2011 has been the breakout year for QR codes in the U.S. I’ve seen their use increase greatly over the past three months and articles like this one make me think they’re here to stay for a while. After experimenting with the various shapes and size that QR codes can take, I never thought I’d see anything as interesting as this.
Chris Sherman, owner of AmeriSign & Graphics in Pewaukee, WI has taken QR code application to the next level with his newly-wrapped “@AmerScion”. To put it lightly, he’s made a rolling QR code that can be scanned at almost any angle. It’s as eye-catching as it is innovative, which should surprise no one that knows Chris or his business. Eye-catching and innovative are staples in every bit of work they do, and this vehicle wrap is no different.
Impromptu interview
After seeing the new @AmeriScion around town, I went to the source to get some additional details on this mobile marketing machine. Here’s a quick Q&A with Chris:
Q. Why create a rolling QR code? Chris Sherman - I love to network and market my company. With the ability to actually change what the code points to, I thought this was the best way to combine the use of Facebook & Twitter by offering contests and give-a-ways for people who find the car, scan it and see what they get.
Q. What was the motivation behind it? CS - I did some research and didn’t find anything like this out there, anywhere. I know there are vehicles with QR Codes on them, but none that are fully wrapped. This made me excited to be able to get out there first since I know this is so new and so many people are talking about it. Plus, it is so cool to be able to change the specials and content that the code points to depending on time of year, events we are attending etc…
Q. Where do you see QR code use going, both from the consumer and implementation side? CS - I see limitless potential with the QR Code. When I am at the store and I see these on products that I am interested in, I scan it and it shows me videos, other products by the same manufacturer, more details on a specific product, the list goes on. Plus, being in the printing industry, I see even more opportunity for printing these on marketing materials.
This might be a topic for another post, but people are saying that social media may be the death of printing, but I see it differently. We have seen such an increase of clients wanting QR Codes printed on their marketing materials (along with Twitter & Facebook handles etc…), so it has actually increased sales.
Q. How has the updated @AmeriScion been received and how much use has the QR code gotten so far? CS - Well, to say it simply, worldwide coverage. This has been out for less than a week, and there are blogs and articles in multiple countries about this car. Just amazing.
One of my earliest and longest client relationships has been with Marjorie Treu of Team Fusion. I’ve known Marjorie for over 7 years and enjoy the projects that she allows me to work on and help her with. Creating an online presence for her new book, 78 Manager Mistakes, was a project that was eager to start working on.
This was the second book-related site that I’ve built over the past few years and had some unique goals and challenges when working on layout ideas. The end goal is to sell the book, but there were secondary goals and opportunities that presented themselves as the project moved forward.
A focus on the product.
The homepage design makes the book and the intro/call to action the focal point. Pretty simple idea, isn’t it? I wanted to match the books branding and colors, so a bit of contrast was needed to help make the book pop. There was also opportunity to make a big statement (literally and figuratively) on the homepage, which I positioned along side the book cover. This is the focus area of the homepage and within it is a call to action for those wanting to quickly purchase the book.
With the layout taken care of, it was time to start putting the pieces into place.
Diving into WordPress
As I’ve mentioned before, I have used an array of content management systems in the past and this particular project was to be built on WordPress. I had originally set up a development arm for this project on Expression Engine, but I was able to turn that around in a short amount of time and get my hands dirty with WordPress.
One of the keys to this site for Marjorie was the ability for her to quickly and easily make changes to not only the blog and the site content but other important, interactive areas as well. Along with the “basics” (blog and book information), the site was to have an event calendar (for which I employed a very nice plugin, Calendar), an editorial calendar for blog posts (WordPress Editorial Calendar), and enhanced membership features (Register Plus Redux).
Great project, great client, with great learning experiences along the way.
Each year around this time NASCAR fans get a glimpse at the the liveries next year's season. I love this time of year, I love getting that sneak peek at what I can expect to see on the track as a fan, and as a designer, I love seeing how the teams and sponsors will be visually representing themselves in the coming year.
Need to make a statement
First and foremost, a paint-scheme needs to stand out on the track while still representing the brands that adorn it. That can be a difficult task given the some primary sponsors and their primary branding. UPS, Schwans, and Gander Mtn. are a few brands that have colors that don't necessarily scream "fast", but do they need to? Along with representing the companies that support the teams, the schemes also need to be able to move merchandise. From die-casts to shirt, hats, and other apparel, the NASCAR souvenir business is "kind of a big deal".
