Story Development
Our process is future focused. One part observation, one part prophesy, collected by experts, brought out by engaging questions, and crystallized into one defining document that will guide your organization forward on it's best foot. It's your story, authored by you, guided by us. Your heart, our hands. We help our clients connect the magic that powers the logic of their business. Our unique expertise lies in understanding exactly how to affect the strategic integration of the power of story with the realities of modern business. Strategic Storytelling, as we practice it, is communication that runs deeper than mere information. It taps spirit, emotion and imagination to connect one person to another in a way that means something to both. Thus it enables people to come together effectively for a shared purpose, working towards a collective vision of the future that they feel committed and empowered to make real. Strategic Storytelling can transform customers into passionate advocates: employees into wonder-workers. It can take the diverse resources and ideas of a thousand people and align them all into a single coherent effort stretching over decades to a common goal. Story can take a good product and make it priceless. It can remove the friction from a complex system and create the kind of ripples that make big waves. Stories, once well and truly told, are viral. Your audience joins you in the telling. And with that there’s no stopping you. This is only a taste of what your story can do for you, but only once you’ve uncovered it, begun to tell it, compelled others to do the same and, most importantly, decided to live it.
Muse Development
When you know who your most influential client is, and speak sole to them, you reach the largest audience through authentic interaction. Developing a muse defines every decision a business makes from branding, to store design, to product design and ordering. It takes the ego out of the boardroom, you're not building your business to suit you, but a business that serves them. A muse is a real person, who speaks a real language, and has real interests. Lululemon has a muse who is a 32 year old graphic designer named Ocean. She is married to a 34 year old architect named Duke. They are affluent. She goes to yoga 4 times a week, shops at Whole Foods, uses Apple products. She is a late-early adopter. She uses Insta for brand interaction, she uses Facebook minimally, and does not trust brand interaction on Facebook. She is the girl who all her 20-30 year old friends want to be, she is the woman who all her 35-55 year old friends look to to stay relevant. Everything they do speaks to her, in her language, and in reaching her authentically, they reach a wide audience organically while staying totally true to who they are. When you find your muse, you find yourself. Who's your muse?
Brand Identity
Brand Identity is more than a nice logo. Brand Identity is everything from visual identity (Logo, Brand Color Palette, Typography, Photography Style, etc) to Brand Voice (The unique personality revealed through writing style). Brand Identity Creation considers the Brand Story, and the Brand Muse. Visually the Brand Identity should be a powerful and concentrated expression of the Brand's essence simplified down to it's most basic and essential elements. As simple as possible but not simpler. The Brand Voice should speak directly to the muse with a language and a tone that is familiar and engaging.
Environment Design
Morgan Ervin Creative has designed Branded Environments ranging from Salon Chains to Real Estate Sales Centers, to Museums. Through a solid understanding of pathing, the process of guiding a guest on a journey from exploration to decision to buy, branded environments have the power to sell experientially. The environments that we create come from an effective use of a client's Brand Story, a thorough knowing of their Muse, and an expanded experience of their Brand Identity applied to a large, interactive, tactile, 3D canvas.
Online Design
An effective online presence starts with an understanding of a business' Muse, and the way they interact with, and digest information. The way humanity interacts with the web is as diverse as the world's population. Most men want pictures, and most women want words. Some viewers want technical information, other's want testimonials. Morgan Ervin Creative has designed award-winning solutions for web since web 1.0, 1992.
Print Collateral
From Catalogs and Brochures, to Invitations, to Magazine design we create award-winning solutions and have a penchant for the unexpected and seemingly impossible. "Print is my favorite medium. I love the tactile, tangible, and permanent nature of created things. I strive to create things that are special, that people want to keep." - Morgan Ervin
Film and Video
Film is a powerful and immersive storytelling tool. For the past 15 years we have shaped and told the stories that have brought audiences to their feet at Paul Mitchell events around the world. We create short and long-format commercials, branded entertainment, and company profile videos. We compose custom scores, employ motion graphics and animation to tell compelling stories.
Package Design
It may not be wise to judge a book by it's cover, but we're suckers for great packaging. Packaging is perceived value, and on the shelf, is frequently the first opportunity to impress and engage a potential sale. Packaging is another medium where understanding the customer is key. Some clients will never look at a price tag but will judge whether a product fits their lifestyle, needs and budget simply by the way the box looks. Some packages say luxury, some say environmentally friendly, some say "this product is for kids". Understanding the audience and their accepted visual metaphors are key to making that all-important first impression.
Product Design
Under contract with Indoteak Design, Morgan Ervin Creative has designed furniture, and building products for Retail, Commercial, and Luxury Residential projects around the globe. Most recently in conjunction with the global design team at Starbucks Coffee, Morgan created custom bartops, wall panels, cabinetry and retail display solutions for all of Starbucks Asia.
Photography
Studio, Product, Live-Action, and Portrait Photography and Videography are just some of the offerings from Morgan Ervin Creative.
Shows and Presentations
A lot can go into a product launch, a corporate presentation or a shareholder meeting. We insure that every element from creating a clear and concise story, to telling that story through words, images, and the experience of the live show comes off without a hitch.
Event Design
Who doesn't love a great party? We sure do, and we know that the magic is in the details. Starting with an exciting save the date we love to build the anticipation and expectation for an exceptional event through every stage of the invitation process. Whether corporate or private events we know that success can we won or lost through the belief that the guest has about the event from the invitation. We have been told that the invitations we've designed have sold out gala events for the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, and the San Diego Zoo. Creating the anticipation with the invite, and exceeding the expectation with unforgettable details at the event are some of our favorite projects to work on.
Fine Art
In addition to Brand Strategy and Design, Morgan Ervin is also an accomplished Fine Artist. Work from his series Too Late for Goodbyes can be found in the permanent collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the Joan B. Kroc Family Collection, and the Jill and Arthur Sackler Collection.