http://www.shaankirpalani.com shaankirpalani.com Fri, 15 Jul 2011 22:45:27 +0000 http://www.shaankirpalani.com en http://www.shaankirpalani.com/D-LINK-AMPLIFI http://www.shaankirpalani.com/following/shaankirpalani.com/D-LINK-AMPLIFI Fri, 15 Jul 2011 22:45:27 +0000 shaankirpalani.com 1735132 THE BRIEF Create a market presence that speaks to consumers in a way that is both meaningful and authentic – positioning D-Link's flagship line of home networking products as THE wireless solution for connected home entertainment. THE CHALLENGE Technologically speaking, Amplifi is miles ahead of its competition, but let’s face it: as invaluable to modern life as routers, modems and switches may be – they aren’t exactly the sexiest products to build a brand around, or the easiest to tell apart. Not to mention, Amplifi has been targeted at consumers in ‘Connected Entertainment’ - a new-ish market that is relatively niche today, but certain to be mainstream tomorrow. Position the Amplifi brand as too ‘consumery’ and D-Link risked losing their existing base (early adopters/technophiles). Make the copy too ‘Geek’ and technology-heavy, however, and Amplifi would fail to capture the even larger mass market of tomorrow. THE WORK The even-larger challenge (for me, anyway) was the sheer volume of output required for this project - this wasn't a copydeck for one product, rather, an entire line of products: 25 in all. Each with specific and often, new, technologies and feature sets that had to be translated into 'lifestyle solutions' for consumers. AND THEN...they had to be differentiated from one another, to fit their respective lifestyle categories. Yup, it was a tough one - develop a clear and consistent brand voice and value proposition, then express it through 25 different product copydecks. Output: Website Copy, Amazon Product Pages, Sales Kits (internal). WEBSITE COPY: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/view.png" border="0" width="170" height="36" width_o="170" height_o="36" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/view_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/amp-2_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="238" width_o="675" height_o="238" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/amp-2_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/amp4_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="281" width_o="675" height_o="281" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/amp4_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/amp3_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="358" width_o="675" height_o="358" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/amp3_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/amp8_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="260" width_o="675" height_o="260" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/amp8_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/amp7_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="286" width_o="675" height_o="286" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/amp7_o.png" align="left" /> PRODUCT PAGES: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/view.png" border="0" width="170" height="36" width_o="170" height_o="36" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/view_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/D-Link Products - DIR-645 - Whole Home Router 1000 (20110717)_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="1292" width_o="675" height_o="1292" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/D-Link Products - DIR-645 - Whole Home Router 1000 (20110717)_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/D-Link Products - DIR-657 - HD Media Router 1000 (20110717)_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="1292" width_o="675" height_o="1292" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/D-Link Products - DIR-657 - HD Media Router 1000 (20110717)_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/D-Link Products - DHP-501AV - PowerLine AV 500 Adapter Starter Kit (20110717)_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="1463" width_o="675" height_o="1463" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1735132/D-Link Products - DHP-501AV - PowerLine AV 500 Adapter Starter Kit (20110717)_o.png" align="left" /> VISIT: D-Link.com/Amplifi http://www.shaankirpalani.com/ENDERTECH http://www.shaankirpalani.com/following/shaankirpalani.com/ENDERTECH Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:15:34 +0000 shaankirpalani.com 1717008 THE BRIEF Help StudioFluid rebuild the EnderTech brand with an improved online presence and an evolved company identity and voice focused on authenticity. THE CHALLENGE EnderTech is a software firm with a very complicated service-set and a bit of an identity crisis. On the one hand, EnderTech is a very accomplished software engineering firm capable of taking on massive data management projects for massive clients (United Oil, USA Artists, to name a few). On the other, EnderTech is a from-the-ground-up local business with a long-list of startup successes: simple websites, small eCommerce projects, etc. Too much emphasis in their technical expertise, and EnderTech would risk pigeonholing themselves as another faceless tech firm ONLY interested in large projects. Too chummy and startup-y, however, and the firm risked not being taken seriously and losing out on larger corporate clients and their lucrative projects. The trick in positioning the EnderTech brand, for me anyway, became how to talk about tech without talking about tech and leave site visitors with two impressions: 1) these guys know what they're talking about 2) these guys are honest, authentic and rad. THE WORK The first idea we had at StudioFluid was to turn EnderTech into a people-first technology firm, placing images and quotes of their people everywhere on