BlindSpot: Innovative Ideas For Connecting With Consumers: BLIND SOCIETY

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Blind Society - Seeking - Interactive Designer + Developer

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Who We Are:
Blind Society is the world’s first Consumer Connections company. We specialize in creating alternative high-impact marketing campaigns that reach the elusive 18-35 prosumers. Consumer Connections are an evolved form of marketing that use alternative media tactics to start two-way conversations and relationships with targeted and influential consumers.

Who We Need:
The Interactive Experience team at Blind Society is seeking visionary Flash/Interactive Developers. Are you a crazy thinker? Do you have a portfolio that will inspire us? If you’re a person with multiple interactive skills and passions, we probably have projects that can utilize all of them. We have an amazing team of creatives, technologists, and strategists all working in an incredibly collaborative environment, concepting and prototyping together. We work on a broad array of media including gaming, web, mobile, industrial, product design, interactive retail environments, and experiential outdoor. If you’re passionate about the merging of various media channels and creative disciplines, you will want to come push the limits with us.

Position Requirements:
An innovative thinker and code expert that enjoys tackling challenging projects with a positive attitude.
Must be an expert problem solver and possess a failure is not an option mentality.
Excellent people skills and ability to clearly communicate ideas, decisions, and reasoning to a non-technical audience.
Ability to play a large role in managing the interactive experience development process of our projects.
Always maintain a keen sense of professionalism, be goal oriented, extremely self-driven and have a positive attitude.
Ability to juggle multiple projects and clients regularly.
You must be passionate about programming and technology
You will be working with others who are dedicated, driven, and talented
You will develop technical and creative solutions through research and experimentation
You will participate in brainstorming sessions, scoping meetings, and may also participate in meetings with clients
Need Bachelor’s Degree or higher
You must be at an expert-level with Flash, Flex, and Actionscript
You must have experience with. NET, SQL, JavaScript, XML, and HTML/CSS experience
Minimum of 5 years of interactive experience
Animation and user interface experience is helpful
Relevant design experience includes rich interactive applications, game development, motion graphics, web development, photography, and print advertising
Extra credit: a programming background and experience working on interactive campaigns outside the web

What we offer you besides a Killer Job:
Competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a very unique company culture.

How To Apply:
Please send your resume, cover letter, link to portfolio, and the number one reason why you would be the perfect addition to our team exceptional team to jeremy.watson@blindsociety.com
No Phone calls please.
No recruiters or agencies.

Posted in Blind 101, Blind Jobs | No Comments »

Mojo Yogurt Online Experience is Awarded Site of The Day by Adobe

Monday, June 15th, 2009

We were informed today that the Mojo Yogurt Online Experience has been selected by Adobe Systems as the Site Of The Day for June 16th, 2006. Along with honoring us with this award, Adobe has some very nice things to say about Mojo and their site. When asked what stood out to them, Adobe stated “From the music to the message, this site spreads joy while ingeniously extending the Mojo retail brand online.” Thanks Adobe, we love you too!

Adobe Site Of The Day - Mojo Yogurt - 06.16.09

Posted in Awards, Blind 101 | 3 Comments »

Blind Society & Phoenix Coyotes Win - NHL Best Team Marketing Campaign

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008

The National Hockey League (NHL) presented the Phoenix Coyotes with the NHL’s 2007-08 Best Member Club Marketing Campaign award last week at the annual NHL Club Business Meetings held in Denver this year.

“We’re honored to have our campaign recognized by the NHL,” said Phoenix Coyotes Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Michael Bucek. “SME helped create a customized and unique approach to market the Coyotes in Phoenix with our Hockey Headquarters branding and Blind Society was instrumental in developing Pierre the Fanatic Hockey Snowman and other non-traditional marketing initiatives that have produced effective results this season.”

The NHL’s 2007-08 Best Member Club Marketing Campaign award is presented for overall marketing efforts throughout the season. Campaigns were judged by panelists from Sports Business Journal, Brandweek and Adrenalin, Inc.

