I was first approached to simply to help a friend create a logo for a the concept of a virtual collective of post-production talent under the working name “The Reservoir”. Well once we landed on a retro feel for the logo, retro-futurism through AI inspiration hit me like a tidal wave and a full branding direction came to life. Cut to a year later - I’m a founding partner and creative director with The Reservoir, a full-functioning, badass post-production company.
Credit: Creative Director/Art Director, Designer, Writer
Every fall the Universal Studios parks close at dusk and re-open in the evening transformed into the premiere horror events in the world. Adult guests get treated to world-class, film and tv based, haunted mazes and I got to make little films to draw them in. From concept, to selling it in to the client, from storyboard creation to engaging super enthusiastic directors and production companies, all the way through final production and post, it’s truly been one of my favorite things to do.
Credit
Me: Creative Director / Art Director / Fan Boy
Chris Bettin: Creative Director / Writer
After years of a successful partnership, the owner of the new Fears Law decided to go it alone. A complete rebrand was in order and I was very excited to help. We started from the ground up, from helping name the firm to creating every puzzle piece of their new identity, I worked closely with the owner and staff to put together a beautiful and strong brand that can take them years into the future.
Credit: Creative Director/Art Director, Designer, Writer
It’s very flattering and satisfying when I’m given the opportunity to help a brand create their mark in the world. Here are some brands who I’ve helped through this process.
Credit: Creative Director / Designer / Illustrator
When you have a deep fried battle royal, grease is your best friend. To promote this charitable fight to the finish, we fried implements of destruction in it, painted portraits with it, wrote headlines and even made a logo out of it. Pretty slick.
Credit:
Me: Creative Director, Art Director, Illustrator
Chris Bettin: Creative Director, Writer, Fry Master
Photo: Rusty Hill Photographer
My partner and I led the pitch on Captain D’s. We won Captain D’s. We created a brand platform based on the insight that those who already like Captain D’s, really like Captain D’s. So let’s share some of their obsession with the world. It worked, sales shot up 10% in the first quarter.
Over the six years leading creative for Universal, I saw their messaging evolved a bit, but the constant truth has always been that this is the one place where both parents and kids can actually have fun together.
Right in the middle of a pandemic I decided to launch an apparel company. Why not, right? I poured a lot of heart and soul into it and had a blast figuring out that it’s an incredibly consuming endeavor. So once that the lights came back on in the world, I’ve had to put it on the shelf until I figure out how to do my day job and my passion project. But fear not, one day the Tenacious Bastard will ride again.
Credit: Owner, Creative Director, Designer, Writer, Illustrator
Besides their brand work, occasionally we were asked to help Universal Resorts launch a new world-class attraction. The work was usually fun, the attractions more fun and the people came in droves.
ActivPower muscle, joint and wellness products are designed to give humans and animals the power to live fully at any stage of life. And I had the pleasure of helping define the brand through design and art direction of practically every aspect of their visual identity.
Credit:
Me: Creative Director/ Art Director, Designer, Photo Retoucher
Chris Bettin: Creative Director/ Writer / Producer
This is a company that started a hundred years ago as free coffee handed out in the founder’s little country store. And they have grown into a company that quietly embraces and supports the communities that they are in. We thought it was time to get out there and do it a bit more publicly. Of course without a lot logos and chest beating, because that would just be against their nature.
When an Oklahoma dispensary needed some funky fresh graphics to promote their dope deals, they called the Mr. Cool himself…ok actually…they just called me and I was like, “cool!”.
Credit: Designer
Raising Cane’s wanted to remind the world that they do one thing. And they do it very, very well. We wanted the spots to reflect the fun nature of the brand, so with a less than ideal budget we got busy with some fun VO and lots of stock footage.
There was a time when all energy bars were referred to as “PowerBars”. They didn’t taste particularly good but they helped elite athletes accomplish greatness. The “Be Great” campaign helped us inspire recreational athletes and about a thousand new energy bar companies.
Credit: Art Director
I found a little shop that only sells miniature Japanese Bonsai trees. Seemed like fertile ground for some cool posters?
Credit: Art Director/Writer
When a little company in Ft. Worth, Texas makes custom choppers that are this badass, the only question is, what would you do to get your hands on one?
Most cars move you from place to place just fine, but how many are so cool that they can transport you to a whole other reality?
Credit: Art Director