the site. The idea being that the best way to make EnderTech feel like a living/breathing tech firm staffed by people (not robots) was to put their people front and center. This design strategy was also a key competitive differentiator. The next task was to craft copy that talked about tech without talking about tech. After a bit of brainstorming, we found a common denominator across all of EnderTech's services - 'creative problem solving' - and built the brand from there. EnderTech, in essence became a creative technology firm first and a software development agency second. The idea being that no matter the client, or the size of the budget, EnderTech's primary 'value' is an ability to solve complicated technology problems. WEB COPY: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/view.png" border="0" width="170" height="36" width_o="170" height_o="36" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/view_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/Et_Website_05-3_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="585" width_o="675" height_o="585" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/Et_Website_05-3_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/Et_Website_05-4_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="680" width_o="675" height_o="680" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/Et_Website_05-4_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/Et_Website_05-16_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="687" width_o="675" height_o="687" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/Et_Website_05-16_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/Et_Website_05-7_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="690" width_o="675" height_o="690" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/Et_Website_05-7_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/Et_Website_05-6_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="639" width_o="675" height_o="639" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/Et_Website_05-6_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/Et_Website_05-17_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="566" width_o="675" height_o="566" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/Et_Website_05-17_o.jpg" align="left" /> SITE BEFORE REDESIGN: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/view.png" border="0" width="170" height="36" width_o="170" height_o="36" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/view_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/ETECH old home_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="1085" width_o="675" height_o="1085" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/ETECH old home_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/etech old 2_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="1016" width_o="675" height_o="1016" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1717008/etech old 2_o.png" align="left" /> VISIT: EnderTech.com http://www.shaankirpalani.com/TALES-OF-ADVENTURE http://www.shaankirpalani.com/following/shaankirpalani.com/TALES-OF-ADVENTURE Sun, 27 Mar 2011 03:49:08 +0000 shaankirpalani.com 846043 Observations and ramblings about travel, life. And feelings. From my personal blog, its ok to cry here. Some of my favorite posts: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846043/1215.png" border="0" width="175" height="175" width_o="175" height_o="175" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846043/1215_o.png" align="left" /> der Haircut Slut <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846043/1212.png" border="0" width="175" height="174" width_o="175" height_o="174" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846043/1212_o.png" align="left" /> Six Degrees of Garafolo <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846043/shower.jpeg" border="0" width="175" height="175" width_o="175" height_o="175" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846043/shower_o.jpeg" align="left" /> Dear Shower, I Hate You. A memo. <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846043/Father-time.jpg" border="0" width="175" height="175" width_o="175" height_o="175" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846043/Father-time_o.jpg" align="left" /> Thirty Is Dirty <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846043/1216.jpg" border="0" width="175" height="175" width_o="175" height_o="175" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846043/1216_o.jpg" align="left" /> The Sweater, Shaan <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846043/1213.png" border="0" width="175" height="180" width_o="175" height_o="180" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846043/1213_o.png" align="left" /> The Good. The Bad. And The Chilly http://www.shaankirpalani.com/BILLY-CONSPIRACY http://www.shaankirpalani.com/following/shaankirpalani.com/BILLY-CONSPIRACY Tue, 22 Mar 2011 03:35:35 +0000 shaankirpalani.com 1201619 30 Minute TV Pilot, currently 'in development' with Comedy Central. 'In development' is a fun term to throw around in Hollywood - it can mean many things. In this instance, it means we got the show in the hands of an agent, who got it in the hands of a development exec at Comedy Central who liked it 'very much.' And that was three months ago. Either way, it was too much hard work and is too damn funny not to share: SYNOPSIS: Billy, a 24 year old slacker, and Prakash, his 20 year-old pot dealer,are passionate about two things, and two things only: uncovering conspiracy theories and playing video games while high.  