DESIGN RANCH 2007 : THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

its official.

2007-07-10T20:55:00.001-06:00

Lets Blog it out bitches

2007-04-30T08:41:00.000-06:00

Terry "DR took a toll on my liver" Tolleson starts the blog revolution.... If you got more-post them here.

http://neotam.blogspot.com/2007/04/100-deaths.html

Thanks Terry for the kind words!

Break it down.

2007-04-27T10:07:00.000-06:00

Thanks Marc Burckhardt for the great review.

see it here....

http://www.drawger.com/marcart/?section=comments&article_id=3317

Photos? Got them? Share them.

2007-04-27T10:06:00.000-06:00

This image just about sums the weekend up for me. Wanna share? do it here.

So Sad...

2007-04-23T12:50:00.000-06:00

Its over - Thanks to all the volunteers and the to people who put there back into it for the past 12 months and all weekend: Kelly, Kelley, Chris, Jennifer, Jimmie D, Blair, Geoff and the Wood. You guys are the best.

So Tired....

2007-04-23T12:48:00.000-06:00

Thanks for a great weekend everyone. Have heard nothing but good feedback from everyone, but we'll be in touch soon with an 'official' survey of sorts.

sean

SOLD OUT!

2007-04-18T09:15:00.000-06:00

This is what I have been talking about. WE ARE SOLD OUT!

HONG!

2007-04-11T18:07:00.000-06:00

this guy is trouble.

ha! one week till game time.

lets count this up

2007-04-06T10:14:00.000-06:00

By my count we have around 100 attendees this year from over 30 different cities and two countries. It looks like a great crowd. See everyone in two weeks.

14 Day Forecast. Guess What?

2007-04-05T14:06:00.000-06:00

Yep you guessed it. 77 Degrees and Sunny.

Saturday, 8:30pm - 11:30pm Cornell Hurd Band

2007-03-29T10:15:00.000-06:00

"We're gonna play, and some of you are gonna dance. Holy mackerel, it's the Cornell Hurd Band!"

Amid a brassy crush of guitars, piano, steel, fiddle, drums, bass, and sax, Cornell Hurd and his ninepiece band swing into "I Don't Care What It Is That You Did When You Lived in Fort Worth." In this atmosphere, heavy on the Mexican decor, icons, and portraits of south-of-the-border folk heroes, a wheezy blast of conjunto or norteño might be de rigueur, but the sound accompanying this Western swing number is the scraping of chairs on Jovita's wooden deck. Longhairs, gray hairs, and the occasional couple under 40 rise from their tables and step onto the dance floor for the first of two solid hours of music.

"Entertainment" might be a better word for what Hurd and company serve up every Thursday at the South Austin Mexican food mainstay, their sets encompassing a wide margin of music, dancing, probably dinner, and definitely laughs. Yuks go with CHB's sweeping swing like Western shirts and cowboy hats, though Hurd and his troupe balk at the notion of being called a comedy band. It's about the music, he insists, and he's right: Those packing the dance floor at Jovita's for the last 10
years or the band's monthly Broken Spoke gigs aren't looking for snake-oil schtick between the shuffles. They want to dance like the dickens. Cornell Hurd and his band of merry musicians are only too happy to oblige.

The guitars twang, the steel zings, the fiddle weeps, and the dance floor is shoulder-to-shoulder. Standing about 6 feet 4 inches in hat and boots, Hurd surveys the room and leans to the microphone.

"Welcome to Texas, where we still love our women."

More at http://cornellhurdband.com

Friday, 8:30pm - 11pm Li'l Cap'n Travis

2007-03-29T10:14:00.000-06:00

Once in a great long while a group comes along with uncommon grit, gusto and tenderness.Li'l Cap'n Travis is just such a group. This band of Texas roqueros is riding up on a sun and sand-washed horizon with saddlebags full offireworks, fire-water and honky-tonk fever dreams. Listen for the thundering hooves.

More at http://www.lilcapntravis.com/

Thursday, 8:30pm - 11pm White Ghost Shivers

2007-03-29T10:13:00.000-06:00

WHITE GHOST SHIVERS have been peeling faces off of the unexpecting for seven years now. We revel in string band music from the 20's and 30's, mixing early jazz, hokum, vaudeville, ragtime, western swing, and hillbilly, while at the same time unleashing the gutterous underbelly of a pseudo-rock world gone wrong... Yeeha!

