WORK Folks - Kristen Runberg

For our next installment of WORK Folks, we focus on Kristen Runberg of Sophia’s Lament. I have had the privilege of knowing Kristen for, well, long enough to make me feel really old right now. Kristen is the kind of loving and generous person who has never met a stranger. She’s equal parts cute and bubbly, and bad ass. With, what I think is fair to say, an “obsession” with motorcycles, vintage scooters and VW buses, and midcentury furniture, she’s truly one of the coolest girls I know.

I’ve known her to be a photographer, shop owner, and craft artist. I’ve seen her show up at parties and events wearing outfits and costumes she created herself.

And she makes some mean homemade cocktails!

She was kind enough to take a moment from her busy schedule to give a little insight into her WORK.

When I went to VCU for photography and design, the emphasis was still on thought process and handcraft to make a finished piece. The papers and chemicals that came to life in the darkroom, fine brushes, and grey ink to cover imperfections, a cork-backed ruler used with sharp Xactos and Rapidographs. There was also a huge push on process and creative thought. Taking strong expression and distilling it down to a clean, concise form. Soon after graduating, the quick progression of digital media meant other than building sets and props, I found myself in front of a computer screen for hours at a time. The faster pace of the working world I found myself in also didn't lend itself to the careful thought I was accustomed to. While in love with the power of Photoshop and the clean images I could get out of Illustrator, I'm a hands-on, blue-collar soul, get my hands dirty kind of girl. I needed to have my hands as well as my mind working. It just wasn't enough for me to make a design on a screen anymore. I started to take my on-screen designs and drawings and use them as patterns for sewn pillows and other goods since I can count sewing as one of the skills that I feel confident. 

Doing the same thing over and over, though, was not so much my thing. I had a bunch of old test prints and outdated portfolio images sitting around. Instead of tossing them, I started to play around with layering them in some resin I had sitting around from an old project. That progressed into adding in wood veneers, bits of beer cans that were headed into the recycling bin…wings off the cicadas my cat was killing on the front porch…pretty much any flat piece of something that would be otherwise trashed that I could get my hands on, as well as other art supplies sitting around the studio. 

It's a complete departure from the way my brain wanted to work in the past. Every design happens on the fly and is subject to the whims of a slightly unpredictable medium. It's also a process that can take up to a month to end up with finished art, so where I think I'm going at the beginning often ends up in a totally different direction due to my moods. I can then "crop" the final piece by cutting and sanding.

Work ethic: I'm completely subject to mental shifts. I started tracking the way my mind works and organize my work hours around what I will be most productive with. The days I feel completely uncreative, I don't force it. Those are the days I clean and organize the studio, handle the bookkeeping, or do some self-care if I really need to be making. Sometimes, after a trip around the block on the motorbikes, a yoga class, or a swim in the ocean, my mental state has returned to being able to fully focus. I also have to step away from the studio on the regular. I helped start a retail shop(Kitsch in Norfolk, VA) a few years ago, and while I'm no longer a full partner in it, I still work there once a week. Having the social interaction with customers and other artists, plus the ever-changing inspiration of being in a vibrant neighborhood can knock the mental blocks away. 

Advice: What I used to say is "grow a skin" because everyone's got an opinion and when you put yourself out there, they're gonna share it, solicited or no. What I try to say now is, "be objective, be honest, edit, and keep working" You've poured your blood sweat and tears into something, but know that it's "just an object" to the other party.  By putting yourself in their position, you can take a step back from your work and decide if their opinion should be taken and applied to the next piece or just filed away with the other things that don't work for you. Because there WILL be a next piece, since you're going to keep working no matter what. Learn how to take rejection, because it's going to happen and it's always going to feel bad. Being in the retail world, I've seen too many talented makers and artists just give up doing what they do because they didn't sell anything at our shop or get rejected from a couple shows. We've had other artists that sell poorly at our shop and sell like gangbusters at a shop down the street that has a different customer base and vice versa. The truth is, if you've made a quality item and you like it, chances are, there's someone else out there that will like it too. You don't have to change what you do. You just have to be honest with yourself about who the things you make will appeal to and go to those people. Just keep working.

