Coloring Outside the Lines

October 21, 2022

Coloring Outside the Lines

Tucker Build Office Graphics

Tucker Build is a commercial construction team, made up of design-build specialists. They know every project is unique, and that's why they break the mold again and again for their clients. Tucker Build’s expertise is in bespoke planning, managing, and building. Their process is defined by the specifics of each project and their job is to think of everything.

Widgets & Stone captured this sensibility when we created the Tucker Build identity, and we sought to expand upon it in the design of the graphics for their new office. Designed by architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen, the office embodied a clean, Modernist minimalism. Our team embraced that style and expanded on it in our approach to environmental graphics.

The office is decorated with standoff black and white photographs of Tucker Build’s work, accentuated with bright swatches of red and orange that break the edges and spill across the walls. The results are dynamic, yet with a bit of restraint that ties the space together, across hallways and rooms.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Art Direction & Design: Mark Walter; Fabrication, Printing & Installation: Steven Eddy, PSS.

The Full Spectrum of Learning

July 7, 2022

The Full Spectrum of Learning

Lighthouse Kids Website

Lighthouse Kids is a children’s learning center that serves the Autism community at all varying stages of development.

Lighthouse Kids approached us with an idea to build a website that can grow with the organization as more locations and internal developments emerge. The website needed to be a central hub for resources and connections for the Autism community, with a focus on functionality and usability for caregivers and physicians, alike.

The website we designed and developed encourages community connection by inviting caregivers, family members, and career applicants, to engage with Lighthouse Kids events and discourse. Interactive forms across the site allow caregivers to communicate how and when they want to engage with the organization, while calendars encourage and guide connections within the Lighthouse Kids community.

The Lighthouse Kids’ logo guided the direction of the design, from typography to color palette. A slab serif with playful terminals make a statement in large-scale titling, while thin sans serif Raleway body text synthesizes seamlessly with modern UI expectations.

Handing over the reins to their new website, we equipped Lighthouse Kids with the tools and knowledge they will need to continue building their website as the organization develops and expands.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Design Direction: Liz Tapp; Design: Emily Ricks; Technical Support: George Bairaktaris.

The Future is Now

July 1, 2021

The Future is Now

Social media designs for Future Capital

Future Capital (by ProNvest) offers a suite of financial tools that takes the heavy lifting out of planning and investing for retirement by automating the day-to-day work of managing your retirement accounts. Their technology gives you access to institutional investment advice and management at a low cost.

While Widgets & Stone was helping develop designs and illustrations for an explainer video for ProNvest, we were also creating a graphic style that could easily move to their new brand: Future Capital.

The sharp and fresh illustrations we created paired perfectly with the expanded ProNvest / Future Capital color palette to create an inviting set of social graphics for the experienced members of the ProvNvest team to spread the word about their state-of-the-art account analysis tools.

Design Direction: Liz Tapp; Design: Liz Tapp and Travis Hitchcock; Illustration: Travis Hitchcock; Animation: Liz Tapp and Travis Hitchcock.

The Lost Album Archive

February 3, 2021

The Lost Album Archive

Promo for Adams Litho printing company

Adams Litho is a world class printing company that wanted to showcase their coated paper printing techniques. Widgets & Stone came up with a project concept that would allow for a wide variety of printing methods with diverse design and photography styles in a generous format: album cover designs.

Widgets & Stone and 26 Tools paired real artists with fake albums, songs and record companies to create a diverse visual landscape to display all of their coated paper printing techniques.

The entire book is printed on Sterling coated papers in a limited edition of 500, and was bound by Bind Tech. The book showcases all kinds of printing techniques from soft-touch finishes, to foil stamping, iridescent varnishes, embossing, thermography and so much more.

See more on Behance.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Writing: 26 Tools and Widgets & Stone; Design: Virginia Brooks, Brad Dicharry, Nick DuPey, Stephanie Fast, Travis Hitchcock, Mandy Lamb, Laura Michael, Mark Slawson, Liz Tapp. Photography: Getty Images, iStock, Brad Dicharry.

Adams Litho Web Design

October 21, 2020

The Best at What We Do

Adams Litho Web Design

Adams Lithographing Company is an international award-winning, third-generation family-owned printing business. They offer a full range of printing services for businesses of every size. From color digital printing to custom UV offset lithographic printing, they consistently deliver the highest quality work, on-time, and on-budget. Their combination of quality craftsmanship and state-of-the-art technical proficiency is grounded in the day-to-day quality that Adams has been producing since 1886.

Adams is long time collaborator with Widgets & Stone, and they asked us to update their web site in 2017 – to simplify the site structure, to improve their messaging and to showcase new capabilities.

In mid-2020, in the midst of repercussions from COVID-19 and subsequent lock downs, Adams decided to invest in improving the site yet again. This time Widgets & Stone helped to refine messaging and photography and to create a showcase video that fit into the already existing site structure.

