Portfolio
LINQ360
Without an Edge
The Las Vegas-based start-up, LINQ360 needed a branding strategy that spoke to its offering. LINQ360 is a technology think-tank made up of recognized industry experts that offer a full host of consulting services. LINQ360 is spearheading major technology developments in the hospitality industry and their brand needed to speak to the innovation they were creating and implementing for their clients.
An Added Edge
Hardly Square designed branding that feels like it’s alive and fluid. The business card design had to break from traditional brand identities. LINQ360 was breaking barriers in technology development, so Hardly Square pushed the boundaries on their brand.
Rubbermaid (RCP)
Without an Edge
Hardly Square had built Rubbermaid Commercial Product’s eLearning platform from the ground up. RCP’s employees could now reap the all benefits of computer-based training. Although, RCP still had a need to offer the eLearning to their channel without the limitations of an internet connection.
An Added Edge
Hardly Square created executible eLearning courses that could be distributed via CD-ROM and design the jewel case album as well. Now RCP can not only train its channel via the custom eLearning platform, but also distribute CD-ROMs that offer their learners the ability to download the eLearning courses directly to their desktop.
Without an Edge
Hardly Square created a promotional microsite for Rubbermaid Commercial Product’s Material Handling promotion. Although, RCP still needed tangible marketing pieces to promote the microsite to their channel.
An Added Edge
Hardly Square designed a flyer that RCP could distribute to their channel, advertising the promotion. The advertising pieces had a positive effect, increasing the amount of involvement immediately, which ultimately lead to greater product knowledge throughout the entire channel.
IRWIN
Without an Edge
Hardly Square had built IRWIN’s eLearning platform from the ground up. IRWIN’s employees could now reap all benefits of computer-based training. Although, IRWIN still needed tangible marketing pieces to promote the eLearning to their employees.
An Added Edge
Hardly Square created environmental graphics that IRWIN could place in their office and training centers. The advertising pieces had a positive effect, increasing the amount of learner involvement immediately.
Exit Enterprises
Without an Edge
Exit Enterprises’ image was all over the place. The partners knew this wasn’t ideal. They knew that their look and feel needed to be urban and modern to match the underground, electronic music they created. They needed some marketing help.
An Added Edge
The Exit design was inspired by Hardly Square’s photography essay Propergander, which is uniquely cropped pictures of art amongst our streets, and photography taken at their events. This, along with many graphic elements, pushed the urban feel Exit Enterprises was craving while creating one concise marketing voice.
Cubik
Without an Edge
Cubik, one of the most successful and longest running electronic music events in the country, needed print collateral to promote their event. Cubik boasts thousands in attendance and was officially noted, in URB Magazine, as America’s #1 weekly event. Their print design had to appeal to this precise market, while maintaining the event’s renowned reputation.
An Added Edge
After considerable marketing research into their target market, Hardly Square designed multiple full color, 4” x 12” glossy flyers. The designs played off of the notorious street art style that their electronic music demographic could easily relate to and would want to pass along to friends.
Three Day Threshold
Without an Edge
The country music band, Three Day Threshold’s new album Against the Grain’s debut was highly anticipated. They knew that this album had a chance to further their career since their songs were recently featured on MTV’s Real World, Spike TV, and FOX-TV’s The Simple Life. The album design was going to have to live up to this new hype.
An Added Edge
Hardly Square designed a full-color jewel case and booklet. The design strategy took advantage of the album’s title Against the Grain texture opportunity. Hardly Square utilized a handcrafted woodcut font and wood grain textures that paired nicely with a country type feel.
Sonar
Without an Edge
Sonar’s capacity is 1,500, making it the largest club venue in Baltimore. Sonar boasts a calendar of some of the music industry’s top acts. Since Sonar is so highly regarded in the music scene, their advertising efforts had to maintain and expand this perception.
An Added Edge
Hardly Square partnered with Sonar in a yearlong advertising campaign. The campaign consisted of public relations, photography, print design and web design initiatives. The advertising campaign included product packaging, table tents, posters, identity, web banners, monthly flyer designs, and weekly advertising spots. All of these efforts helped Sonar become the hot spot for Baltimore’s concert goers.
Senator Theatre
Without an Edge
The historic Senator Theatre in Baltimore was in danger of going under. A group of local bands were planning on putting on a show to try and raise money to save this historical landmark. The fundraiser needed marketing materials to inform the community though.
An Added Edge
Hardly Square saw an opportunity to help a good cause by designing flyers and posters for the fundraiser. Hardly Square captured what was visually appealing about the historic venue and integrated it into its design. The fundraiser was thus able to spread the word in an effort to bring in the necessary crowds to fund saving the theater.
Greenskeepers Music
Without an Edge
Chicago based label, Greenskeepers Music has been releasing a constant flow of dance music for the past decade. Each release is pressed onto 12″ vinyl and fitted into a record sleeve with labels – all of which are printed in full color. Though the Greenskeepers brand is well known amongst customers in their target market, the 12″ record cover needed to stand out against the competition while on the record shelf.
An Added Edge
Hardly Square was contacted by Greenskeepers to create eye catching graphics to increase record shelf visibility while maintaining the look of their brand. Hardly Square designed the layout of each release to match the cover artwork from featured artists such as Cody Hudson of Struggle Inc, John Solimine of Spike Press, and C. Devin Byrnes of Hardly Square.
James Curd
Without an Edge
Musician James Curd, who has made music for such brands as Apple’s iPod, Grey’s Anatomy, and CSI Miami, was in need of a design for his new album. James Curd’s music had been written up as unique, quirky, off-kilter, and a playful mix. The design had to match this feel.
An Added Edge
James had taken a liking to Hardly Square’s photography essay Propergander, which is uniquely cropped pictures of art amongst our streets. So Hardly Square utilized this massive collection of imagery. Hardly Square took the found imagery and created a collage-like design, influenced by the cultural movement Dada.