The look of the car has to appeal to fans both on the track and on themselves. The look from the car also is applied to the team hauler, firesuits, hats and other team apparel and promo material. It needs to work. It also needs to work with the car itself. Even though NASCAR's "Car of Tomorrow" has been criticized for being generic and not having any true brand identity, there are still elements of the car that need to be taken into consideration when designing a paint-scheme.
There's a whole other post that I could do that's dedicated to the look of the driver's/car's number. After seeing some number changes over the last few years, I'm feeling more compelled than ever to write it.
Some of my favorites for 2011
Some quick thoughts:
#5 The GoDaddy scheme works well with the sponsor and has an edgy look and feel to it.
#6 Although the colors are a bit...unconventional for a race car, I like the overall flow of this car's look.
#39 Hard to argue with an ARMY car and the updates for 2011 are much-welcomed (in my opinion)
#16 3M gets a tough look for the new year and it works.
#29 I'd always wanted to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a black Bud car back when he drove for DEI. Now it's time to see what Kevin Harvick can do in one for RCR.
Some head-scratchers
Some quick thoughts:
#9 I like the flow of the paint-scheme but I can't stand the number. Too weak, flimsy, and frail.
#20 The big orange machine. Not sure it screams The Home Depot. Actually, it does, but it's almost too plain.
#11 Meteor sighting!
#14 I want to like this car...I really do, but the frantic lines aren't sitting well with me.
#14 A reversal of last-year's Burger King car. I'd rather have that one back.
As a motorsports fan, I pride myself in being well-versed in the histories of many of the top racing series, however there is one form of autosport that I'm new to, and that's drifting.
When drifting burst onto the scene, I wasn't a big fan of it (and I guess I'm still not) but I appreciate the skill that it takes to hang a car out on the ragged edge, and actually go past the point of reliable control without destroying a ride. I appreciate it even more when a piece of driving is filmed in such a way (with some great editing thrown in) that makes my jaw drop and my mind race with ideas and questions about how they set up the shot, how many cameras they were shooting with and where they mounted them all. Enter Ken Block's Gymkhana.
I first learned of Gymkhana (KB-style) earlier a few weeks ago when watching Wind Tunnel. After a few YouTube searches, I was hooked and after watching the latest creation, Gymkhana 3, I felt the urge need to share this piece of work with as many people as possible. From the sounds (engine, transmission, debris) to the amazing shots and amazing car control, I found these videos to be über-inspirational. Give it a look and let me know what you think. Does it get any new thoughts running through your mind?
2010 seems to be the year of many, lofty goals that I've set for myself. Ok, maybe lofty isn't the right word here, but I have set quite a few goals, and it's only taken me 7 8 months to start checking a few off the list. One goal, if I can even call it that, is to read more.
No problem, I read my Twitter stream and my RSS feeds daily (if not more frequently than that). I can check that off my list...oh, I didn't finish spelling out the goal. Read. More. Books.
Ok, I can handle that. I've read books before, granted it was years ago and they were mainly dealt with Sci-Fi and Star Trek, but this go-around I wanted to do things differently. I wanted to improve myself, get aggressive with my creativity and focus myself on my...goals. The first book that came to mind when I laid out that plan was Gary Vaynerchuk'sCrush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion (affiliate link).
If you're not familiar with the name, you should get to know it. Gary is a one-man army of focus, drive, and determination. He's genuine, he's authentic, and he's honest. Three great qualities, if you ask me.
In Crush It, Gary tells a compelling story of his entrepreneurial beginnings selling baseball cards in mall swap meets to growing his personal passion, WineLibrary.tv. But this book is more than an autobiography, it's a roadmap and a how-to guide to getting the most out of your passion and your life.
I guess this is going to be less of a book review and more of a push from me to you to run out and buy this book. Whether it's in traditional paper-book form (affiliate link), an eBook (affiliate link) or as an audiobook, you need to give this book a read. Gary's passion radiates from within the pages and into your soul. If you're not affected by what he has to say, check your pulse. I mean it. This book is THAT good.
(affiliate link). 
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