The Carlisle Creative

Fall back.

2009-11-01T20:28:00.001-08:00

You're a long way from home.

2009-11-01T19:28:00.000-08:00

Shoestring Theories

2009-10-30T14:52:00.000-07:00

Shoestring Theories from chris hamilton on Vimeo.

Artsy at the Art Institute.

2009-10-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

Chicago night lights, more Canon 7d photos.

2009-10-28T21:02:00.000-07:00

From f1

I have multiple personality disorders

2009-10-27T16:48:00.000-07:00

From f1

2009 Reel Rough Cut

2009-10-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

2009 Reel Rough Cut from chris hamilton on Vimeo.

FuckFace Unstoppable / New Canon 7D

2009-10-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

Fuckface Unstoppable / Worst Day of my life. from chris hamilton on Vimeo.

Vision 2009

2009-10-20T17:50:00.000-07:00

From f1

Chicago Ave.

2009-10-17T10:29:00.001-07:00

From f1

You could have done anything...

2009-10-09T15:23:00.001-07:00

From f1

You's a bad Mthrfckr.

2009-10-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

From f1

Playing around with compositions.

Hot as hell.

2009-10-05T22:42:00.000-07:00

From f1

Ayn Rand.

2009-10-05T18:05:00.000-07:00

From f1

"So you think that money is the root of all evil? Have you ever asked what is the root of money? Money is a tool of exchange, which can't exist unless there are goods produced and men able to produce them. Money is the material shape of the principle that men who wish to deal with one another must deal by trade and give value for value. Money is not the tool of the moochers, who claim your product by tears or of the looters, who take it from you by force. Money is made possible only by the men who produce. Is this what you consider evil?"

The doors of perception.

2009-10-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

From f1

"The man who comes back through the Door in the Wall will never be quite the same as the man who went out. He will be wiser but less sure, happier but less self-satisfied, humbler in acknowledging his ignorance yet better equipped to understand the relationship of words to things, of systematic reasoning to the unfathomable mystery which it tries, forever vainly, to comprehend."

I am not...

2009-10-04T19:35:00.000-07:00

From f1

CogHill Country Club...

2009-10-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

On location with SolidLine Media (solidlinemedia.com) at Coghill Country Club for the WGA Evans Scholars. Click an image to view the large version.

From f1

Architect.

2009-09-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

From f1

Quality/Quantity

2009-09-18T12:47:00.000-07:00

View Large Verson

New song.

2009-09-17T20:20:00.001-07:00

The band without a name...

2009-09-16T14:15:00.000-07:00

The Economics of Art & Design.

2009-09-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

The Colosseum was not created in a year, Michaelangelo's Statue of David was not created in a month, and Van Gogh's Starry Night was not created in a day. Great art can usually take many years and tremendous amounts of resources to create. In most cases, artists and designers work their entire lives without producing what would commonly be regarded as a "masterpiece."

Graphic design and motion graphics are no less different; regardless whether it is personal or commercial work. The introduction of business and commerce and how it relates to art & design is a constant struggle of tight deadlines, budgets, and the ability to produce quality work. Far too often clients do not understand the amount of time, effort, and resource it takes to make something of extremely high quality. They always think that it is possible to make something great in a little amount of time and still have the cost remain low. It is just not possible in the same way that money does not grow on trees, even though we all wish it did.

The Project Triangle states that:
Design something quickly and to a high standard, but then it will not be cheap.
Design something quickly and cheaply, but it will not be of high quality.
Design something with high quality and cheaply, but it will take a long time
Wikipedia: Project Triangle

A good understanding of the Project Triangle is paramount to the success of your project, whether it be graphic design, motion graphics, or video production. All of these things are creative endeavors that will be hampered if there is not sufficient time and resource to accomplish the project goals.

So when you are thinking about undertaking your next video project, the best things to do are to:
1. Leave ample time to achieve your desired goals.
2. Realize that quality comes at a cost.
3. Leave time for planning that will make the process move along smoothly.

If you can recognize these three things, your project should be a success... some might even say a masterpiece.

Concept is King!

2009-09-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

We live in a world in which media is virtually around every corner we turn. We are constantly bombarded with various types of media - which comes to us in many shapes and forms. “A conservative estimate has the average American consumer exposed to more than 850 commercial messages a day.” (Texas A&M University Digital Library) It is impossible to escape it, and for good reason. Media is the vehicle in which we as individuals can express ourselves, and as companies it is a way we sell our ideas or services.