More at http://whiteghostshivers.com/

All Hail Tim Hale!

2007-03-20T11:09:00.000-06:00

Not only is he a speaker but he's now a sponsor. Fossil is Design Ranch's latest and greatest sponsor.

Thank you Tim Hale! You see him - give him a kiss on the mouth for me.

Yee Haw!

2007-03-14T11:01:00.000-06:00

Yee Haw is in town for SXSW and they are giving a lecture on the following Tuesday. Yee Haw is speaking at Design Ranch this year and come out and see you great these guys are.

Details
-
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

The Hideout
617 Congress Ave, Austin (map)

$10 for AIGA Members.
$15 for Non-Members.
Free for AIGA Student Members

Followed by a reception at the historic State Theater
713 Congress Ave Austin, TX 78701
Open to the Public

I have seen it and it is good.

2007-03-09T08:20:00.000-07:00

Thank you Meggan Webber. Meggan is designing this year's DR Book. She works at a little shop here in austin called Pentagram. Yeah. Its stupid good.

Again Williamson "The Best Printer on the Planet" Printing is making it happen.

Waldemar Guest Ranch

2007-02-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

Somewhere between Austin and Ciudad Acuña, Mexico lies the Waldemar Guest Ranch, the site of Design Ranch 2007. Boasting 7 acres short of 700, you could say it’s as big as hell and half of Texas.

Established in 1927, this spread is now the site of one of the oldest continuously operated girls’ camps in the nation and surely one of the most beautiful. Deep in the rugged Texas Hill Country, its air-conditioned cabins built of stone, cedar and saltillo tile overlook the banks of the Guadalupe River. The handmade furniture and front porches of each cabin herald the very spirit of the wild frontier.

Waldemar offers a wide variety of rooms and cabins along with an oversized dining hall that features family-style meals by a gourmet staff. Guests can go swimming, play tennis or take to the trails on foot or by horse.

Map it

2007-02-07T11:26:00.001-07:00

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=waldemar+hunt+texas&layer=&ie=UTF8&filter=0&z=11&ll=30.222585,-99.443436&spn=0.427776,0.558243&om=1&iwloc=A&iwd=1&cid=30036515,-99474316,9529738192958416215&dtab=0

Carpool. Its good for you.

2007-02-07T11:19:00.000-07:00

We are at about 75% capacity and people are starting to ask about the best way to get to the ranch. In our opinion, after the 2.5 hr drive (from Austin) to the ranch, the last thing you will need will be a car, so carpooling is the best solution.

If you are looking for a ride or someone to share the cost of a ride to the ranch, post it here.

We have successfully created a trifecta of sorts

2007-02-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Poster? Its done.

What we have been allowed to do is created a poster that is a full press sheet size print on a beautiful Neenah sheet (80# cover), designed by Craig Crutchfield and printed at Williamson Printing. Its absolutely amazing. All attendees, AIGA presidents, members, friends, sponsors and myself will get one.

We will also be creating and shipping a second run of them folded to a targetted list of people around the country. Let us know if you need to be on the list.

Joel is coming. Are you?

2007-01-18T10:10:00.000-07:00

Joel Nakamura is coming to Design Ranch. One of the original first speakers back in 1999-2000, he is now returning (again) as an attendee.

It will be great to see him again.

Accomdations? Question no more.

2007-01-08T18:30:00.000-07:00

thanks to woody at woodpilestock.com for shooting the ranch last week. Any questions on what and where you will lay your head is answered here.

www.woodpilestock.com/T/1168305761465

Its up

2007-01-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

designranch.org

Wanna?

2007-01-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

You can.

Even though the official website for Design Ranch is not up you can still register here:

https://www.aiga.org/secure/austin/EventRegistration/aust_designranch_07

go figure.

Shoehorn Design Gives and they Give and they Give

2006-12-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

thanks to will at Shoehorn for coming on as a sponsor for DR07. Great people. Give them a gander.....

www.shoehorndesign.com

The Oz!

2006-12-13T18:06:00.000-07:00

MICHAEL OSBORNE IS IN.

I am sure you have all used this man for his love (stamp). He'll be bringing more than just his love come April. Check him out.

http://www.modsf.com/

Volunteer?

2006-12-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

Do it. You know you want to.