Check out more of Kristen's work on Instagram at kitschva and sophiaslament as well as  sophiaslament.com

Coffee with Cabell - What’s the Most Important Part of an Education?

I have to admit, when asking this question, I was truly curious about what response would come out of his mouth. I wasn’t even sure how I would have answered that. What’s the most important part of an education? I don’t know. That you listen to it? That it’s sound? That you don’t take it for granted? Where or who you get that education from?

Instead, he gave an answer (two really) that probably would not have occurred to me but made perfect sense.

1- Be drawn and hungry for it. 

Oh. How simple. WANT the education. Always keep that hunger for knowledge. You don’t always have to be surrounded by the best educators. You can often be self-taught. But you have to have that desire, that yearning to learn more. Even Tommy Rodriguez from our WORK Folks interview discussed how he slowly learned over years of practice the best techniques when creating his beautiful guitars and ukuleles. 

There are always new techniques out there. There are always different ways to express an idea. Different ways to accomplish a set goal. But you have to want to learn and practice in order for it to pay off.

2 - Surrounding yourself with good people with good habits. 

These people can help shape your own habits. For better or for worse, the people you surround yourself with can have a significant effect on the kind of life you live and the work you do. The people around you can inspire you, nurture a desire to never stop learning, spark a need to never stop trying to be better, or they can just as easily reinforce any and every bad behavior out there. If the people in your life are lazy and uninspired, it’s easy to follow suit. If you cultivate relationships with hard-working individuals with an aptitude for setting goals and achieving them, you are likely to be driven to do the same.

So what's the most important part of an education to you?

Coffee with Cabell - Were You a Good Student?

Obviously good grades are important but at the end of the day, they do not always equal success. They can help get you into the University of your choosing and certainly, a high GPA is some example of the hard work and effort you have put into your studies. But they’re not the only marker of one’s knowledge, talent, or work ethic.

Cabell Harris has had a successful career in Advertising for 36 years and owned his own branding and advertising agency for almost 25 years, surely he was a remarkable student. Right?

No. I was awful. I had several learning disabilities including ADD and Dyslexia. In those days, not only did you not address these learning disability acronyms, you actually hid them. Doing so, however, teaches you to over-compensate in other areas. 

I was always interested in Art. For many years I was even considered the “class artist” until eventually someone better came along. I wanted to be a Commercial Artist since the 1st grade. I didn’t even really know what a Commercial Artist was back then but a man at my church did that for a living, so that’s the term I used. I didn’t even really understand advertising until my years at VCU studying Mass Communications. Even then, advertising was never really addressed by my professors. I actually stumbled upon it while perusing Art Directors Annual and Communication Arts & Design while in the library.

When I returned years later to visit my professors, I asked to see some of their work. I thought it strange that I had never come across any in these magazines and wondered why they had never entered their own work. It was horrible. That’s why. It was a real point of enlightenment for me. These teachers didn’t even seem to be aware of what good work was out there, much less have some of their own to show. I realized then that you have to be your own judge of good and bad work. Yours and others’. You have to be a seeker. Search for good work, for inspiration. Ask yourself why it’s good, or why it’s not. And be open to learning from your successes AND your failures.

Ultimately, Cabell was, in fact, a good student. And still is. Maybe his grades didn’t always reflect that but his attitude did. He never stopped learning, never stopped questioning, never stopped looking for inspiration or judging his own work. You don’t stop being a student when people stop grading you. You should never stop looking for inspiration. Keep learning. Keep seeking.

WORK Folks - Tommy Rodriguez

As Labor Day approaches, we wanted to get back to a concept of ours to highlight other individuals who combine creativity and a strong work ethic to create their own striving business. Labor Day is all about the worker and so are we. It's one thing to be artistic, it's another to have the drive and stamina to create a business out of it. Maintaining high standards in your work, bringing in an income that can sustain yourself, your family, and possibly other employees. To do this, to do it well, and to maintain integrity and joy all the while, well that takes something extraordinary. WORK Labs looks at some of these remarkable individuals working and creating in our own backyard, so to speak. 

We start with Tommy Rodriguez of Rodriguez Guitars.

