For many designers, LogoLounge is the ultimate web resource for the latest and greatest logo and identity work. As creative director at WestmorelandFlint, my team and I often use the site for inspiration and reference.

Users submit logos and, in turn, can view thousands of designs from the world’s leading agencies, as well as up-and-coming trendsetters. You can think of it as an online inspirational gallery for powerful and thought-provoking design.

The projects in the LogoLounge book series are selected by an international panel of eight judges based on quality, timeliness, relevance, and inspirational nature.

One of the logos selected was for Education Minnesota, the leading advocate for public education in Minnesota. The union asked Flint to design a logo for I Raise My Hand, a public awareness campaign aimed at uniting Minnesotans to support and improve the state’s strong education system. Here’s what I came up with:

The logo was used throughout the multimedia campaign, which consisted of television, online and print advertisements, as well as direct marketing, the I Raise My Hand microsite and the I Raise My Hand Facebook page.

The other logo selected was for Lakeshore, a senior housing facility and long-time client of WestmorelandFlint. They wanted a logo to celebrate the successes of employees who have reached milestones in their positions, as well as residents who have made great strides in their recovery process—to tell them, “Way to Go!” Here’s what designer Matthew Olin came up with:The logo was used as little signs of motivation on note cards, mugs, emails and buttons.

It’s an honor that our team’s logos have been selected among the top designs and designers we all look up to, and it’s exciting to create work that will inspire others as well.

Matthew and I feel honored that these particular identities were chosen. Both logos were for such great causes that it makes it makes their publication even more meaningful. It’s great to see such a beautifully executed, human-centered design recognized on a higher level.

The book will be published on July 1, 2012, but you can pre-order LogoLounge 7 online today.

Keeping those balloons in the air all day keeps Mikaela pretty busy, but in her downtime, she also serves as a SEO/SEM strategist and project manager for Flint Interactive.

Outside of the office, Mikaela puts her balloon-bopping skills to good use as a volleyball coach and competitive player.

A passion for volleyball

“Five years ago, a friend from WestmorelandFlint signed me up to coach club volleyball with her. I had never really seen myself as a coach before, but I jumped at the opportunity to stay active and meet new people,” says Mikaela. “That introduced me to a number of people in the volleyball community, which led to a three-year stint as a high school coach and the opportunity to play competitive adult volleyball in a number of different leagues.”

Mikaela, who played Division I volleyball at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y., says the most rewarding part of coaching is seeing the growth and improvement in the girls each season and over the years.

She says, “Watching them change and develop in certain skill areas really makes me feel like I’ve made a difference. There is no greater gratification than having one of my players turn to me during a game with a big smile on her face after a winning block or attack, both of us knowing that it is something we have been working hard on during practice.”

While their athletic achievement is significant, Mikaela also enjoys watching the girls interact with, and make new, friends. She makes an effort to organize off-court activities so her players can get to know each other without the added stress of competition.

“It’s very important to bring fun and enjoyment into the season, because that is what creates the moments that many of them will remember forever,” Mikaela says.

Off the court

Between coaching club volleyball from November to June and high school volleyball from August to November (not to mention the constant balloon bopping), Mikaela only has about a month and a half of downtime. So what does she do then?

“When I’m not coaching or playing volleyball, I enjoy a quiet night at home watching BRAVO TV on the couch. Sad, but true,” she says.

Mikaela admits her life gets pretty crazy, but she says the busyness actually works in her favor.

“I have to be very organized so that I know where I need to be each night of the week. That also keeps me very organized at work, which helps me more effectively manage projects and timelines.”

Maintaining high spirits

Whether she’s at work or on the court, one of Mikaela’s goals is to keep people happy.

“With volleyball, it’s making sure players and parents are getting the most out of their time and money by running valuable, educational practices,” she explains. “At work, it’s managing client expectations and relationships and ensuring our team delivers the best possible end product.”

As project manager for Flint Group, Mikaela is responsible for managing timelines and budgets and assigning duties to team members. In her role as SEO/SEM strategist, she manages paid search campaigns and creates strategy for search engine optimization—all while perfecting her balloon-bobbing techniques.

How does she do it? We’re still baffled.

Get to know a Flintster: Q + A with Mikaela!

What’s your dream job?
Wedding planner or owner of a clothing boutique.