Susan Cohig, senior vice president, Club Consulting & Services for the NHL commented, “Our panel judged the top 5 submissions based on creative execution, outside media support and impact to the consumer. We congratulate the Coyotes and all the Clubs on their outstanding and creative campaigns and the NHL is proud to recognize the Coyotes for their 2007–08 marketing campaign.”

For more information about the Phoenix Coyotes, visit www.PhoenixCoyotes.com

Posted in Blind 101, Buzz & Viral, Press | No Comments »

Blind Society Brings Home 8 ADDY Awards This Year

Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

Blind Society brought home 8 ADDY Awards from the ADDY Awards Gala on Saturday, March 1st held at the Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center.

The ADDY awards are the advertising industry’s largest competition, recognizing and rewarding creative excellence. They are organized and hosted every year by the American Advertising Federation.

The local ADDY Awards are the first of a three-tier, nationwide competition. Local entrants from across the country vie for recognition as the very best in their markets. At the second tier, local winners compete against other winners in one of 14 district competitions. District winners are then forwarded to the third tier, the national ADDY Awards competition.

The number of awards given in each category is determined by a panel of judges who evaluate each entry for all aspects of creativity based upon the relative quality of work in that category. The ADDY Awards, currently in its 23rd year, attracts more than 50,000 entries annually, and recognizes and awards creative excellence in advertising.

Here’s the breakdown of the awards we brought home.

Gold ADDY – Print Campaign : “Love To Look At” – Beau Monde

Gold ADDY – Interactive Online : “Hockey Face” Micro Site – Phoenix Coyotes

Gold ADDY – Agency Promotion : Company Website – Blind Society

Silver ADDY – Nontraditional Advertising : “Hockey Face” Mirror Clings – Phoenix Coyotes

Silver ADDY - Nontraditional Advertising : “Resume” Toilet Paper - WorkBlast

Silver ADDY - Nontraditional Advertising : Wastebasket Backboards - WorkBlast

Bronze ADDY – Internet Commercial: “Checking Line” Viral Videos – Phoenix Coyotes

Posted in Blind 101, Buzz & Viral, Press | 1 Comment »

Blind Society & Phoenix Coyotes Win - Best Alternative Advertising Award At The 2008 National Sports Forum

Friday, February 8th, 2008

The Phoenix Coyotes were awarded first prize for Best Alternative Advertising at the 5th Annual NSF ADchievement Awards, which were presented Jan. 28 – 30 at the 2008 National Sports Forum in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Coyotes’ Alternative Media efforts included a variety of promotions that were implemented throughout Phoenix. The promotions included 3D Picture Environments at local malls, Mirror Clings installed at bars and restaurants, Bar Coasters that were distributed at local bars and a Puck Truck Stunt to support opening night around the city. The Coyotes also launched CoyotesHockeyHQ.com, an interactive microsite that promotes the club’s “Hockey Headquarters: All Things Hockey” marketing campaign.

“One of our challenges is to create awareness and excitement for the start of the NHL season while temperatures in Phoenix are still in the triple digits,” said Coyotes Chief Marketing Officer Michael Bucek. “This season, we decided to try some new methods using Alternative Media to help launch the season and it paid off. This out-of-the-box approach complemented our traditional advertising and helped us sell out Opening Night while creating awareness that Coyotes hockey was back”

The Coyotes worked with local agency, Blind Society in the concepts and execution of their marketing strategies. “The recognition the Coyotes and Blind Society have received further validates the tremendous growth in alternative media usage,” said Brand Visionary of Blind Society, Darren Wilson. “The Coyotes needed a campaign that was viral, entertaining and cost effective in generating a buzz for their young and aggressive team.”

In addition to winning the Best Alternative Advertising award, the Coyotes were one of only six finalists in the categories for Best Out-of-Home and for the 2008 Grand Prize Overall Award of Excellence.

