What a start to the year. Based on just these first few months of 2024, we’re excited to see where the rest of the year will take us. Read on to find out what we’ve been up to and where we’ve been.
So You Think You Can Sing
Well, do you? If so, good! We recently helped Bush’s Beans launch a campaign called The Musical Fruit Contest, which will award one lucky winner $10,000, a trip to the Grand Ole Opry, recording studio time and – last, but not least – a lifetime of Bush’s Beans. Warm up those pipes, prepare your rendition of “beans, beans the musical fruit, the more you eat…” and post it on Instagram or TikTok using #TheMusicalFruitContest to enter.
Alright, so what if you can’t sing? Can you roar? Our office has been pretty noisy as we’ve helped Zoo Knoxville launch its new “Predators” campaign. This May, Zoo Knoxville is unveiling its newest experience, Planet Predator, a walk-through experience of primal landscapes, where you can encounter thrilling and awe-inspiring creatures from millions of years ago.
We supported the launch of the campaign with a fully animated teaser, an update of the zoo’s landing page and ample media support. We’re more than ready to experience the next iteration of Zoo Knoxville’s animatronic-led, experiential activations. We’re also thrilled to begin redeveloping the zoo’s current website, which will be in progress over the next few months.
Real Talk and Real Stories
If you’ve been keeping up with us, you’ve likely caught a few updates on our sustainable fashion documentary, “Let Them Be Naked”. Post-production will wrap in early summer, with a festival run through the rest of 2024 and the hopes of being accepted to some of the most prestigious film festivals in the world (fingers crossed). Much more to come on The Redford Center-backed project that will uncover the fashion industry’s biggest secrets soon.
Here’s something else you can check out soon: the first episode of “Freedom Works Here: An Original Series”. Following four groups of individuals in South Dakota, this four-part docuseries highlights the diverse industries thriving in the state — from cutting-edge technology and innovative higher education programs to established manufacturing powerhouses. We’re proud to share the stories of passionate professionals and their experiences, challenges and triumphs in South Dakota’s dynamic work environment.
The series was created in partnership with the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development and our sister agency, PopFizz. After a year in the making, we discussed it and the larger Freedom Works Here campaign at the state’s Governor’s Conference on Economic Development in Sioux Falls earlier this week, at which our own Joseph Nother took the stage to speak on behalf of. After three years of working with SD GOED to help the organization develop its workforce and reach into key markets, we’re thrilled to bring some of those incredible stories to everyone.
Oh, and if there are any Vol fans out there, we’re coming to a close on Season 2 of our weekly interview show featuring some of the biggest names in Volunteer sports, Vol Club Confidential. There’s a lot of content to catch up on. Whether you prefer video or audio, plug in and get to know some of your favorite Vols.
Speaking of shows with a ton of content, vote for Food Network Obsessed in the People’s Choice Webby Awards! Our branded content team continues to deliver week in and week out on this podcast, which is now on its 14th season and has spent countless weeks atop the charts on Apple Podcasts.
Next Edition of Team Additions
For the second time in our history, we’ve officially welcomed a talented professional back to Designsensory. Can’t say that every day.
We’re incredibly pleased to say (once again) welcome to Designsensory, Erik Vass. Once a junior designer on our team – back in 2017 – Erik has rejoined the team after a stint at another agency in Knoxville where he flexed and advanced his already excellent branding skills. Now, he joins us as an Associate Art Director.
And the client services team is getting a boost as well. Please help us welcome Rebekah Petroskey, a 15-year veteran of the industry who brings a wealth of hands-on experience in marketing, sales and public relations.
We also have two DSers who have hit major milestones at the agency — Chris Cable and Michael Pryfogle.
A whole blog post (or an entire website) should be made to recognize Michael Pryfogle, our Senior Technical Director, who just rounded the corner on 20 years with the agency. Yes, he was indeed one of the first hires the agency ever made. And it was a good one.
And Chris has officially racked up 10 years with the company. Once our leading copywriter, now our Interim VP of Design and Content. We can’t thank you enough for all you bring to the team, Chris!
I’ve Been Everywhere, Man
Finally, another quick shout-out to our team, but this time for traveling around the country to make our client’s vision a reality. The DS team just returned from the aforementioned South Dakota Governor’s Conference in Sioux Falls, as well as the International Security Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas and NCECA in Richmond, Virginia, for Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. We continue to believe in the power of experiential marketing, especially at major tradeshows and conferences, which have rebounded significantly since the pandemic.
Tradeshows aside, our team has been on the road in other ways: tackling our seasonal Old Dominick production, heading a little further down south for Discover Greenwood’s annual Stories of Greenwood campaign, popping over to Middle Tennessee for a Rutherford County CVB social shoot and a little further down the road for a scout in West Tennessee for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.
As always, we’d love to hear from you, too. Please feel free to reach out to any DSer, pick their brains and chat with them about what you have coming up, we know they’d love to hear about it.
