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Interning at PeakBiety

by Maria Boutzoukas

I can honestly say that during my nine-week internship with PeakBiety, I have learned more than I could have imagined.

On my first day I was told that they had just started a major project and I would basically get to see the process on how a major project is completed from the beginning. I was very excited because even though I have worked on projects for my own clients and for class, I knew that this wasn’t going to be the same. It most definitely wasn’t, especially after spending an entire week researching photos, sketches, and brainstorming. I was able to sit in on meetings to discuss ideas and thoughts on the campaign and how we should go about it.

My second week involved deciding what concepts we were going to work on. We decided on 6 different campaign concepts and went from there. Each concept required a print ad, outdoor billboard, a radio ad, and a TV ad. This involved a lot of sketching, mock-ups, and critiquing.

My school prepared me for this but I didn’t realize how much time and energy is actually put into it. I was used to just coming up with an idea and then using all my time and energy to create the final product. It was a great eye opener. We then ran the 6 concepts by Glen, the president/project supervisor, to get his input and opinion on what concepts to continue with. We decided to work with all six, so we needed to complete all of the concepts for presentation to the client. We created storyboards for the TV ad concepts and the radio ads, and finalized the print ads and billboards. I learned a lot about consistency and alignment when we were going through this process.

Another project surfaced that I got to work on and it was the re-creation of a logo. I was thinking to myself, oh this is a no brainer and it will be a piece of cake…nope, not what I thought at all. I started working on the logo, making sketches like I normally would and just finding a font to use, and then, thinking I was done, I showed it to Amy, the creative director/senior art director. She explained to me what I needed to lay out and show, how I needed to search for different fonts, and try to find a variety of them. It was great because I had no idea that this was the process that a designer needs to go through when making a logo. So I was back to the beginning with a better understanding of what I needed to do. I spent more time than I would have imagined just researching fonts and figuring out which one matches well with another. After doing this, color was added in, and then placement.

Triston, another intern, was also working on this project, and it was great to see how he went about it and what his ideas were. I went from thinking that a logo can be created in a few hours to realizing that it actually takes a lot more time and energy, and has a very important process.

I also learned a lot about time management. We were working on about three or four projects within the same week and I got to see how everything was managed. Everything had a timeline so I couldn’t spend too much time on one thing. I came to the realization that when I work on a project not just for a company but for myself, I really need to map out what days certain steps need to be completed by.

Overall, I feel like working at PeakBiety has been such an amazing experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for an internship position at a place where they want learn and gain lots of experience. It was such a pleasure working there and I would most definitely consider my time well spent.

Maria is graphic design student at the International Academy of Design and Technology. Born and raised in Clearwater, FL, Maria enjoys expressing her creativity in many ways—including graphic design, photography and DJing. You can check out her portfolio here.

Why Making the Logo Bigger Can be a Big Mistake.

by Amy Phillips, Creative Director

It’s a problem that comes up in design 101, and is waged by art directors everywhere. The dilemma of whether to engage the audience or hit them over the head with a client’s logo has endured since David Ogilvy penned his first headline.

Clients who spend money on a web banner or TV commercial naturally want to get the most out of their ad dollars. But pushing the logo into someone’s face as often as a 30-second spot or a tile-sized Web banner will allow, isn’t really the best way to do it. Viewers are way too sophisticated for this tactic. And now they have technology to back them up. One click of the mouse or the remote control, and your logo and the rest of your message are history.

Unless you quickly establish why your ad is relevant to them, they’re unlikely to register anything else. Just think of it as the, what’s-in-it-for-me? syndrome. The people you’re trying to reach are caught up in their own lives. If at home, there are phones ringing, children crying, dinners boiling over and bills that need paying.  At the office, things are even worse. Deadlines loom, sales goals beckon and bosses demand answers. “Now what were you trying to sell me?”

Please…do yourself and your company a very big favor. Don’t let all your hard work and good money go to waste on an audience that isn’t paying attention. Engage them first. Then they might even be interested in your logo.

NDS Systems Connects with PeakBiety

TAMPA, FL – NDS Solutions, developer of ERP (enterprise resource planning) software solutions for small and mid-sized manufacturers and distributors, is partnering with PeakBiety branding + advertising to assist with their branding and communications needs.

Founded in 1985, NDS Solutions specializes in the development of company-wide software systems to manage and coordinate all the resources, information and functions of its clients. The firm provides fully integrated, all-in-one software solutions built on powerful technology that delivers high capability, flexibility, reliability and scalability at an affordable cost for an excellent return-on-investment. By linking all company operations through one ERP system from NDS, businesses can reduce operating costs, streamline processes, improve inventory planning and management, and upgrade customer service.