Which job would you not want to have?
Hospice care—I am much too emotional for that.

What was your first job?
Receptionist at a hair salon.

What did it teach you?
Unfortunately, it taught me how to gossip—you wouldn’t believe how fast word travels in those places.

What is one thing you’d be willing to practice for an hour a day?
Sewing.

What’s the best advice you ever got?
To take the leap and move to New York. I was definitely homesick and there were times I wanted to leave, but looking back, I wouldn’t trade that experience. I met some amazing people, and it taught me how to stand on my own and be more independent.

What sound do you love?
Sneakers on the gym floor.

What scent do you love?
Cilantro.

“It started when my husband told me that healthy food doesn’t taste good. All his meals consisted of broiled tilapia seasoned with pepper alone, plain brown rice and steamed veggies straight from the freezer. It’s been my mission ever since to prove him wrong.”

A woman on a mission

When she’s not managing accounts and preparing press releases in our Duluth Office, Brittney, a PR assistant and account coordinator at WestmorelandFlint, enjoys cooking a variety of experimental, healthy meals.

In fact, she cooks a five-course meal every night.

Okay, okay… the five-course part might be a stretch, but she does cook delicious, inventive meals most nights of the week. Just ask her husband, who, by the way, openly admits that Brittney has proven healthy food does not have to be bland and boring.

“I love Brittney’s cooking,” says her husband Eric. “We are both active people, so we want food that is good for our bodies as well as our taste buds. Brittney somehow manages to accomplish this with every meal she cooks.”

His current favorite? A flank steak sandwich with roasted bell peppers, balsamic onions, arugula and a variety of other veggies, all sautéed and placed into a pita pocket.

Her current favorites? Venison steak stir-fry with fresh veggies and jasmine rice, homemade black bean burgers with roasted sweet potato fries, and falafel sandwiches with yogurt dill sauce.

“I really like cooking because you can experiment with mixing different ingredients together, and you can never really mess it up,” says Brittney, proudly noting that she’s finally mastered the art of falafel. (And yes, falafel is an art.)

From food to fitness

Brittney’s love of food goes hand-in-hand with her devotion to fitness.

“I want to set a great example for my children, when we have them, and I want to be healthy myself,” she says.

Her passion for fitness began with her discovery of kettlebells, a workout that uses cast-iron weights to build functional muscle and core strength.

“I like to try new things and take on new challenges,” says Brittney. “When you’re working with kettlebells, you have to give it your all the whole time, and that’s a great thing to take with you out of the gym.”

Brittney and Eric began training at a local kettlebell gym, and loved it so much that they soon invested in their own kettlebells to train at home.

One tough couple

The two fitness enthusiasts are currently using kettlebells as part their training for a Tough Mudder race—a hardcore 10- to 12-mile obstacle course that tests strength, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie.

“It’s kind of like a Warrior Dash, except it’s a 10- to 12-mile race, rather than a 5k race, through mud and up, over, under and through different obstacles,” says Brittney, noting that one such obstacle is running through live electric wires.

Brittney says, “We thought it looked super challenging, exciting, maybe a little fun, but mostly it looked badass and would give us something to work toward. Honestly, the Tough Mudder terrifies me, and that’s part of the reason I’m doing it!”

Get to know a Flintster: Q + A with Brittney

What’s your dream job?
Anything that allows me to grow as a person and as a professional. Oh, and has amazing vacation time.

Which job would you not want to have?
President of the United States.

What was your first job?
I worked at Dairy Queen in Grafton, N.D. It dropped the franchise, so if you’re driving through Grafton, N.D., it’s now the Ice Box—stop and grab some fried pickles!

What did it teach you?
Teamwork and self-discipline.

What is one thing you’d be willing to practice for an hour a day?
Active listening.

What’s the best advice you ever got?
Be yourself.

What sound do you love?
Two sounds: water/waves and laughter (not necessarily together).

What scent do you love?
Fresh-cut grass.

The goal: Earlier this year, maurices wanted to recognize the amazing women and small towns that are at the heart of our country.

The solution: maurices decided to conduct a nationwide search for fresh-faced girls of any age (over 18) and any size (maurices sells clothing in sizes 1-24), who embody what maurices is all about: fashion, fun and giving back. The maurices Main Street Model Search was born.