I first met Tommy working in a hair salon located in the same building as Tommy's workspace. Tommy is the quintessentially punk rock; if punk rock grew up, had children and a mortgage. He does not suffer fools. I once heard him read an entire 10-page contract over the phone to his provider to prove he did not need to pay a superfluous fee because it was not, in fact, "in the contract" as the poor gentleman on the other end of the line had insisted. He and his band Vapor Rhinos has on more than one occasion smoked out a venue by putting his smoke machine on maximum power during one one of their performances. Pretty sure he was banned from ever playing one of those venues ever again, yet he seems to think it was worth it. He'd come out of his shop with so much wood dust and dirt on his black clothes, that we'd joke that he was a true Crusty. But his guitars...his guitars are true works of art. 

I asked Tommy recently about his work, work ethic, and inspiration, and this is what he said:

 I hand make classical guitars and ukuleles, all built by hand to the highest standards. I do every step in-shop, including milling my own lumber and cutting my own veneers for the rosettes and other marquetry work on the instruments. I’ll often salvage and repurpose the woods I use from old pianos, furniture or just collections of old wood that I purchase.

 I started making electric guitars 30 years ago exactly, about now. Around 22 years ago I started making classical guitars, and most recently, ukuleles. In cutting my own wood, I often have nice pieces left over that are too nice to throw away. I started making ukuleles to use up these smaller pieces of wood since the ukuleles have nylon strings they were very much like miniature classical guitars, which is the approach I took designing them.

 I became inspired to make guitars after playing in bands, looking for that perfect instrument, I also thought, if I was self-employed, I could go out on tour and not have to worry about getting time off from work, if I was my own boss. Knowing lots of musicians also helped get my name around. That all back fired because I became so busy I didn’t have time to tour with a band.

 I use a lot of hand tools in what I do, some I have made, some are very old, some are from high-end tool makers. One of my favorites is a Japanese paring chisel made by a fifth generation blacksmith, whose family used to make Samurai swords. He uses no power tools and you can see the hammer marks on the back of the blade. The steel is of a quality that has disappeared long ago in favor of profits and ease of manufacture. 

 One of my biggest influences or inspirations has been Antonio de Torres, inventor of the modern classical guitar. It was a book about him that inspired me to start making classical guitars. As I grow and refine my craft I can still look back as Torres' work and be amazed at how far ahead of his time he was. Some of his marquetry work is difficult with the help of modern power tools, I couldn’t imagine doing it all without, back in the 1800’s.  

 A lot of guitar makers CAD programs for designs and CNC to make the parts for their guitars, I still like the hands on approach, working with the wood, getting to know it. There is a lot of variation in a single species of wood, learning how to adapt to these changes is how to make every instrument great. A machine is not going to tell you that. There really are no short cuts at the level I’m working at. I enjoy the whole process, from rough cutting lumber to the final finishing. Even if I do make money, I’ll never get rich doing this but at least I get to do what I love.

 For anyone wanting to start out in this I would say, there is no magic, it’s a lot of work and a lot to learn. A 3-month guitar class cannot teach you everything there is to know. After 30 years of building, I am still learning things every day. Spend your guitar school money on a shop and tools, have at it, screw things up, learn from your mistakes and know that most people on guitar forums are assholes…

...Told ya, he doesn't suffer fools.

Check out some pics of Tommy's work below and see more here:

 https://www.facebook.com/Rodriguez-Ukuleles-1429916430553773/  

https://www.facebook.com/RodriguezGuitars/  

https://www.facebook.com/RodriguezElectrics/ 

Flashback Friday - Graphis 342

Looking back at an old issue of Graphis reaffirmed a couple of things for us newest crop of employees about Cabell Harris and the WORK Labs brand. One realization is that Cabell's email signature, "Always Thinking" is absolutely true. While interviewed for an article in one of their publications, Cabell arranged to have professional photos done by Karl Steinbrenner to send to the editor of the magazine. You see, rather than have them debate about what photo to use on the cover or struggle to get some photos taken, why not send them some of yourself or of your work to solve the problem for them. There are plenty of articles and interviews in that one issue of Graphis. They could choose a photo about any of them. So why not make the decision easy by sending one of your own. Now you're not only IN the magazine, you're on the cover. That's some pretty genius thinking there.

