Just in time for the Satchmo Fest

The latest StayLocal! neighborhood guide to shopping, dining, services and culture is all about the French Quarter and the French Market. Visit the StayLocal! web site to download a PDF of the guide (link) as well as guides for other New Orleans neighborhoods.

Hot off the press!

The new StayLocal! neighborhood guide to shopping, dining, services and culture is here! The "Creole Faubourgs" covers St. Claude, Faubourg Marigny, St. Roch and Bywater. Visit the StayLocal! web site (link) to download a PDF of the guide as well as guides for other neighborhoods.

FYI we are currently working on guides for two more neighborhoods. Look for them before the end of the year.

AIGA New Orleans Student Portfolio Review

Gaby and Christy were reviewers for the AIGA New Orleans Student Portfolio Review earlier this month. We met with students from design programs throughout the state in 15 minutes “interviews.” We reviewed their portfolios, critiqued their work and answered questions. We enjoyed seeing what the newest generation of designers has in store and sharing words of wisdom and encouragement.

Email Marketing Kudos

One of our clients who understands the importance of email marketing for her business is Katy Beh of Katy Beh Contemporay Jewelry. She also understands that your emails must be smart, to the point and relevant to be noticed in a recipient's in-box. We develop the concept for each email campaign, Katy's provides us with stunning photography and she's not afraid to use humor. Recently she got the following note:

Every time I receive your emails – I love them! And today I decided to send you a note and let you know that I love them. They are attractive, short and sweet, very entertaining – and authentic. They excite me about jewelry (I normally do not get excited about jewelry from looking at pictures) and bring me to your site even when I should be busy working :-). I feel like buying the jewelry from your store every time I think about it, and if I were not located in Canada – I would! You are doing a great job in marketing – and in selecting such wonderful pieces. Thank you.

If you want to see what all the fuss is about, sign up for Katy's emails on her website: http://www.katybeh.com/stayintouch.php

Letterheady

In the world of email and ink jet printers, letterhead is a dying breed. We rarely get to print letterhead for clients any more. Mostly we do a template in Word so they can type up their letter and print it out. The exception would be many of our non-profit clients who need letterhead for thank yous.

Letterheady is a web site that showcases letter head designs. Many are vintage and very cool. A personal favorite of mine is the one from the Contemporary Hotel in Disney World. I love the graphic nature of the logo and clean simplicity of the design. I grew up in Florida and visited Disney World many times (I think it was required of all Florida residents) and I loved the Contemporary. The monorail would glide right through the middle of the hotel. I thought it was the coolest thing.

2009 AIGA New Orleans Fellow: Christy Hackenberg

December 8, 2009
by Weston McWhorter

Congratulations to Christy Hackenberg, our 2009 AIGA New Orleans Fellow.

Christy founded award-winning New Orleans–based branding and communication design company Creative Zumo along with business partner Gaby Tillero in 2005. Prior to that, she was an instructor in the Visual Communications department at Delgado Community College and had worked at several prominent design and advertising firms in New Orleans.

In 2007, Christy was named a New Orleans Magazine “Person to Watch” for co-founding Women & Wine on Wednesday, a women’s networking organization that provides an opportunity for women to share resources and discover new opportunities.

She is a founding member and past president of the AIGA New Orleans chapter and continues to stay active. Christy moved to New Orleans in 1992 after graduating with a BFA from Florida State University and attributes her association with AIGA as an important factor in the development of her graphic design career.

Please join us in congratulating Christy on receiving this honor as a leader in New Orleans’ design community, not just as a designer per se, but as motivator, organizer, and general ball o’ fire. Her tireless efforts have benefited us all many times over.

New Web Sites Launched

The last few months we’ve been busy with websites. We launched 4 in the past month.

NOCGI | New Orleans Creative Glass Institute - http://www.nocgi.org/

METRO | Metropolitan Center for Women & Children, an organization to break the cycle of domestic violence and aid survivors of sexual assault - http://mcwcgno.org/

Breakthrough New Orleans, a program helping at-risk students reach their full potential and placing them on the path towards college. - http://www.btnola.org/

Zeus’ Place "Your pet's home away from home" - http://www.zeusplace.com/

This web site is a little different because it is built on the WordPress platform.

We also design the new Zeus' Place logo seen on the web site.