cultivating commerce

// over twenty years of celebrated & successful branding, identity and package design experience //
***

Eric Kass embraces contradictions. Mixing art and design, balancing emotion with intellect, leveraging expression and strategy while tickling the unconscious, as well as, conscious mind to make the subjective more objective. With everlasting enthusiasm he has an unapologetic affection for alliteration and thinks in rambling run-on sentences. His obsessively hard-working temperament honed by well over 20 years of diverse design experience is used for good, specializing in artisanal food & beverage, boutique products and all types of elevated endeavors. He has crafted comprehensive, awarded, branding, identity and package designs for a wide range of patrons from Hollywood’s biggest stars to homespun start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. You can find his work in your neighborhood, ricocheting around the internet or featured in over 25 magazines and 55 books on the shelves of used bookstores. He sometimes shows work in galleries and speaks about design to large groups. Once upon a time Eric was nominated for a Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award in Communication Design.

> CONNECT TO CULTIVATE COMMERCE < 

***
Eric Kass, Proprietor / Commercial Artist
eric@funnel.tv
Funnel : Bespoke Brands Dream Distillation Process™

_figure.{A}

1. — : collaborate : work together to download, discuss, debate, look, learn and listen – inspiration plus input are shared, expectations are set and opportunities identified //

2. — : curate : edit and organize from infinite information and opportunities to a unique, essential position and concept that will be the foundation for your relevant, memorable, compelling, brand narrative //

3. — : craft : a spontaneous, intuitive but informed flurry of creation based upon the lessons of ( collaborate ) and the product of ( curate ) { a thoughtful and emotionally charged custom identity system is created } //

4. — : cultivate : a consistent consuming experience based on the info of ( collaborate ) focused by ( curate ) and infused with energy in ( craft ) creates a lasting, familiar but fresh, connection with your audience //

5. — : compel : your customers completes the process by taking action fulfilling the expectations set in ( collaborate ) //

6. — : connect : bespoke brands that engage and immerse with authenticity and passion cultivate brand champions who trust, support and circulate your brand message //

_figure.{B}

: input = output : what goes in is what your customers will get out of the brand consciously and subconsciously on an intellectual & emotional level creating a strong unique lasting connection //

_figure.{C}

: internal / external : a bespoke brand not only provides a powerful connection with your customers but also promotes excitement and confidence internally reinforcing and fueling your mission //

_figure.{D}

: brand foundation : this process provides a strong foundation for all communication and marketing materials, cultivating commerce throughout the life of your brand creating continuity, consistency and clout that can be seen and felt //

  • // B R A N D I N G //

    Brand Strategy
    Brand Narration
    Brand / Product Naming
    Photo Art Direction
    Design Creative Direction

    // I D E N T I T Y //

    Logo Design
    Brand Guide
    Stationery
    Uniforms

    // P A C K A G I N G //

    Structural Design
    Print Design

    // M E R C H A N D I S E //

    Apparel
    Glassware
    Promotional Items

    // E N V I R O N M E N T S //

    Signage — Interior/Exterior Space
    Design — Interior/Exterior
    Trade Show BoothMarket Booth
    Banners
    Store Displays
    Vehicle Design