Finalists in each category were determined by an independent group of Southern California advertising experts, and attendees at the 2008 National Sports Forum determined the winners of each category. This year more than 500 submissions were entered into the competition from teams, universities and agencies. More than 50 total organizations submitted entries from the NHL, NBA, MLB, NFL, MLS, NASCAR, and NCAA as well as numerous others including minor league teams, television networks, and private corporations.

Posted in Blind 101, Buzz & Viral, Press | No Comments »

Phoenix Coyotes - Pierre The Fanatic Hockey Snowman

Friday, October 5th, 2007

Check out the new TV spots for the Phoenix Coyoted created by Blind Society.

Telepathic w/ Keith Ballard and Pierre

Scoring Title w/ Darren Pang and Pierre

Checking Line w/ Wayne Gretzky and Pierre

Posted in Blind 101, Buzz & Viral, Mass Media, Press | No Comments »

Bluemedia Designer Jeremy Doty Chosen As Finalist In Kodak NASCAR Design Contest - VOTE NOW!

Friday, August 3rd, 2007

Our Friend & Bluemedia designer Jeremy Doty is one of 5 finalist in the Kodak “INK RYAN’S RIDE” Contest. The contest offers the winner a chance todesign the paint scheme and have their name appear on NASCAR Nextel Cup driver Ryan Newman’s No. 12 Kodak Dodge for the Series 500 race at California Speedway on Sept. 2. The winner also gets two tickets to the NASCAR Bush Series on Sept. 1 and Nextel Cup races, transportation, VIP access to the California Speedway and a Kodak EasyShare 5300 All-in-One inkjet printer.

The top five designs will be revealed live on Fox Sports Net’s “The Best Damn Sports Show Period” in August and posted at the site. The public will decide on the winner with voting held from Aug. 3 through 10. Each vote earns an entry into the sweepstakes with the winner receiving a Kodak NASCAR-licensed replica helmet autographed by Newman and a Kodak EasyShare 5300 All-in-One Printer.

Jeremy’s design is shown below, look for the blue roof & hood . . . Go Vote Now!! Public voting ends in 7 days on August 10th!

Show your support . . . VOTE NOW CLICK HERE

Posted in Blind 101, Buzz & Viral | No Comments »

Dorky – The Alternative To Being Cool

Thursday, August 2nd, 2007

Let’s face it: not every brand can achieve “cool.” They can’t all be Adidas, with an old-school authenticity that will never die, or Apple, with its exceptional design. Not every brand can pull off the gritty appeal of an American Apparel ad.

But some of today’s trendsetters’ favorite brands aren’t cool at all—in fact, some of them are downright dorky. They have won the love of these fickle consumers simply by being original and friendly, and for never apologizing for being themselves.

Trader Joe’s is a great example of this type of brand. Employees wear those ugly Hawaiian shirts and the company publishes that strange newsletter, but it’s their own style and is much more inviting than the normal traditional grocery store.

Jet Blue is another example of a dorky but friendly brand that is admired for thier quirkiness and uniqueness.

In N Out dresses their employees in seriously lame uniforms, and has been criticized for printing Biblical quotes on their paperware (this blatant religious affiliation is uncool to many and offensive to some), but most customers accept these quotes as part of the brand’s one-of-a-kind identity. In N Out has earned credibility by being such unapologetic dorks.

You might compare these brands to the nerdy lead character of Napoleon Dynamite, which has already become a cult classic movie among many Gen Y’s. They’re loved precisely because they don’t fit into our conventions of what’s hip. They do things their own way.

Posted in Blind 101, Generation Next | No Comments »

Marketing // Good Vs. Great

Wednesday, July 18th, 2007

Good marketing is about cliche ideas.
Great marketing is about recognizable ideals.

Good marketing has complex elements.
Great marketing encourages complex emotions.

Good marketing has a “hook.”
Great marketing has meaning.