The model selection process: The contest launched in March, starting with a call for applicants and followed by a public voting period to narrow down the pool to 50. Next, maurices selected 20 and flew those girls to Minneapolis for a casting call. By May, 12 girls were chosen to model maurices clothing for three different seasons: Fall 2011, Holiday 2011 and Spring 2012.

The reward: Starting in June, the maurices team began flying to each of the girls’ hometowns, conducting a full-on photo shoot and presenting a check for $7,500 to each winning model’s charity of choice. These hometown visits will continue through January 2012. The models’ photos are currently being used for large in-store graphics, direct mail, online marketing and on maurices.com. Winners also received $1,500 in maurices clothing and a Flip video camera to capture their path to becoming a maurices model.

In addition, maurices surprised all of the models with an extra modeling opportunity. They all flew to Minneapolis for a special holiday photo shoot!

maurices Holiday Photo Shoot

The gals: Who better to explain the contest than the models themselves? Watch four Main Street Models talk about their experiences, as well as why they chose their charity:

The Flint Group’s involvement: WestmorelandFlint collaborated with the maurices creative team to design and develop the contest site, where all prospective models submitted applications and the voting took place. Our team worked closely with maurices on all phases of the project and managed the media outreach. This truly was a team effort—that is forever changing the lives of the 12 winners.

To learn more about maurices and the Main Street Models, find them on Facebook or YouTube.

Ericka poses with her creative concoction: a butterscotch cupcake with salty caramel frosting.

Passionate. Driven. And just plain happy.

All these words describe Ericka Olin, account coordinator and junior copywriter, to a tee. She spends her days in our Duluth office, coordinating accounts and smithing words. But on nights and weekends, Ericka adores baking cupcakes. That’s how she unwinds, keeps her creative juices going and spoils her officemates.

“It’s always been a dream of mine,” explains Ericka, “to open my own cupcake bakeshop.” When Ericka and her husband tied the knot in Colorado last summer, they served gourmet cupcakes at their wedding. The three women who started Happy Cakes Bakeshop in Denver are Ericka’s inspiration. “Because cupcakes do just that—they make people happy!”

Word lover Ericka adoringly refers to her kitchen as “the ButterCup Factory.” There, she’s decided to bake a new kind of epicure cupcake every weekend. And the best part? She’s bringing a new sample to the WestmorelandFlint office every week.

“I’m excited to experiment and see where this adventure takes me,” explains Ericka, “though I’m kind of thinking the whole undertaking may only serve to satisfy my voracious sweet tooth and maybe make me some new friends in the office. But who knows—maybe it’ll take off and I can someday open my very own cupcake store!”

Get to know a Flintster: Q + A with Ericka

What’s your dream job?

Ericka's Dr. Pepper Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes

Though not necessarily my career goal, I have always wanted to open up my own cupcake shop where I sell homemade gourmet cupcakes and make people’s days just a bit brighter.

Which job would you not want to have?

I don’t think I would want to work at Target, because I don’t really like wearing red. Also, it would kind of ruin my guilty pleasure of roaming Target on Saturday afternoons.

What was your first job?

I was a nanny for two summers (going into my junior and senior years of high school). Though I don’t even know if you can really call it a “job”—I basically just relived my own childhood and played all day long! I remember one day I really wanted to have a lemonade stand, so I persuaded the kids it would be the most awesome thing they’d ever done. They were so kind to “humor me” with my callow cravings.

What did it teach you?
Nannying taught me that you’re never too old to don your overalls and eat mac ‘n cheese with your fingers—in other words, it’s okay to stay young at heart and even act on your infantile impulses.

What is one thing you’d be willing to practice for an hour a day?

I would absolutely be willing to practice tongue-tying a cherry for a day—it’s a lifelong goal.

What’s the best advice you ever got?

“Eat your broccoli.” –My mother

What sound do you love?

I really like the sound of crickets on a summer evening.

What scent do you love?

VANILLA! Actually I love vanilla anything—smell, taste… I’m sure if vanilla had a texture or sound I’d love that too! My favorite beverage is a 16 oz. nonfat extra hot chai with—of course—vanilla syrup. I absolutely love vanilla tootsie rolls, and my secret Santa at work this past year was amazing and gave me a whole 1 lb. bag (though they didn’t last for long!). Don’t tell anyone, but I always add double the vanilla that a recipe calls for—I honestly don’t think you can really ever have enough vanilla.

