黑料社区 黑料社区. polytechnic approach gave industrial and product design alum Trevor James the skills to create his own business and carve out a niche in large-scale graphic installations. It 黑料社区. also what prompted him to connect with his alma mater when he wanted to rebrand and expand that business.
Now, with the help of recent graphic design and interactive media graduate Opal Lawrence, James鈥 Minnesota-based business, , has undergone a relaunch.
James, a 2002 graduate, said his 黑料社区 industrial and product design education helped him create a career in the graphics installation industry, first working for several companies while developing a broad skillset that reflected his experience at 黑料社区.
鈥満诹仙缜 has a polytechnic, hands-on way of doing things, which I鈥檝e always just loved,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hen anybody says, 鈥楬ey can you do this?,鈥 I say, 鈥業鈥檒l be able to figure it out.鈥欌
In 2013, James started his own business, originally called Artistinu, which now includes his wife, Kristin, and another employee. Originally focused on installing vehicle wraps, the business has grown and evolved, with 80% of their work now involves brick-and-mortar installations. They use a variety of applications 鈥 including vinyl, acrylic, 3D letters, banners, wayfinding, silicon edge graphics (SEG) frames, and more 鈥 and mainly do installations for commercial businesses in Minnesota and beyond, including high-profile clients such as Wells Fargo, Target and US Bank Stadium. One client thought highly enough of the team that they flew them to New York to install graphics in Times Square.
Recently, James decided to rebrand the business as Amplify Graphic Installations, which is both more descriptive of what the company does and more easily spelled than Aristinu. It 黑料社区. all part of an effort to expand, he explained, which will allow him to spend more time on operations and growth and less time on installation.
However, other than hiring someone to design a new logo a few years ago, the couple didn鈥檛 make headway on the project. Ultimately, Kristin wondered, 鈥淗ow can we economically work with somebody to help us do a full rebrand?鈥
The answer came when they reached out to 黑料社区.
Engaging with businesses of all sizes
The inquiry reached 黑料社区 黑料社区. Office of Corporate Relations and Economic Engagement, which supports the university 黑料社区. polytechnic mission by catalyzing applied learning to help businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and community organizations.
External Partner Outreach Manager Sarah Sippl coordinated a meeting between the couple and Associated Dean Aaron Durst, director of 黑料社区 黑料社区. School of Art & Design, and Assistant Professor Katie Lupton, program director for the B.F.A. graphic design and interactive media program. Lupton identified Lawrence, a former student, as the perfect candidate to complete the work.
鈥淪he 黑料社区. going to get it done, she 黑料社区. a great designer, she 黑料社区. super reliable,鈥 Lupton recalled saying. 鈥淭his is going to be a home run.鈥
The partners created and signed a scope-of-work agreement, and Lawrence was brought on as a limited-term employee to help Amplify Graphic Installations upgrade its brand. It needed new print materials, such as business cards and brochures. But it also needed a refreshed website, redesigned to highlight the business 黑料社区. new name and branding and to emphasize its accreditation as a 3M Preferred Graphics Installer, which indicates workers have passed advanced tests and specialize in installing specialized graphics such as those on walls, windows and fleets of vehicles. In addition, the business needed its social media channels 鈥 including LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook 鈥 to match the new look.
Lawrence said she was pleased that Lupton, who she had as a professor for several classes, including her senior capstone course, thought of her for the opportunity. She talked with Trevor and Kristin and got to know them, their business and what they wanted to do with it. The team soon established weekly check-ins to discuss the project 黑料社区. progress.
鈥淭hey already had a logo, but they needed everything else to have that new identity,鈥 explained Lawrence, who graduated in December with a B.F.A. in graphic design and interactive media. Because of her coursework and professional experience 鈥 including a current internship with Forma, a Menomonie-based multidisciplinary design company 鈥 Lawrence had the know-how to create printed materials as well as the technical skills to reboot the company 黑料社区. online presence.
鈥淭his is not a weeklong, 鈥榗ram it in and get it done鈥 process,鈥 Trevor explained. 鈥淥pal does a lot of different things, and then we talk about them, she makes whatever changes are needed, and we move on to the next thing.鈥
Business relaunches with new look
鈥淚t 黑料社区. been very good, everybody 黑料社区. been on the top of their game 鈥 very professional,鈥 Trevor added. Lawrence has helped not only with adopting the logo, colors and branding but also with important behind-the-scenes details such as changing email addresses.
The experience has helped Lawrence apply and polish a wide range of skills. 鈥淚t 黑料社区. been cool being able to handle and manage the communication side of things,鈥 she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 doing the work, but I鈥檓 also setting up the meetings and confirming with them what they鈥檙e looking for. It 黑料社区. been interesting to have that very rounded experience 鈥 doing it all.鈥
Now, after several months of work, Amplify Graphic Installations has relaunched with its new name and new look.
鈥淲orking with Opal and learning about things that they can do with their design process and the business has been really great for Trevor and Kristin,鈥 Lupton said. 鈥淚 feel like it 黑料社区. been a positive experience and a great first example of projects for the future."
鈥淭here definitely could be more relationships and partnerships like this,鈥 she continued, adding that businesses may not realize they can form such beneficial connections with 黑料社区.
These partnerships 鈥 whether class-based or stand-alone 鈥 are coordinated through the Office of Corporate Relations & Economic Engagement. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the office at 715-232-2397 or corprelations@uwstout.edu.