People are needed to help the weekend of the ranch (April 19-22, 2007) with the nuts and bolts of making Design Ranch work. This is obviously not a apaid position but there are perks included. Inquire.

YeeHaw!

2006-11-30T19:53:00.000-07:00

Looks like they are in. Its a go and life is good again.

You know them. You own something from them. Check out what they are up to these days.

http://www.yeehawindustries.com/

Dan Winters = IN

2006-11-18T18:38:00.000-07:00

Thank the good lord above. I got THROUGH to Dan winters and he has accepted the invitation to be a part of Design Ranch 2007. Check it before you wreck it.

www.danwintersphoto.com

Ready Made is IN.. I mean out.

2006-11-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

dammmit Jim! I'm a doctor - i cant play god.

ready made was in - then some end of the month magazine thing came up? Anyone know them should call them and put the heat on to come.... Please..

Neenah come through on the paper

2006-10-25T14:06:00.000-06:00

thank you Randy in Dallas from Neenah. They have agreed to help us out with paper. Cool guy and worth it to introduce yourself.

Decoder Ring

2006-10-25T13:50:00.000-06:00

the ring is in. The decoder ring design concern are in on a main speaker slot. You know them - you love them. Be on the look out for the Pevoto Bacon and Beer Breakfast...

http://www.thedecoderring.com/

"Damn it feels good to be a Knitta!"

2006-10-25T13:45:00.000-06:00

I love this group. Just found out that they are in on DR07. Check this out. They're will be somekind of knitting workshop. Thinking macrame owl...? Gonna be good....

Thanks to Kelly for pulling that one out....

http://www.myspace.com/knittaplease

Williamson Printing to do our Materials!

2006-10-25T13:42:00.001-06:00

I am pumped up! Thank you Williamson Printing for being on board! They have agreeded to print our materials for the seventh year. Always the highest quality printing on the cutting edge of industry. They just got/or getting a sick 16 color press. Check it.

www.twpc.com

IPNstock - first sponsor in

2006-10-25T13:40:00.000-06:00

Thank you IPNstock for kicking in. Everyone uses stock - give them a try.

mark burckhardt

2006-10-25T13:36:00.000-06:00

he is in. yah-ho. Great guy. Great talent. Worth the price of admission.

Yahoo. DR07 is a go.

2006-10-02T18:24:00.000-06:00

Yes its official. Design Ranch is officially off the ground. We have gotten verbal commitments from a short list of fine companies that will cover us on our down payment for the ranch.

Want to get involved? Let us know.

Start this again...

2006-07-27T19:00:00.000-06:00

Taking the horse by the reigns. Its been a lazy, quiet summer and I've taken it upon myself to recruit a cast of characters to help me get Design Ranch off the ground again. Its been a lot of re-thinking and re-tooling the event based on feedback from past attendees. There are some exciting speakers. New workshops. Now next step... asking for cash.

Austin is prime to go to the next level as a creative force. Its pretty clear just from living here and seeing the kinds of things people are involved with. Design needs a vehicle. We need to do what MIke Judge did for animation, what Linkletter did for film. Design Ranch is our catalyst. If the rest of the country looks to austin, bigger budgets, better work and higher quality of life follows. We're on par with the San Frans and the New Yorks. TRUST ME getting involved will pay dividends - so if you can support us. Please do.

I think I am looking for 3 creative firms to come in at $5K each ($15K total) that would get us moving. You would recieve a list of exposure opportunities, of course, on a national level.

lets talk....

2005-11-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

April 19-22, 2007

Near the turn of the century, a group of renegade creatives chose to escape the city’s daily grind, seeking inspiration and rejuvenation in the Texas Hill Country. Designers, illustrators, photographers and others gathered to celebrate their craft, to return to their roots, to dust out the cobwebs and uncover their long-lost creative spirits.

Deep among the mesquite thorns, cedar brakes, and granite outcroppings of the Guadalupe River, design pilgrims from across the country again this spring will discover Design Ranch. Surrounded by wild ﬂower-covered ﬁelds and miles from the nearest Mac, they’ll eschew technology and experience design as it was meant to be. No clients. No deadlines. No rules. By day they’ll paint, draw, cut and glue, bringing their imaginations to life. By night they’ll feast upon home-cooked meals and spin yarns around the campﬁre, washing cares away with wine and song.

