NMO Creative

People

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:39:27 -0800

NMO Creative Source was founded as a freelance consultancy in 2001 by Nick Monahan. Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Calgary, and a diploma in Graphic Design. After receiving his diploma, he worked as an in-house graphic designer at Trade Colour Cards in Melbourne, Australia, and as a consultant with Simon O’Halloran Design (Melbourne). Prior to founding NMO, he was a designer with the Mark Anthony Group in Vancouver, BC.

Network

Although NMO operates as a freelance consultancy, we have developed an extensive network of consultancies in order to provide a wider range of expertise for clients. We often rely on the knowledge of print/production specialists such as Run Lola Graphic Resources, and on the interactive dexterity of website developers like Thinking Cap and Latham Communications. We have also worked in collaboration with Public Relations consultancies like Epic PR and Capulet Communications.

Contact

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:38:11 -0800

TEL: 604-739-0940 FAX: 604-608-3309 info@nmo.ca

Mailing address:

NMO Creative Source 318-678 West 7th Avenue Vancouver, BC Canada V5Z 1B5

Approach

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:36:26 -0800

NMO Creative Source approaches the creative process with the belief that an open dialogue will lead to the most successful results. Initially, we will ask a lot of questions in order to really understand our client, their business, what they've done creatively and what they want to do going forward. In the conceptual stage, we like to work with rough sketches in order to test out whether the fundamental idea is strong. From there, we will work with the client to continually narrow down the options, shedding anything superfluous and refining the strongest aspects. Ultimately, we seek to achieve a simple yet powerful final result that is focused on function and enhanced by form.

A note on Budgets

NMO works on either an hourly rate basis or by quoting per project up front. After intial discussions, we will provide an estimate of costs which can then be reviewed by the client, then solidified into a quote. We are very flexible and can tailor services to accommodate most budgets. We encourage you to openly discuss your budgets with us so that we can show you exactly how we can customize our services to reach an accommodation.

Whistler Brewing Co.

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:11:58 -0800

A European-inspired aesthetic was adopted when designing the packaging and branding for this microbrew out of Whistler, British Columbia. Using a beautiful commissioned illustration by renowned BC artist Jeff Burgess, and advanced printing techniques uncommon in the brewing industry, we sought to essentially bottle the Whistler experience. The result is a visually high-end package that evokes the beauty of this incredible destination and does justice to the fantastic brew inside.

Big Bend Crossing

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:10:48 -0800

A new retail shopping development by Anthem Properties. The logo references both the letter "B" and the curve of the Fraser River near which this development is located. Both are encompassed in a classic icon of the retail shopping experience, the shopping bag.

Brazilian Beer

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:03:04 -0800

A national alcohol distributor was looking to develop a Brazilian beer product for the Canadian market. As opposed to soon-to-emerge brands Bavaria and Brahma, the goal was to evoke the more traditional aspects of Brazilian culture. After extensive cultural and product research, NMO developed several packaging concepts for market testing. While the designs were very well-received, the time-to-market was outpaced by the aforementioned Bavaria and the project was shelved.

The Flying Tiger

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:02:19 -0800

The Flying Tiger is a pan-Asian restaurant in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood. The concept is "Modern Asian Street Food" and the restaurant's atmosphere is that of a bustling, urban nook - casual enough to meet friends and share plates, and with food so delicious that it's a sure bet to impress on a date. "Best mussel dish in the city," raved one critic.

Obikwa Wine

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:01:40 -0800

Obikwa is a South African wine that delivers exceptional drinkability at great value. It is ideal as an all-purpose wine in that it pairs well with many foods and also stands up on its own. NMO developed a series of print ads that emphasize these key qualities, often playing on the theme of the ostrich that is the brand's icon. The ads stand out extremely well in cluttered magazines and newspapers due to the simple layout and bright colours. The colour scheme is directly related to point-of-sale displays, making it easy for consumers to make the connection when in-store, thereby increasing the likelihood of purchase.

EZ Systems

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:00:46 -0800

Headline reads: "We've got your back end covered." eZ Systems develops CMS's (Content Management Systems) that are used to build and maintain the back-ends of websites. NMO developed a direct mail piece targeted at design/advertising agencies and consultants. Simple graphics and straighforward copy encouraged creatives to adopt eZ's CMS product to build their websites efficiently and reliably, thereby freeing up time for truly creative work.

Nike Runner's Lounge

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:59:20 -0800

NMO worked with Inventa, Nike's experiential marketing agency, to design the Runner's Lounge that would be presented to Nike's sales team in preparation for the launch of the 2006/07 Nike Runner's Lounge across Canada. Using large-format, grainy black & white images to evoke Nike's history, and contrasting them with high-resolution colour product shots, we created an environment that would reinforce runners' sense of belonging to the brand while at the same time maintaining a direct link to the current products and technological advancements. The Runner's Lounge design was extremely well received by the Nike team and helped generate a sense of excitement about the upcoming nationwide launch.

Carnera Corporate Centre

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:57:55 -0800

A planned office park development in the Napa Valley area, Carnera Corporate Centre sought to generate buzz among possible tentants and owners via a targeted mail campaign and an elegant brochure folder. With no option for actual images of this yet-unbuilt development, NMO worked with Carnera's marketing team to create a sense of this Tuscan-style development through carefully chosen stock photography and a custom-illustrated "antique" map of the region. The market response has been very positive and the development plans are proceeding with confidence.

Baywatch

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 12:22:37 -0800

The media company that owns the Baywatch brand wanted to explore how the iconic 90's show might be extended into various applications. Working from a thorough definition of the brand's values and history, NMO conceptualized how Baywatch might come to life in such contexts as fashion, print publishing and mobile phone games. We developed a variety of custom graphics, simulated product shots and illustrated more complex applications when necessary. The result was a vibrant branded document used in presentations to potential licensees and partners.

Services

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 15:49:25 -0800

NMO Creative Source is freelance business offering creative services for organizations of any size. Our main focus is on graphic design, art direction and creative direction, however we also offer slightly less-extensive services in copywriting, primarily advertising headlines and identity taglines. A general list of services is as follows:

Identity design (logos, taglines, branding...)
Print collateral (brochures, mailers, programs...)
Print advertising (magazine/newspaper ads...)
Point-of-sale advertising (in-store displays)
Packaging
Concept work (sketched ideas, mockups...)
Website design (interface layout, graphic elements...)
Copywriting (advertising headlines & body copy)

A note on Strategy

NMO is not a marketing agency, however we do seek to ensure that our clients’ strategies make sense so that the materials we produce can maximize their effectiveness. Please feel free to share your broader marketing plans - it will lead to more integrated design and advertising efforts.

A note on Websites

NMO frequently consults on website graphics, layout and user experience. We have number of web projects in our portfolio that have been developed in conjunction with various interactive specialists. Some current examples are: www.visionrejuvenation.com www.paragonpharmacies.com

Anthem Properties

Fri, 20 Oct 2006 15:46:19 -0800

Anthem properties is a real estate developer that has a variety of North American residential and commercial developments in its portfolio. The company also has a very strong sense of corporate culture built on hard work, honesty and commitment to its people. NMO was commissioned to design the brochure, a complex, screw-bound document that communicates Anthem's grounding in real, tangible assets. Working with Run Lola Graphic Resources as head of production, we created a memorable piece that invites audience interaction as they marvel at the combination of textures, layers and graphics.