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AIGA InShow 2011

This past Friday night we attended the AIGA InShow awards ceremony at the Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Columbia, SC. Contrary to typical design competitions that have a huge category structure with many tiers and multiple awards, InShow’s concept is a simple one: You’re either “In” or you’re “Out.”

The AIGA InShow, a statewide design competition in South Carolina, has built a reputation of being a tough competition and one that designers are eager to have their work selected for. The show, now in its 17th year, began in 1995 with a simple concept of wanting to create an awards show for “designers.”

We ended up bringing home six fluffy pillow cube awards for work across multiple categories including:

There was some amazing work on display and we were honored to be part of the “In” crowd. A big thank you to our clients for trusting us to stretch our creative muscle — these awards are as much for you as they are for us.

New Work – Blue Rose Pottery

Consider this blog post the official wrap of our latest Blue Rose video! Big thanks to Kim for letting us temporarily mess up his beautiful home, Joce and Rach for taking the day to let us shoot their anonymous midsections and Cameron for lending a very capable audio hand.

It was fun introducing our new “talent” to the clapper, sticks and ever mysterious C-47. It was a full day on set — Hollywood time must be measured in dog years — but we kept the mood light with risqué “muffin” jokes and the blood sugar steady with regular visits to the craft services table.

In the end, we walked away with a swanky video for a unique client and, bonus, a slightly mauled over roast chicken. Not a bad day on set!

Clients From Heaven – AIGA BuzZ

I had the pleasure of being invited to speak at AIGA Charlotte’s monthly BuzZ event on September 7th, 2011. It was great being able to talk openly about a topic that is important to me and our studio. I also enjoyed meeting some new folks and seeing a few familiar faces.

About BuzZ

AIGA Charlotte BuzZ is a meet-up event geared toward Charlotte area creatives and small business owners/employees. Please come join us for coffee as we discuss a different topic each month. Come to learn or come to share the knowledge you already have. Either way, just come see what all the BuzZ is all about.

About the Topic

We work with clients every day. They are the ones who write the checks that keep our doors open. They are the reason we fire up the ol’ Creative Suite day in and day out. Let’s talk about how to create a good client, a client that doesn’t make you cringe when their name pops up on the caller ID. So often, clients are the topic of our complaints but let’s stop complaining and start figuring out ways to to actually enjoy who we work with.

The Devil Went Down to Rock Hill

It’s not everyday that a living legend pulls you aside to deliver a personal kudos for a job well done. But so it was last night when I learned that Charlie Daniels is not only a superstar, but a true gentleman.

His world-famous band performed in Social’s backyard as part of the 2011 Old Town Amphitheater series. We were granted full access before and after the concert and, through it all, witnessed a gracious and talented man worthy of his devoted following.

The creator of the hit song “The Devil Went Down to Georgia“, Daniels’ career has spanned more than 50 years and he has no plans of slowing down. Check out more concert pics at onlyinoldtown.com and visit our online gallery for photos of the autograph session. Peruse and purchase at your leisure…

Solid as a RHOC

While we may not lay claim to the world’s largest ball of yarn or it’s smartest penguin, Rock Hill is quickly cornering the market on sports and we’re about to add another feather to our cap.

We were on hand for today’s press conference held at Riverwalk, a 1,008-acre community along the Catawba River boasting swanky urban districts in a gorgeous natural setting.

Riverwalk will serve as home to the future Rock Hill Outdoor Center (RHOC), a collection of sports facilities featuring, among other cycling amenities, a world-class velodrome. Masterminds of the new facility — Spencer Lueders and Mike Cowan — were celebrated along with private and public partners from the area and Social was excited to be included.

After years working with the City and County to promote our idyllic “home” to the world, we are psyched about the energy and vitality this new venue will bring to our area. Can’t wait to get our hands — and wheels — on that track!