I Often Dream of Trains in New York DELUXE EDITION

Gamil Design worked with Yep Roc and Robyn Hitchcock to create a deluxe CD package for a limited Deluxe Edition of “I Often Dream of Trains in New York”. The classic looking CD package unfolds and transforms into a phenakistoscope, or moving picture machine. Original CD and DVD artwork can be viewed as animations through the included viewer. Gamil developed and produced the package concept, design and artwork. Each part of this deluxe package was made in the USA. This Deluxe Edition can be purchased at Yep Roc!

Robyn Hitchcock Deluxe Edition

Robyn Hitchcock Phenakistoscope Assembled

Check out the video below that Yep Roc put together showing the phenakistoscope in action!

Blue Flame Tattoo came to Gamil Design wanting a new website that was simple yet decorative, and able to accommodate large galleries for each of the artist. We designed a custom Wordpress theme which includes a homepage slideshow. Check out our portfolio site for more information on the project. or check out the new Blue Flame Tattoo website.

Thanks to all the staff at Gamil, Gamila, The Visual Art Exchange, Artspace and many many more, SPARKcon had a huge weekend to promote local creativity of the Triangle.

Lots of people ask why we do it and what we’re trying to create. We consistently work from the values established in the original SPARKcon Comment -which resulted from facilitating hundreds of citizen at the first ideaSPARK.

However we found the real mission statement was truly eminated from those who participated, in a unified voice. After 4  years of thinking and planning, we see that our open-source approach to creating a talent showcase structure is a unique construction that works and empowers the community to show their stuff and connect.

Spark on!

*SPARKcon showcases local creative talent in the NC Triangle. For four days, Raleigh’s Fayetteville St, public spaces, clubs and stages will be filled with art, music, dance, film, fashion, design, proposals, and more. Celebrating local cultural richness and empowering action through an open-source approach to collaboration and cross-pollination, SPARKcon is not a funded city program or an economic development stunt. It’s completely grassroots and by the people for the people! Join us as we explore the creative spirit of the Triangle!

After 12 days online, “Pixels and Bricks: Post-It Donkey Kong in Raleigh”  hit 50,000+ views on YouTube.
Here are 10 things that contributed to our lucky number:

1. Donkey Kong!…Everybody loves Donkey Kong! Little did we know that YouTube watchers also LOVE post-it notes, stop-motion and gigantism at least as much as we do! That perfect storm resulted in a video people wanted to view…and send to others.

2. A reason to create that had nothing to do with getting 50,000 views. In our case, it was a parade entry for Kirby Derby 2009, our neighborhood block party with a “Pity the Fool” 80’s theme. A vision got us started and a high giggle factor saw us through.

3. The perfect setting. Taking the characters outside to snap some pictures made us realize we were literally working right beside a Donkey Kong set. How could we NOT do something with that?

4.  I love it when a plan comes together…  Seeing the set got everyone’s juices flowing. We immediately created a story board, built additional pieces and got some (more) beer to con everyone (Gamil, Gamila, Fatcat Strategies, Thirdparty Labs) to stay late on a Friday evening to carry the characters through the shoot. Aside from the creation of Donkey Kong himself, the whole thing happened in one day.

5.Put it online when it’s hot. We had over 230 raw photos plus credits and music to be created. On the other hand, we had a short window of momentum from Kirby Derby aftermath. We chose to take advantage of that momentum rather than agonizing over quality, putting it online just a few days after the event. The Kirby Derby website, our friends, twitter and facebook connections, and a story in newraleigh.com got our numbers moving as soon as we uploaded the video.

6. Don’t compete with big news events or holidays. Oops -we didn’t listen to this bit of advice. Our video went online the morning after Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett died. Our first week online was the week of July 4 holiday. We have no idea how/if that affected our numbers.

7. Have a high-traffic site –  lucky enough to get a LOT of national and  international gmail viewers daily. During the first week online, Donkey Kong was our top story. Our video reached the weekly 30th most watched in India, 50th in France, and 62nd in South Korea…who knew?

8. Spread the word to strangers who care -  through blog tip forms and twitter. We told all the big guys about it, but it was the smaller blogs (some gaming and some humor) that grabbed hold early. The first blogs that got serious traction (other than newraleigh.com) were The Daily What, Tumblr,  and a variety of other small ones, followed quickly by buzzfeed.

9. Spread the word some more. We made YouTube comments and video responses to related videos. We twittered about our success rate. We told more gaming blogs once our numbers rose higher.

10. Luck and chance. The combination of personal connections and viral momentum enabled the video to move past our sphere of influence very quickly. Eventually some slightly bigger blogs saw it, and today, Kotaku got hold of it (from Topless Robot and I Heart Chaos). In this one day, we went basically from 35,000 to 50,000 (and counting).

