WHOA MAGAZINE // FALL 2015
WORLD HEADQUARTERS OF AWESOME
REACTOR is a full-service creative firm that inspires our clients and the community to think differently about design.
what’s in this
02
ISSUE?
editor’s note
CLIFTON ALEXANDER
04: #SELFIES
Front-facing camera photos are all the rage right now! Check out this must-read REACTOR Guide to your perfect selfie.
REBRAND HIGHLIGHTS OF 2015
06
08
scale of epicness
09
infographics of awesome
WHOA MAGAZINE // FALL 2015
WHOA MAGAZINE // FALL 2015
how totally awesome has this year been?!
editor’s note
CLIFTON ALEXANDER The past year has been yet another incredible one for REACTOR. I usually take this space to write about the great things happening with our clients or projects. This time, there are so many great things happening with our employees, I just wanted to share. Northlanders have slowly taken over the studio as we’ve grown. Chase and I are now outnumbered as the only “non-Northlanders,” since Julie moved north of the river last winter. In July, Julie also celebrated her 3-year anniversary at REACTOR, so it has been an awesome year for her indeed. Our REACTO-family has gotten bigger this year with the addition of Travis. Travis has jumped right in at the studio and proven to be an awesome addition to the design team. Time has flown by as he’s already coming up on 6 months at REACTOR. The year just keeps getting more epic as Chase became a father! Sleepless nights creating brilliant designs have been replaced with sleepless nights taking care of the baby, but we know he’ll be a pro at juggling everything and be the best father. We can’t wait for visits at the studio from our little “designer-in-training.”
02 ///
We even have exciting things lined up in our future. Emily will be getting married in October. There are lots of wedding invitations and goodies to be designed. We don’t know how we’ll survive without her when she’s on her honeymoon! From winning a Thinking Bigger Business Media 25 Under 25® Award to hosting our LEGO®themed Bricks of Awesome First Fridays Show, our people have made this awesome year possible. We’ve eaten a lot of celebratory tacos! As you can see, we have a lot to be thankful for at REACTOR. We can’t wait to see what epic things are in store for us as the year goes on! Awesomely, Clifton Alexander, Owner/Creative Chuck Norris
meet the team
Chase Wilson Global Activator 9 Years
Julie Sebby Visual Virtuosa 3 Years
Traci Ketter Administrative Lifesaver 4 Years
Emily Gairns Curator of Creativity 2 Years
Laura Haskell Marketing Intern of Champions 4 Months
Travis Stewart Creative Renegade 6 Months
Ashley Kieffer Design Intern of Champions 1 Year
advertisement
LUKE, I THINK I GOT A BAD SPRAY TAN.
ORANGE is the new
BLACK /// 01
2
Snapsterpiece
Many ignore Snapchat’s nifty drawing feature. Others abuse it. While these works of impractical art can be pretty impressive, it really makes you wonder how much spare time some people have. #snapsterpiece #outofthisworld #ihavenolife #currentlyinorbit #snapchatpro
1
3
Multitasking
4
#Driving #is #hard #enough #for #some #people. #Let #alone #talking #selfies #and #playing #the #game #of #EYESPY #with #your #hashtags. #stuckintraffic #instashot #subaru #beardgang #beardlove #hotday #followmegirls #tagsforlike #likeforlike #swag #sunnyday #trees #highway #trafficlife #instagood #vibes #blinker #moveover #ootd #like4like #cantbelate #RayBan #Baldwin #cars #summer
Super Sexy
Whether you accidentally publish a picture you meant to send to your boo, or you just want to broadcast your hotness to all your peeps, the sexy selfie is a (usually over-) confident move that is guaranteed to attract (the wrong kind of) attention. Use with caution: the sexy selfie has been known to cause an onslaught of inappropriate direct messages, intense regret and removal of the user from Instagram. #sexy #XXX #nsfw #bathroommirror #Hott #OrNot #instafamous #forallthewrongreasons
feature photo The Lighting Is So Good Here
#SELFIES The Ultimate REACTOR Selfie Style Guide
This selfie perfectly captures that moment when you’re looking good and feeling your best. Position yourself near a good lamp or bright natural light, making sure to show your good side. This lighting is best paired with a sassy gaze and a dash of confidence. Hold your phone low enough to create the angelic halo effect, yet high enough to avoid the dreaded double chin. Nobody wants to see that.