But here's what really struck us employees of WORK Labs; the last paragraph of the article Cabell discusses his concept for WORK beer, with the idea that, "we all see ourselves as hard workers, even if we're chained to a desk all day". A testament to not just this one particular product but to the very soul of the WORK brand, Cabell states, "There's something in all of us that yearns to be blue-collar, to put in an honest day's work. Of course, we don't all want to run a jackhammer all day - but for some reason, we want to be like the guy who does."

In 15 years since this article, the heart, and soul of what the WORK brand is have not changed a bit. It is a brand that speaks to the Worker, whoever that is. Blue collar, white collar, it doesn't matter. It's not the type of work but the ethic behind it. The idea that you put in 110% whether or not the boss is watching, whether or not you get paid handsomely for it, whether or not the work is glamorous. It is not about the dignity of the job but the dignity you put into the work.

No matter the client, no matter the project, this is the kind of attitude Cabell Harris carries with him always, and it shows in the WORK brand. And that is his message to every client; your brand is the soul of your company. The "soul" of WORK Labs is the celebration of the strong work ethic. What is the soul of your company?

Jack S. Harris

August 7th, marked what would have been the 95th birthday of the Harris family patriarch, the man, the myth, the legend, Jack S. Harris, otherwise known as Cabell Harris’ (founder of WORK Labs) father. 

A graduate of Virginia Tech and later Captain of G. Company, 15th Infantry, Third Division, Jack had an impressive military career,  receiving 2 silver stars, (one from World War 2 and one from Korea) three purple hearts, and returned from the Korean War a Major. Returning home, he sold cars, cemetery plots, and even Caterpillar Tractors with Virginia Tractor, all while raising four boys with his wife Shirley. 

I point out all of Jack’s accolades because it makes his relationship with Cabell and WORK Labs all that more endearing. You see, despite how dignified and respectable Jack Harris was, he had a fantastic sense of humor and was not afraid of poking fun at himself. 

Jack was often used as a model for Cabell in photo shoots for both clients and WORK Labs products, and sometimes, for just plain fun. All he needed to hear was, “Dad, I need you for a photo.” , and Jack would happily oblige, no matter what odd or downright embarrassing set-up Cabell had in mind. Now that is truly a parenting win! 

Happy Birthday, Jack. Thanks for all your hard work and your sense of humor!

That Thing I Won in NYC

So we have a new intern at WORK Labs, KP Thomas. Much like the last one, she is a VCU Brandcenter student. Funny, charming, hard working, and a straight-up overachiever. While spending her summer vacation working her regular job and interning with us, she also managed to be accepted into the Beautiful Minds program where she not only had to qualify to be accepted to the program but then, alongside her team, won. I told you, overachiever.

So what is the Beautiful Minds program? 

"The Beautiful Minds program is a hybrid planning bootcamp and networking event. Participants will get a free crash course in planning from some of the top planners in the industry. Directly afterwards, participants will be split into teams of 4-5 and given a chance to apply their learnings to a brief. The teams who’ve best addressed the brief will be able to present their brilliant strategies in front of a room packed full of heads of departments and recruiters. Although we're only able to select a few finalists to present at the showcase, all participants will have the same opportunities to network with judges, mentors, and recruiters."  http://griffinfarleysbeautifulminds.co

With 12 teams totaling around 60 people, the students received a brief mid-day Saturday. With the first round pitch taking place mid-day Sunday, the top 4 teams are then selected to go into the final round. KP's team was made up of 5 people meeting for the first time, who were of diverse backgrounds, stages in life and careers. 

Their brief? To increase users of an app (Be My Eyes) for the blind by 5x in 6 months. Their final campaign,  " A Campaign No One Can See", was later presented to industry leaders and network with advertising people.

But I think KP sums it up best.

"Last Friday when I stepped into BBH New York for the 1st day of Griffin Farley's Beautiful Minds, I had no idea how much it would impact my life. Anything I say will not do it justice but I'll try! This was an incredible experience that I am beyond thankful for even having the opportunity to be a part of. I had the chance to learn more about strategy and grow both professionally and personally. With the most challenging brief I have ever received, my team was able to produce a project that we were all proud of, which can be rare. On Tuesday we had the honor of presenting to a room full of people in the advertising world including top industry leaders, the client, and peers. 3 other great teams made it to the finals and presented that night and we won! Thank you to the judges, BBH, our mentor, and my extremely talented teammates, this has been a humbling experience and truly an honor."

