Bond in a Box

Secret Agents aren't the only people who need to go undercover, nursing moms are another group requiring a bit of extra stealth. Baby Bond is the latest product from Slurp and Burp, offering nursing moms and easy, washable, wearable, stuffable product for use on-the-go.

Creating the mark and packaging was a labor of love and the end result is proof positive.



The relationship with the Bell Harbor, NY company came from a successful and longing running partnership with SaraBear Company on everything from textiles to packaging and projects with KaBoost, another juvenile product company.

We'd be lying if we didn't say that we get a kick out of seeing BBQ sauce next to beer next to diaper caddies next to collateral for a lake saving organization. The different personalities and challenges they present are what make them so fun to work on.





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Fox in sox*, robot on box

Finch Paper recently went through a rebranding initiative, which involved a major change in the design of their packaging, including their new digital line of papers. We were only too happy to devise an operator box. The result was a family of 4 digital paper cartons, and a "junior carton", all in various sizes.




*As much as I might like to make everything pro-Boston, this was in fact just a serendipitous bit of rhyming allowing for congratulating Derek-the-Yankees-fan on a job well done, while also dropping a wee bit of subliminal Red Sox love.





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Design, baby.

The trajectory of Trampoline has been mirrored by the thrust of our lives, with personal experiences informing a lot of what we do and sometimes influencing the who and the how significantly.

With a staff of seven and between us 9 Tramplettes ranging in age from 4 months to 11 years, working in the juvenile industry is not just fun, it's kind of where we live. And so it was a treat this winter, to wrap our minds around the newest product from Missy Reder accomplished inventor and entrepreneur.

After an in person meeting and many spirited email volleys a name was born: BabyBond.

One part nursing cover, one part burp cloth and all parts practical. BabyBond allows moms to nurse discreetly, while babies can still look around, flirt, whatever. If you don't believe it, take it from this nursing mom who flew to Seattle (to meet with BabyLegs owner Nicole Donnelly), it works.

There wasn't a single "Oops," or "Surprise!" The efficacy of the product combined with the incredible packaging that Amy Stevens, resident creator of all things elegant and lovely, dreamt up, are sure to position BabyBond as the mother of all nursing covers.







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Grand Slam

The Albany Ad Club's 2008 Nori Award ceremony was held this past Friday at Joe Bruno Stadium in Troy. Baseball attire was encouraged. Whatever that means.

Trampoline hit the cycle (that's single, double, triple and home run for our non-baseball readers) taking home four NORI awards in the following categories.

Non-Profit Campaign Materials: The Legend of Crandall Public Library




html Newsletter: SaraBear Baskets





Outdoor/Transit Signage: Alta Ski Resort




Packaging: The Barnsider Smokehouse BBQ





While the event was different from year's past (held outside, burgers and dogs, work displayed in a locker room) the staff had a blast, commiserated with the creative competition at id29 and took home some hardware.

The Slaytons showed up in their Steinbrenner Best, go Yanks.

Kevin and Trina made it off the train to join us just in time.

Rae and John took a break from planning The Brave and The Kind to root for Trampoline.

Kayla and her beau Josh were appropriately embarassed by the bakers' dozen awards doled out to the St. Rose design dept.

Amy and John rushed down from an exhibit installation.

The Magees took a break from dinner-with-toddlers, and represented the Sox.

The ceremony ended abruptly when Derek turned into a werewolf and menaced the stadium.


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Just Add Baby.

...as luck would have it, there's a baby to be changed.

The new SaraBear patterns have arrived (not a moment too soon!) and represent Trampoline Design's recent foray into textile design. Can we say fabrication? Or is that a bad clothing pun...Trina, we'll need your ruling. Or, ah, tape measuring. Enough.

The photos below show just a few of the new Classic and Whimsy lines, available in June from the SaraBear Company.


Derek designed the packaging and the Atlantis pattern, with jaunty seahorses shells and bubbles.


Trina created a geometric feel for the Riviera, part of the Classic collection.


Sean paired hummingbirds and flowers on the Oahu.


Diapers, wipes, underwear and awkward nose-sucker bulb sold separately.