When a shadowy government spook mistakes Billy and Prakash as members of a rival agency, the two stoners are thrust into a world where far-fetched conspiracies actually exist, and it's up to them to blow the lids off them before the conspiracies blow up the world. Just don't let Billy's Mom find out 'cause he still lives with her. WANNA READ IT? I'd be happy to share, but be warned: screenwriting is a whole other kind of writing, so if you've never read one, they're kindof crazy. Email me, I'll send it right over, thanks!. http://www.shaankirpalani.com/TAXI-DIALING-AMAZINGNESS http://www.shaankirpalani.com/following/shaankirpalani.com/TAXI-DIALING-AMAZINGNESS Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:03:27 +0000 shaankirpalani.com 1199910 THE BRIEF A guerilla ambient campaign persuading bargoers to dial ‘#TAXI’ instead of drive home. THE CHALLENGE Getting a taxi is pretty straightforward everywhere. Everywhere except Los Angeles. Taxis aren’t hailed in LA, they’re called. When (and if) they arrive – Angelenos are whisked away not to neighborhoods, but to neighboring cities. It’s expensive and it’s a headache. A such, most Angelenos choose to drive themselves. And often they choose to drive drunk. If only there was a way to call a cab in Los Angeles that is as reliable and fast as hailing one in Manhattan – a ritual as routine as dialing 911 for an emergency or 411 for information or… #TAXI for a ride home. THE WORK #TAXI would get little value from an expensive traditional media campaign. Word of mouth works the best, but its slow. Our campaign focuses on spreading the word, where word is spread: bars and nightclubs. And do it with guerilla-like unobtrusiveness. Our campaign focused ambient media – bathroom stall posters and drink coasters. The message is straightforward, talking to people instead of down to them. Encouraging people to ‘Think About It.’ Then call #TAXI. AMBIENT CAMPAIGN: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/view.png" border="0" width="170" height="36" width_o="170" height_o="36" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/view_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-6_675_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="481" width_o="675" height_o="481" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-6_675_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/coastermaster_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="511" width_o="675" height_o="511" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/coastermaster_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/coaster3_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="328" width_o="1334" height_o="650" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/coaster3_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/coasteer2_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="333" width_o="675" height_o="333" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/coasteer2_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/coaster1_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="330" width_o="675" height_o="330" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/coaster1_o.png" align="left" /> CREATIVE BRIEF: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/view.png" border="0" width="170" height="36" width_o="170" height_o="36" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/view_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-1_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="522" width_o="675" height_o="522" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-1_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-2_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="522" width_o="675" height_o="522" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-2_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-3_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="522" width_o="675" height_o="522" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-3_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-4_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="522" width_o="675" height_o="522" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-4_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-5_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="522" width_o="675" height_o="522" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-5_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-6_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="522" width_o="675" height_o="522" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-6_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-7_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="522" width_o="675" height_o="522" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-7_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-11_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="522" width_o="675" height_o="522" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-11_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-13_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="522" width_o="675" height_o="522" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1199910/-TAXI_CREATIVE_BRIEF-13_o.jpg" align="left" /> http://www.shaankirpalani.com/AKG-HEADPHONES http://www.shaankirpalani.com/following/shaankirpalani.com/AKG-HEADPHONES Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:09:10 +0000 shaankirpalani.com 1198761 THE BRIEF Develop a voice for AKG's line of consumer headphones and create copy for both web and print that speaks to a mainstream consumer audience for the launch of their 2011 product line. THE CHALLENGE AKG has been making some of the world’s finest professional-grade audio recording equipment for decades. In the consumer marketplace, however, AKG is a relative unknown. To successfully enter it, AKG needed warm, consumer-friendly copy that leveraged their years of audio-engineering excellence without coming across as too wonky and elitist. THE WORK I first developed the AKG ‘Voice’ in the 2011 Brand Guidelines, translating it into a robust, descriptive copydeck for each AKG headphone model (52 in all). Each copydeck included an individual header, subheader, short and long descriptions and was used in the company website, product catalog, Amazon product pages, packaging, and press releases. To kick off the launch, AKG elicited sponsorship from Quincy Jones, creating a signature line of headphones for the legendary artist. Working with AKG Art Director, Kat Earnshaw, I wrote various print and banner ads for the Quincy Jones campaign. PRINT CAMPAIGNS: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/view.png" border="0" width="170" height="36" width_o="170" height_o="36" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/view_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/AKG1093_Q460_RobbReport_Oct.jpg" border="0" width="670" height="935" width_o="675" height_o="942" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/AKG1093_Q460_RobbReport_Oct_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/Quincy_KansasAD Home-Garden.jpg" border="0" width="670" height="875" width_o="675" height_o="882" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/Quincy_KansasAD Home-Garden_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/Q Poster.png" border="0" width="670" height="1094" width_o="675" height_o="1103" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/Q Poster_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/3_DJ181_K370_collegeposters-1 copy_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="1013" width_o="675" height_o="1013" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/3_DJ181_K370_collegeposters-1 copy_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/3_DJ181_K370_collegeposters-2 copy_675.png" border="0" width="675" height="1013" width_o="675" height_o="1013" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/3_DJ181_K370_collegeposters-2 copy_o.png" align="left" /> WEBSITE COPY: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/view.png" border="0" width="170" height="36" width_o="170" height_o="36" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/view_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/Picture 5.png" border="0" width="670" height="445" width_o="675" height_o="449" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/Picture 5_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/Picture 4.png" border="0" width="670" height="505" width_o="675" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/Picture 4_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/Picture 3.png" border="0" width="670" height="449" width_o="675" height_o="453" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/Picture 3_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/Picture 2.png" border="0" width="670" height="541" width_o="675" height_o="546" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/1198761/Picture 2_o.png" align="left" /> VISIT: AKG.com/QuincyJones http://www.shaankirpalani.com/GEEK-COM http://www.shaankirpalani.com/following/shaankirpalani.com/GEEK-COM Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:02:06 +0000 shaankirpalani.com 846034 Contributing Blogger to this online technology news and culture publication. Some of my favorite posts: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846034/imagesev05.jpeg" border="0" width="175" height="175" width_o="175" height_o="175" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846034/imagesev05_o.jpeg" align="left" /> Survival Of The Twittest <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846034/hitler 5_2.jpeg" border="0" width="175" height="175" width_o="175" height_o="175" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846034/hitler 5_2_o.jpeg" align="left" /> Das Keyboard Doubles Typing Speed, Almost <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846034/images56.jpeg" border="0" width="175" height="175" width_o="175" height_o="175" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846034/images56_o.jpeg" align="left" /> Social Networking: The New Silent Majority <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846034/picture-13.png" border="0" width="175" height="175" width_o="175" height_o="175" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846034/picture-13_o.png" align="left" /> NASA Approves Origami Space Fleet http://www.shaankirpalani.com/TODO-SF http://www.shaankirpalani.com/following/shaankirpalani.com/TODO-SF Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:02:04 +0000 shaankirpalani.com 846031 MY FIRST WRITING JOB!! Ok, it was an internship. And I'd been paid and published prior to working at TODO, but this was my first 9-5 job at a magazine - pretty exciting stuff. I learned a lot about the business and editorial side of publishing and was lucky enough to work for an amazing editor... ...who even let me write bar and restaurant reviews from time to time: <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846031/23-1_o.jpg" border="0" width="670" height="818" width_o="675" height_o="825" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846031/23-1_o_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846031/Picture 8_o.png" border="0" width="670" height="432" width_o="675" height_o="436" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846031/Picture 8_o_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846031/Picture 13_o.png" border="0" width="670" height="299" width_o="675" height_o="302" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846031/Picture 13_o_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846031/Picture 12_o.png" border="0" width="670" height="367" width_o="675" height_o="370" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846031/Picture 12_o_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846031/Picture 7_o.png" border="0" width="670" height="411" width_o="675" height_o="415" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846031/Picture 