PeakBiety will be helping NDS define brand positioning for its ERP software, assessing all company communications and providing vital customer satisfaction research. In addition, the agency is charged with enhancing the company’s graphic identity, as well as web and media presence.

“We are excited about this opportunity to assist NDS in creating greater awareness of their advanced ERP solutions,” noted Glen Peak, President of PeakBiety.

PeakBiety branding + advertising® serves local, regional and national clients in a variety of business sectors. The agency focuses on adding value for its clients by improving customer perceptions. This commitment is summed up in the agency’s promise, “the power of perception®.”

PeakBiety is one of the few agencies in Tampa Bay to meet the strict requirements for membership in the prestigious American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As). For more information, call Glen Peak at PeakBiety branding + advertising, 813-227-8006, extension 114, e-mail gpeak@peakbiety.com or visit peakbiety.com.

Software firm launches new brand identity.

TAMPA, FL – Persystent Technologies, the developer of the fastest automated PC recovery solution on the market, has changed its name to Persystent Software. The name change is part of a dynamic new brand identity designed to reflect the company’s focus on providing software solutions to a broader market, including individuals and small businesses, with their new Persystent SOLO product.

PeakBiety branding + advertising, the branding agency for Persystent, is spearheading the marketing effort which includes a refreshed logo graphic and a new brand promise, “Damage Controlled™,” to emphasize the key benefit of the company’s proprietary software. Persystent’s software can restore a degraded computer’s operating system and applications to work-ready status in a matter of seconds – whether it is on or off a network. It foils viruses, malware and other unauthorized programs and returns the PC to fully functional, simply by rebooting.

In addition to developing the brand platform, PeakBiety has designed a new, dynamic graphic identity for Persystent. The logo features a strong, clean typeface with a dramatic graphic “P” to draw attention to the “power on” aspect to the product.

The new Persystent Logo

The new Persystent Logo

Glen Peak, President of PeakBiety branding + advertising said, “to anyone who’s ever had their PC fail on them and didn’t have access to an IT help-desk, this product is really spectacular. Now, with their new SOLO product, this dynamic product will be available to individuals and small businesses that have the same frustrations. This was a great project to work on.”

PeakBiety branding + advertising® serves local, regional and national clients in a variety of business sectors. The agency focuses on adding value for its clients by improving customer perceptions. This commitment is summed up in the agency’s promise, “the power of perception®.”

PeakBiety is one of the few agencies in Tampa Bay to meet the strict requirements for membership in the prestigious American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As). For more information, call Glen Peak at PeakBiety branding + advertising, 813-227-8006, extension 114, e-mail gpeak@peakbiety.com or visit peakbiety.com.

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Fundraiser picks up ADDY gold on bike ride to help cure cancer.

TAMPA, FL—PeakBiety branding + advertising was presented with a gold ADDY award at this year’s annual competition for its design of a poster for Cure on Wheels, an all-volunteer organization hosting an annual bicycling event to raise funds for cancer research and treatment at the Moffitt Cancer Center. Cure on Wheels’ partnership with PeakBiety has also lead to a new brand promise and a new logo design, which is featured on the winning poster entry. Both can be seen together by visiting the Cure on Wheels homepage at www.cureonwheels.org.

“PeakBiety is honored that this work has been recognized with a gold ADDY,” according to Mike Biety. “But we’re even more honored to be part of such a worthwhile event. Cure on Wheels’ support and contributions to Moffitt research will help make a positive difference in the lives of countless people affected by cancer.”

As Florida’s only ride to benefit cancer research, Cure on Wheels’ intention is to successfully meld support from committed cyclists, volunteers, corporate sponsors and individual contributors. Their hope is to provide Moffitt Cancer Center doctors and researchers the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers. The inaugural ride will take place May 31 through June 1 and will be centered around St. Leo University, just west of Dade City.

The Tampa Bay Advertising Federation is a division of the American Advertising Federation (AAF)—a national organization committed to developing the highest standards in advertising. The ADDY awards are recognized as the largest creative advertising competition in the country.

PeakBiety branding + advertising® services local, regional and national clients in a variety of business sectors. The agency focuses on adding value for its clients by improving customer perceptions. This commitment is summed up in the agency’s promise, “the power of perception®.”

PeakBiety is also one of the few agencies in Tampa Bay to meet the strict requirements for membership in the prestigious American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAAs). For more information, call Glen Peak at PeakBiety branding + advertising, 813-227-8006, extension 114, e-mail gpeak@peakbiety.com or visit peakbiety.com.

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