Good marketing relies on hot topics.
Great marketing doesn’t rely on anything.

Word.

Posted in Blind 101 | No Comments »

The 10 Absolute Musts To Building A Winning Promotion

Tuesday, July 17th, 2007

#1 – Don’t Forget The Brand And Never Forget The Sell
A winning promotion delivers the essence of a brand directly into consumers’ lives in a natural way, and never loses sight of its primary objective: to move the needle. Not only does every tactic need to reinforce the brands’ proposition, it needs to strive for results.

#2 – Walk An Aisle In Their Shoes
A Winning promotion has lots of street smarts. It talks to a specific audience of consumers - in their language and on their turf. The only way to get in the flow is get out and mix in. Your homework will pay off with better ideas and a
more plausible sell-in.

#3 – Make It A “Want To Do”
There are promotions you want to get involved in, and there are promotions you don’t get involved in. A winning promotion gets consumers to voluntarily invest their time with your brand. They’re engaging, topical and integrally related to your brand. What makes your idea something you’d be interested in learning more about?

#4 – Make Playing As Much Fun As Winning
It’s a promotion’s dream come true - To engage consumers in a fun and interactive way before they even enter to win anything! A winning promotion is about creating memorable experiences that leave consumers
feeling good about your brand. Leave them feeling bad and you’ve likely lost a consumer for life.

#5 – Feed The Fantasy, Reward The Fan
Have you played the lottery lately? (i.e.: the biggest promotion going) Every game seems to come with at least 10 ways to win. That’s all in addition to the huge grand prize. Deep down, we all believe “we won’t win the big prize,” but that shouldn’t stop us from playing. Lots of lower level prizes give us average Joe’s hope. A winning promotion rewards players
with a fair shot at lower level prizes, too.

#6 – “Where” Is Just As Important As “What”
Content means nothing without the right context. To get the results you need, a winning promotion relies on delivering the right message at the right time and in the right place. The best offer in the world is worthless if the right consumers don’t see it.

#7 – Simplicity Rules
If you can’t explain your concept in one sentence, consumers won’t give it two thoughts. A winning promotion is easy to get, easy to play.

#8 – When Possible, Make It Exclusive
If you’re lucky enough to brainstorm a promotional idea that makes such a powerful statement about your brand that it could only be yours, make it yours!

#9 – ROI (Really Outstanding Investment)
Whether it’s a seasonal spike in sales or increased usage and consumption, the results need to be tangible. Insist on proof. Make it measurable.

#10 - An Empty Page
This one leaves much to the imagination. It’s the clean slate. Try to start every project with one. Don’t assume it’s got to be an event, a star-studded partnership, a million dollar sweepstakes or a one-dollar coupon. A winning promotion is a deft mix of the right tactics, the best media tools and the smartest idea for the job. (Which sometimes isn’t necessarily the biggest idea for the job.)

Posted in Blind 101 | No Comments »

Welcome to BlindSpot - The blog of Blind Society

Tuesday, June 12th, 2007

Hello, and welcome to BlindSpot the blog of Creative Consumer Connections Agency - Blind Society. At Blind Society, all of our creative activations revolve around the basic concept of starting a conversation with a targeted audience in meaningful and relevant ways. We have started BlindSpot with those same principles in mind and it is our mission to start a conversation with colleagues, peers, clients – and the entire marketing community.

Our industry as we once knew it has changed and is continuing to undergo a paradigm shift. Consumers and their “consumerling” offspring are seizing more control and ignoring the visual noise that has become our society today.

We exist to evolve this industry in a positive direction for both companies and their customers. It is here at BlindSpot where we will discuss what’s going on in the marketing world today, where we see it going in the future, and various things that we feel are relevant or just plain cool.

All we ask of you is that you – Join The Conversation.

Thank You,
Blind Society
www.blindsociety.com

Posted in Blind 101 | 1 Comment »