Joel Sartore is a freelance photographer for National Geographic.  His most recent project is called the Biodiversity Project, and the idea behind it is to promote animal conservation.  Joel has has gathered nearly 1,800 photographs of animals species over the past five years, with many more planned in the coming months.

Joel’s quest for photos led him to the Fort Worth Zoo.  You can see video footage and photographs of the shoot here.  The photography features animals on a solid white or black background. The idea behind this is to give all animals equal weight…from the ladybug to the lion. The photography is beautiful, and the video is captivating and inspirational.

-Erin Naterman

Daily Inspiration Through Art

Design and trading cards

I was totally a card collecting mad man when I was a kid. The most intriguing thing for me about the cards, other than the players, was the design. I was amazed how so many things could be done with such a small space. Looking back it’s no surprise, I was destined to be a designer.

I bring this up with the arrival of RG3 in the NFL. I will again have a chance to collect and perhaps become inspired all over again. Above is a sneak peak at an upcoming RG3 rookie card and I am stupid-excited to try and collect a few!

Stay Inspired

-Colt (Did I mention I went to Baylor?)

Daily Inspiration Through Art

A Heart for Liqaa

This year I felt inspired by a group called Preemptive Love Coalition. Their mission is to provide life-saving heart surgeries to Iraqi children and hands-on training to Iraqi doctors and nurses. Learn more about their story here.

As a designer, I volunteered my services to help with a logo and header for one of their fundraising websites. If you have the means, any donation would help a ton. Happy Valentines Day!!!

Stay Inspired.

-Colt

With Valentine’s day approaching, we thought it was the prime opportunity to reach out to our Magnolia neighbors.

After a little prep work on Friday, our team worked to build a window display to spread the message of love and give a shout out to the “residents” of Fort Worth’s South Side.

On the back wall you will see the message “Love thy neighbor,” and our surrounding neighbors placed on hanging ribbon.

Be sure to come down to Fort Worth’s South Side, pay a visit to us and/or one of our neighbors and check out the window display!

Daily Inspiration Through Art

Hallmark Campaign: Tell me

Great example of a simple and excellent copy behind a great concept. Sometimes all we need is for someone tell us words of encouragement or to remind us that we are loved. Enjoy.

-Colt

The Giants aren’t the only one’s that are celebrating a win. There were a few winning campaigns as well, and once again our creative and strategy guys agreed.

The top ad for Super Bowl 46, hands down goes to Chrysler. Earning 90 points from creative and 85 from strategy, these top scores are a result of brilliant copy writing, perfect impact/placement airing once at halftime, and Chrysler capturing the essence of America.

Todd’s Ad Bowl Faceoff score card (great to good):

Chevy Trucks - total score: 85 points. Strategically it was was smart playing off of a big 2012 story, the Mayan Apocalypse. Also smart directly calling out Ford and their tagline, Ford Tough. Creative execution was flawless down to the co-branding with Twinkies. http://youtu.be/XxFYYP8040A

Volkswagen - total score: 75 points. Good strategy by playing it up with the pre-super bowl buzz with the singing dogs on Youtube. The spot was compelling with the dog getting fit, and the Star Wars ending tied back to the buzz. A weird combination, but there was something in it for everyone. http://youtu.be/0-9EYFJ4Clo

Chevy Sonic - total score: 75 points. Strategy was perfect pushing your new compact on the Xgames/Redbull generation. In the age of CGI graphics, the REAL stunts were too cool. To see a real car do a real kick-flip over a giant skateboard was nostalgic for an old guy like me, and over-the-top for the young hipster. The push to letsdothis.com for behind the scenes was a great extension. http://youtu.be/iuvoSw1TiJ8

Teleflora - total score: 70 points. I know, I’m a guy and sex sells - but this was a smart spot. Days before Valentines day you just reminded dumb guys to call or go online and order flowers for our girlfriends or wives (or both). And all we have to do is give and we receive? They just did the whole florist industry a solid. http://youtu.be/uWrJgFjxlS0

Ken’s Ad Bowl Faceoff score card (great to good):

Chevy Trucks - total score: 80 points.  How do you show the end of the world as we know it, while poking fun at your biggest competitor?  Look to Chevy – they did it perfectly.  In an epic spot, Chevrolet used humor and great production value to show that Ford Tough, isn’t so tough after all.  Was it effective?  Ford thought it would be, they formally requested that NBC pull the commercial before it aired. Plus the Twinkie reference….greatness. http://youtu.be/XxFYYP8040A

Chevy Camaro – total score: 75 points. I really didn’t want to like another car commercial, but this spot captures the exuberance in pride of ownership.  Not just of any car but the car of your dreams. OK , maybe not your dreams, but certainly of most men between 18-24.  http://youtu.be/Ae52ourE3Pw