How is that we can go about creating media such as promotional videos, commercials, training videos, or conference videos that will resonate within our audience's mind? How can we truly have a lasting impact on them when they are constantly bombarded with various forms of media? How can we stand out from all of the rest? And most importantly, how can we get them to act upon the information presented to them? The answer is though creative concepts.

Anyone can regurgitate information though a camera and on to a television set that will ultimately go in the audiences short term memory only to be forgotten minutes later. Raw information needs to be molded and applied in a fashion that the audience can relate to and also in a way they might find interesting. A good concept allows us to do exactly that.

A concept can mean any number of things; from a story-line with a character animation, to a cutting edge visual style that your video could be executed in. There are a number of methods we can utilize to make videos that are engaging for the viewer to watch. Any production company can gear up with ultra-hightech video cameras and make you a professional looking corporate video. But is that going to truly be what makes your customer remember it, is it going to be what makes the customer act upon what they have seen? Without the foundation, or the concept, you cannot build the frame. After all, it is ideas and concepts that allow you to stand out in a media saturated world.

In regards to film and video, a good concept is created by taking into account a clients goals and expectations, their target market, branding, and most importantly what they want to communicate to their audience. We take into account all those various things and brainstorm on how we can communicate that message in an interesting way.

RIP SWAYZE.

2009-09-14T18:20:00.000-07:00

From f1

Hystereo.

2009-09-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

Emerson...

2009-08-27T18:48:00.000-07:00

Ralph Waldo Emerson from chris hamilton on Vimeo.

A personal piece I created based off a Ralph Waldo Emerson Quote. I'd like to take out the lens flare because I hate lens flares and don't know why I insist on adding them.

The Modern Monkey... just a hiphop junkie.

2009-08-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

The modern monkey... he's a hiphop junkie. from chris hamilton on Vimeo.

Another entry for Greyscale Gorilla's five second project. This time the theme was "Modern Monkey." I wasn't a huge fan of the theme, mainly because I couldn't come up with a good concept... it was challenging. But once I had a concept, I had a blast animating it.

Your Brand - It's Like Getting Dressed in the Morning.

2009-08-20T10:01:00.000-07:00

Branding has become a dominant term in the world of commerce. Its definition varies depending on who you ask, but is typically thought of as a company's identity in the eye's of its consumers. It has an uncanny ability to communicate what you or your company does, the quality that you produce, and the manner in which you achieve those results. Ultimately branding is the impression, whether conscious or subconscious, that you leave in the minds of everyone who interacts with your company.

Humans more often than not, are a highly visual and judgmental species. What we see, allows us to form judgments and biases based on what we see and encounter on a daily basis. For example, if we see a dark alley late at night, we typically think of it as an unsafe place to go. The alley's brand late at night relates very much to its visual indicators: dark, dirty, abandoned, not to mention the creepy guy in the trench coat who's giving you weird looks. These indications have become associated with how the alley might be unsafe and something we have learned to be fearful of, regardless if those fears are justifiable or not. These fears and biases will ultimately help us to decide if walking down the alley is a good idea or a bad idea. These kinds of biases encompass how we interact with certain individuals, groups of people, and how we interpret the world around us. Branding allows artists and designers to manipulate this aspect of human perception to help shape other people's opinions of ourselves, and the companies we either work for or own - hopefully for the better.

Simply put, branding is like the clothing you wear, only it's for your company. Do you want your company dressed like a bum or dressed to the nine's? The answer is obvious, but the question is how can we go about creating a successful brand?

Having a solid brand, especially in an increasingly brand aware world is going to be paramount to your success in the long run. Most Fortune 500 companies are aware of this and they attempt to use it to their advantage, some succeed more so than others depending on your personal opinion. Your brand encompasses everything from your visual identity, to the culture of your work place, to the experiences your clients have with you. For the purposes of this article, we will be tackling the visual aspects of your brand.

Your company logo is a key piece in creating a successful brand for your company, it can be equated to the kind of shirt you put on this morning. Is the shirt dirty? Does it have holes in it? What is on the shirt, any graphics, colors, or patterns? Is it nicely ironed? We can create an impression in our mind based on how someone is dressed that will lead us to assume certain things about the person that may or may not be true. If we see someone in a nicely pressed white collar shirt we can assume that the person might be a successful business person, someone who is intelligent and competent.

For a large part our experiences in life have taught us to react in one fashion or another based on those impressions. Your logo, as mentioned before, can be thought of like the shirt you are wearing. Was your logo custom tailored by a professional who knows how to use color, shape, line, typography, and iconography to clearly communicate the positive aspects of your company? Or was it designed by an amateur who gave no thought to how it would be perceived in the eyes of the public?

