On a recent vacation to Nevada, I was able to tour Hoover Dam. The Dam is testimony to America’s ability to construct monolithic projects in the midst of adverse conditions: perhaps a lesson we need to remember in these recessionary times. Built during the Great Depression, it took less than five years, in a harsh and barren land, to complete the largest dam of its time: arriving two years ahead of schedule AND under budget. Thousands of men moved their families to Black Canyon, finding good paying work on the project at a time when jobs were scarce. Beautiful as well as functional, The Dam was built to last 2000 years. To this day, it provides low-cost hydroelectric power to Nevada, Arizona and California. It is a National Historic Landmark and a memorable trip through the desert and back in time to an era when America, sorely challenged, rose to the occasion. For me, it is also a monument to classic Art Deco design: simple, elegant and proudly machine-age.

It’s been a whirl of fur around the office. Bones, Onyx’s best friend, has been our doggy intern and spent the week learning the fine art of being an office dog. Which basically entails playing, snacking, sleeping and going on walks to take care of “business”. Following his internship, Bones will return to his regular routine: which is pretty much the same thing, only at home.

It’s pretty gratifying to enter only one thing in an awards show, and win. The print and online ad campaign JHI created for The Gables at Westminster Canterbury Richmond was awarded a Bronze in the Housing/Advertising: Print/Radio/TV category at the 19th Annual National Mature Media Awards. We are grateful for the recognition, and grateful to have the opportunity to do good work for a great client.

We have had the pleasure of working with the Visual Arts Center of Richmond for several years. Recently they introduced an amazing new program, Creativity at Work. It’s a twice yearly, intensive workshop that brings together artists and business leaders (present and future) to explore the creative process and apply it to workplace challenges. In today’s global marketplace, the ability to bring fresh thinking and innovative ideas to the table will be critical for success. As one of the area’s leading creative resources, VisArts is helping to shape business leaders – and the future of our community. Pretty cool, huh? To learn more about it, go to www.visarts.org.

For over 20 years, Better Housing Coalition has been changing lives and transforming communities through high quality affordable housing. BHC is nationally recognized for its innovative approach, from building green to providing support services that help each neighborhood flourish. In 2009, BHC launched its annual leadership awards, to honor those whose leadership inspires positive change in the greater Richmond community (and to raise money, in case you’re looking for a worthy cause to support). In 2010, BHC decided to name the event/awards Groundbreakers, and asked JHI to develop a logo that would be an extension of the BHC brand (which JHI also developed). The final choice was a colorful constellation of shovels, illustrating the endless and wonderful possibilities that can happen when we all dig in and help.

Volkswagen and ad agency DDB Stockholm are launching a behavior-change campaign linking positive behaviors with fun. The “Fun Theory Campaign” is an initiative to promote environmentally friendly behaviors and is ultimately about driving environmentally friendly cars. The idea behind the campaign is to demonstrate that acting responsibly can be fun. Several experiments are under way. One converted a staircase in a Stockholm subway station into working piano keys. The result: 66% more people chose the stairs over the escalator. Another uses cartoonlike sound effects to make throwing rubbish into the trash can fun. That bin collected 41 kilograms more trash in one day than did a standard bin nearby. This campaign is a stellar example of advertising at its best: a big idea that can work across all media, including social and viral.

JHI is delighted to be working with Westminster Canterbury Richmond, a premier continuing care retirement community with such a beautiful campus and wonderful amenities that I keep trying to figure out how to get around the age limit so I can move in (sorry folks: you gotta be 62 or older). In addition to lovely residences and a packed calendar of events and activities, WCR also provides high quality healthcare support. While the focus is on staying healthy and independent, WCR also offers assisted living and nursing care, providing residents and their families with the secure knowledge that they will be well cared for if their needs change.

One of our first projects for the community is a mini-campaign for The Gables, their innovative memory support program. The campaign includes black and white newspaper ads, online ads with a companion landing page, and public radio sponsorships. After touring the specially designed residential wing , which includes a lovely garden and homey living areas, and meeting the passionate professionals who oversee the program and become like a second family to the residents, we came away impressed and inspired. These residents, in varying stages of early dementia, are encouraged to participate in life through personalized, caring support and innovative therapy programs. Many flourish in new and unexpected ways. It is truly an uplifting experience to meet the remarkable people who live and work there. To learn more about The Gables, go to www.wescanric.org/memorysupport.

In addition to the 15oth logo, J H I also designed an ad to promote the Richmond Region’s Civil War commemoration. The message reinforces Richmond’s pivotal role in that Great Conflict and the design, like the logo, is based on broadsides (posters) from the Civil War era. The authentic cannon illustration was provided by the Museum of the Confederacy. The logo and the ad provide a design language that will be echoed on the On To Richmond website and throughout materials created for the commemoration.