2011 was another great year for events from Connecticut’s leading creatives and creative professional organizations — here are some of the highlights. All remain relevant in the new year, as most if not all are continuing the dialogue and creativity through sequel events in 2012.

We talk to five recent graduates — from the best design schools in Connecticut, now employed at some of the top agencies and companies in Connecticut.

“I do print and web design — as well as dabble in photography — for my company, Thumbnail Designs.”

“I am a graphic designer / creative director for a wide variety of projects; from branding and print to motion graphics and packaging.”

Perhaps every creative’s dream is to make the leap and start their own agency or one-man shop. We asked a bunch of Connecticut creatives this intentionally vague question: What was the defining moment in starting your own agency?

The Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council (MCSAAC) recently launched a new media campaign with the help of CO:LAB. The theme? “Join the Majority of Parents Who Say ‘No’ to Underage Drinking.”

Many Connecticut creative professionals are dabbling in one-of-a-kind, handmade and short run products; their unique skill set allows them to not only create but also brand and promote their ideas, and maintain creative control. We take a look at a handful of designers and the shops they’ve set up.

“I do on-site design and Creative Direction and Design for small to medium sized businesses from my home studio.”

Letterpress comes back home to Connecticut, as Lucky Duck Press of Winsted opens up shop.

Fall brings a new batch of agency website relaunches, this time for Fathom, The Pita Group, Bligh Graphics, Signature Advertising and Response.

As The Big E opens up for another season, we thought we’d explore the marketing materials behind it and talk to their agency of record, Mascola Group in New Haven.

“We work with a combination of mind-reading and magic, to create designs that are smart, clean, and timeless. (And, as you can tell, we also practice a monk-like modesty!)”

“I do creative direction and graphic design. Out of my home office — LittleBig Shop — and on-site at agencies.”

“I am a designer and illustrator at Taylor Design in the busy city of Stamford. Somehow, I find time after work to generate self-initiated projects.”

Elements’ Amy Graver chatted with Paul Pita, principal and executive director of Pita Group, on balancing family and work, and how the agency has grown and expanded in the last 15 years.

Perhaps the greatest designer of the 20th century, Paul Rand left his mark on Connecticut and the CADC.

Outthink of Essex recently launched a rebrand of the Ivoryton Playhouse, playing off their rich history to create inspired messaging and visuals.

Grant Copeland, President & Chief Creative Officer at Worx Branding & Advertising in Prospect, shares his thoughts on getting his attention, getting an interview, and getting the job.

“I am an interactive designer at Cronin & Company in Glastonbury. I am also the owner/designer of my own small business, Sophie & Lili.”

Mark Snyder is Associate Professor in the Visual Communication Design program at the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, and runs the design consultancy object|resonance with partner Kevin Sepe.

Gabardine opened up shop in 2009, on the Post Road in Westport, creating a space that reflected their brand personality — open, inviting, calm and creative.

“I’m fortunate enough to be the Director of Exhibit Design and Delivery at Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk.”

“I’m a Programmer, Designer, and Creative Strategist — but most importantly a problem solver — at Digital Surgeons in New Haven.”

Darryl Ohrt, “Prime Minister of Awesome” at Humongo in Danbury, shares his thoughts on how to use social media to score that dream job — and maybe even the dreamiest job of all at Humongo itself.

As Don Carter works on a series of exhibits spotlighting Connecticut children’s book illustrators, he gives us the ten illustrators that inspired his own work.

EXHIBIT: LOGOS & MARKS is a compendium of logos
and marks designed by Connecticut agencies, curated by conncreatives.com.

“I am the Owner/Creative Director of Jargon Boy Design Studio. The firm focuses on brand identity programs for various corporate clients.”

For nearly five decades, Graphic Design USA starts off the year with their list of People To Watch. We check in with six winners in the last decade.

The Bananaland, a boutique design agency headed by Marcella Kovac, took space at the Arcade in Bridgeport in November of 2010 as part of the city’s downtown revival.

Cronin and Company of Glastonbury have created an engaging brand campaign focused on what it feels like to be an Amica customer. The campaign launched January 17, with two 30-second and two 15-second television spots.

Think Creative Group, a full-service agency in New Haven, launched two new high-profile websites in recent months, for New Haven’s Long Wharf Theatre and The Greater Hartford Regional School Choice Office.

“I am the Senior Art Director at Mascola Group, a full service ad agency in New Haven. I am also one of the founding partners of One of Twenty, an artist collective and clothing design company that I started with my brother Jeff in 2008.”

As the Conference enters its second decade, we get a brief history from three people who were there at the beginning: Paul Pita, Jack Tom and John Gibson.

When they are not throwing their own events, salons and workshops under the PUSH umbrella, kHyal and Karl Heine are supporting the creative community by attending a mind-blowing number of events. They agreed to give a summary of some of their favorite Connecticut events of 2010 as only they could.

On August 1 of 2010, Elements moved from their studio on Grand Avenue in New Haven to their new Main Street location in Branford — a perfect fit for who they are and how they work.

A visual tour through Taylor Design’s new office space on 247 Main Street, Stamford — a renovated 1920s loft that breeds collaboration.

“I’m a designer at Humongo, a digital creative agency in Danbury. I also have a lot of self-initiated projects like drawing all the synthesizers I own. If I’m not making art, I’m producing electro pop music as Teleflux.”

“Currently I am the head art director at Silver Creative Group in South Norwalk. It is a small company so I wear a lot of hats.”

An agency is often its own worst client, making the execution and launch of its own website a particularly painful process. Which makes the relaunching of four state creative agencies in recent months all the more notable.

“I am an art director at Outthink in Essex. On the side I own Trove, a traveling boutique I started up 2 years ago.”

“I’m a designer at Bertz Design Group in Middletown. I also work on self-initiated, exploratory type projects from my home studio in New Hartford.”

“I’m the owner of a small design agency in Bridgeport called Bananaland. We dabble in, but are not limited to: websites, IDs, brochures, monkey training, hand stamping, and intern torture.”

At one time, it was said, “every business needs a website.” Today, it’s “every business needs a blog.” With many feeling forced and bandwagonesque, a handful of Connecticut agencies have found a voice that resonates.

“I basically run c.creative from my living room, amongst two active pre-teen stepchildren. If it weren’t for the 12 years working in studios bustling with drama, noise and pure chaos I would have folded months ago.”

Silver Creative Group in South Norwalk has just launched a new website for a construction luxury rental building in Midtown West / Manhattan.

“I am a graphic designer, creative director, project manager, owner, operator, and all around great gal at traciedesigns in Fairfield.”

Bertz Design Group of Middletown recently helped launch Nurtur — a health and wellness enterprise, the merger of two established companies — which they named, branded and positioned.

“Why Connecticut? I was born here, my girlfriend is going to grad school here, many of my friends are here, and New Haven has the best pizza (anywhere).”
 
 

“I am a creative something or other. I spend my days designing and directing for websites, print, identities/logos and more at Parallel, a design studio I founded with the help of a few like-minded individuals.”
 

“There are some pieces I’m quite proud of, and there are some turds. My portfolio as a whole is what I’m most proud of, I suppose. It showcases a large chunk of my life. The good, the bad, the embarrassing.”
 

“I find it incredibly rewarding to make a living by being creative. No matter how tough of a day I might have, I always remind myself that I’m part of a small percentage of people who love their job.”
 

The agency formerly known as Plaid has been acquired by Source Marketing (an MDC Partners company) and will now become… Humongo.