Client Case Study

Quirky


I believe everyone has their own unique process in doing things. I thought I would take this moment to show you mine because much of the creative inspirations are hidden within these sketches. As I see it, my sketches play a pivotal role in shaping the end product and therefore viewed with equal value.

Ben Kaufman, founder of Quirky - a social product development company in New York had an ambitious idea. He had one week to prepare for Quirky's live televised debut on HSN (Home Shopping Network), one of the biggest national shopping television networks in the United States.

He approached me with his ambitious idea with lots of references to things that he likes. Oh and he had an ambitious deadline. 3 days.

3 days to create a 10x10ft (3x3 meter) televised backdrop piece when he goes live on HSN. My answer: 72hours? + 10x10ft piece? = Lets Go

The images you will see are in sequence which shows the evolution from concept idea, sketching, prototyping to end product.
Enjoy!

- eeps

It always begins with brainstorming. Think aloud, anything that comes to your mind. I learned this in elementary school! Then I select the key items that pop out in my mind and drink coffee while I'm at it.
Based on my client's reference material, I start smashing it with my brainstorm ideas. I like using tracing paper since I can play with layering. Could I have done this easily in Photoshop? Sure I could have but nothing beats the tangible feel that I think adds to the creative process.
Close up
Going back to the drawing board. Question: What makes Quirky what it is? The company? The community? Both? The community should really be represented here because they are the idea people. The people power the product.
Overlaying tracing paper. Quirky empowers and facilitates the idea into fruition. They empower the creative spark from the community and works closely with the community.
Close up
Back to the drawing board. Thinking... and thinking
Okay I think we got something here. Time to move to the computer
A great start, a community collage can start with using Quirky's community's public profiles.
and lay it out something like this... Swapping between Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash the late nights proceeds... and few hours sleeps later...
Ah this is more like it! Maybe too saturated...gotta tone it down especially when Ben goes live on HSN! (At this point this file is about 20gigs... Gotta .psb that!)
Voila!
Time to hit up Ben over in NYC. Let's test this baby out.
Seeing how it looks in full scale (during one of their town hall meetings)
Now for a real test. Work it Ben!
Different angle shots. Is the background too busy? Re adjust?
Ben points at the piece. "HSN, you better like this!"
Of course they do! Ben live on HSN promoting Quirky with my art backdrop. Ben is happy. I am happy. Peace out.

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