On Press with Dan Busta

What a lot of time and effort went into this high quality newspaper promotion by photographer, Dan Busta. It’s a great idea for an out of the box portfolio. Check out the final product and images of the process below. Also, Dan had graciously offered to send anyone a copy who wants it. Contact him via his website at http://danbusta.com/.

Dan had this to say about the project – “About seven or eight years ago while I was studying graphic design I got into Stefan Sagmiester. At the time he had designed this great promo/lookbook for Anni Kuan. It consisted of a black and white large fomat newsprint book, essentially a newspaper. I loved it and obviously translated it to my photography work. I though it would be amazing to create a promo on this medium.

As time went on my interest has always been high making this newspaper. I even started seeing people using it more and more including another photographer, Cheyenne Ellis, Mykita Eyewear, and Roxy Clothing (Who has hired Cheyenne before, Connection .. Maybe)

So with that short history said I finally found a press and have commenced work on the Newsprint Portfolio Promo Piece. I was a bit concerned about what work to feature in the book. In the past I was working on a fashion newspaper with some poetry to go with along side large format fashion shots. That migrated into a portrait newspaper featuring worldly environmental portraits. Now finally my work has matured and so I decided to use a series I have been working on (on and off) for about 5 years. That is the Uniform series. All portraits from all scopes of life, photographed simply in front of a teal backdrop.”

Promotional Interactive Card

This card was created by and for designer Kim Keene. She is a 2009 graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design. About the card, she says, “This was a self promotional interactive card. When you spin the side wheel it gives you all my many amazing talents and proficiencies. ” Check out Kim’s work at http://kimkeene.carbonmade.com/.

Simple Messages/A Unique Approach by Alexander Kara

This promotional campaign by designer Alexander Kara really caught my eye. The stark simplicity of the black text as bold message on a white background makes reference to the power of advertising copy and a simple poster – brought to life in the context of a more subversive “post no bills” propaganda style environment. The final promotional poster is also visually intriguing and certainly represents a unique conceptual idea.

When I asked Alexander about the project, this is what he had to say:
The aim of the project was to produce more than just a business card; an idea of collaboration between client, designer and the world around us, we need all these components to create an appropriate and successful design. The poster series was to display how simple messages can be effective in the world, in turn, enforcing the original concept.

Stickers were used for my contact details, for a practical and economic sense; my details (and i’m sure many other designers) tend to change (address, phone number), therefore this approach will ensure that the cards have a longer lifespan than a traditional approach.

business cards – front

hand-trimmed stickers

self-promo poster

Website: http://aprop.wordpress.com/

Impressive Student Portfolio Package from Designer Sean Ball

The intention of a portfolio design is to present you as having a visual character, to differentiate you from the average creative and make you stand out – supported by your own unique creative vision and the work you have done to prove yourself. That’s just what designer Sean Ball has done with his promotional materials and portfolio.

Sean says, “This is a project done for my senior capstone class [at Oklahoma State University]. We were tasked with creating our own self promotional materials: business cards, resume, and a way to present our portfolio. I wanted something eye-catching, so I opted for some slick metal CD cases from American Digital. My resume, card, and a digital portfolio were placed inside, then cases were wrapped with a label. The design for this was also carried over to my portfolio book.”

“This is the second part of my self promotional project. We were asked to create a large format portfolio book to take to future interviews. This is a fairly large book, measuring at 11″x17″ for each page. Each project included has a large image, project description, design brief, an explanation of my solution, and project detail shots and images.”

http://www.behance.net/seanballdesign

Hand Made Self-Promotional Book by Loz Ives

Because Studio. / http://www.becausestudio.co.uk/index.html

Because Studio. is the independent design practice of Loz Ives, a young chap from the north of England who has a keen eye for detail, simplicity and relevance within the work he produces.

Working across a varied range of disciplines, from branding and print to website design, every project is approached with a fresh mindset, from initial research and concepts to final production, with the one constant being the aim to create engaging, well crafted solutions.