The final design is an effective sales tool that shows exactly how good Adams Litho is – the best. Visit the site by clicking here.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Design Direction: Liz Tapp; Design: Liz Tapp; Photograhy and video: John Le; Writing: Jacob Biba.

Making the Ascent

September 18, 2020

Making the Ascent

Capstone program web page

Covenant College had done the difficult part – identifying, defining and naming their unique capstone program “The Covenant Ascent.” But they found they needed help creating a landing page that articulated the information about the program in just the right way.

They asked us to help create a very clean and functional page that would give potential students all the necessary info they would need to learn about the program. We captured a drone video of the beautiful mountaintop campus, and then we designed a deceptively simple page in Webflow. The key component was the slide transitions walking through the program’s pyramid of steps over the course of student’s college career.

Visit the Ascent page here.

Design: Liz Tapp Travis Hitchcock, John Le; Webflow Development: Liz Tapp, Travis Hitchcock, John Le; Drone video: George Bairaktaris, John Le.

Iconic Data by Design

July 11, 2020

Iconic Data by Design

Icons for Data Engineering

Widgets & Stone was tapped by Joe Stitzlein of Stitzlein Studio to help create a set of icons for client in the enterprise data engineering space.

Our team followed Joe’s creative direction to design over a dozen sets of possible icons solutions for the project before settling on this final set of winners.

Creative Direction: Joe Stitzlein, Stitzlein Studio; Design Direction: Paul Rustand; Design & Animation: John Le.

Bird Dog Valet Parking

May 19, 2020

That Dog’ll Hunt

Logo

We created a logo for a new valet parking service that matches the qualities of man’s best friend (and best hunting partner) – loyal, disciplined and smart. Our iconic solution is both playful and distinct, standing out in the rather cliché world of valet parking brands.

Visit their web site here.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Identity Design: Travis Hitchcock; Web Design: Stephanie Fast.

The Blue Plate

March 18, 2020

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

The Blue Plate

Since 2006, Widgets & Stone has helped to develop creative design and marketing tools for Chattanooga’s metropolitan diner, The Blue Plate. As the restaurant has grown and changed over the years, so has the branding. Widgets & Stone has designed styles and messages for digital, print, photography, interior design and so much more.

Let our team help you with your restaurant project.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Photography: Graham Yelton; Design: Travis Hitchcock, Liz Tapp, Athene Ruiz, Laura Michael.

Civic IQ

February 4, 2020

Civic IQ

2019 Poster series

Chattanooga’s CIVIQ is a quarterly event which introduces and humanizes national and international movements in urban design by showcasing visionary work being done by practitioners in other cities. With each free public event, CIVIQ aims to make attendees to leave inspired, informed, and activated. More than a lecture, each event is intended to equip the city to think differently about challenges faced in our community.

With a poster grid structure established by designers Ben Dicks and Mark Walter, Widgets & Stone created posters inspired by the speakers and topics. The only unifying elements in the series are the colors and the grid.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Design: Brad Dicharry; Mark Slawson; John Le.

A Decade of Design

September 4, 2019

A Decade of Design

Chattanooga FC’s Tenth Year

Widgets & Stone designs the uniforms for the Chattanooga Football Club as it celebrates its tenth anniversary.

Taking cues from what had come before (2009-2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018), the team created designs in the classic navy and sky while adding the safety orange for the goalie kit. Drawing inspiration from partners/sponsors VW and vfl Wolfsburg, the designers created subtle textural patterns forming an X – the Roman numeral for 10 – to honor the decade long history of the club.

Silicone badges add depth and quality to uniforms, bringing a degree of professionalism as the club enters the ranks of professional soccer this season.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Design: Travis Hitchcock; Production: Inaria; Photography: Inaria.

ENJOY

April 17, 2019

ENJOY

Blue Plate / Local 191 shuttle wrap

Widgets & Stone has been working with Chattanooga’s metropolitan diner, The Blue Plate, for over a decade. The design team also helped develop the bar brand that grew out of the Blue Plate space in 2012: Local 191.

As part of brand development, the design team has been involved in marketing efforts like billboards, advertisements, social media and email design. For fall of 2018 the Blue Plate and 191 experimented with a bus wrap on downtown Chattanooga’s free electric shuttle service.

The designs celebrate the personalities of each brand while still working together to create a cohesive wrap.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Design: Travis Hitchcock.

Going Where the Need Is

April 10, 2019

Clínica Médicos Identity

Caring for the health of underserved communities

Clínica Médicos provides bilingual medical services blending patient care, urgent care, and obstetrics with public health, community service, and education especially focusing on Chattanooga’s underserved Latino population.

Drawing inspiration from the vibrant colors seen in Central and South America, Widgets & Stone created an identity that is warm and welcoming as well as professional and capable. Other brand materials and a straightforward Squarespace web site present the clinic consistently and positively.