    // S I T E S //

    SquareSpace Design
    Custom Site Design + Development

    // M A R K E T I N G //

    Print Ads
    Direct Mail
    Online Ads

    // A R T W O R K //

    Prints
    Painting
    Mural
    Sculpture

  • // F O O D & B E V E R A G E //

    The Black Pearl — Dunedin / FL
    Backyard Feed Co. — St. Augustine / FL
    Bodhi Cocktail Bar — Indianapolis / IN
    Binkley’s Kitchen & Bar — Indianapolis / IN
    The Black Pearl — Dunedin / FL
    Bovaconti Coffee — Indianapolis / IN
    Brown-Forman — Louisville / KY
    The Buckminster Spirit Co. — Asheville / NC
    Chef Jack’s Kitchen — Rendondo / CA
    Empire Cake — New York / NY
    Ernest & Julio Gallo Winery — Modesta / CA
    The Feinstein Group — Dunedin / FL
    Food Strategies — San Francisco / CA
    Formation — Tampa / FL
    Front Forty Foods — Denver / CO
    Here & Now Kaffe — Gotland / Sweden
    Indianola Distilling Co. — Houston / TX
    Amped Kitchens — Los Angeles / CA
    The Living Room Restaruant — Dunedin / FL
    Lyon Rum — St. Michaels / MD
    Maddy’s Organic Meals — Chicago / IL
    Meadow Vista Wines — West Kelowna / BC / Canada
    Misha’s — Los Angeles / CA
    Phenomenal Foods Co. — Cleveland / OH
    Plush Puffs — Los Angeles / CA
    Rosalie Bay Distillery — Rosalie / Dominica
    Sly Grog Distilling — Alexandria / VA
    Sonder Social Club — Dunedin / FL
    Velvet Bee Winery — Santa Barbara / CA
    Vigilant Eats — Bloomington / IN

    // B O U T I Q U E P R O D U C T S //

    Bo Bo’s Beeswax Crayons — Dallas / TX
    Cocktail + Bath — Upland / CA
    Eversea — Montague, Prince Edward Island / Canada
    Daniela Fischer — Greenwhich / CT
    Goose Lane — Greenwhich / CT
    H & M — Stockholm / Sweden
    Juxtaposition Home — Newport Beach / CA
    Linnea’s Lights — Carmel / IN
    Maxus — Hackensack / NJ
    Neely’s Nest — Greenwhich / CT
    Patterns World, Inc. — Los Angeles / CA
    Rustica Hardware — Springville / UT
    Society of Salvage — Indianapolis / IN
    So Good Mojo Co. — Randolph / New Jersey
    Soy Love Candles — Hanover / PA
    Waxing Kara — Chesterhaven Beach / MD

    // C R E A T I V E E N D E A V O R S //

    4by6.com — San Francisco / CA
    Birge & Held — Indianapolis / IN
    The Combine (Jeremy Renner) — Los Angeles / CA
    Ellysium Racing — Dusseldorf / Germany
    Films by Francesco — New York / NY
    Forget Computers — Chicago / IL
    Formation — Tampa / FL
    Girl Scouts of America — New York / NY
    Litho Press — Indianapolis / IN
    NBC Universal — Los Angeles / CA
    Office Lofts — Indianapolis / IN
    Pearl Street Films (Matt Damon/Ben Affleck) — Los Angeles / CA
    Tailored Twig — Tampa / FL
    Urban Umbrella — New York / NY