We are so very proud of her and so glad to have her on our team, even if it's only for a short time! Congratulations, KP on all you hard WORK! ...see what I did there?

Adam Ewing Photography

We couldn't blog about our work without taking the time to highlight some of the unbelievably talented individuals we have been fortunate enough to collaborate with on that work. So today, we highlight one of our particular favorites, Adam Ewing. 

A graduate from VCU, Adam lives and works (for the most part) here in Richmond, Va., although his work can take him just about anywhere in the country.  He's worked for Virginia based businesses like Ledbury, Classified Moto, and Martin Agency, national companies like CVS, UPS, and Ford, as well as national publications like the New York Times, AARP and Southern Living. But most importantly (at least in our minds) he's worked with us.

His work for our client Cobra, a motorcycle exhaust, and accessories manufacturer has been invaluable. His artistic eye and positive energy made Cabell's concepts come to full fruition. And like Cabell, his is an easy and light hearted personality that becomes sharp and focused when time to work. His creativity and vision are a beauty to behold. As are his photos. Don't believe me? Take a look below at just a few of the amazing work he's done for us, and check out his site for more.

https://www.adamewing.com/Portfolio/Portraits/thumbs

Let's Get to WORK - Cabell Harris

Let’s roll up our shirtsleeves, grab another cup of coffee and get to work.

You are probably well aware that our little agency, WORK, is not counted among the mega-agencies in the modern advertising world.  That suits me just fine. I have had the opportunity to work for many of the larger agencies in either a full-time capacity or as a freelance resource. As a result, I have a wealth of valuable insight into what works and what doesn't at the places where you’re looking for work.

The good news. My valuable advice is free – or, more accurately, included in the price of this book. The bad news. Free advice is often worth what you pay for it.

Nonetheless, here are a few of my observations.

1. Any agency that does good work or has done good work has a strong Creative Principal who has led by example. Think about it.

2. If you want to see what work is going on in an Agency go to the studio. Whether it's new business, research, planning, pitching or executing it’s moving through the studio. The best agencies have well-run studios.

3. Large agencies often are encumbered by internal processes/approvals which make it very difficult to work quickly and efficiently. 

4. The business has changed from problem-solving to opportunity seeking.

5. The companies that spend the longest amount of time on process do the worst work.

6. Every agency I believe has the same process, they just come up with different answers. 

Who are you talking to? 

o The audience

What do you want to tell them?

o The strategy

How do you tell them?

o The creative

Where do you tell them?

o The media

Was it effective?

o The results

7. You can find some very talented people in bad agencies. They just may not have the personalities or the opportunities that get them noticed. Or, perhaps, their goodness may be directed elsewhere. Perhaps they are good parents, or they make a truly exceptional vinaigrette dressing.

8. All the great agencies have work that comes out of their doors that would shock you by how bad it is. Well, at least in the early years you may be shocked. Then, sad to say you are no longer surprised. Disappointed but not surprised.

9. Egos are important for getting the job done. You must believe you can do the work. You must believe you can sell the work. Ultra egos, make enemies ultra fast. But don’t leave your ego at the door. Bring it.

10. The inexperienced individual will immediately argue and defend their one idea. Why? Because they are not confident they can come up with another. Experienced professionals will do what they can to protect good thinking but know they are capable of many solutions. 

By far the most important difference I have found in companies or individuals is “Work Ethic” I have often said that I would rather hire someone with a strong Work Ethic than talent. I have seen too many individuals with talent and potential be surpassed by one who is not easily satisfied and will just keep working.

Creative Problem Solvers

One of the things we pride ourselves on at WORK is that we are not a creative agency for the sake of creativity alone. We pride ourselves on being based in strategy. Creating something aesthetically beautiful alone has its place in the world but not in advertising. While artists want to convey a message or incite a conversation, design in the advertising world has a more calculated goal, bring in customers. With that goal in mind, we must ask ourselves, who it is we want to talk to, what it is we need to say, determine the best way to say it,  and where. No matter how pretty the artwork, no matter how beautiful the layout, no matter how much buzz it might create if it does not solve the needs of the client then it is simply lovely visuals with no results. 

