Serving Up Branding for Small Circle
The first thing that you should know about this story is that R.J. Hartbeck is an idea machine. I’ve known R.J. for a couple years now, and every time we meet for coffee or lunch, he’s constantly telling me new…
Author: Mike Spakowski
Getting Used to It: Your Biggest Competitor Isn’t Another Business
About a decade ago, we had a client that was based in Kansas City. For those of you that might not be familiar with the Midwest, that’s about a 5-hour drive from St. Louis. At the time, this was our…
The Growing Importance of Design, Big and Small
My neighbors think I’m adorable. Yes, this is probably a strange way to start off this article about design, but it’s the best way – and the truth. So – my neighbors think I’m adorable. When they ask me my…
The Honest, Straightforward Story of Branding The Midwestern
Last summer, we got a phone call from Stephen Savage and the partners of 1000 Spruce about opening a new restaurant, half a block away from their already mega-successful ventures in downtown St. Louis, Wheelhouse and Start Bar. We’d met…
Building a Better Brand Story for IBA
When a small, independent insurance agency named IBA approached us to help with their branding, we knew it wasn’t going to be an easy project. The problems they were facing with their brand were the same ones that plagued the…
Eight Ways to Improve Your Marketing in 2019
The beginning of each new year is always full of good intentions. Even as I write this, my wife is walking around the house, telling me that this is “the year of gutting the basement” – getting rid of the mountain…
Atomicdust vs. The Volcano – Branding Yellowbelly
I have never lived in Polynesia. I (sadly) have never even been to the area. I did not grow up there in the ’80s. And even if I did – I bet the locally produced, small-budget television commercials weren’t half as…
November 2018 Marketing and Design Events
Keep up to date with all things design and marketing. Check out our monthly list of local events for designers, developers, marketers and entrepreneurs, and be sure to follow us on Twitter for more updates. November 2, 2018 Bright&Early:…
St. Louis Design Week and the Amazing Poster Machine
This year marked the 8th Annual St. Louis Design Week, a series of events meant to inspire and promote creative work coming out of our city. I (with the help of many, many great people) have been organizing the event…
Atomicdust Earns Thirteen American Graphic Design Awards
GDUSA’s American Graphic Design Awards honor outstanding graphic communication. For 55 years, Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) has been an essential resource for graphic designers looking to keep up with the latest news, people, trends, technology, products and services. Each year,…