One of the most prolific examples, as well as one that truly has a historical impact, is the importance branding played in the 2008 Presidential Election.

Historically, campaign branding and design has not been something that has played a tremendous role in the outcome of elections seeing how most campaigns typically didn't have much associated branding other than typographic red and blue signs. This election was slightly different however.

The Obama campaign which was trying to capitalize on the youth vote, and they understood the importance of having a good brand in attracting the eyes of a generation that has been exposed to brands virtually all their life. They decided to hire a prestigious Chicago based design agency VSA Partners to help themselves differentiate from current and past presidential campaigns. The visual style of the opposing campaigns are rather clear cut. McCain's campaign had the run of the mill, typical campaign look to it. Whereas Obama's had a new, more modern look to it - a look that is reflective of the Web 2.0 generation. Obama's logo also was one of the first to include any sort of iconography within it which all lent itself to his message. It was the first campaign to really brand itself according to how it wanted to be perceived to their target market, and was quite successful in doing so.

As most political campaigns go, each side states that it is going to bring "change" to the political arena. Whether Obama will truly bring that change is a matter of political opinion, but his branding was the first to really speak about that change and hope that he had promised. How could we believe McCain's campaign, seeing how his branding was so much like all the predecessors before him? If he looks like all the politicians before him, he will most likely just be more of the same, right? Obama's campaign capitalized on this fact, and made a point of difference to set themselves a part. Apparently it worked because he is now the 44th President of the Unites States, and it would be safe to assume that his campaign has changed the way we think about branding and the political process.

So what exactly does a logo contain that helps create a successful brand?

There are many schools of thoughts, and it is a very subjective topic - everyone has their own opinion and we all respond to things differently. However, there are certain traits that leading brands have within their logos. Having said that, we also need to note that societal perceptions are constantly changing, adapting, and responding to everything else that is going on, which is why some brands are updated every now and again.

The first trait is that most logos are simple. You want your logo to be as economical as possible, but still maintain resonance within your audience's mind. You want to be able to communicate your message in one quick glance. In the case of Obama's logo, they used the sun rising on the horizon which was comprised of red stripes. A simple message being that we've awoken to a new era in government, and that hope is on the horizon. You could go on interpreting it however you see fit, the important thing is that it communicates a lot of information in a rather simple form. Not to mention the "O" in which the icon lies, obviously standing for Obama.

The second trait is that it should be timeless. A lot of amateur designers typically create their first logos in styles that are popular or relevant at the time, only to have their clients frustrated later on because down the road they just look dated. Certainly, some designers play into this aspect and some logos may not be used over a long period of time. Ideally, for most corporate logos, longevity is a must so your logo cannot be reflective of the current fads happening at the moment. They should still be consistent with the market's taste however, but that is also fleeting. One example of a widely known brand and logo is Coca-Cola. They're logo hasn't changed for over 100 years and it's still relevant to this day.

The third trait is that is should be executed by a professional. Often times people underestimate the role of the designer in creating a successful brand and they often think that anyone can design a logo. Sometimes they're right, most of the time they're wrong. Designers have a great deal of knowledge that can help alleviate some of the difficulties of creating a successful brand down the road. Some of that knowledge includes understanding the historical relevance of the typeface that is used in your logo, or knowledge of color theory and an understanding of how humans react to and perceive various shades of green. For the most part, when starting a company, or redesigning your logo, just leave it to a pro. It might cost more, but it will pay off down the line.

Not only is your brand communicated through your logo, which we could equate to the shirt you may or may not be wearing at the moment. But it also encompasses all the other printed material, web, video, and signage that you might posses as a company. Which is why, once again, that it is so crucial that you work with designer's who know what they're doing. You want your brand to be consistent across all the various media's just mentioned and professional designer will make sure that it is accomplished.

Per Capita...

2009-08-20T09:58:00.001-07:00

Frame 1 of a style sheet that I'm currently working on for a motion graphics piece.

People that wear shoes occasionaly & a dog...

2009-08-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

Upside down...

2009-08-14T11:01:00.002-07:00

upside down... from chris hamilton on Vimeo.

Another five second project based on the theme, "Upside Down."

http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/

Cuz I'm focused mang.

2009-08-04T19:41:00.000-07:00

From Family Reunion 09

The Birds

2009-08-04T19:38:00.000-07:00

From Family Reunion 09

The Bee Keeper.