Tinker Hatfield, footwear designer for Nike (think Air Jordans) describes our philosophy to a tee when he says, "For me, as a designer, it is not the ultimate goal to become self-expressive. The end goal is to solve a problem for someone else, and hopefully, it looks great to someone else, and it's cool to someone else.".  Of course our designers want to create something beautiful, something visually striking but they have an added responsibility to produce artwork that can lead to action on the part of the viewer.

Tinker's story can be viewed in the wonderful Netflix documentary, Abstract, the Art of Design. But you can check out a clip from it below. It's interesting, a little frustrating (the man has some ridiculously cool toys!) and very inspiring. Hopefully, it will help designers to go beyond being creative, to being creative problem solvers. 

WORK Bike

Though this project was completed quite a while ago, sometimes while walking around in a frenzy to finish up some assignment or heading out the door at the end of the day, a lovely light strip of blue catches my eye and I remember one of our most fun and rewarding creations, the WORK Bike.

When not in use, it sits in the corner of the WORK Labs lobby, more like a piece of art than a functional object. But then that was the point all along. This is not just a bike, it's a WORK Labs bike, meant to communicate the message and mission of the company and it's founder, Cabell Harris.  

In collaboration with one of most favorite former employees, Andy Stites, now at Carytown Bikes, Cabell was able to give the true WORK Labs character to his new mountain bike. Coated in the signature WORK blue, everything from the hand grips to the seat was put together with Cabell and the WORK Labs' philosophy in mind (even the Shine Craft water bottle is a shout out to another favorite WORK Labs associate, Jordan Childs).

Aside from the WORK paint color, decals and labels were designed in-house to adorn the bike. Stickers like, "The Boss" (No, not Bruce Springsteen), "Always Pedaling" (an homage to Cabell's mantra, "Always Thinking"), and "Property of WORK Labs" give that personal touch. The favorite (and most difficult) addition is the file cabinet-like label with "WORK Bike" mounted on the front bar. Initial concepts for this look proved to be difficult and costly leading us to turn to a little welding and a lot of ingenuity to get the effect we were looking for.    

We could not have been more pleased with the results of this project. And whlle the rest of us here at WORK Labs do not get to partake in the actual pleasure of riding it (after all, it was made for The Boss) seeing it gives us great pleasure in a Job Well Done.

Coming to Fruition - MoneyPulse

Being able to put our concepts into some beautiful form of reality is always a true pleasure to behold but it surely doesn't compare to the joy our clients feel when their dream of a new business comes to fruition. 

Take MoneyPulse.com, for instance. From our end, it was a chance to create a name and logo, a soft exploratory and positioning for a new online financial services site. But for our client, Tim Nitz, this was the first steps in bringing his dream into reality. No matter how good the designs, the concepts or execution, the life and success of the final product rests on Tim's shoulders.

Or does it? One of the common desires experienced here at WORK is to keep moving along with the client, rather than just push them forward and then walk away once our initial job is complete. To us continuing to monitor the brand, its look, its message, is critical to the longevity and success of that company. A cynic could very well look at it as a way for us to continue bringing in income. But the truth is, letting go of anything you've spent time, effort, blood, sweat and tears to create, is difficult at best. There's pride in our work, and a genuine excitement for where our client could go as they move forward with our logo, website, strategy and the like. 

So while we wish Tim and clients like him the best of luck in their future endeavors, we hope they will continue to connect with us so that we may be able to assist in making the most of their brand.

Congratulations Tim! We are always here if you need us, excited and ready to assist in the continued success of MoneyPulse.com!  https://moneypulse.com/

Richmond Gas Works

Although there is still work to be done, we're excited to see that City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities Energy Services Division has officially announced their new name and logo. 

Partnering with Spurrier Group, WORK Labs presented the city with name and logo concepts allowing the department to differentiate themselves from the other services provided by DPU as well as to compete with other energy companies. 