Folio 1
Limited run of 50 hand made self promotional books showing a selection of projects from the last 6 months. Singer sewn on the spine with a perforated wrap around and packaged in black bubble packs.

Finding Inspiration: Brady Fontenot’s New Promotion

You never know when inspiration will strike. But for the visually curious, there’s no shortage of things to inspire. Recently, photographer, Brady Fontenot found inspiration in a tire shop in New Orleans.

I asked Brady about his recent promotion and this is what he had to say –

“This tire shop is in New Orleans and I’ve been sort of mesmerized by it for the longest time. Finally stopped by one day and talked to Mr Joe., the owner, about taking some photos. He approved and of course these are the results. I had all these great photos and I have a friend who is a really amazing designer so I asked him about doing a piece with them. His name is Nessim Higson and he runs a successful design studio called IAmAlwaysHungry(IAAH). He’s the one who came up with the initial poster concept and the packaging. The idea behind the greasy packaging and the stamping and all of that was to draw you in and hopefully make the viewer feel at least a tinge of what I feel every time I ride by St Claude Tires and what I felt while I was hanging out there taking pictures. Also, it’s not in the pictures but, a note will be included w/ each promo sent out and those will be written on order slips like you would get from a tire shop or mechanic or similar. We want the viewer to feel like they were at the shop. The difference in this poster arriving in a plain envelope versus the made up ones we did is huge in my mind. In terms of appealing to creatives who are in position to hire me it will hopefully give the impression that I pay attention to the details, am willing to go the extra mile to do it right and am able to collaborate with others to complete a project.

Ness actually had me go back and shoot details of signage and other things at the shop so we could incorporate that into the design. He then took that and had stamps made from some of the signage which is what you see stamped on the envelope. One stamp says “No Cash Refund” another says “No Loitering, No Crack Selling, No Cat Selling. NOPD Will Be Called” and the third is “ If You Don’t Work Here Don’t Hang Here.”

These are being used in a couple of ways. Posters w/ envelopes are being sent to creatives to solicit meetings while I’m in New York for the summer and just as general promo pieces. We are also placing them around New Orleans at the tire shop and various boutiques and coffee shops and what not as give aways.

As of now we are working on a second poster and are planning to continue to do one every few months.”

http://www.bradyfontenot.com/

Unique Promo Ideas by John Early

These unique promotional pieces were submitted to No Plastic Sleeves by photographer, John Early of Early Productions, LLC. They are part of a larger promotional effort, including traditional email and snail mail campaigns. Great concept, copy and execution. For more about the project go to http://johnearly.blogspot.com/2009/07/self-promo-entry.html. And to see more of John’s work, check out http://www.johnearly.com/.

“Title 02 – The Giving Issue” by design studio Go Welsh

This self-promotional newsprint piece by Go Welsh includes a series of unusual coupons and gift wrap patterns based on past Go Welsh identity projects. The last spread of Title 02 includes a series of 192 numbered triangular elements on the left page that reveal a hidden message when cut apart and assembled in the grid on the right page.

Tony Garcia’s Promotional Video & Mailers

Really fun promotional idea from LA based photographer, Tony Garcia. Now that’s a mailer you’ll remember.
http://www.tonygarcia.com/

Tony Garcia Photography Promotional video from Tony Garcia on Vimeo.

This is a video displaying Tony Garcia’s Promotional mailers.

Kenneth Hamlett Promotional Video

Architectural photographer, Kenneth Hamlett recently worked with TurnHere to create the following promotional video. The storyline leads to a shot setup and then shows the final image – demonstrating the power of “seeing” an image, capturing, and transforming it. Kenneth Hamlett’s website: http://www.kennethhamlett.com/. Also, check out his blog, “I shoot things” at http://kennethhamlett.com/wordpress/.

