Elements Design

Yesterday, following two back-to-back client presentations – one for a tradeshow booth and then a new logo + packaging design – Ben and I treated ourselves to a visit to the newly opened Shake Shack in Westport.

This was my first time experiencing the Shake Shack, but I’ve heard tell of all the hype. To see first hand what all the fuss was about, we grabbed our camera phone and decided to do some “research”. (Note: when completely blowing my diet, I call it ‘research’).

Here are the things I loved about the Shack :: gorgeous metal cut-out art deco sign love {they had me at ‘hello’} • yummy milkshakes • tasty hamburgers • sweet glass and steel garage doors • big menu wall • adorable tee shirts for sale {a onesie with a picture of fries with ‘small’ written above it? Yeah, that’s cute}  • kraft paper briefcase shaped take-out bags • and I don’t know if this is something I, ahem, love, but it should be noted that they do serve alcohol. It’s nice to know you can grab a burger and brew without having to go to a sit down restaurant with bar!

As Ben and I waited for our pick-up order, we noted a few things we might improve from a design + marketing perspective :: there was only one vegetarian offering, a ‘Sroom Burger, and we thought one or two other offerings would be nice • in a word – salads • we were not groovin’ on the employee tee shirt colors which, if they were a crayon color, might be called “dirty pavement”. They weren’t grey, and they weren’t black, but looked dingy. The bright green in their branding palette might have been more cheerful and attractive.

All-in-all I’d say it was worth the buzz – if only to gaze at the gorgeous sign while enjoying my delicious shake and burger. Next time in Westport, I know we’ll be back to the shack.

Have you been to the Shake Shack yet? What was your experience? Any thoughts on their branding and marketing?

Last Friday, the Elements team took some much needed time away from our desks after a busy, productive week and ventured down to the New Haven Green (our old stomping grounds) to enjoy some fresh, New Haven pizza as a part of the 16th Annual Pizza Fest. The event, held in partnership with the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, features pizzas from 28 Greater New Haven restaurants and benefits The Connection Fund. Nothing says New Haven more than a piping hot pie from Modern Apizza, which we gladly split three ways. (And, since we hit the tail end of the festival, we snagged our pie for a mere $10 along with these sweet red shirts.) Every now and again, don’t forget to lift your head up from your work and enjoy some quality time with co-workers. Team building!…am I right?

Team Elements, mugging for the camera.

Chelsea, checking the print reproduction quality of the Elements-designed map

Ben, quite apropos to Arts & Ideas, is deep in thought.

Chelsea, imitating a cloud burst.

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Here at Elements, it’s no secret that we love food. But we equally love trying new things. To that end, we felt it only fitting to bring these two loves together in a new blog segment we’ve dubbed: “At Elements Table” {not to be confused with a Periodic Table of Element}.

‘At Elements Table’ will require our Elements team to go forth and eat, whenever possible (we’re hoping for at least once per month), at varying culinary establishments across Connecticut and report our collected experiences and images back to you. It’s a tough assignment, but then again, we’ve been well trained.

On that note, and seeing as we are starting on Cinco de Mayo, we felt it only appropriate that our first report cover a recent expedition to the sparkling new Tijuana Taco Co. food truck in Branford’s town center.

Following the signs all pointing towards a bright silver, retro, pristine food truck – and our noses filled with the aroma of fresh and savory smells of a Mexican gourmet kitchen – we ordered and witnessed our custom burritos expertly being prepared. The Chef worked quickly and was happy to accommodate our every dietary request. The end result is fresh, weighty, hot burrito wrapped in silver foil well worth the price paid (we couldn’t finish ours for lunch so it made for delicious seconds the next day).

We each ordered a different type of burrito – from vegetarian to chicken – and they were all satisfyingly superb. Preparing and cooking the burritos from the trucks tiny pan gave them a tasty flamed cook flavor that I especially enjoyed.

We highly recommend trying a take-out lunch from the Tijuana Taco Co. truck. Owned by Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho, who also owns The Suburban (which is a stone throw away), has yet another culinary hit on his hands. Mucho gracias, Chef Arturo! And we’ll see you again very soon! {click for hint of more tasty things to come from Chef Arturo}.

{fiesta image via pinterest}