With a little inspiration from the originlal Fulton Gas Works, we were able to come up with a name and logo to excite the employees of DPU as well as our very own Mayor! While the rebranding is not quite complete, we're so excited that they are able to celebrate their name change and new logo design!

Tintype

Just wanted to do a quick shout-out to Bootleggers in Lynchburg, Virginia for giving us this opportunity to work on such a rewarding project. Piece by piece, we continue to have the most fun working with these guys.

Our newest installation is a "tintype" portrait piece to be hung in the hallway of Bootleggers. Individual photos were photoshopped with layers of dust, scratches, and other imperfections and then printed on brushed aluminum to give the tintype affect. Many thanks to Worth Higgins for the amazing commercial printing!

If you are ever in Lynchburg, check out Bootleggers for some of our most treasured work...oh and for some fantastic burgers and bourben as well, of course!

  http://bootleggersburger.com/      http://worthhiggins.com/

Cobra USA - Ride Loud Newspaper

Working with Cobra USA, we have had a lot of fun with photo shoots, creating collateral and trade show materials, and even social media posts.  But I have to say, the Cobra newspaper is one of our favorite projects we've had, and to see that original concept come to fruition has been unbelievably gratifying!

Our goal throughout has been for Cobra to "own the garage".  This led us to the Cobra newspaper as a way to not only highlight their mufflers for Harley Davidson motorcycles but to also reinforce Cobra as a lifestyle brand. With the paper, we were able to reinforce their message of quality, made in the USA parts, showcase their new line of Neighbor Hater mufflers, and educate and entertain not only their core audience but any motorcycle enthusiast. With articles like "Six Ways to Win a Fight" and "Doom & Groom" the bad beards spotter guide, how could you not be entertained?!

Outside of WORK Labs, we owe a lot of thanks to Adam Ewing (our photographer), Pete Humes (the copywriter), Jeff Satterthwaite for editing the images for print, and Hopewell Publishing Company for printing these papers. 

Take a look below to see the layout. And if you're jonesing for your own copy, check out your local Harley Davidson dealership or contact Cobra.    http://www.cobrausa-hd.com/contact_us/

Tribute to Philip Meggs

If you were an Art major at Virginia Commonwealth University in the 90's or just a design /typography nerd, then you are sure to know the name, Philip Meggs. Meggs taught History of Graphic Design at VCU but is probably best known for his book under the same name. While I was not an Art major, many of my friends were, and the stories and admiration of Meggs abounded. One story that sticks with me was of Meggs leaving his classroom to walk over to the dorm of one of his students to wake him up and walk him back to class. Most professors would have written off a student who was consistently late. Meggs, apparently, was not having that. If you don't want the embarrassment of your professor standing above your bed, waking you up, perhaps you should get to class on time.

In a beautiful tribute to her father, Elizabeth Meggs has published an article for Designers & Books, on what would have been Philip's 75th birthday. To quote Elizabeth, "I selected and wrote about 16 books from my parents’ library, including limited editions; books that embrace printing as an art form; books that bring to life the voices and visions of notable individuals from history; books that had strong personal meaning to my parents; and books that remain relevant today."

Whether you're an admirer of Philip Meggs' work, knew him personally, or just have an overall love of and interest in graphic design, you will not want to miss this read. It's an interesting collection and a lovely tribute to a man who truly lived and breathed design.

http://www.designersandbooks.com/blog/library-of-philip-b-meggs-and-libby-phillips-meggs

The Fragile Life of Creativity

I had a conversation once about music and art education in school. My companions were shocked when I revealed that I had not taken any art classes past early Elementary School because upon entering the 4th grade, they took all of the children into the music room, tested their singing ability, and those who "passed" were sent to music class and those who apparently did not, went to art class. By the time I hit Middle School, art felt foreign to me. While I loved music and thrived in it, really, I assumed I had no artistic talent. And though I thought it would be lovely to be able to create beautiful images in the form of sketches, paintings or photographs, why take a class on something you're apparently no good at? Especially during the dreadful middle school years where all that matters is being liked! Meanwhile, my "artistic" friends shared that same concern, living their youth thinking they could not carry a tune and chose to stay in art, rather than embarrass themselves in music class.