7_o_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846031/Picture 9_o.png" border="0" width="670" height="350" width_o="675" height_o="353" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846031/Picture 9_o_o.png" align="left" /> http://www.shaankirpalani.com/CMYK-MAGAZINE http://www.shaankirpalani.com/following/shaankirpalani.com/CMYK-MAGAZINE Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:59:25 +0000 shaankirpalani.com 846024 THE BRIEF Write a feature article examining how the Green movement would affect trends throughout the Advertising industry. THE CHALLENGE How do I squeeze all that into 1500 words when 1) that's impossible 2) at the time, I knew very little about the advertising industry. THE WORK I began by interviewing marketing and advertising trend experts - gathering their insights and opinions, and combining that with an exhaustive review of any and all literature I could find on the subject. The result: "Grass is Greener: Advertising and Marketing in a less-polarized, more eco-friendly age." <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846024/Picture 6_860.png" border="0" width="500" height="651" width_o="500" height_o="651" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846024/Picture 6_860_o.png" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846024/cmyk-grassgreener-1.jpg" border="0" width="670" height="842" width_o="860" height_o="1081" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846024/cmyk-grassgreener-1_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846024/cmyk-grassgreener-2.jpg" border="0" width="670" height="870" width_o="860" height_o="1117" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846024/cmyk-grassgreener-2_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846024/cmyk-grassgreener-3.jpg" border="0" width="670" height="888" width_o="860" height_o="1140" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/846024/cmyk-grassgreener-3_o.jpg" align="left" /> Visit CMYK Magazine. http://www.shaankirpalani.com/KANYE-WEST http://www.shaankirpalani.com/following/shaankirpalani.com/KANYE-WEST Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:34:32 +0000 shaankirpalani.com 845938 THE BRIEF Develop a robust web proposal to revamp Mr. West's existing online presence: an archaic, flash-based website that was over stylized and largely unnavigable to most users. THE CHALLENGE Time and Money. I was hired by Kunoichi Creative, Kanye’s digital agency, to put the entire thing together in one week with not only a slim budget to create the massive proposal, but also with which to execute the eventual project. The RFP called for an all-in-one home page, blog, online store, screening room, social network and mobile app. I hired a developer and a designer, we got to work and delivered the 57 page proposal. . THE WORK The underlying concept was to create a simple and elegant interface that achieved Mr. West’s online goals yet remained true to his identity as not only a recording artist, but a digital pioneer. Our design positioned Mr. West at the center of his digital universe with a series of colorful streams representing the various site requirements (store, blog, screening room, etc...) woven throughout. In addition to the visual elements, we also designed the back and front-end site architecture to be built with open-source web applications that were both intuitive and able to execute upon the website’s performance requirements. <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-1_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="566" width_o="675" height_o="566" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-1_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-2_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="322" width_o="675" height_o="322" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-2_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-3_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="572" width_o="675" height_o="572" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-3_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-4_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="487" width_o="675" height_o="487" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-4_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-5_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="490" width_o="675" height_o="490" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-5_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-6_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="611" width_o="675" height_o="611" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-6_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-8_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="470" width_o="675" height_o="470" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-8_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-9_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="749" width_o="675" height_o="749" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-9_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-10_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="610" width_o="675" height_o="610" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-10_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-11_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="373" width_o="675" height_o="373" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-11_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-12_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="582" width_o="675" height_o="582" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-12_o.jpg" align="left" /> <img src="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-13_675.jpg" border="0" width="675" height="745" width_o="675" height_o="745" src_o="http://payload.cargocollective.com/1/2/70257/845938/Kanyeproposal (1)-13_o.jpg" align="left" />