The Octagon... Online

Although motorsport is near and dear to my heart, it's hard to argue when other trends come into the spotlight. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is the fastest growing sport in the country - make no mistake about it. The UFC organization has revolutionized prize fighting and taken it from relative obscurity to mainstream recognition. Naturally with anything that popular, you'll have 3rd party companies looking to capitalize on the momentum, and with that said enter: One More Round.

One More Round is an upscale fashion line spawned by the same minds who founded BC Ethic. The brand aims to align with the warrior spirit and is adorned by top fighters who compete in the organization. Eyenovation was asked yet again to deliver the knockout punch for the company's online component and we worked closely with the One More Round brass to develop an immersive experience for fighters and fans alike.

Working in unfamiliar territory is usually pretty interesting. You always want to approach it (or at least I do) asking tons and tons of questions. I feel it's also really important to check your ego at the door. Coming into any situation with pre-conceived notions can be dangerous. It's always been very important to me that the work our studio delivers has an authenticity to it. The culture of MMA is very tight knit and anything 'fake' would be embarrassingly obvious. Now that's not to say we laced up gloves and sparred, but we were fortunate to be able to work directly with the athletes and capture their input in the design. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and yet again, it's been a tremendous opportunity for Eyenovation to delve into another lifestyle.

The Clients Align

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I'm very lucky to be one of the few who actually get paid to do what they enjoy. Sometimes I still shake my head while thinking I make a living being creative, which is likely something I'd otherwise do in my leisure time.  With that said, there are moments where any creative realizes the footprint they've left behind. One such moment came on a recent visit to the Hard Rock Hotel, in Las Vegas.

While standing in the gift shop, I happened to notice a strange anomaly. I was looking at three, completely unrelated things - and all three things, Eyenovation happened to develop a web site for. Very strange, indeed. The jackets for sale are made by BC Ethic - an upscale men's fashion label based in Vernon, CA. Not too far from them in Orange County is the shop for legendary bike builder - Jesse Rooke. And way in the background is a guitar played by none other than the Goo Goo Dolls. It's a small world, but even smaller when you see something like this.

Going Global

They say that no other thing has made the world a smaller place than the internet. Technology has bridged the gap between countries and cultures faster than ever before. If there was ever one thing to look back on for 2007, it would be the expansion of Eyenovation to a much larger scale. This once 'experiment' has been called upon not only nationally, but globally, to do exciting work for a myriad of clients.

In 2007, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit 8 different countries, on a handful of different continents... and 2008 doesn't look to be any different. It's a very rewarding experience to say the least, because I can honestly say we learn just as much from our clients as they perhaps learn from us. Culture is a huge part in how design is interpreted, and I've found it incredibly helpful to simply take in the surroundings and learn more about what will resonate with a local audience.

Of course with travel comes the "oh so pleasurable" airport experience. I've spent more time in airport executive lounges and security check points than I care to admit. And I guess in the blur of one city to another, you realize one fundamental thing: the more things change, the more they stay the same. The languages may be different, but good design is still... good design.

Czech Yourself

Call me crazy, but there's something amazingly cool about former communist countries. Whether it's the sense of burgeoning capitalism, the birth of democracy, or just the influx of western culture - it's awesome. The Czech Republic is a majestic place and one country that should be on everyone's "to do" list when they visit Europe. Prague in particular is amazingly cool and embodies old and new like nothing I've ever seen before.

The city of Prague is situated on the Vltava river in central Bohemia and is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The architecture, the buildings, the vibe, the nightlife, and the culture are all top notch.

The design scene in the Czech Republic is incredible too. Any kind of blossoming economy is bound to create tremendous opportunities for the creative industry. The talent is vast in the country and it's always exciting to see what others are doing abroad. One firm I found to be incredibly prominent is: Toman Graphic Design. Their work is top notch and I fell in love with the site. Definitely inspiring. 

The Soundtrack to Design

Graphic design can be a lonely job, especially in the wee hours of the morning when everyone's gone to sleep. Sometimes it requires burning the midnight oil and working long hours, especially in a crunch for a sensitive deadline. Thankfully for us, there's Red Bull and guys like DJ Tiesto. Now I'm not a huge trance or techno guy, (alternative rock is more my flavor.) But I will say for those late night grinds, there's no better vibe to work to than the euphoric sounds of electronic music.

Tiesto's "Elements of Life" tour rolled through Los Angeles and I was fortunate enough to score a pass. I wasn't sure how the live experience of electronic music would shape up, especially with all of the stereotypes from the 1990's rave scene... but I was definitely impressed.

Being graphically minded, I always find it fascinating to see how musical artists marry their sound with visuals and Tiesto's production scale was massive. Whether trance is your flavor or not, it's almost impossible for any creative person not to be amazed by the sheer scale. For a small taste of the vibe, check out this video.

The Next Act of the Show

It's definitely been a while since I've had time to write here, and for the 3 or so people who actually read this thing (hi mom), I assure you that all is going well with the business. Despite the inactivity or updates to either site, things are amazingly busy with Eyenovation. And while that comes with its fair share of stress, it's a problem I'm quite thankful to have. Business is going well and we're constantly getting inquiries from new clients which is a good thing.



Of course, with any business: If you're not innovating you're likely being overtaken by one that is. That is one mantra we preach to our clients and one we adhere to ourselves. With the amount of client work we've been doing the last 2 years, our own stuff has been somewhat neglected. Until now. While we can't reveal specifics yet, we are poised to take a giant leap forward in the evolution of the company. It's still a ways out, but stay tuned for some big things. When the curtain rises, it will mark the end of the beginning.

Looking Back to Look Forward

Although it sounds extremely crazy, I am often labeled "lucky," by friends and family who have traditional corporate jobs. The fact I set my own hours and control my own destiny is a liberating concept for those who find themselves locked in careers they ultimately hate. And while I am very quick to say I'm extremely fortunate for that opportunity, it's not as easy as one would think. In the end, success is all relative to what you sacrifice to achieve it. As many can attest, any surplus in one area usually comes with a shortage in another. With any new year, it's natural to reflect on the previous and assess what worked and what didn't. In many ways, 2006 was one of the hardest in my life. It was filled with challenges and setbacks not uncommon to a situation like mine. 2006 though, was also one I learned the most from and for that I am very thankful.

The highlights of 2006 are not necessarily the 'what' Eyenovation did, it's the 'who' we did it with. Throughout the year, we had the privilege of working with many great individuals whom I now consider friends. From lower Manhattan to Las Vegas, San Francisco to San Diego - Eyenovation was called upon to deliver work in numerous locations. This allowed me great opportunities to travel outside our offices and interact with our clients in new settings. The memories made along the way are what make this job truly enjoyable.

So what's in store for 2007? A lot. Much of which I am unable to reveal at the moment. I can say however, be on the lookout for an all new Eyenovation web site. As for when that will be done? We're not quite sure with all of the client work. But... it will include a tremendous amount of the stuff we've been working on the last few months. It's safe to say it's somewhat chaotic in the Eyenovation world, but the calmest place of any hurricane is right in the eye; and that's where I find myself at the moment. Happy New Year.