It’s been exciting to see what would happen once we released the video to the online community. Ultimately, the whole project was about having fun  through a little creativity. The fact that we got to share it with so many people has been an unexpected treat.

(We’d love it f you gave it a rating or comment on youtube. Click on the youtube logo to watch it there and then subscribe or log in. Thanks!)

Once we took it outside and admired our work from the lovely Humble Pie, we noticed that the railings of our next door building looked just like a Donkey Kong set. Naturally we had to spend the whole next day creating all the characters for our first-ever stop motion animation movie.

Here it is in the MEDIUM REZ AT VIMEO:
Pixels and Bricks from Gamil Design on Vimeo.
 

SEE IT HERE IN HI-REZ!

Special thanks to the staff at Gamil Design, Gamila Company, Fat Cat Strategies, and ThirdParty Labs.

Now that we got your attention – check out Gamil’s brand new website!

Last year, we had the pleasure of working with Stefan Sagmeister to realize the deluxe CD package for David Byrne & Brian Eno’s album: Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.

It was truly a labor of love, as we here at Gamil Design are big fans of both David Byrne and Sagmeister, Inc. We were elated to find this video posted by Topspin CEO Ian Rogers with his personal unveiling of the deluxe CD package as it arrived at his home.

Also check out the interview with designer Stefan Sagmeister and his description of the concept behind the unique deluxe package design.

The past few years, Gamil Design and Gamila Company have taken a joint trip to the NC State Fair. We are so fortunate to live in the State Capital, and have the Fair pop up 4.2 miles from our downtown office every year.

Video Still from NC State Fair "Announcing the 2009 State Fair Theme" Video

I’m not sure what the themes were for past fairs, but I’m loving the “A Whole Lotta Happy” theme for 2009! The talking bubbles in the video kinda make me think of this post we wrote back in April.

Check out the announcement video… It is has that cute homemade feel that makes you smile (Note: People in video definitely reflect the State Fair… Caribbean Music does not really reflect the State Fair… Lastly, If you get motion sickness from shakey camera action beware).

as seen on the Deep Fried Blog

We are excited to announce the launch of the Shop Local Raleigh website! The Greater Raleigh Merchants Association hired the joint team of Gamil Design and Thirdparty Labs (both Designbox members) to create the site. Gamil designed the site and then Thirdparty Labs built it with their Carbon Content Management Toolkit. At shoplocalraleigh.org, visitors can browse or search a directory of local member businesses, see Google map locations, join the campaign, and find out more about the benefits of shopping locally. Yay Raleigh!

Designbox has it’s 7th annual Brand Fandango celebration this season. The show opened First Friday, but DB has extended show hours, open on Saturdays through the 20th from 11a-4p and weekdays thru 19th from 12p-6p. Lots of unique gifts, including one-of-a-kind A.H. Peele tee-shirts made from multiple screens from his designs and commercial work. You may find a PBR logo nestled amongst some trippy flowers, or Willie Nelson’s head sticking out of some of Adams swirly vines! Also find unique and affordable art, beautiful contemporary jewelry, hip apparel, funky bags, hilarious holiday cards and more!

The 16th annual Boylan Artwalk is this Sunday, December 7 from 1p-5p. Over 100 local artists and crafts people display perfect gifts on porches and in homes throughout the neighborhood. Enjoy the walk and then walk away finished with your shopping! Whether you are looking for metal, glass, clay, wood or fiber, it’s all here.

The Rock & Shop Market, a hip urban market featuring emerging designers and live music, is Sunday, December 13 from 1p-5p at Tir Na Nog. Over 30 vendors will be selling jewelry, silkscreen stuff, ornaments, soaps and candles, bags and more – all to the sounds of Whistlestop and The Tender Fruit.

Looking for local music? Check out Holly Raleigh Christmas, a compilation CD of local musicians! The proceeds go to local charities, and the project is sponsored by local businesses, including the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association.

Give more to your favorite local music artist by buying music direct instead of through a big music store. Superfan Records is a record label where the musicians actually get the money! Really? Yes!  Buy the new Kickin Grass CD (art designed by local designers – GAMIL!), Regina Hexaphone or Monologue Bombs!

Here’s a list of other great local places to shop:
Rebus Works: a gallery of NC arts and crafts, as well as framing.
Stitch: Holly Aiken’s wonderful world of bags, now on Hargett St.
Great Outdoor Provision: All the outdoor gear of a big box in a great locally owned store.
Father & Son: Vintage, Kitsch, Mid Century and other buzzwords for your offbeat gift needs.
Stuff Consignment: Taking thrift store to a whole nutha level.
FM Goods: your local source for street wear, sneakers and art with some attitude.
Nofo: locally owned store of eclectic and funky gifts with a cafe for a nice little break.

Also, check out NewRaleigh.com throughout the season. They’re always up to date on events and opportunities. Have Fun!