Recently, our client Little Dixie Construction converted an empty factory into a state-of-the-art green building for IBM’s Delivery Center in Columbia, Mo. VANGEL was proud to create educational signage throughout the building to highlight its green design, construction and silver LEED certification.

Here’s what the site looked like before.

And here is the building after Little Dixie worked their magic.

Little Dixie and IBM tapped VANGEL to develop informational graphics to educate employees and visitors about the building’s green features.

Our first step? Dumpster diving.

In the spirit of reduce/reuse/recycle, we visited the IBM job site to scout for construction debris.

Lucky for us, our Italian intern Carlo had come along. He volunteered to scale a construction dumpster and haul out a primer-gray, 8-foot electrical door panel. His fine Italian sweater may not have survived, but he can proudly say he got his hands dirty on the job in America. (Ti ricordi, Carlo?)

Here is the metal panel.

With the basis of a cool sign in hand, we enlisted the crew at SignsNow, for a plexiglass panel we would use to tell the building’s green story. The two pieces were then joined and mounted on the wall at IBM.

Next, we needed a way to maintain awareness throughout the massive building. The solution was a series of 12” x 12” plexiglass pieces that feature 3-dimensional items illustrating the building’s green features.

Simple and intriguing, the pieces also serve as “objets d’art” at IBM. There’s nothing like a chunk of concrete, an elephant, or a beer bottle sliced in half (thank you Village Glassworks) to get people talking.

VANGEL is proud to have been a part of this innovative LEED project. Ever wondered what creative, compelling ideas could do for your office space? Try dumpster diving.

Or give VANGEL a call.

VANGEL is proud to announce that our work has again been honored in this year’s 32nd Annual Telly Awards competition! (Our TV campaign for First Chance for Children also won a Telly this year.)

This time the Telly goes to two 30-second television ads we created for GetAbout Columbia, the Federal Highway Administration’s Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program in Columbia, Missouri.

The TV ads were part of a comprehensive public education campaign promoting walking and biking. As with all of the marketing materials we developed for the campaign, the TV commercials embodied the the GetAbout Columbia brand—upbeat, inclusive, and fun.

In the first spot, we touted the benefits of walking and biking by creating an original GetAbout Columbia song. We then enlisted the help of The Vision Factory to bring the brand to life through animation.

The second TV ad was part of a multi-media “Roll Together” campaign. By combining animation with video footage of Columbia streets, (shot by Boxcar Films), this spot reminds everyone—both car drivers and bicyclists alike—that following the rules of the road and simple courtesy are key to sharing the streets safely.

We’re extremely proud of the work we did for the GetAbout Columbia project. (See more here.) That’s because we know that a walkable, bikeable community is good for us all.

Do you have a product, service or initiative that you’re looking to brand in a memorable way? Give VANGEL a call.

Today is Mike’s birthday and with this one he turns a big “6-2.”  So be sure to wish him a happy birthday. And while you’re at it, ask him for a bit of  advice—because with age comes wisdom, and Mike has enough to go around for all of us.

As of January 19, 2011, the VANGEL Dojo has been blessed with the presence of the new intern.

Who is this intern? He is a small town country boy with city boy dreams. Growing up as the youngest of 4 on a farm in the middle of nowhere, one may believe he was destined to follow his predecessors.

At an early age, he decided to forge his own path and make his mark. At the ripe age of 9 he found this path with the submission of his first advertisement to Nestle. On a flight to visit his sister in California, inspiration struck him and he began to write. Within the 4-hour flight he had carved out a three-page script for a Nesquik commercial. It was a masterful ad and he knew it; there was no doubt in his mind it would be on television.

However after a month his hopes began to dwindle and he went back to work on the farm thinking his dream would never take flight. Then it happened, the doorbell rang and at it stood a man dressed in brown from head to toe holding a package. The package was enormous, but what could it be? He took the package and tore into it to find a personalized letter on top explaining how they appreciated the concept and submission but for the time being they were going to go a different route with their campaign. It went on to say, “For your time, you deserve compensation. We hope you will accept these gifts as payment.” Under that letter lay a hat, t-shirt, and bunny. The shirt was XXL and the hat was unconventional, but that didn’t matter to him. he still wore them as often as he could. As for the bunny, it still lives with him today and sits atop his desk here at VANGEL.

Kent Becker is a senior marketing major at the University of Missouri – Columbia finishing up in May. Currently he has no post graduation plans, but is excited about the upcoming arrival of his first nephew in May as well. Instead of worrying about tomorrow he lives by the motto “Carpe Diem” meaning seize the carp.

Beneath the masterful VANGEL staff, he has learned the “line up paper cut” technique. Though the task seemed repetitive and lengthy, he learned a valuable Mr. Miyagi lesson from completing it: patience = perfection.

Hey, we think before he can run, he must learn to walk. Have any advice for the new intern? Leave Kent a comment below.

VANGEL’S one and only Kevin Shults had a special birthday this month. He’ll have to tell you which one.

Happy Birthday Kev!

“Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.” - Father Larry Lorenzoni