Pixels & Pulp Promotional Video

Pixels & Pulp is a design firm specializing in branding, print collateral and web design. They work with individuals and organizations–locally and globally–who are environmentally and socially responsible and those who are just plain passionate about what they do. Check out their latest promotional video – a cheeky 50′s style “commercial”. Also fun that both design principals, Elise Weeks and Megan Keogh, are in the video.
http://www.pixelsandpulp.com/

Promotional Gift by Photographer Michael Winokur

Promotional Giving
Giving can be a great way of promoting oneself. Whether it’s a special event (like moving into a new office) or an anniversary (like 10 years in business) or a holiday, each of these moments presents a reason to get in touch, reconnect and get noticed. Targeting a few select clients (depending on budget) with a creative and personal gift will leave a lasting impression and ensure that you’re remembered next time a project comes up. Creative appreciation and thoughtfulness can go a long way towards re-establishing relationships and/or creating new connections with clients and other business associates. So, next time, don’t just send a postcard, see if you can go a step above with an inexpensive DIY promotional gift. Speaking of which, check out the following promotional gift by Michael Winokur.

Promotional gift by photographer Michael Winokur
“I love my clients, most are friends and all are creative collaborators. Each year I pick something that I can brand and give to them. This year I chose the Sharan SQ35 pinhole camera which happens to be sold by my friend Doug’s company Noted. The Sharan camera is a cardboard kit with a pinhole lens that makes square images on 35mm film. Since the kits take about an hour to build I figured none of my clients would build them – so I assembled all 25 cameras, packaged them with film and decorated them with custom “Winokur Photography” stickers. In previous years I’ve given “private label” wine. Since this year’s gift was so much more labor intensive than the wine I had to keep the list quite tight. The cameras went to my current clients and some very special dream clients. ” – Michael Winokur

http://www.winokurphotography.com/

More about this project can be found on Michael Winokur’s blog. Special thanks to Neil Binkley at Wonderful Machine for first sharing this project with me.

Allison V. Smith, Promotional Zine

Photographer Allison V. Smith has just created another one of her promotional zines, with hand lettering done by Will Bryant.

About the Zine
“Just in time for 2010 , Zine 4, Can You Hear Me Now?. All photos shot with my iPhone over the past year. Over 60 over-saturated & processed through iPhone apps photos fill this zine. I can’t wait to hear what you all think! ” – Allison V Smith

Go to Superficial Snapshots for more information about Allison’s zines, including how to purchase the latest edition.

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Frank Fellow Award Self-Promotional Brand System

Frank Baseman is an AIGA Fellow and Principal of Baseman Design Associates. He is also an Associate Professor and Interim Director of the Graphic Design Communication program at Philadelphia University (www.philau.edu/designandmedia).

About the Project
“Upon receiving the AIGA Fellow Award from the Philadelphia chapter of AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Professional Association for Design) I produced a Self-Promotional Brand System that I could send to Clients and Prospects to commemorate this momentous occasion. The Brand System included a Brochure, Poster and Notecard, and played with the alliteration of the two “F”s in Fellow and Frank. For the Brochure Cover and Poster I made a collage of “F”s from old Victorian typefaces, as well as from Circus and Sign cuts, and produced a 20-page plus Cover, saddle-stitch Brochure that highlighted thirteen projects produced by Baseman Design Associates through the years. To economize, the outer wrapper of the Brochure was printed at the same time–on the same sheet–as the Poster. Read more »

Photographer Bob Stevens’ “Look Book” Brochure

This promotional book for photographer Bob Stevens was designed by IE Design + Communications in Hermosa Beach, CA. The piece received a merit award in the ’09 HOW Promotion Design Competition.

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Kelvin Murray, Photographer, London

Kelvin Murray, Photographer, London
http://www.kelvinmurray.com/

Kelvin is a multi award-winning photographer who has been in the business for 20 years. His latest self-promotional piece,”Makeover Madness” is a concertina booklet with images on one side and a pink color on the other side. Kelvin says, “Around each booklet is a slip of paper saying “makeover madness” and it is hand positioned to cover the model’s breasts. We wanted to reach as many people as possible with a refreshing idea.”

Kelvin was just awarded Honorable Mention for this piece in the 2009 PDN Photographers’ Self-Promo Awards. http://www.pdngallery.com/contests/selfpromo/2009/