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Matt just completed the test movie for our show intro. Each day of the PlaidNation tour is captured and recapped on video, and each day is devoted to a different city.

Matt's planning on producing a separate stop motion piece for each city that we visit, so that each day's video will have a unique intro.

That's TEN stop motion pieces that Matt will have to finish in the next few days (no pressure). You'll also hear the new PlaidNation theme song, from the coolest band in the world: Pop Heroes. (Available for download on iTunes, soon.)

Labels: matt, video

posted by darryl ohrt at 6:42 PM 0 Comments

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While at headquarters, Matt is a member of Plaid's crack creative team. He's won multiple awards, created wonderous designs and produced numerous amazing sites. He's also been instrumental in helping to establish the personality of the Plaid brand. He's the designer behind the new look and feel of BrandFlakesForBreakfast.

Matt is the person responsible for the creation of the hottest Ford Flex to ever grace the American roadways. He's designed the graphics for Plaid's tour vehicles three years in a row, including our brand new Ford Flex. Matt is also the master creator for the official PlaidNation tour t-shirts, promotional swag, the animated sequence that opens every day's wrapup video, and the theme song to the Plaid tour!

Matt hails from New Jersey, and is also a musician - the founder of the legendary band Pop Heroes. Matt's the cool dude that you wish you could hang with. We get to do that for the entire second half of PlaidNation!

Follow Matt on Twitter

Labels: crew, matt

posted by darryl ohrt at 10:53 AM 1 Comments

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This will be David's first year joining the PlaidNation tour. That's kind of a surprise, as he's been with Plaid for TEN years. David has seen Plaid grow from an itsy bitsy design firm into the greatest agency in all of the land. And he's been instrumental in shaping Plaid into what it is today.

What's kept David from joining the PlaidNation road trip in previous years? Perhaps it's the fear of cars. Or long rides. Or maybe it's the work that he didn't want to leave behind: the countless mind-blowing sites that he's conceptualized, designed and produced for clients across the globe.

David designed last year's PlaidNation tour dashboard, and was a major influence to Chris as he produced this year's feast for the eyes. When David's not in front of his Mac, he can usually be found on a mountain bike. He's the best mountain biker in the creative industry and has ridden more miles on his fleet of bikes than your grandma has on her 1978 Cutlass Supreme.

Look for David on week one of his very first PlaidNation tour!

Follow David on Twitter

Labels: crew, david

posted by darryl ohrt at 8:15 PM 1 Comments

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When the Plaid Flex pulls into your city, expect the townspeople to get pretty excited. Not only will we be rolling with the hottest Ford Flex that has ever graced the American highway system, but we'll also arrive with goodies.

Be on the lookout for official Plaid tour t-shirts, buttons and air fresheners that will make your cubicle (or car) smell like cupcakes and donuts. That's how we roll.

33 days till the Plaid hits the pavement!

Labels: swag, tshirts

posted by darryl ohrt at 9:11 AM 0 Comments

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Renato is the founder of Rmedia, and has become a fixture of the PlaidNation tour. Renato (you can call him Reno if you like) is the person responsible for producing all of the video that you see on PlaidNation, and is with us for the duration of the tour. (He'l be the guy with the camera on his shoulder.)

Renato's ability to tell a story in video has made him a natural extension of the Plaid team. He's the person that documented our takeover of the City of Denver, produced countless presentation and pitch videos, and can edit like a madman from the back of a Plaid tour vehicle driving 65 MPH over Texas-sized potholes.

When not editing PlaidNation videos, Renato's also a hard core mountain biker, a raging rock star and the keeper of embarrassing footage of just about everyone at Plaid.

Follow Renato on Twitter

Labels: crew, renato

posted by darryl ohrt at 10:24 AM 0 Comments

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The Q Hotel + Spa has signed on as a PlaidNation sponsor, joining Ford Motors and Sprint in making the Plaid tour possible.

The Q was voted the best hotel in Kansas City, and we're more stoked than ever to being staying there while in town. We're also pretty pumped that they've had an eco plan since they tookover and renovated the historic property, and they're the first "green" hotel in Kansas City. They also boast a design aesthetic that is totally, wonderfully Plaid approved.

Interested in a sponsorship? There are still high visibility options available for large and small brands. It's not too late to be a part of the biggest rolling celebration of creativity and innovation ever seen on the highways.

Labels: lifeontheroad, q hotel, sponsors

posted by darryl ohrt at 10:15 AM 0 Comments

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We're in the midst of setting up stops in every market for the tour and have some exciting companies, brands and people to meet.

During each visit we'll share some Plaid love and learn about what these brands are doing that's spectacular in their industries. All broadcast live on PlaidNation.com!

Here's what's been scheduled so far:

Monday, July 20 : Detroit, MI
Morning - Ford Motors
Afternoon - CurveDetroit

Tuesday, July 21 : Milwaukee, WI
To be announced

Wednesday, July 22 : Chicago, IL
Morning - Threadless
Afternoon - 37 Signals??

Thursday, July 23 : Indianapolis, IN
Morning - BlueFuego
Afternoon - To be announced

Friday, July 24 : St. Louis, MO
To be announced

Monday, July 27 : Kansas City, MO
Morning - John & Tugg from American Copywriter
Late morning - Sprint
Afternoon - Dept Zero?

Tuesday, July 28 : Branson, MO
Who's in Branson that we could profile??

Wednesday, July 29 : Memphis, TN
Morning - FedEx
Afternoon - Elvis?

Thursday, July 30 : Jackson, MS
Who's in Jackson that we could profile?

Friday, July 31 : New Orleans, LA
To be announced
Plaid Nation Wrap Party

Want to arrange a stop in your market? Know of a brand or person that deserves some Plaid love? Give us a shout!

Labels: tour route

posted by darryl ohrt at 9:15 AM 1 Comments

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RJ joins PlaidNation during its first week.

RJ is responsible for a large part of the tour's logistics. How far of a drive is it from Chicago to Indianapolis? RJ knows. Where is the crew staying while in Branson, MO? RJ knows. Do we need reservations for the ferry? Will we be passing a giant ball of yarn anywhere on tour? Ask RJ.

While back at home, RJ is part of Plaid's client service team. He's the dude who makes sure that our online project management system is stuffed with all of the detail to make creatives, producers and clients happy. He's the dude that conjures up magical reports of expenses, billable hours, and other things with dollar signs in front of them.

But that's not all that makes RJ tick. Did you know that he's also on a vintage baseball team? And is in love with the Yankees? RJ bleeds baseball. Which made him the natural choice as Captain of Plaid's Wiffle Ball team.

Follow RJ on Twitter: @iRJ

Labels: crew, rj

posted by darryl ohrt at 9:51 AM 1 Comments

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Matt completed the design work for this year's tour t-shirts. Made with 100% awesomeness. And they're orange, for your safety.

Want one? You'll need to be at one of our scheduled tour stops along the way - or if you're a blogger, just write an awesome post about the PlaidNation tour. (We've been known to trade t-shirt love for blog love.)

Labels: tshirts

posted by darryl ohrt at 9:59 AM 0 Comments