepting ideas for our website, one idea led us to the Richmond SPCA for a mini photo shoot. While we don't want to give away our website ideas, we thought we'd post a couple of pictures of the adorable cats up for adoption.  *We'd post more than a couple but it was their nap time, and we hated to disturb their slumber. Now I can't remember all of their names, except Vicar, because Vicar almost ended up going home with me in my purse (don't let his look of disdain fool you, he was a sweet, squishy teddy bear). But they are all darling, and definitely worth meeting if you are looking for a new friend!

Thanks so much to Abbey and the rest of the gang at SPCA for letting us come in and meet all the sweet babies!

http://www.richmondspca.org/page.aspx?pid=876

WORK Labs - Oddities

Updating our WORK Labs website, we have been searching through our portfolio looking for just the right examples of, not just our client pieces, but our own products and creations. One collection that stuck out for me was the Oddities folder. We've put a fun twist on everything from essentials, like Daily Water, to the straight up random and quirky, like our Picnic Anywhere blanket and our Air Sample Kit...yes, AIR. Hey, I said, quirky! These concepts were not only for our own amusement, but for client projects as well. Like our Truth Reels fishing t-shirt that boasts the type and weight of the fish you've caught, or the Radio Mercury Award, created to distinguish advertising achievements of certain agencies in the radio industry. My personal favorite? The WORK Labs Stress Relief Kit. Tell me you couldn't decompress from opening a can of that!

Square Peg Award

The Director of the VCU Brandcenter challenged Cabell and WORK Labs to design an award that was to be presented to Michael Karnjanaprakon of Skillshare, to celebrate his impact on the world by being a creative problem solver. This coincides with the newly articulated purpose of the VCU Brandcenter, now in its 20th year, to develop the world’s best creative problem solvers. In concepting the award, Cabell began thinking about how to solve what seemed like a universal problem. The kind of problem that people say, “That cannot be done!” “No way!” or “Why even try?”. The Square Peg Award seemed to be the perfect name. Now the hard part, how do you get a square peg to fit in a round hole? It’s harder than you think! After sketching several directions, speaking with a few award manufacturers, and looking at acrylic molds, nothing seemed to be working the way he wanted it to. Eventually, Cabell reached out to Jason Lefton, founder of Big Secret, an amazing laser engraving studio here in Richmond. He came up with a simple solution for the stand, which is a bit of science, engineering, and optical illusion. From there he had Frank Anderson, here at WORK Labs, illustrate some incredible icons on all 6 sides of the cube. After that, it went back to Big Secret for laser etching of those icons.

VCU Brandcenter loved the concept so much, they decided to make it an annual award!

So, how would you fit a square peg into a round hole?!?

Welcome Rian!

We'd like to issue an official welcome to our newest Lab Rat, Rian Chandler-Dovis. Rian comes to us from the VCU Brandcenter, where she is getting her masters in Creative Brand Management. Rian already has some impressive experience under her belt as a marketing director at VBS Mortgage, providing realtor sales and marketing support at Funkhouser Realtors, and was even the co-owner and chief marketer for Boutique Shop. Currently, Rian is assisting us with the branding of a new jewelry line. From the concepting and design of the company name and logo, to that of the name and logo of the first collection piece, Rian has been a pivotal (you'll get the pun later) member of the WORK Labs team.

So stay tuned for our reveal of this great new business, and for more of Rian's excellent contributions to WORK Labs and our clients!

WORK Labs - Posters

We've been updating some of our pieces for award shows, clients, and our own website. Going through our posters, we thought it would be nice to show you some of our past creations. From highlighting the Richmond Ballet's The Nutcracker, to Holiday wishes from Advanced Orthopaedics, we've had so much fun concepting and photographing for these posters.We had a George Mason reenactor pose with a rubber chicken for Oh George! Tables and Taphouse, the chef of El Jefe Taqueria Garaje sit for photos with tacos and tequila, and even our own photographer's puppy was asked to model for WORK Labs' very own project, Pet Contract.

Take a look below. Which one is your favorite?

Packaging Design - Wine

Putting a folder together for Design Media UK on some of our wine label designs. Thought we'd go ahead and share them wth you as well. First, a little bit about each label.

Meteor Wines, from the White Fences vineyard in Irvington, Virginia, was conceived after the owner of White Fences was outside in his vineyards and looked up in the night sky and saw a meteor. This brought on the tradition of late evening wine tastings held outdoors, under the night sky with telescopes. For Meteor Merlot, we designed a starry sky to run the full surface of the bottle by actually baking the label on. Metallic inks were used for the label for Meteor Moon Midnight Red, and the front of the bottle was purposely left bare but for the moon, reinforcing the vastness of the night sky as seen from the White Fences winery. Meteor Firefly's label gives the impression of multiple labels put together as a collage, but is, in reality one single die cut label. And Meteor Bright Red displays its place in the solar system in relation to White Fences. All bottles include an illustration on the back of a man holding his wine bottle up as a telescope to look at the stars.

WORK Labs also concepted designs for First Colony with the idea of a removable star on the bottle that could be used to commemorate your experience with that wine. You could have a 1 Star afternoon (i.e. one bottle of First Colony wine was enjoyed that day), or a 5 Star evening with friends (5 bottles), or a 100 Star wedding with all of your friends and family enjoying bottles of First Colony.

METEOR WINES

FIRST COLONY

Richmond Show 2015

Had such a wonderful time at the Richmond Ad Club's PsychADelic Show this past weekend! It's always nice to visit with our friends in the Richmond Ad scene and check out the work they have been doing over the past year.This year WORK Labs was very fortunate to take home awards for some of our favorite projects. One in particular was for our client, Truth Reels. Working with them was so rewarding, being acknowledged for that work by our colleagues is just icing on the cake!

Check out those and a few other winners below.

Photography & Illustration Truth Reel Landscapes

Packaging Truth Reels

Trade Magazine Single Truth Reels

Logos & Trademarks Truth Reels

Identity System Truth Reels

Posters, Single Revenuer’s Cut - Imagine the Hiding Places

Publication Design Sixty Magazine

Self-Promotion, Single WORK Labs Holiday Card 2015

Packaging WORK Candles