FRANKLY SPEAKING
It’s all part of the design
Over the past 10 years, Rita Sasges has grown her company into a creative group of talented people who have won many design awards. Yet, even her longstanding clients still had a problem with the name Sasges Inc.
I always look forward to seeing the Christmas gifts Sasges sends to clients and this past season, fully aware many have called her company Sausages Inc., she delivered packages of delicious pork sausages with a teaser that said it was time for a name change.
“Frankly, we had grown a little weary of people butchering our name,” she says.
A second teaser inviting clients and business associates to a reception Tuesday in Sasges offices on the 5th floor of the Western Union Building on 8th Avenue S. W., said “Let’s be Frank.” And that was indeed the name announced — Frank Design Strategy.
After much discussion among staff and the help of strategic consultant Donna Finley, Sasges said the new name reflects the intimate, strategic culture of the studio.
“It was chosen because it says who we are and how we think and work — honestly, candidly and sincerely to find dynamic, engaging and tactical solutions to our clients’ communications challenges.”
Frank Design Strategy is strictly involved in creating good design, not your usual all- encompassing advertising agency. Some brand awareness projects might “leak into advertising,” although it’s not what they do. Sticking to that focus, the company has been engaged to do work for many Alberta clients and recognized by peers with more than 100 national and international honours.
They include Applied Arts magazine, Communication Arts magazine, Black Book Marketing, Design Annual and the New York Art Directors Club.
Jamie Niessen, the CEO of Propellus ( Sasges helped brand its new name from Volunteer Calgary) said: “This is a team of discoverers and explorers dedicated to helping you find your voice. Once found, the team brings the best of strategy and design together and works with you to authentically articulate your brand offering.”
Attendees were able to look over much of the work the company has accomplished for clients like Enbridge, for whom it designed and produced its Guide to Oil Sands, the company’s staff magazine, Link, and its very successful Emerging Artists Campaign.
A big winner for Enbridge was the promotion to celebrate the 100th anniversary of 4- H. That began with an idea for a commemorative pin for every member, but after a discussion about what more in could do, Sasges and her staff of five designers came up with a contest that delivered a pack of building cards to 38,000 members in two languages. Hands Helping Hands resulted in some amazing entries that were videoed for judging.
The company’s impressive client list includes the University of Calgary and the branding done for its on- campus Hotel Alma; Glenbow Museum; Calgary Telus Convention Centre; and, Calgary Economic Development. I was particularly impressed with the large- format, printed promotional piece they designed for Institute for Modern and Contemporary Art ( IMCA). Frank continues to work for the proposed new art gallery that has evolved into Contemporary Calgary.
As well as the announcement of the new name, the occasion was also a pre- release party for a new book being designed, photographed and written by Frank’s staff and colleagues. Forage will explore some of the great rural finds around Calgary featuring the farms and food markets of southern Alberta.
Frank designer Chandra Vermeulen — who like Rita Sasges, teaches design at Alberta College of Art & Design — said Forage is a “playful and creative way to flex our design muscle and involve everyone in the studio, a labour of love that satisfies the designer, wanderer and foodie in all of us.”
NEWS AND NOTES
Watch for Horrible Histories, a British hit that’s coming over the pond to American television. DC Collective and Discovery Family Channel chose Calgary’s Jump Studios to create the short open and graphics tool kit for its promotional campaign.
Some great classic vehicles are being consigned to the 41st annual Okotoks Collector Car Auction taking place May 22. Plan for the date and save your pennies. Wouldn’t you like to drive down your street in a 1975 gull- wing Bricklin?