  • // B O O K S //

    { 2022 } LogoLounge 13 / Rockport
    { 2019 } Material Matters Vol. 2 Two : Metal / Victionary / Hong Kong
    { 2017 } LogoLounge 10 / Rockport
    { 2016 } Dotted Visuals – Polka Dots in Contemporary Graphic Design / China
    { 2015 } Branding : Distilled – A Guide to Package Design for Craft Spirits
    { 2015 } LogoLounge 9 / Rockport
    { 2014 } Los Logos 7 / Gestalten / Berlin
    { 2013 } Decorative Logo Design / BNN Inc. / Tokyo
    { 2013 } Pack Your Life 2 / Artpower / Hong Kong
    { 2013 } Design : Portoflio / Rockport
    { 2012 } New Graphic Design / Links Books / Barcelona
    { 2012 } Handmade Packaging Workshop / Thames & Hudson / London
    { 2012 } Los Logos 6 / Gestalten / Berlin
    { 2012 } New Typography / Artpower / Hong Kong
    { 2012 } In Effect Ground Breaking Finishes & Materials / Dopress Books / Shenyang
    { 2012 } Master Library Vol. 4 – 3000 Type & Calligraphy Logos / Rockport
    { 2012 } Typography Referenced / Rockport
    { 2011 } Green Graphics / Index Book / Barcelona
    { 2011 } Master Library Vol. 3 – Shapes & Symbols / Rockport
    { 2010 } The Best of Brochure Design 11
    { 2010 } Impressive Printmaking. Letterpress & Graphic Design
    { 2010 } Animals and Mythology – Master Library Series / LogoLounge
    { 2010 } The Best of Letterhead and Logo Design 11
    { 2010 } Nice to Meet You 2 / Victionary / Hong Kong
    { 2010 } Mini Graphics / Sandu Publishing / Hong Kong
    { 2010 } My Own Business Card / Index Book / Barcelona
    { 2010 } The Best of Business Card Design 9
    { 2009 } 1000 More Graphic Elements
    { 2009 } Basics Logos / Index Book / Barcelona
    { 2009 } Smart Designs : Business Cards / PIE Books / Tokyo
    { 2009 } Graphic Design, Translated / Rockport
    { 2009 } Graphic Design, Referenced / Rockport
    { 2009 } Just For You — Designs Made by the Heart
    { 2009 } Growing Graphics : Design for Kids : Index Book / Barcelona
    { 2008 } 1000 Package Designs : A Comprehensive Guide to Packing It In
    { 2008 } Design Matters Packaging 01: Essential Primer for Today’s Comp. Market
    { 2008 } Relaxing Graphics : PIE Books / Tokyo
    { 2008 } For Sale Over 200 Innovative Solutions in Package Design
    { 2008 } Design for Special Events
    { 2008 } 1000 Music Graphics
    { 2008 } The Best of Business Card Design
    { 2008 } Invitation & Promotion. Ideas with Impact : Index Book / Barcelona
    { 2008 } Simply Pattern : Victionary / Hong Kong : ( Funnel Paper Goods )
    { 2007} Eating & Designing Index Book Barcelona
    { 2006 } 100% Design Portfolio Index Book Barcelona
    { 2006 } The Complete Graphic Designer
    { 2006 } The Best of Business Card Design 7
    { 2006 } 1000 Bags, Tags & Labels
    { 2005 } Maximum Page Design
    { 2004 } Graphis Logo 6
    { 2004 } Rethink, Redesign, Reconstruct
    { 2003 } Identity Design That Works
    { 2003 } Identity Solutions : How to Create Effective Brands
    { 2000 } Logos That Work
    { 2000 } Cutting Edge Identities
    { 1997 } Great T-shirt Graphics 3
    { 1997 } Fresh Ideas In Limited Budget Design
    { 1996 } Type Directors Club Traveling International Exhibit & Book
    { 1996 } Fresh Ideas In Brochure Design
    { 1996 } Fresh Ideas In Letterhead & Business Card Design 3
    { 1995 } Fresh Ideas In Black, White & Gray
    { 1994 } Fresh Ideas In Letterhead & Business Card Design 2

    // M A G A Z I N E S //

    { 2012 } Novum : World of Graphic Design / Germany / Feature Interview
    { 2010 } 73 Communication Arts : Design Annual 51 / Fresh
    { 2009 } Uppercase : a magazine for the creative and curious : Issue 2 / Summer
    { 2008 } Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Style News / Funnel Paper Goods
    { 2008 } Applied Arts Design & Advertising Annual
    { 2008 } HOW Self-Promotion Design Annual
    { 2008 } Print Regional Design Annual 2008
    { 2008 } HOW International Annual of Design
    { 2007 } HOW December Issue
    { 2006 } Print Regional Design Annual 2006
    { 2006 } HOW December Issue
    { 2006 } Step Inside Design Vol. 22 No. 3 May / June
    { 2005 } HOW International Annual of Design
    { 2004 } Communication Arts Design Annual 45
    { 2003 } Print Regional Design Annual 2003
    { 2003 } HOW Self Promotion Annual
    { 2002 } Communication Arts Design Annual 42 / FRESH
    { 2002 } HOW Magazine Self Promotion Annual
    { 2000 } Communication Arts Design Annual 41
    { 2000 } Print Regional Design Annual 2000
    { 1999 } HOW International Annual of Design
    { 1994 } HOW International Annual of Design
    { 1993 } HOW International Annual of Design
    { 1992 } HOW Self Promotion Annual

