One of the highlights of my career revolves around the Brunswick Bowling Account. They wanted us to create an ad to launch an “Extreme Globe Bowling Ball” (feel free to ad your own echo.) We dug deeper into the technology and found out that you could really print whatever you wanted on it as long as it was designed a certain way. What if we could create balls that even little girls obsessed with the Power Puff Girls would want? We showed them that they had a much bigger idea on their hands than they realized rebranded it as Viz-a-Ball. Viz-a-Ball launched an entirely new profit center for the business and they are still making money on it to this day. After being asked to create the ad for their Earth bowling ball I sat back and muttered “ptss.” That weekend I designed around a hundred bowling balls and created a nice little book to show the client. In addition to that, I got together with my boss, some writers and art directors to create a print campaign, logos and box designs. When we pitched the idea they were floored. They had limited vision, but ours was huge. We instantly started worked with Disney, Warner Bros., and Miller Light, to name a few, to create bowling balls for their brands. Then there was the PR event. The first images I saw of their plans had an easel with a picture of a bowling ball and some canvas tarps draped around it. Once again I muttered “ptss.” We had to do much more for something that would be launching at a modern art museum. I designed an art exhibit, which included paintings, sculptures and lifestyle vignettes ala Claes Oldenburg and even had an interactive piece where people could physically spin balls around next to a massive parody of Andy Warhol’s Coke painting from the 60’s, but with balls from the limited edition Andy Warhol Coke bowling ball collection. The first four images you see on the right that look like print ads were actually 6 foot tall printouts on canvas that were stretched, framed and hung around the main stage at the unveiling. One of the other unique things about these balls is that they are all pretty much limited editions, which makes them instant collector’s items. Because of that people were stealing the bowling balls from the exhibit and running out the back door, one in each arm. We had to form a blockade at some point just to have some balls left for press releases. In the end the curators and managers from the museum gave us a personal invitation to have more PR exhibits there anytime in the future because of the style and seriousness to complement their museum, which usually doesn’t happen. I have lots of pictures and architectural drawings, etc. to share but I won’t be able to get those live for a few more days. Come back soon.