Clients always want their logo to be more visible — to jump out. The most logical solution is to enlarge the logo. However, many times the opposite is the solution. Reducing the logo and framing it with white space actually draws the eye to the logo and makes it more visible.
Below is an example of what our creative director suggests.
Oh, yeah, AcrobatAnt has discovered Fantasy Football. Co-commissioners Dell and Audrey Chambers introduced it to 14 new general managers with (let’s just say…) varying levels of expertise.
$20 puts you in the game. Winner at the end of the season takes home $180, runner-up gets $80, and the worst team gets its $20 back. Along the way, biweekly prizes have been awarded to the team with the greatest and smallest margins of victory.
And, however the season ends, the food & drinks at the draft were great. It doesn’t take a Monday morning quarterback to know that.
When we moved into new quarters just a little over 12 months ago, the plan was to build out the loft area “in a couple of years.” Well, nine new employees later (maybe more, we’ve lost count), we needed more desk areas. We speed-dialed our favorite contractor (and Diane’s hubby) to fast-track the lofty loft plans, and after a hot summer of construction, we have eight new offices, plus a conference-ette table and photo area – upstairs. Watch for photos of newest acreage at the Ant Farm.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
To keep up with client demand, AcrobatAnt is doing its part to bring down the national unemployment rate. In just the last few months, we’ve added a fleet of experts. Here’s the listing. You can catch their bios on our website.
Bill Ainsworth Writer
Dell Chambers Art director
Audrey Chambers Account service
Megan Foster Proofreader
Jinni Giltner Art director
Donna Keffer Account service
Erin Lynch Online account service
Will Skaggs Art director
David Vavra Account service
What does CNN stand for? Who directed “Moulin Rouge”? What QB set a single game rushing record in 2002?
If you answered Cable News Network, Baz Luhrman and Michael Vick, you’d be great at the Ants’ 4 p.m. trivia game. Not every day, just when Bryan Cooper gets the questions together and brings his little sound effects machine.
Ants vie for braggin’ rights in lots of categories. Send us your questions. See if you can stump the Ants.
We’ve been using social media for a while for our restaurant clients, so when Cynthia attended Foodservice Social Media Universe in San Francisco last month, it was to fine tune some of our practices, not start from scratch.
The conference is intended to “raise awareness and the use of social media tools and strategies for restaurant operators and foodservice industry vendors, manufacturers and service providers,” according to its website. In fact, it was all about valuable and current actionable strategies to help the foodservice industry grow through the social web.
We can’t give away all the secrets Cynthia learned, but you might want to watch Facebook and Twitter for new activity. See how the Ants socialize. http://www.acrobatant.us/socialize/
when AcrobatAnt hosted its first Halloween bash. The committee had been decorating for weeks — 98 percent of the ghosts, skeletons, witches, pumpkins, spiders, zombies, coffins, candelabras, lights, gravestones, etc. came from Diane (we all want to see the “attic” where these treasures live the other 11 months of the year).
Lots of food, lots more to drink and even a fortune teller who crystal-balled future issues for everyone who waited in line. Costumes ranged from screamy scary to nicely nerdy to seriously sexy to really-who-thought-of-that. See the pix or tag yourself at www.facebook.com/AcrobatAnt and watch our spooky Night at the Ant Hill video.
And, just so you know, all this could only happen in one of Tulsa’s top 10 haunted buildings. Do you see dead people? Read about Billy, our own personal spirit who spooks the halls of what used to be Bellville School and are now our humble office quarters.
“Sexiest” Costume: Diane, the blood sucking vampire. Who’s lovin’ those red eyes?
“Funniest” and “Best Overall” Costume: Dell, Mr. T. Guess how many pounds of bling?
“Most Original” Costume: Coop, the Mad Hatter. Where have you seen a Madder Hatter?
“Scariest” Costume: Jinni & Derrick, wife/hubby zombies. Which one makes you scream?
Invitation: Designed by Will Skaggs – Art Director at AcrobatAnt
As the colony expands—in size, personnel, clients, billings—we want to make sure we keep growing pains to a minimum, so we’ve employed the services of Second Wind to help us go from small agency to medium-size agency. A few weeks ago, three of our five managing partners jetted to the Windy City to attend to the company’s Agency Traffic, Daily Workflow, Operations and Financial Seminar. They came back with more ideas than we can deploy all at once, so we’re starting with just a few ideas to make our time more productive. Stay tuned to see how we’re making giant steps toward better management. “Like” our Facebook page to see more pictures from this experience.
The Ants are looking forward to “A Night of Elegant Nostalgia” at the sixth annual Painted Pony Ball, benefiting The Children’s Hospital Foundation at Saint Francis.
We’re breaking out the long gloves, white dinner jackets, skinny ties and pearls for an evening of cocktail reception, dinner, live auction and live entertainment by former cast members of “The Jersey Boys” on Broadway.
It’ll be a rockin’ night, benefiting one of our favorite and longstanding clients. Watch for photos so you can see us all glitzed and glammed.
Painted Pony Ball
At a recent lunch-and-learn session, the Ants and their Mazzio’s pizzas gathered in the conference room for a lesson from professors/art
directors Chance Walentiny and Jinni Giltner. The topic was effective outdoor boards, and some of the highlights/tips included:
1. Compelling image/photo
2. Unique, benefit-laden, emotionally charged headline
3. Logo/contact info
Less is more; more is clutter…
1. Aids readability at greater distances
2. Gives viewers more time to process your message
3. Adds life to your message
Remember, your audience is zipping by at 55+mph…
1. High-resolution images (300 DPI minimum) are a must
2. Leverage that huge scale to make a BIG visual splash
One central image that’s 25 inches wide is worth more than five dinky images…
You have a few seconds to convey your message
1. No time to list multiple features
2. No time for all-inclusive contact info
What do you want the viewer to do/remember?
1. Show your design layout to someone for 5-10 seconds
2. Simulate a drive-by viewing (make it move)
3. Is the message readable? Understandable?
It’s a poster, not a novel…
1. No one remembers dull
2. No one remembers cluttered
Make your point memorable…
AcrobatAnt