    // E X H I B I T I O N S //

    { 2023 } The One Piece Show / Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2023 – 2016 } Bigger Picture Poster Show Indy Film Fest / Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2022 / 2020 } Art of Politics Poster Show / Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2015 } AIGA Design Rewind Celebrating 25 Years of Design in Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2015 } Ephemerotia gallery show / Harold Lee Miller Studio / Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2015 } “Contradictions” drawings paintings objects / 3 Mass Gallery / Indy / Indiana
    { 2012 } Jurors Exhibition / Anderson University Wilson Gallery : Anderson / Indiana
    { 2011 } CBS Sunday Morning National TV Show : Work Featured in Business Card Story
    { 2011 } Nominated 2011 Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award
    { 2010 } Fisher Hall Fine Arts Gallery Marian University / Indianapolis
    { 2009 } The Public & Personal Design Views : University of Indianapolis CDFAC Gallery
    { 2006 } Herron School of Art and Design + online gallery
    { 2006 } Eisner American Museum of Ads & Design : Art of the Business Card / Milwaukee
    { 2005 } Flash Film Festival / San Francisco / Funnel.tv
    { 2004 } Dean Johnson Gallery : Exploded Views / Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2003–09 } Tonic Gallery / Indianapolis
    { 2003 } Chicago Book Clinic : Award of Excellence / Chicago / Illinois
    { 2003 } 10 x 10 : 100 Exhibits of Fine Paper / Texas
    { 2002 } Ball State University Atrium Gallery / Muncie / Indiana
    { 2001–12 } Dean Johnson Gallery : Various Paintings, Prints, Furniture
    { 1997–2000 } The Advertising Club of Indianapolis : 9 Addy Awards + 6 Citations
    { 1994 } French Paper Company : Award of Excellence
    { 1994–1996 } ADCI : The Best Show / Indianapolis / Indiana : 1 Top Ten + 10 Awards
    { 1992 } Ball State University : Outstanding Senior Award Nominee / Muncie / Indiana
    { 1991 } Ball State University : 56th Annual Student Art Show Award / Muncie / Indiana

    // D I A L O G U E //

    { 2024 } ( speaker ) Adobe Create Now ( Cinderwood Event Center ) Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2019 } ( speaker ) Creative Mornings ( VisionLoft ) Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2019 } ( interviewed ) Moo Design Trends & Predictions : Newsletter
    { 2018 } ( interviewed ) Obsessed with Design : Podcast
    { 2018 } ( featured ) Moo : Newsletter
    { 2016 } ( interviewed ) Obsessed with Design : Podcast
    { 2016 } ( speaker ) Etsy Up Conference : ( Parsons The New School ) NYC / New York
    { 2016 } ( speaker ) Ball State University : Muncie / Indiana
    { 2015 } ( interviewed ) The Busy Creator : Podcast
    { 2015 } ( speaker ) AIGA Chat ( New Day Meadery ) Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2015 } ( speaker ) Adobe Creative Jam ( Speak Easy ) Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2015 } ( speaker ) Toyota / Scion Motivatour ( Moon Light Studios ) Chicago / Illinois
    { 2013 } ( speaker ) Herron School of Art ( IUPUI ) Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2013 } ( speaker ) Ball State University : Muncie / Indiana
    { 2012 } ( speaker ) AIGA Blueprint : Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2012 } ( speaker ) Design Workshop/Presentation : Ivy Tech : Columbus / Indiana
    { 2012 } ( speaker, juror, exhibit ) Anderson U. Student Art/Design : Anderson / Indiana
    { 2012 } ( juror ) AAF Charlotte Addy Awards : Charlotte / North Carolina
    { 2011 } ( interviewed ) : Pinterest
    { 2011 } ( interviewed ) : 4by6.com
    { 2010 } ( speaker ) Herron School of Art ( IUPUI ) : Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2009 } ( speaker ) Design Madison : Madison / Wisconsin
    { 2008 } ( speaker ) Indiana University School of Fine Art : Bloomington / Indiana
    { 2008 } ( interviewed ) Correspondence Notes
    { 2006 } ( interviewed ) ndy’s Music Channel ( 25 Above Water )
    { 2005 } ( interviewed ) Design Radar ( web site : www.designradar.it ) : Italy
    { 2005 } ( speaker ) Kendall College Art & Design (Ferris State) : Grand Rapids / Michigan
    { 2004 } ( speaker ) Herron School of Art ( IUPUI ) : Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 2001 } ( contributor ) Dynamic Graphics ( Low Cost Self Promotion ) : Page 29
    { 00 – 08 } ( reviewer ) AIGA Portfolio Day : Indianapolis / Indiana
    { 94 – 03 } ( reviewer / speaker ) Ball State University : Muncie / Indiana
    { 94 – 93 } ( marketing chairman / vp } Art Directors Club of Indiana