2009-08-04T19:23:00.000-07:00

From Family Reunion 09

I own the night.

2009-08-04T19:13:00.000-07:00

From Family Reunion 09

5 second project...

2009-07-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

Summer in space. Grey Scale Gorilla's 5 Second Projects. from chris hamilton on Vimeo.

This is a short animation that I made for greyscalegorilla's 5 second project. They give out a theme and people create their interpretations of it, it's pretty fun and I can always use the practice. The theme for this was "Summer in Space." I came up with the idea while I was smoking a cigarette on the back porch staring at my newly acquired grill.

Here's a song I made.

2009-07-21T16:57:00.000-07:00

I was going to make a music video for it. Then I decided I didn't like it that much. The story of my life.

Hearts of Fire...

2009-07-20T21:05:00.000-07:00

Chicago Blues fest 2009

2009-06-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

Protesting the War Protesters...

2009-06-14T21:40:00.001-07:00

We're so misguided that we misguide ourselves and those around us.

Ellen

2009-06-11T15:04:00.000-07:00

Fast cars, women, fire, knives...

2009-06-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

A speech by Milton Glaser...

2009-06-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

Milton Glaser's speech to the London AIGA.

I read this and it immediately spoke to me. It covers virtually everything I think about on a daily basis.

64 Classic.

2009-05-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

Fuckface Unstoppable Live @ the Cobra Lounge 5/14/09

2009-05-15T23:38:00.001-07:00

ffu_6, originally uploaded by carlisle-creative.

Awesome show as usual. I got a lot of shots that I'm quite proud of.

Here's more: View Image Gallery

All garbage ends up in the trash.

2009-05-15T08:53:00.001-07:00

All garbage ends up in the trash., originally uploaded by carlisle-creative.

View larger version here! What happened to the hope? Where's all the change? I guess they threw it out in the trash. Sadly represents all those broken promises, all the pandering, the broken dreams.

When will we as a nation wake up? Republicat or Democan, they're all the same.

Rise up... TAKE THE POWER BACK!

RIP Charles Wesley Cooper - Telefon Tel Aviv

2009-05-13T06:29:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why, but I can't stop thinking about Charlie's passing. I've been listening to TTA quite a bit lately, more than usual. It's fitting with the nice weather we've had the past couple of weeks here in Chicago. TTA has always spoken to me and I'm very saddened by Charlie's death as I'm sure the rest of you are. So I made a little poster dedicated to his memory. It never ceases to amaze me how we always seem to loose truly brilliant artists and musicians at a young age.

nice...

2009-04-30T15:44:00.001-07:00

Black Rain from Semiconductor on Vimeo.

KingFish Logo...

2009-04-22T16:55:00.000-07:00

I designed a new logo for a blues band out in California. I love the name of the band. I'm also developing the CD packaging and some other stuff as well.

Guidestones...

2009-04-21T18:40:00.000-07:00

Guidestones

This is a really interesting article. I found this ahile back and recently came across it again. The list is really interesting, especially the part about the population of the earth never exceeding 500 million people. I'd be interested to see who sponsored the building of such a mammoth landmark.

1000 fps reel...

2009-04-19T13:24:00.000-07:00

This is awesome, the end is mesmerizing. Make sure to watch it in HD.

I-Movix SprintCam v3 NAB 2009 showreel from David Coiffier on Vimeo.

Finally spring in Chicago (fingers crossed)...

2009-04-17T21:12:00.000-07:00

Out taking photos of Lincoln Park Zoo and the surrounding area.

Chicago Tea Party...

2009-04-15T14:08:00.000-07:00

Just some photos from Chicago's Tea Party 2009.

War Photographers...

2009-02-21T06:52:00.000-08:00

I think I would like to do this at some point in my life. I've been researching on how to do this type of work, and it doesn't seem to be easy. I better start hitting the streets and getting out of the comfort zone.

33

2009-02-10T12:53:00.000-08:00

A rough cut of a recent song I did. It's still a work in progress.

SmArt History...

2009-02-10T10:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.smarthistory.org/

About time they got something like this up. I've been looking for something like this ever since I was in college and taking fart history and lugging around a giant art history book for reference.

The sound of scratching....

2009-02-10T10:07:00.000-08:00

Michael Fakesch - Don't Stop from Sebastian Onufszak on Vimeo.

Sebastian Onufszak and Heike Mauer bring us this music video for Michael Fakesh’s “Vidos” Dvd.

