We’ve all heard the phrase “Go Big or Go Home”, and while this tired epithet may hold water in some applications these days, we’re intrigued by this trend of micro-events. Our partners at Vibemap wrote an insightful piece on the power of micro-events as they pertain to downtowns and districts. And, as evidenced by the story of Alpine Park in LA (below under Focus on Local), oftentimes, smaller is better. Better at building community anyway. If you’re thinking big impacts from tiny activations, check out the data-driven approaches outlined by Noah Friedman. We think you’ll dig his vibe!
Photo credit: Envato Elements, by astrakanimages
Brand-spankin’ new to the market, we wrote about these innovative, integrated, glow-in-the-dark petunias last year when they were first announced. An amazing marriage of horticulture and human whimsy, the new Firefly Petunias have the literal ability to give your district an after-hours glow up! Firefly Petunias emit bioluminescence like fireflies or lightning bugs. These special hybrids were developed to emit a soft light, like a moonlight night after dark, by incorporating DNA from bioluminescent mushrooms into the petunias’s mitochondrial mix! And while plenty of districts fill their planters, pots, and containers with standard flowering annuals, these neoteric newbies add a nocturnal aspect to any downtown looking to activate their nighttime economies. We’ve seen floral events. We’ve seen nighttime events and night markets. But which downtown will be the first to illuminate its efforts with cutting-edge bioluminescence?
Photo credit: Envato Elements, by BGStock72
… that Bright Brothers Strategy Group not only talks the talk, but we walk the walk as well? And in this scenario, we walk, bike, scooter, drive, and take public transportation! We’re talking about a best-in-class mobility campaign out of Tempe, Arizona, called Tempe TRiP. This first-ever, singular tool combines real-time parking availability, current rates, wayfinding, live transit schedules, and alternative transportation options in a one-stop application that can be downloaded or used in-browser. And while mobility may not be a sexy topic, it is essential for thriving, accessible communities, so the visual identity and brand adoption need to be on point. And that’s why the Downtown Tempe Authority came to us for their design needs.
Our Lead Creative Brandi Walsh led the charge in developing the identity, brand standards, iconography, color palettes, and MarCom assets for the Tempe TRiP program. Working hand-in-glove with DTA’s “Chief Storyteller”, Bethany Kennedy, we developed an integrated system of design elements to easily communicate complex data and information for mass consumption; including visual identifiers for getting around via automobile, bike, scooter, light rail or streetcar — with real-time updates for transportation, routes, information and parking (hence, the name; Tempe TRiP)! Brandi had this to say about the project and its outcomes, “While I’ve had the pleasure over the years of developing the identity for dozens of Downtown Tempe events, activations and celebrations, from brunch crawls to kickball to 2nd Sundays to Spring Training selfie stations, and placemaking activations — this one was hella fun! I love a good design challenge, and developing the look and assets for this pioneering program allowed us a lot of creative freedoms. We’re going beyond the standard Canva toolkits and working on OOH, hand-held realia, window clings, car air fresheners, and more. Ya gotta love the breadth and complexity of UPMO work!”. To learn more about Bright Brothers design expertise, give a whistle and we’ll gladly show off our chops!
Photo credit: Downtown Tempe
Turning your city’s infrastructure into investable nodes gets a new lease on life with this electric article out of Oxford, UK. Among its many attributes and accolades, Oxford may now lay claim as the first city to upgrade its street light poles into internet connectivity hubs. As technology continues to alter the way society works, our streetscapes, shops and service needs increase. With all manner of needs to be connected, from devices and phones to automobiles to IoT-enabled assets, every part of a living city needs to communicate with its counterparts. This new street light tech is exciting! Way to go, Oxford! Now, who’s next?
Photo credit: Envato Elements, by wirestock
The power of parks and placekeeping can be clearly seen in a petite yet packed park in Los Angeles’ Chinatown neighborhood. Despite a newer and larger park having opened on the other side of the district, residents of all ages enjoy Alpine Park’s green oasis for a multitude of reasons. The park is programmed with activities of all kinds, but, as the article points out, despite the social channels managed by the park, WOM is fast and furious in this tight-knit community. And it’s not solely Chinese speakers who use the park. A nearby Latino family came to play with remote-controlled cars and said that despite language barriers, they can feel the energy of the community emanating from this positive green space. Alpine Park is not alone in its allure as a vibrant community and cultural hub. As Bloomberg CityLab recently pointed out, greenspace, parks, and public spaces are critical ingredients for fostering community.
Photo credit: Envato Elements, by marowl
“Developing this campaign—from concept to launch—has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. It’s not every day you get to create something from the ground up that directly impacts your community.” — Bethany Kennedy, Chief Storyteller, Downtown Tempe Authority