The Widgets & Stone team was honored to be a able to help Dr. Kelly Arnold in starting this important endeavor, will continue to support the clinic going forward.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Design: Travis Hitchcock; Writing: Caleb Ludwick; Photography: David Andrews.

History in the Re-Making

April 9, 2019

History in the Re-Making

Logo for Healy & Co.

Healy & Company, LLC is a boutique commercial brokerage firm with a national reach based in Chattanooga, TN. With deep roots within the community, (since 2002), Healy & Company has been among the top producers in the region in commercial transactions.

Widgets & Stone redesigned the Healy & Co web site in early 2018. When the company decided to shift away from its main identity being associated with SVN, owner John Healy asked the team at Widgets to create a logo with a sense of heritage and history. The team created a unique look that is sure to stand out in the competitive landscape of contemporary logo styles.

Designer Travis Hitchcock developed a vintage line rendering of the company’s offices and paired it with a customized version of the LHF Whistler typeface.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Design: Travis Hitchcock.

Have a Seat

March 20, 2019

Have a Seat

Web site design

SeatMyTrucks is an advertising agency specializing in truck driver recruiting. They provide services like: Hiring Guidelines, Recruiter Compensation, Database Marketing, Tenstreet Use, Driver Pay, Onboarding Processes, and of course, Advertising Strategy.

Widgets & Stone created a straightforward and handsome web design to help the company launch.

Design Direction: Liz Tapp; Design: Travis Hitchcock; Writing: Jacob Biba.

The Brand in Print

February 27, 2019

The Brand in Print

EF Contract Collateral

After helping to launch the new EF Contract identity in 2018, Widgets & Stone has continued to develop brand communications tools for the company. The brand personality has taken shape through a wide variety of print materials: product booklets, inspiration magazines, corporate brochures and special event look books.

Led by Design Director Liz Tapp, the Widgets & Stone team has created a consistent look and feel for the new flooring company that stands out from the competition.

Creative Director: Paul Rustand; Design Director: Liz Tapp; Designers: Liz Tapp, Stephanie Fast, Athene Ruiz, John Le; Photography: Various/Stock.

Spoons Out

February 1, 2019

Southern Spooning

Chocolate sauce packaging

Southern Spooning chocolate sauce is a family recipe that started 40 years ago with Bernie Arnold, food editor for the Nashville Tennessean and Banner. She taught her daughter-in-law, Kay, how to make it, and Kay turned it into a chocolate sauce she has served her family for years. Her daughter, Lauren, is co-owner and business partner helping to bring Southern Spooning Chocolate Sauce to everyone.

Widgets & Stone had the pleasure of helping create the logo and packaging design for this delectable treat.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Design: Brad Dicharry.

People Values

January 31, 2019

Core Values

Communication tools for Grain Craft

Grain Craft has combined the personal service and dependability of three great flour millers into the nation’s largest independent flour milling company. Cereal Food Processors, Milner Milling and PFM united under the Grain Craft name, bringing together three respected companies with rich milling histories dating as far back as 1899.

Although their backgrounds and regions vary, each company shares core values about how to service your needs and how to conduct business the right way. Today, these core values form the very foundation of Grain Craft.

Since Grain Craft was just officially formed in 2014, the company has only recently started to develop a corporate culture to connect the three previously separate companies. Widgets & Stone worked with Grain Craft’s HR department create graphics to communicate these values to employees – through signs, murals, displays, wearables and online assets.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Design: Travis Hitchcock.

What if moving was fun?

January 31, 2019

What if moving was fun?

Bellhops Promo Video

Bellhops provides manpower and online resources to help you with your move – anywhere in the US. This Chattanooga startup has become one of the fastest-growing companies in the moving industry. In late 2018 they launched a new brand identity designed by NYC based Gin Lane.

To coincide with the new brand launch, Bellhops Art Director, Adam Ewing, tapped Widgets & Stone to help create a promo video. Design Director Liz Tapp guided the team to create this playful video, showcasing Dotson Commercial’s photography and the new logo.

See the video here.

Creative Direction: Adam Ewing; Design Direction: Liz Tapp; Designers: John Le, Athene Ruiz, Victor Tyler; Photography: Dotson Commercial; Identity Design: Gin Lane.

Acing It

January 23, 2019

Acing it

Zünd Digital Cutter Promo

World-class printers Adams Litho acquired a Zünd digital cutting system. The system makes it easy to tailor the cutting system to specific cutting needs and materials.

Adams asked Widgets & Stone to help promote the new equipment by designing a deck of cards that could be die cut on the new system. Designers John Le and Mark Slawson developed a unique look that followed traditional playing deck design solutions.

Creative Direction: Paul Rustand; Design: John Le, Mark Slawson; Printing: Adams Litho