Ben Fieker
At ST8MNT, we pride ourselves on being good stewards of brands whose work is tailored, collaborative, exploratory (but do-able), authoritative, and a bit off kilter. So, when it came time to rebrand our own agency, we needed an identity system that reflected these brand values. After countless hours of sketches and ideation, a concept (inspired by the movement found in the sand of Japanese zen gardens) influenced the design of a mark that is dynamic and fluid, and forms the shape of an ‘S.’ Our typography choice and color is strong and authoritative, while brand textures and imagery are dimensional and evocative of movement. Our visual identity will remain representative of our brand, our culture, and our attitude as the agency continues to grow.
NEW SITE: THE ONLINE REFRESHMENT
Integral to our new visual identity is our brand new website. After thorough research, we found that the scope of sites for design agencies and firms in our field generally favored design choices that were largely clean and minimal. We set out to break this trend by doing just the opposite – create a site with no shortage of attitude to communicate our brand values, culture and our scope of print, digital and motion work. The design is open – allowing for natural eye flow in an experience that conveys motion and fluidity, both through the viewer and user interaction with our content, and through the moving texture seen in our navigation bar. Above all else, the site is decidedly client-focused, as our content direction is aimed at our client work, and its design is intuitively usable. The new site also includes our revamped, easy-scroll blog which which serves as a platform for informative insight into topics relevant to design and media with the overarching focus on branding.
THE VAULT: AN EVENTFUL NEW SPACE
Here at the ST8MNT Brand Agency, we are happy to announces the opening of The Vault a 3000 sq. ft. studio ideal for photo shoots and video shoots; audio rehearsals/recordings; gallery openings; meetings, training, presentations, etc.
This new studio workspace – conveniently located on 3rd Avenue South, right in the SOBRO section of downtown Nashville – has recently been renovated into two separate 1500 sq. ft.studio spaces. Both spaces, each surrounded by 30 inches of concrete and enclosed behind an original bank vault door, are sound-proofed, spacious, and easily adaptable to numerous set-ups and equipment configurations.
A companion edit suite is also available for editing and sound mixing. Additionally, ST8MNT offers conference room, living room, full kitchen, and bathroom/shower facilities as comfort amenities to the full-on studio rental experience.
“It’s always been a goal to immerse our team in as many aspects of the creative process as possible. The Vault gives us the opportunity to open our doors to and expand our onsite offerings as a brand agency to the creative community of Nashville as a whole.” explains Josh Newman of ST8MNT. He adds, “The influx of creatives so far has been an inspiration to our creative team and has already provided us with some amazing relationships.”
The Vault has already served as a creative workspace for Wilder Media – a Nashville-based creative firm specializing in branded content.
“It’s been great to have a place like The Vault to create new work in.” says Justin Key, co-founder of Wilder Media, “We have clients from all facets of the creative world – from the music industry, television, film. We recently completed a music video for Meg Myers’ new single ‘Motel‘ on Atlantic Records, as well as a promo shoot for an upcoming HGTV show in the space.”
One of the elements Justin most appreciates about the studio is the amount of space it provides for his camera set-ups. He adds, “The Vault is able to configure to just about any spatial need we can think up.”
The Vault, conveniently located on 822 3rd Avenue South, (across from 3rd & Lindsley) is now available for both ‘half-day’ and ‘full-day’ rentals. Rate and studio availability information is available upon request. All The Vault inquiries are handled by Kelly Garcia (615) 757-9165, or via email at: info@thevaultnashville.com
The Vault Rental Inquiries:
Kelly Garcia | (615) 757-9165
info@thevaultnashville.com
NEW FACES: THE NEW PRESS ARRIVALS
We are pleased to announce the addition of 2 collaborative new faces to the ST8MNT creative team.
KELLY GARCIA
AGENCY COORDINATOR
Kelly Garcia is ST8MNT‘s new in-house Agency Coordinator. She supports the day-to-day activity of both our Production Manager and our Account Manager and she runs point on all of the administration needs for ST8MNT.
Kelly, in addition, manages all booking and scheduling operations for the The Vault – our new photo/video/recording studio space conveniently located in the SOBRO section of downtown Nashville. She also serves as Merchandise Manager for the NASHVILLAIN CLOTHING CO – a Southern lifestyle brand embodying that outlaw spirit.
Kelly is a chameleon of creative capabilities. In previous incarnations, she has served as Tour Manager for Amanda Shires; Chief of Operations and Builder for Stash Co; and, as the Chief Blogger/Shop Co-owner of Bueno Bueno.
She is currently a Style Columnist for The Bluegrass Situation and she brings a variety of film set and photography experience which have included roles in Art Direction, Production Coordination, Production Design, Styling, and Set Build-outs.
Once an intern at ST8MNT, (6 years ago) Kelly rejoined the team in February after she finally unpacked her suitcases in Nashville. She is an unabashed lover of John Prine, Willie Nelson, and her honky-tonk heroes.
Kelly’s originally from Houston, Texas. She is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design.
HAROLD LOREN
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Harold Loren is a PR Strategist and Content Development Consultant. He creates the communication strategies that connect digital audiences to their favorite brand experiences. Harold recently joined ST8MNT in a Communications Manager capacity as we explore expanded capabilities to our client services and the possibility of a social content development partnership.
In addition to guiding our communications strategy, Harold’s work involves day-to-day coordination with social teams at both the FOX Broadcasting Company and NETFLIX – through digital brand development strategies for Actor/Producer John Stamos – in support of both the hit FOX television show ‘Grandfathered‘ and the blockbuster NETFLIX series release, ‘Fuller House.’
A former Music Editor for 944 MAGAZINE in Los Angeles, Harold is also a former Publicist for Ted Guefen Public Relations, and later a Founder and Director of Media Relations at Stafford | Clarke Media Consultants, a boutique LA public relations agency specializing in film, television and music entertainment.
His account work has included: Thierry Mugler, Julie Newmar, Nick Egan, HYLO Entertainment, Elias Arts, Hollywood Records, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and Telemundo / Liberty Media / Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Recent projects include content development for the 2015 Nashville Film Festival (#NaFF), creative consultation for both country music icon Tim McGraw and country music performer Kristian Bush, (of the multi-platinum selling country duo Sugarland) as well as online deployment and digital brand development for performers: Larkin Poe, Holly Williams and Diamond Carter.
Harold is a Bachelor of Arts graduate from the University of Texas at Arlington with post-secondary studies in Art, Communication Technology, and Political Science. He lives in East Nashville with his wife Shannon Casey and their dog, Lotus.
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