12
Non-selfie
#LightingGameOnFleek #blessed
10
Cute Animal
11
Unintentional “Can you get a picture of us?” We’ve all done it before. “Be sure to get our shoes in it.” It happens. We’re out with friends and we want a “cute one.” One without an awkwardly extended arm. This really isn’t a selfie anymore, but we initiated the photo and we’re in it too, so it’s basically the same thing right? Totes. This selfie goes well with the Sorority Lean and the Skinny Arm.
Fish selfie! I caught this bad boy myself, so I had to take a selfie. #TheOneThatGotAway #bait #worms #hooks #rodnreel #fishstory
I was just trying to queue up my Spotify playlist and inadvertently photographed myself in the most unflattering angle possible. #TheStruggleIsReal #awkward #technology
04 ///
#ButFirstLemmeTakeASelfie #TurnDownForWhat
5
Family of One
6
Case of the Mondays
7
Trying to take a family selfie and get photobombed by the youngest one, who blocks everyone else.
When you reenter the work world after a hardcore weekend of screamo concerts, a back-to-work selfie is a must. Make sure to have the bad attitude face no matter how great your job is.
#photobomb #TimeForMyCloseUp #laughter #family
#MondayMorning #Allworknoplay #Backtowork #ManicMonday #JustAddCoffee
8
Vacation in Your Face
My trip is so amazing and I have to share every moment of it with everyone because my life is better than theirs right now! Be sure to get as much beach and ocean in the background as possible. #BeachLife #FutureSoBright #vacation #SunSurfSand
I’m A Pet Owner
9
feature photo I Woke Up Like This
Here kitty, kitty. We’ve all tortured our pets by making them pose for a selfie. 9/10 times they don’t cooperate. You’ve probably received some scratches and bites, but you don’t care. Do it for the #selfie.
We have all seen this. The #selfies laying in bed with the beautiful morning light. Hair did, makeup done and a dash of not so subtle editing. Looking like you took your pillow to Glamour Shots. Captioned with #nomakeup. Let’s be real, this is how you really looked. C’mon man! #wokeuplikethis #nomakeup #likeforlikes #longbeardontcare
#Rawr #CatModel #CrazyCatLady #CheckMeowt
13
Jammin to My Jams
This new band is totally rocking my world. And by rocking I mean like in a boat, gently from side to side. I am hoping to evoke the essence of their heavenly music in this ethereal selfie. Can’t you just hear the mellow tones? #Yesfilter #photobooth #folkprincess #Strings #AcousticMorning #Spotify
14
When You See It
What a great picture! You look fantastic! Then you see it. That random, lurking stranger glaring right at the camera from the background. The Unintentional Photobomber strikes again. #AwkwardMoments #photobomb
15
Selfie Stick
Most commonly seen used by tweens in the pool, adventurers on mountains, awkward tourists, and “cool” moms who shouldn’t be allowed out of the house. #DontJudgeMe #AmIDoingThisRight #ButThereIsAStickInThePictureNow
/// 05
WHOA MAGAZINE // FALL 2015
REBRAND HIGHLIGHTS OF 2015 In this fast-paced digital era, people are overwhelmed with advertisements and consumer touchpoints. Companies are facing a constant need to keep their brand fresh and their name top of mind. From updated colors to entirely new typefaces and logo designs, there have been numerous heavy hitters making waves this year with their rebranding efforts. REACTOR selected three of these companies to analyze more closely. SPOTIFY Spotify claims to release 20,000 new songs every day. With this level of output, it’s no wonder why Spotify turned to a new flexible identity. Their brand style focuses on duotone photography, abstract shapes, and a flat logo that can take on a multitude of select colors to help keep up with the ever-advancing music culture. COORS LIGHT The cold rush of the Rockies condensed into a new refreshingly minimalist logo. By stripping away all the heavy strokes and layering effects, Coors has created a more inclusive, gender-neutral brand. Coors Light has also simplified their packaging to focus on their origin instead of the Super Cold Can marketing gimmick. IHOP This breakfast brand just got a facelift and it’s got pancake-loving customers smiling across the nation. Simplified to a rounded, bold sans serif typeface and a single inverted red arch, their logo leaves a positive impression. The new IHOP “smile” also makes an appearance on their new website, the interior walls of the restaurants, and across their print collateral.