Teleflora – total score: 75 points.  My wife and my mom are going to kill me.  But let’s be honest:  As guys we are typically clueless about what to get the woman in our lives for Valentines Day, let alone even remembering that Valentines Day is an epically important holiday to half the population. Lest I be labeled a mysoginist  - let the record show I’ve already ordered flowers.  Really. I have. Right after I saw the spot. http://youtu.be/uWrJgFjxlS0

Volkswagen – total score: 70 points. The Volkswagen Beetle had a great brand relaunch a number of years ago, and since that time the Mini Cooper killed them. The Beetle needed a redesign to be a sleeker more contemporary design. The ad told a great story with a nice nod to one of the best Super Bowl commercials ever, last year’s Darth Vader Kid spot. http://youtu.be/0-9EYFJ4Clo

Do these match up with your top five? Let us know!

There were some definite losers in yesterday’s festivities - and we’re not just talking about the Patriots.

Ad Bowl Faceoff scores are in, and Ken and Todd did agree on one thing: the worst ad of super bowl 46. 

This crown ring goes to the “old gimmick” from GO-daddy. Scoring a meek 5 points from strategy and 0 from creative, the general sentiment was that it’s time for Go-Daddy to go-on to a new campaign. 

Check it out for yourself:

Here are how Ken and Todd scored other commercials from bad to worse.

Todd’s Ad Bowl Faceoff score card (bad to worse):

E*trade - total score: 11 points. Need to find a fresh way to creatively show the simplicity of E*trade, there’s nothing more for the smart-ass babies to say. http://youtu.be/Hh8hS8uSoJs

MetLife - total score: 10 points. Great idea for more iconic cartoons to follow their long-time “Snoopy” mascot, but they did nothing with those characters or possibilities. http://youtu.be/zKRVM06MfHc

Bud Light Platinum - total score: 8 points. Tired of CGI, high tech assembly lines building things. Really? http://youtu.be/Eo1BHwPtQcc

Cars.com - total score: 6 points. Too creepy!  Dialogue was lost because I was too busy turning away from the growth out of his back? Sometimes odd is good, but that was just creepy. http://youtu.be/PMxSZQZuBYc

Ken’s Ad Bowl Faceoff score card (bad to worse):
Century 21 - total score: 20 points. I get what you were trying to do, but it came off looking like my old Uncle Albert trying to be cool at my birthday party.  Uncle Albert was never cool. Ever.  Century 21 – you would’ve gotten along great with Uncle Al.  http://youtu.be/TwXycwCe6_s

Samsung–Galaxy - total score: 15 points. As one member of our team said, “a phone with a pen – what are the bringing back the palm pilot.”  IF you are going to take a shot at the most pervasive technology brand, you better have more ammo than that. http://youtu.be/V40oo4kkzHg

MetLife – total score: 10 points. Strategy?  What strategy. Let’s get every great baby boomer and gen x cartoon character and wedge them all into a nonsensical commercial. Met Life - You need a new agency. http://youtu.be/zKRVM06MfHc

Bud Light Platinum - total score: 10 points. Who produced this ad?  A committee of robotic engineers?  Actually, that’s offensive to engineers.  In the age of “hand crafted” small batch beers, could Bud Light have made their product look more impersonal? All wrong.  http://youtu.be/Eo1BHwPtQcc

Do you think Ken and Todd got it right naming Go-Daddy as the worst Super Bowl ad? We’re always up for some good banter, and want to hear what you think!

Welcome to Ad Bowl Faceoff I: Let the Commercials Begin!

Join the conversation here, on Facebook or @SchaeferAdCo #faceoff.

Daily Inspiration Through Art

Trip to Dallas to see Shepard Fairey

So I posted a few pics a couple days ago over Shepard’s new murals in Dallas area and wanted to share about my trip to see one of the Obey murals outside of the Dallas Contemporary. The Dallas Contemporary is responsible for bringing the Mural project to Dallas and Thursday night they hosted a “chit chat” where Shepard got to discuss his work, his history, and what his passions are.

One of the greatest things I took away from it was his message to “the artist”. His message was to go out and make things happen for yourself, you cannot sit back and wait for opportunities to open, you go out and create the opportunity. This guy definitely made the most of every opportunity that came his way and has continued to create great work. I never really had a “hero” or anything along those lines, but if I had to pick someone he would definitely be up there. He is a designer and artist, I hope I can accomplish a fraction of what this guy has with his talents.

-Colt

Are you ready for some …

AD BOWL FACEOFF!

We are adding a new twist to watching the Super Bowl commercials: Two of our top ad execs, our creative director and president, will faceoff and comment on the commercials as they air.

We want you to join the conversation! This Sunday be sure to check our Facebook and Twitter pages and agree, disagree or anything in between. Twitter world can use #Faceoff to follow the conversation.

After the big game we’ll reveal the Ad Bowl Faceoff’s Top Five List.