I always tried to visualize what scratching on a turntable would look like. I think this is a rather accurate depiction. I like the seamless-ness of it too.

DC Republican Examiner: Harvard Economist: 'Stimulus is probably the worst bill that has been put forward since the 1930s'

2009-02-10T09:45:00.001-08:00

DC Republican Examiner: Harvard Economist: 'Stimulus is probably the worst bill that has been put forward since the 1930s'

Posted using ShareThis

This great two party system at its best right now. Obviously the true republican perspective is against this bailout, but why aren't they going to vote against it? I'm fully convinced that the two parties are in bed with each other. This isn't democracy, nor is it supposed to be, and it's not a republic seeing how our government operates without the idea of the constitution in mind. All I can say is Oligarchy, and it brings a shiver down my spine. I want to know why the majority of honest, hard-working Americans are not in the streets right now. Rise up with your arms in hand already, I'll lead the way.

Here's the so called Republicans who voted for the bailout in the senate. I hope to god they don't get a chance at reelection. Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, both of Maine, and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

Rupert Murdoch

2009-02-09T16:47:00.000-08:00

I don't know if I trust him, but I surely agree with him.

The great American Southwest.

2009-02-09T09:55:00.000-08:00

From arizona

I've always wanted to visit the desert, and now I know why. I was born in Denver, Colorado so I've got some sort of attraction to rich and rugged terrain. I think it's why the buildings in downtown Chicago have always grabbed my attention, they've replaced the mountains that I remember when I was a kid with their overwhelming scale. But having been back to see those mountains I know that it's the place for me. I love Chicago, but the flat land is just boring, the city is dirty, and I'm so over the hussle and bussle. I need that rich geology, it's so visually interesting and there's so much to it with all the valleys, crevices, and projectiles coming from every direction. The visible history of the earth is also very exhilarating for me. The people are far more laid back, no one has a care in the world. The only thing they worry about is getting rained on once a month. Having come back to Chicago, I just want to leave. So with that I've decided that I'm going to move back out to Colorado or even Arizona, either one would be fine with me. Now I just need to find a job out there.

2009-01-28T10:24:00.001-08:00

Another great track by Anthony Rother. It really picks up about 2/3s the way in. I really like the glitch repetition on top of the chord progression.

2009-01-28T10:06:00.000-08:00

From random beauty in chicago

A Panoramic of a bridge down on the South Side of Chicago near my home.

"The Birds" by Telefon Tel Aviv

2009-01-28T10:02:00.000-08:00

Good tune from Telefon Tel Aviv, off their 2009 debut Immolate Yourself.

RIP Charlie from Telefon Tel Aviv

2009-01-28T09:45:00.000-08:00

The Carlisle Creative

Fall back.

You're a long way from home.

Shoestring Theories

Artsy at the Art Institute.

Chicago night lights, more Canon 7d photos.

I have multiple personality disorders

2009 Reel Rough Cut

FuckFace Unstoppable / New Canon 7D

Vision 2009

Chicago Ave.

You could have done anything...

You's a bad M*th*rf*ck*r.

Hot as hell.

Ayn Rand.

The doors of perception.

I am not...

CogHill Country Club...

Architect.

Quality/Quantity

New song.

The band without a name...

The Economics of Art & Design.

Concept is King!

RIP SWAYZE.

Hystereo.

Emerson...

The Modern Monkey... just a hiphop junkie.

Your Brand - It's Like Getting Dressed in the Morning.

Per Capita...

People that wear shoes occasionaly & a dog...

Upside down...

Cuz I'm focused mang.

The Birds

The Bee Keeper.

I own the night.

5 second project...

Here's a song I made.

Hearts of Fire...

Chicago Blues fest 2009

Protesting the War Protesters...

Ellen

Fast cars, women, fire, knives...

A speech by Milton Glaser...

64 Classic.

Fuckface Unstoppable Live @ the Cobra Lounge 5/14/09

All garbage ends up in the trash.

RIP Charles Wesley Cooper - Telefon Tel Aviv

nice...

KingFish Logo...

Guidestones...

1000 fps reel...

Finally spring in Chicago (fingers crossed)...

Chicago Tea Party...

War Photographers...

33

SmArt History...

The sound of scratching....

DC Republican Examiner: Harvard Economist: 'Stimulus is probably the worst bill that has been put forward since the 1930s'

Rupert Murdoch

The great American Southwest.

"The Birds" by Telefon Tel Aviv

RIP Charlie from Telefon Tel Aviv

You's a bad Mthrfckr.