06 ///
What color is that anyway? Chase – neon seafoam Emily – spearmint Ashley – electric frog Laura – my brightness turned all the way up Julie – vibrant Kelly green Travis – alien Clifton – awkward green
“Overall, it’s nice that the new Coors Light logo is simplified but the brand as a whole just seems to fall flat in some areas. Most of the elements look great on their own, but some variations of the logo don’t seem to fit in. The cans and packaging look great though. Cheers!” – Chase
“While it’s not a huge transformation, this simplified remodel of the IHOP brand is a huge upgrade from their dated logo. Released from its blue box, the new brand is much more flexible and clean. The smiley face may be a little too reminiscent of other logos for some, but it makes a playful statement to a family audience. And its implementation throughout the website is undeniably top-notch.” – Travis
/// 07
WHOA MAGAZINE // FALL 2015
SUPER EPIC!
TACO EMOJI ANNOUNCED All we can manage to say through all our excitement is “FINALLY!”
SUMMERTIME SADNESS From flooded basements to pale arms, this rainy summer has got us all singing the blues in KC
SEASON FINALE OF MAD MEN “I thought this show already ended”
SHARK WEEK... AGAIN. After 28 years, it’s a struggle to keep it fresh.
FOREVER ROYAL Seven Royals players represented KC on the 2015 All Star Team.
INDOMINUS REX VS. T-REX Perhaps the grandest moment in the new Jurassic World movie.
TACO BELL DELIVERY SERVICE Satisfy your Taco Bell craving without even having to leave your house? Welcome to the next level of taco consumption.
CHASE’S BEARD Even though it’s currently the off season for his facial hair growing, his beard is impressive nonetheless.
On a scale from lame to EPIC, here’s how REACTOR ranks some of the biggest events of 2015.
MEH.
PANTONE COLOR OF THE YEAR: MARSALA This “unsaturated burgundy” hardly deserves a spot in a box of crayons.
JI M M C H I P SY
BB Q PO TATO
CH IP S
4 ORDERS
infographics of awesome
Ever wonder what it’s like within the orange walls of the World Headquarters of Awesome? Here’s a taste of the REACTOR lifestyle.
of
JIMMY JOHN’S per week *individual orders & sometimes all in one lunch session... sorry Jimmy John’s delivery guy
IN THE
LIBRATORY
200
8
NUMBER OF AWARDS + TOTAL PRESENTED TO REACTOR
STEPS to walk to
MILDRED’S
BBQ r e t hipsT LISTENED TO
152 MINUTES
to empty 3 kegs of BOURGMONT BEER
M OS
MER SUM RA
DO PA NATION ST
AT FIRST FRIDAYS
free
BE E R /// 09
REACTOR SELFIE CONTEST! Feeling inspired by our Selfie Guide? Show us your best selfie! Tweet your selfie to @reactorkc, post on the REACTOR Facebook wall or share on Instagram. You must use the hashtag #reactoswag and share by August 31.
Printed on Utopia Two Dull, available from Shaughnessy
Win REACTOR swag! Our 20 favorite selfies will receive a pair of these awesome REACTOR shades!
816.841.3682 // hello@yourreactor.com 1817 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64108 yourreactor.com