Simon Sinek has developed an inspirational leadership philosophy called the “Golden Circle.” The video below is from a conference he spoke at in 2009 where he explains the Golden Circle in depth. The basic premise is that in today’s world, people tend to come at problems or develop products with a tactical approach, or just telling us “what” they are selling. Simon shows us some relevant examples from throughout history, from The Wright Brothers to TiVo. I highly encourage you to watch the 18-minute video and then think about the why in everything that you are involved in.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the video.

I’d like to lie and tell you that this is the first time I haven’t been able to think up something great to write, and that I’m some kind of playboy millionaire jetting off to Spain this weekend, but it would be all lies. Since the best advertising is grounded in the truth, I’ll readily admit that I’m engaged in three completely different cases of writer’s block as we speak. Fortunately, this has become such a regular occurrence that I’ve developed some confidence in working around it—emphasis on the “work” part because getting to any great idea takes time.

When I’m stuck, I tend to go into Jack Kerouac writing mode where I type and type nonstop until I get somewhere I like. Other people I know get out of their funk by hanging all their work up on a corkboard, then coming back to it a couple of hours later with a fresh perspective. While I wish I could give you the definitive answer as to what to do when you’re stuck, the reality is what works for one person may not work for somebody else.

In the end, coming up with an idea is a lot like a giant game of hide and seek. There are infinite ideas out there somewhere. You’ve just got to keep pushing yourself to find them. Sometimes they’re right in front of your face. Sometimes they’re camouflaged and hiding right in front of your face.  The key when you get frustrated in looking for one is to not get frustrated. If you put in the time, you’ll find dozens of ideas, and one of them is bound to be good.

We are constantly inundated with advertising that annoys us, as it is obviously trying to separate us from our wallets. You don’t have to be on Times Square or the Vegas Strip to be suffocated by it. Radio ads seem to turn up the volume on their own. The surprise flyer on your windshield stops your heart for a second because you think it may be a parking ticket. Credit card offers appear like they are actually important. SPAM mail. Door-to-door sales. It comes at us from every direction.

However, why is it that people watch the Super Bowl in anticipation of the TV spots? Even water cooler talk sometimes starts with, “Did you see the ad about the …”

When advertising entertains and feels relevant, it piques our attention. Good advertising flows with our daily lives to the point we don’t realize we are being sold to. It almost feels natural.

Now that I have made my point, perhaps it is appropriate to change the title of this posting. Because, the truth is this: PEOPLE HATE BAD ADVERTISING.

This happens when we get excited about the work we’re doing. Sometimes it’s easy: you get a job that’s right up your alley and immerse yourself in it. Other times, projects can be challenging. It seems like what makes a creative professional really shine is the ability to make incredible things happen from the very constraints that seemed daunting at the outset.

I guess for this to happen you need to embrace the challenge and, somewhere along the way, wait for inspiration to strike. It may come to you in your sleep, it may come from a long intense brainstorm session, or it may be sparked by some existing work you’ve seen. However it comes, I think we all have our go-to places for quick inspiration. 

Here are a few I use regularly:

The Web: This one’s obvious, but the Internet is our direct line to what’s going on every day in the creative universe. These are some sites that I’m on almost daily: Behance, Abduzeedo, CardObserver, and Motionographer.

Books: I love books. In my opinion it’s impossible to replace the tactile experience of a good book with a digital screen. Here’s a couple I like:

How to Be a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul by Adrian Shaughnessy

Green Graphic Design by Brian Dougherty

The Record Store: We’re lucky to be located right across the street from the only existing record store in town, the Electric Fetus. I go there on my lunch break from time to time just to look at album covers. It’s not the type of work I typically get to do, but it gets me jazzed nonetheless.

Music: Music and creativity go hand in hand. Sometimes it’s good to block out distractions and just get into a rhythm with your iTunes library.

Inspiration is a personal thing and it’s different for everyone. For some people it may be a good cup o’ joe and that perfect yacht-rock song, while for others it’s peaceful silence and a favorite quote. Whatever it may be, that inspiring thing plays a crucial role in the creative process.

What gets you motivated to do your best work? My perspective is that of a designer, but it would be interesting to hear what works for you.