Craft Brouhaha – the rest of the story

Our friends over at the Boise Weekly went all Paul Harvey on us and got the rest of the story on Woodland Empire Ale Craft and their dust-up with the Idaho Transportation Department over their craft brew sign:

The Rest of the Story About That Woodland Empire Beer Sign Controversy

Boise Weekly - Woodland Empire

Job opening: Senior Art Director

Stoltz Marketing Group in Boise has an opening for a Senior Art Director:

Art Director, raconteur

We’re a Boise-based ad agency hell bent on being a gold standard creative shop serving B2B, B2C and CPG clients nationwide. We choose to live here because there are few other places in North America where you can do what we do at a high level and then ski, ride, fish, run, hike and climb after work. It’s that simple.

You? You’re an articulate, smiling, team-playing, concepting AD who can blow the doors off campaigns, identity and UX/UI while making sure it all sticks to, challenges and improves strategy.

The mandatories:

  • A portfolio that demonstrates award-winning concepts, design, art direction, copy and strategy in web, mobile, print, social media, identity, packaging…
  • High comfort level with website usability and web standards (UI, UX, Responsive Design)
  • Proven track record managing complex projects
  • Ability to take projects from concept to completion and stay within budget and timeline
  • Excellent understanding of printing, prepress and best practices while working with vendors
  • Collaborate with photographers and give overall direction on photo/video shoots
  • BFA in graphic design or a worthy AA with other relevant training or experience
  • 4-6 years experience working in-house or at an agency
  • Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite
  • Working knowledge of CSS and HTML 5
  • Proficient in motion graphics, Adobe After Effects

Email us your online portfolio and if we like what we see, we’ll be in touch.

disclosure

Something’s brewing with the ITD

Woodland Empire Ale Craft Sign

Imitation is the sincerest [form] of flattery. – Charles Caleb Colton

It appears that the Idaho Transportation Department isn’t a fan of craft brew. Or, more specifically, a billboard about craft brew that looks too similar to their highway signs.

So they’ve requested that Woodland Empire Ale Craft take theirs down.

The billboard, created by Oliver Russell, was meant to leverage the environment at the intersection of 11th and Front streets on the connector. As westbound vehicles approach the intersection, they are presented with a row of existing highway directional signs. The Woodland Empire billboard emulates the colors and graphics of these directional signs, but with a headline that reads “Craft Beer–Right Here.”

Woodland Empire contacted the City of Boise prior to erecting the sign, and was told it had no regulations governing design requirements for an on-premise billboard atop a private business’s roof. Turns out, according to Dusty Schmidt, one of the brewery’s partners, this is a very special case. “Because we sit within the city limits, we thought we were in the good, but our brewery also happens to be near the connector, which is actually a state highway with different rules.”

It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission. – Grace Hopper

By no means is this the first time that a business has gone the ‘ask forgiveness’ route with signage, names, or other identifying marks. In recent memory, Boise Fry Company originally opened as Idaho Fry Company, but was forced to change their name after the Idaho Potato Commission determined it infringed on IPC’s certification mark on the use of the word Idaho with anything related to potatoes.

As for Woodland Empire Ale Craft’s sign, Schmidt said the brewery never intended to create a traffic issue, and that the brewery is now in discussions with ITD. “We just wanted to let the 37,000 daily commuters know where they could get a delicious, hand-crafted beer,” he said.

And true to character, Dave Cook, Oliver Russell’s creative director, questions whether it constitutes a true safety hazard given the many other signs and billboards along Front Street. “All billboards distract drivers,” he said. “Especially the good ones.”

Client-side job opening: Visual Designer

Healthwise in Boise is looking for a Visual Designer to join their team:

Healthwise is looking for a visual designer to join their product marketing and product design efforts. You: a passionate designer with a great eye, digital and print experience, and an unbridled joy that stems from team ideation and interaction. You’ll work with a seasoned art and marketing directors, and a team of great copywriters and engineers. Healthwise is a unique place with plenty of opportunity for you to grow, lead, and develop one outstanding portfolio in healthcare. Good benefits. Dog Friendly. In the great outdoor/family town of Boise. Relocation available if we’re interested in you and you’re interested in calling Boise home.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Find out more: www.healthwise.org/jobs.aspx

Realization

Yesterday afternoon I was able to get together with a couple of colleagues here in Boise. We talked about the usual things — families, life, kids, etc. We also talked a little shop, of course. It was a good chance to catch up with some old friends that I haven’t seen in far too long.

But later that evening I had a strange realization — in some ways, I’ve inadvertently become the Kevin Bacon of the agency world here in the Treasure Valley. Between the places I’ve worked and the people I’ve worked with, there’s a good chance you could connect anyone from Seattle to Salt Lake and points far beyond through me.

Nothing more than a humorous observation on my part, of course. But for Pete’s sake, please don’t start calling me Kevin Bacon.

Crap. Too late. It’s going to be a thing, isn’t it?