It's well known that the arts have been placed low on the totem pole when it comes to public school education. And I certainly don't want to downplay the importance of Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. But can it really do our society any good to stifle creativity? Never mind what it does to us individually when something that fuels our passion is suppressed, but what happens to the world around us when our own brilliant color and vibrancy cannot reach out and touch the rest of the world?                   

Responsibilities in our lives will never cease. We will always have bills to pay, work to do, chores to finish. But what if we could tackle those commitments with a flair and joy that only comes from self-expression? What if we embraced the tradition of living life, not in the drab gray of day-to-day we have somehow allowed to take hold, but in the full beautiful colors that lie deep in our souls? What if creativity was embraced and nurtured instead of confined by rules and a schedule? 

It is said that true creativity dies the second one is taught to color in the lines. I think this can be taken quite literally and figuratively. Any rules and constraints can slowly and surely take the life out of creativity. We have to remind ourselves to never stop nourishing it, feeding it, and caring for it. Creativity is but a fragile thing, that with the right encouragement and reverence, can be a powerful thing to behold.

http://www.upliftedlife.com/how-society-kills-our-creativity-in-a-breathtaking-award-winning-short-film/

Is White-Collar Money More Valuable Than Blue-Collar Money?

Do you take pride in how you earn your money? We've talked about it before. It's not your J-O-B, it's your work that truly matters. 

Growing up, the ONLY option after Highschool was College. It was insisted upon us because the belief was, a college degree was the only way to secure a good job that would turn into a career. Now, with the cost of a college education soaring higher and higher, and the realization that we are in almost desperate need of skilled tradesmen, college and an office job, is not looking like the only viable option for a solid career choice.

How many of you can handle a plumbing or electrical problem in your house? How many of you can do your own auto repairs, or add an addition on to your home? Blue collar work is not only respectable work but it is vital. Many of us have backyard gardens in our urban spaces but how many of us could use that to feed our entire family on a daily basis? We need the mechanics and the farmers just as much as we need the computer technicians and lawyers. 

So if you're ever feeling like society is telling you you are less than, or if you are feeling quite high and mighty about your desk job, just remember;

Money isn't a true measurement of anything that's important. A $100 bill is a $100 bill. It represents nothing more than its face value. Whether it was earned by someone sitting in a corner office on the 62nd floor in Manhattan or someone repairing railroad track in Wyoming. The true value of money comes from how it was earned. Was it acquired by cutting corners? Or by coming in early and staying late? Money doesn't care. But you do. And that makes all the difference.

Your Job Vs. Your Work

Your job isn't as important as you think it is. Your work, however, is an entirely different matter.

My mother worked 9-5 in an office. My father worked nights as a trucker. My mother and her coworkers wore dresses and suits and fancy shoes, my father and his coworkers wore uniforms. My mother's work ethic helped her to become a manager in her office in a time when women were thought to be at most, a good assistant. My father's work ethic got him a brand new truck and a place as a Union representative over employees who had worked that same job for 2 or 3 times as long. 

Clean cut and pressed, or casual and slightly dirty from a long day at work, what mattered wth their carrears was their approach. Their "jobs" were very different, their "work" was the same. They took pride in doing their job well, in being conscientious and hard working. In not taking shortcuts or disregarding those who would be affected by the work they did. Their jobs were important to them. They paid the bills and put food on the table and helped in the raising of three children. Their work gave them pride, gave them purpose, gave them integrity. And taught those three children something vital and true.

You are not defined by a job description. You are not defined by the title on 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.

Coffee with Cabell - Is Work Really 99% Perspiration, 1% Inspiration?

The short and sweet answer? Yes. But make sure the perspiration is for the right reasons. If the perspiration is due to a lack of direction and efficiency then you're wasting your time and energy.

Running around in circles, uncertain of what you're doing, failing to map out a solid procedure for your work can lead to a lot of waste. It is vital that you cultivate a clear, efficient process that allows you to address each step of the creative process with the best results. This can not only help you create good work but protect it, present it, fund it, and overall, allow your work to truly evolve into success.

Never be afraid to work hard, just be certain you work smart! Otherwise...