During my internship, the guys gave me the opportunity to design a poster. The Build a Stronger Nebraska Together poster exhibition (a partnership of Nebraska Appleseed, The Match Factory, and Screen Ink) asked ten designers/design firms to create a poster that would “inspire all citizens of this great state to work together to create a more inclusive, more vibrant community”.
There were five topics we could select from: opportunity, democracy, equality, justice and community (our selection). It was my responsibility to concept the idea, research other posters, and present my findings to the rest of the team. I made several thumbnails, many of which failed to capture our vision …
One of Oxide’s very first clients was Nebraska AIDS Project (NAP). When we first opened our doors ten years ago, they were located half a block down the street. Turned out that a friend of a friend was the Director of Education at NAP, and the rest is history. We’ve worked with them on a wide range of projects from annual reports to Dining Out For Life promotions to condom boxes. In the summer of 2004 they decided it was time to look at a the big picture: an identity redesign. …
The second annual Farnam Festival will begin at 5pm. on August 27th. Once again, Oxide was honored to help promote the event by creating the official poster. Promoting the 40th & Farnam business district as an exciting, urban experience where people want to live, work and play (the festival’s mission) is something we feel strongly about. Brad Iwen, mastermind behind the festival and owner of Iwen Exposures, says that “the festival is a celebration of a neighborhood that has an intriguing past, a revitalizing present, and an important future.” …
[Also featured as a guest post on Silicon Prairie News.]
Three years in, it can officially be called an annual tradition: design an entirely new identity for an entrepreneurial conference utilizing a giant cow. The premise is so ridiculous that it should have only worked once — if at all. And yet, three years in, we’re still discovering solutions that make sense. And three years in, we’re still having a lot of fun. …
As much as we enjoy designing identities from the ground-up, the challenge of carrying an existing identity into new territory can be just as rewarding. The Omaha Community Foundation approached Oxide last year to update their website, building from an identity designed by Bailey Lauerman and a set of illustrations by Mick Wiggins. …
A number of stars recently aligned which have caused us to believe that now is the time to put our Benson Bunnies effort into full swing. Various alumni have started to take notice and have been encouraging us to take the next steps. A number of dedicated individuals — both inside and outside the walls of Benson High School — are beginning to take up the cause. So I’m pleased to announce that today is the official launch of bunniesunite.com — the launch pad for our new identity for the Benson Mighty Bunnies. …
One of the benefits of being a designer is that you often get the opportunity to use your talents to support causes you believe in. So when my brother Josh told me he was running for Denver City Council, I was excited to bolster his efforts by volunteering Oxide to design a logo for the campaign. He decided to run under the banner “Davies For Denver“. …
Sari Bari is a non-profit offering freedom to women trapped in the sex trade of Kolkata, India’s red light district. By offering simple benefits that we take for granted (safety, fair wages, reasonable work hours, health care, and retirement plans), Sari Bari gives their employees an opportunity for new life, freedom and hope. The women of Sari Bari are given the training necessary to turn recycled saris, the traditional clothing worn by women in the region, into all of the products sold on the site, including home decor items, baby blankets, and accessories. …
Letterhead + Logo Design 12 is our first book, so it’s inevitable that we’d make a few mistakes. If there’s ever a second book (check back with us late next year to see if that’s something we’d ever consider… ever again), we’re already making notes on how we’d improve the process. …
Due to some recent recognition, I had the opportunity to dig through the Oxide archives for some additional information on a project from the studio’s early years. Seeing some of the concept sketches made me realize how refined our design process has become since those days. In turn, that led me to think it’d still be a great chance to show some fascinating tidbits from the vault. …