Initial Effort For Start-Up Meat Stick Brand Defies Gift Convention

Solve believes dads would rather receive a meat bouquet than a tie or pair of socks. So, in its first work for Oakbrook, Illinois-based DiMario Foods, the agency partnered with its new client to develop custom meat stick bouquets as a Father’s Day gift.

The bouquets featured a variety of 20 DiMario meat sticks wrapped in branded craft paper, hand-tied with twine and a fishing bobber, enclosed in a box with the headline, “You Don’t Celebrate The Man Who Brought You Into This World With A Pair Of Socks, You Do It With A Bouquet.” The bouquets were promoted a week before Father’s Day on Amazon, Facebook and Etsy. Additionally, the agency worked with DiMario to execute on-the-street intercepts and personal deliveries (arranged through Twitter requests) in Chicago over Father’s Day weekend.

by

Singer/Songwriter Shares Personal Journey Of Musical Inspiration

Solve’s “Internity” program successfully kicked off yesterday featuring singer/songwriter Adam Levy of The Honeydogs. Adam played several songs throughout the session and shared highlights from his career, focusing on where he’s found creative inspiration and his process for collaborating to create his most meaningful work. The entire session was broadcast via Facebook Live. Solve team members were joined by five non-agency employees, recruited from non-traditional settings, including one who participated from Singapore.

Session 2 takes place Monday, June 26 and will feature organic food pioneer Brenda Langton. It will also be shared via Facebook Live.

by

Solve Client Rally Cycling Will Defend Six-Year Win Streak At North Star Grand Prix

Solve client Rally Cycling heads into its hometown race, the North Star Grand Prix, in Minneapolis June 14-18 with strong momentum. To date, the men and women of Rally Cycling have tallied 37 wins, including two stages of the WorldTour ranked Amgen Tour of California, and stepped onto the podium on 78 occasions.

Last year the team dominated the North Star Grand Prix, holding the leader’s yellow jersey from start to finish, taking three stages and sweeping the podium with Evan Huffman, Brad Huff and Tom Zirbel. This year, the team will look to keep its win streak alive with a strong team led by defending champion, Huffman.

by

Director Shahir Daud Brings Music Video Thrill 

Solve recently had a team on location shooting “Morning Ritual,” a story about how an everyday routine can be transformed by the inner pull to drive a Porsche sports car. The new work, part of Porsche’s “Only A Sports Car Takes You There” campaign, breaks later in June and will air through July, the most popular season for sports cars. Solve worked with New York-based Shahir Daud and production company North known for their youthful approach and rock star-like visual effects.

by

Team Digs Into Science Behind Animation House’s Creativity

Solve recently had a team visit the Science Museum Of Minnesota for an exclusive showing of “The Science Behind Pixar.” The special exhibition provides an in-depth look at Pixar’s filmmaking process and lets visitors experience first-hand the technology that brings each film to life. “We can learn a great deal by observing one of the most renowned engines of creativity on our planet,” said Solve Account Director Andrew Pautz who coordinated the event. “We walked away with a new level of creative inspiration,” he added.

by

Solve welcomes Peter Lansky as Digital Strategist, strengthening its team as the agency continues to show rapid growth in the digital arena. Lansky joins the agency from Food Works, one of several business entities owned by Andrew Zimmern, the creator, executive producer and host of the Bizarre Foods franchise on Travel Channel. At Food Works, Lansky was digital marketing & social media specialist. “We’re excited to add Peter’s never-finished attitude and entrepreneurial spirit to our team,” says Solve President, Corey Johnson.

Before Food Works, Lansky spent time at The Social Lights and was a producer for Zombie Productions during which time the event won the Guinness World Record for largest pub crawl. In his free time, Lansky works as a DJ and has been awarded the title of local “Best DJ.”

by

Senior Leader’s Pedigree Includes CP+B, 180, Merkley

Sean Smith joins Solve as Executive Creative Director and Partner. Having worked at agencies across the country including Crispin Porter + Bogusky (Boulder), 180 and Mullen (LA) and Merkley (NYC), Sean’s developed powerful, imaginative campaigns for Domino’s, Coke Zero, Under Armour, Cuervo, Samsung, RockShox, VW and Acura. His ideas have driven significant results for his clients and received broad recognition from Cannes, The One Show, FWA, Contagious, Communication Arts, Creativity and Fast Company.

At Solve, Sean will lead a handful of clients and work with Solve Founders, Managing Creative Directors Hans Hansen and Eric Sorensen. “Sean’s gained rich experience and had success at some great agencies,” said Sorensen. “He’s prolific and wonderfully ambitious…all qualities that will serve the agency and our clients well,” Hansen added.

Sean’s excited to get acclimated with Solve and living in Minneapolis. “What Solve’s accomplished in five years is pretty amazing. I’m over the moon to join the team and do all I can to contribute to furthering the agency’s work and reputation,” Smith said.

by

Food Network Creates Artful Sculpture, Shares Experience Via Facebook Live

Solve client Président celebrated spring with the Food Network in a memorable way. Watch 50 pounds of Président butter transform into one of Paris’ most iconic landmarks – the Eiffel Tower. The event was seen around the world via Facebook Live and resulted in over 2 million views and strong levels of engagement for the brand. The butter was later donated to a farm and recycled into energy to power 100 homes.

by

Solve Co-founders Eric Sorensen and Hans Hansen will speak at Creative Circus’s Friday Forum in Atlanta on May 12. The two will share the story of Solve’s beginnings with the school’s aspiring ad students and give a talk on how to thrive as a young creative in advertising.

by

“Zero Regrets Artist Series” Celebrates Pivotal Moments In Brewer’s History

Solve’s new campaign for Founders Brewing Company’s 20th Anniversary illustrates the brand’s “zero regrets” philosophy and celebrates top moments in the brewer’s history. Co-Founders Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers chased their dream of opening a brewery with passion, persistence and never looking back, creating what has become America’s 15th largest craft brewery.

The “Zero Regrets Artist Series,” which takes shape as print, point-of-sale and digital/social support, features illustrations from a stable of well-known US and international artists, who also happen to be beer enthusiasts. The campaign builds to a contest allowing consumers to share their own inspirational stories and win a trip to Founders’ 20th Anniversary party this October. All pieces can be viewed at the following link https://foundersbrewing.com/20th-anniversary/zero-regrets-artist-series/.

by