Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

Events :: International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago

Posted March 11th, 2013 in Blog, Events | No Comments

This past week, I was in Chicago for the International Home + Housewares show, the largest trade show for houseware products with over 60,000 exhibitors from around the world. This was my first time attending this show, and I have to tell you, it was overwhelming … but, in a good way! Here is an image of the show entrance. Please note the size and scale of the ginormous show banner hanging in the background as the flood of buyers and exhibitors excitedly enter the McCormick Place on the first day.

We had several clients at this show so it was an opportunity to see their sales team coupled with our marketing materials and package designs in action. I was able to participate in meetings with our clients’ buyers and sales teams (a rare treat for the design + marketing team) to get real-time feedback. This experience alone made my trip worthwhile.


Here is another view of the tradeshow floor:

Another great benefit of being at the show is trendspotting. This is where brands introduce their latest and greatest and experts share their reports on trends – from innovations to colors this is where you come to find out what is going to be the next hot thing in housewares.

Trend spotting at IHH

Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute and well-known color expert, was on-hand to reveal the color forecasts for 2014 at one of the Shows most popular seminars.

And this is IHA’s trend expert Tom Mirabile, Senior VP of Global Trend and Design for Lifetime Brands, speaking on Staying Relevant to the Unpredictable Consumer was also a highlight:

The IHH show also gives inventors an audience with the world’s largest brands watching. Wow. For a select few, this can be a life-changing moment.

Now for my personal favorite feature of the show: the chefs! Many of of the housewares booths brought their own chef to demonstrate their pans, knives, appliances, you name it. Some of the chefs are names you would recognize, so not, but believe me the food was delicious. My favorite sample, believe it or not, was the Orange Smoothie at the Victorinox Swiss Army booth. I’m still dreaming about it. (Sorry, I forgot to take a snapshot – but I do have the recipe! If you would like it, I’ll share. But only if you leave me a comment below)!

Chef Ming Tsai shares cooking tips at the Show’s popular Cooking Theater.

Chef Todd English at the Cooking Theater

Chef Fabio Viviani prepares pasta at the Show’s Cooking Theater.

~Amy

Events:: Happy Labor Day!

Posted September 3rd, 2012 in Blog, Events | No Comments

It’s hard to believe we are already into September, isn’t it? We hope you enjoyed this nice, extended holiday weekend.

I did my best to squeeze in a few of my favorite end-of-summer favorites: Today I am again running in the New Haven RoadRace 20k , I managed this weekend to sneak in one final boat trip and enjoyed a romantic nighttime bonfire while watching the sunset over the water with my sweetie on the beach.

 

This scene from Grease, in my humble opinion, always perfectly recaptured that bittersweet feeling about the summer ending for me.

What about you? What are your plans for the last hurrah before our summer of 2012 fades as quickly as our tans?

~Amy

{images:: poster//bonfire//grease}

Events :: Join Us at RJ Julia Booksellers!

Posted August 15th, 2012 in Events | No Comments

As you may have noticed, we’re gearing up for an awesome event tomorrow! Amy and Ben will be speaking and signing copies of their new book, Best Practices for Graphic Designers, Grids and Page Layouts, tomorrow, August 16 at 7pm at noted independent bookstore RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, CT.

Best Practices for Graphic Designers, Grids and Page Layouts, published by Rockport Publishers in July 2012, is a unique go-to guide for designers that details essential layout and design principles using valuable, professional insight into strategy and technique. Starting with basic information on layout principles the book then delves more deeply into theory and application on a project-by-project basis. There are real-life examples and case studies throughout from practicing graphic designer to help illuminate each section of the book.

Books will be for sale at the event and admission is free. You can either reserve your spot here or just stop by to have your book signed by Amy and Ben. We hope you can all join us for this special event!

~Allyson

Events :: Book Signings at New Haven Library and RJ Julia

Posted July 18th, 2012 in Events | No Comments

It’s been an been an exciting (and busy) summer so far. Why so exciting you ask? Amy and Ben’s book has officially been released! Best Practices for Graphic Designers, Grids and Page Layouts published on July 1 and the authors will be signing and speaking at two local venues this summer.

Source: it.wikipedia.org via Ruben on Pinterest

 

The first event will be at the New Haven Free Public Library on Wednesday, July 25 at 6pm. They will be giving a brief presentation followed by a question and answer session and a book signing. Don’t worry if you haven’t picked up a copy of the book yet – books will be for sale at this event.

Interesting in attending? Here’s a brief description of the presentation they will be giving:  Amy and Ben will talk about the way in which our society consumes information and will use this to discuss how design supports even the most basic aspects of our lives. They will use examples of disorganized or inadequate design that everyone will be familiar with to illustrate the importance of thoughtful design. They will also provide successful examples – which are case studies within the book – that highlight design’s ability to make our lives better. These case studies offer a behind-the-scenes take on the process and steps necessary to go from concept to final outcome, including how to overcome challenges presented along the way.  Examples will include exhibitions, and how design helps someone navigate the space, as well as magazines and publications that are using grids and layouts to transition to new media such ipad applications or digital editions on the web.

 

Source: allthingsliterary.wordpress.com via Adam on Pinterest

 

RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, CT will also be hosting a signing and discussion on Thursday, August 16 at 7pm. We invite everyone to attend  - both of these events will be informative and fun. If you don’t have your copy of Best Practices for Graphic Designers, Grids and Page Layouts, be sure to order it on Amazon, IndieBound, or even better – pick up a copy at either of these signing events. Hope to see you all there!

~Allyson

Picture of the Week :: Riding Strong (and in style!)

Posted August 4th, 2011 in Blog, Events, Picture of the Week | No Comments

It’s interesting how certain businesses can get put in a “box”. (Read: “They only design websites.” “Their salads are great but I wouldn’t order a steak there.” “I didn’t know they planned weddings AND corporate events!”). It’s great to have a niche, but it can be challenging to overcome a business “stereotype”.

That’s why one of the thing that we love about being a part of the Elements team is that there is really no project that we can’t handle, large or small. If it can be designed or marketed, we can do it!

A recent example: a couple of months back, our clients at Green Seed Group asked us to design a bicycle uniform for the CT Challenge, a bike ride fundraiser benefiting cancer research held last weekend. Here is Team Green Seed sporting their cool new unis designed by yours truly.