Design Ranch 2006 people will be your reasource to all that is Design Ranch 2006. Check back on this regularly and feel free to post:

comments: hated the 9 am class time
concerns: I need a roommate and a ride.
ideas: can we rent goats?
suggestions: is david carson available?
requests: more cowbell please!

The intent here is to generate a place for the Design Ranch community to gather, exchange ideas and find the latest information on Design Ranch 2006.

Bettin the Ranch

2005-11-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

YAHOO! We have secured Ringers on 4th street as the location for this years "Bettin the Ranch' event. On December 8th, 160 people will converge upon their establishment and play a tournament of what else, but Texas hold 'em. We are still digging around for prizes but we have already secured SXSW music badges, and working on getting a silent auction off the ground.

All proceeds will go to AIGA Austin education endeavors. So if you are around and in Texas come on by. Its gonna be a great time.

Design Ranch 2006

2005-10-31T10:42:00.000-07:00

Photos: Woody Welch (wood-photo.com)

Design Ranch 2005

2005-10-25T14:47:00.000-06:00

photos courtesy of James Craig

Rides and Roomates

2005-10-25T11:18:00.000-06:00

Going to Design Ranch and you need a ride and a roomate? Let people know here.

DR Testimonials

2005-10-25T10:14:00.000-06:00

Gotta spread the good news? This is where you do it.

Here is what past attendees have said.

“ You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Woody Pirtle doing the two-step in nothing but a pair of pink-fringed ankle boots. To this day it keeps me awake at night.” Chip Kidd Design Ranch alumni 2002

“I’ve had the honor of participating in many a professional event and NEVER has one been so well conceived, organized and executed. It was a lovely experience that I hold in the highest regard.” Alicia Johnson Design Ranch alumni 2003

“ Best *#@!#@ conference I have ever attended. Was invited to be a workshop leader, had so much fun I have paid to come back ever since.” Joel Nakamura Design Ranch alumni 1999, 2000

“ This is one of those rare events that allow you to learn directly from – and drink beer, eat BBQ and dance with – design greats. It doesn’t get any more hands-on than Design Ranch.” Marc Burckhardt Design Ranch alumni

“It’s the most fun I ever had with type and cactus!” Paula Scher Design Ranch alumni 2000

The Ranch

2005-10-25T10:10:00.000-06:00

Somewhere between Austin and Ciudad Acuña, Mexico lies the Waldemar Guest Ranch, the site of Design Ranch 2005. Boasting over 500 acres, you could say it’s as big as hell and half of Texas.

Established in 1926, this spread is now the site of one of the oldest continuously operated girls’ camps in the nation and surely one of the most beautiful. Deep in the rugged Texas Hill Country, its air-conditioned cabins built of stone, cedar and saltillo tile overlook the banks of the Guadalupe River. The handmade furniture and front porches of each cabin herald the very spirit of the wild frontier.

Waldemar offers a wide variety of rooms and cabins along with an oversized dining hall that features family-style meals by a gourmet staff. Guests can go swimming, play tennis or take to the trails on foot or by horse.

Development

2005-10-25T09:33:00.000-06:00

Kids - its on. Be apart of Austins Design and creative community. Design Ranch is the only kind of conference anywhere.... and its here. Help us help you and your local/national/international community ride to higher level of exposure. BUt rest assured the money we raise goes towards Design Ranch, the nationally recognized conference, which helps fund our yearly educational programming that reaches students and professionals.

Design Ranch is unique among national design conferences and retreats. We offer intimate, hands-on workshops led by some of the country’s most esteemed and talented creatives. Our guests have come to the heart of Texas (Hunt, Texas to be precise) from as far as China, Alaska, Canada, Latin America and all across the U.S. They have to opportunity to work alongside internationally acclaimed creatives like Joe Duffy, Woody Pirtle, Charles Spencer Anderson, Joel Nakamura, Dan Winters, Chip Kidd, Paula Scher, Seymour Chwast, DJ Stout, Jim Sherradan of Hatch Show Print, Modern Dog, Stephen Doyle, and even the long-time creative director of Martha Stewart, Inc., Gael Towey.

But we know diddly about how to ask for sponsorship, short of this tactic. So thanks for reading this far, and we hope you’ll consider helping us advance our mission of furthering design as a strategic tool for business and as a cultural force.

If you can help or want to know more about it, give me a jingle.

512 708 1128
sean@headgearcreative.com