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Rae Gets Spiritual

We're pleased to announce a new relationship with the Annenberg Foundation, parent organization of the Explore documentary series. Established in 1958 the Foundation exists to advance the public well-being through improved communication. As the principal means of achieving its goal, the Foundation encourages the development of more effective ways to share ideas and knowledge.

Explore is a signature project of the Annenberg Foundation through which documentaries and short films are created to showcase extraordinary non-profit efforts around the world. While these films are traditionally made as research for potential grant funding by the Foundation, they serve a dual purpose through Explore — to showcase independent voices and work from around the world that advances the values and vision of truly meaningful philanthropy.

Raeanne is our resident film junkie, (she helps her husband make them). She dove into the first DVD packaging project in a series of releases with unfettered enthusiasm. Rae also saw to it that the packaging would be produced on 100% recycled chip board with soy-based inks. And she's a vegetarian. And a good listener. Who practices yoga.

No wonder it looks good.

Way to go, Rae. Enough with the karma already.

Saucy Packaging

This holiday season, give the gift of sticky fingers. We've just finished the labels on a line of condiments from Ed Pagnotta at the Barnsider Smokehouse BBQ. The Feeling Saucy? Barbeque, Holy Smoked! Hot Sauce, Pagnotta Marinara and Gourmet Grub Rub will be available in 2008. We're haranguing Ed for some advanced samples to give out this December. We think they'd make for smokin' gifts.

I Pity the Faux

Back in 2005, we won a NORI Award for outstanding packaging. The project was done for a friend of ours—an artist, craftsman and free spirit named Erin Lonergan. She works in plaster, and takes great pride in the medium, its history and stature. It might sound silly, but the entire process of recreating an interior with venetian plaster is quite romantic. And the results are stunning. These are not faux finishes, here, people. This is the real deal. Without the horse hair.

We designed materials for Erin's business, Lonergan Designs, LLC. A mark and message: Texture Your Life, were developed and used on materials and collateral that doubled as a label for the container Erin uses to send out samples to clients.



Most recently, the Lonergan Designs logo is found at the top of Erin's website, which will be launching (it's up on the Trampoline test-server: gigabounce.com) before September is through. A recent Lonergan Designs interior will be gracing the pages of Better Homes & Gardens, and quite possibly the cover of the same, in an upcoming edition.

What Happens in Vegas...

Goes to Market.

This summer, we wrote about the design of a packaging project for a local client, SaraBear Baskets. Amanda's parent-friendly prose combined with Derek's shelf-stealing design made for one gorgeous box. At least we thought so. The proof would be when an advanced shipment of 25 packages arrived from China (where they were printed) so that our client could take them with her to display at a trade show in Las Vegas.

Fingers crossed.

We got an email from Sin City this afternoon:

" Dear Derek, Just have to share with you…we’re at the trade show, and you should know that the packaging is completely selling this product. Buyers are ga-ga for the boxes. The larger international distributors are making deals, and it’s the boxes that are truly working to make up their minds. Thought you’d like to know this cool tidbit of info." —Melissa

Here's to a job well done, baby.

The Company Picnic

It's August. Things at 196 Glen have been humming along since Memorial Day. New hires and exits, interns and sunburns. Web sites, retail packaging projects, capital campaigns, identity development and, of course, pro-bono work. It was high time to take a much-needed break, and we had just the place.

The Sacandaga Outdoor Center is located at the confluence of the Sacandaga and Hudson Rivers. Put another way, it's where the Sacandaga meets the Hudson. —But then, one wants to use the word confluence as often as one can. So we'll stick to that description. For rafting, tubing and kayaking, this is the finest spot in the northeast, and while there are several Rafting outfits in the area, SOC is, by far, the best. Trampoline has proudly called owner John Duncan and family a client for three+ years.

Shoving-off into the white waters of the Sacandaga River is a little like being at the crest of a long roller coaster climb. By the time the raft is assaulted by first wave of rapids, everyone is thankful to be soaked—because they've pretty much wet themselves already. It's completely safe...it just doesn't feel safe. Or like anything remotely close to safety. Guests are battered by spray, drenched by walls of water, commanded by seasoned guides, spun like a top and narrowly miss dozens of VW-sized boulders.

For some reason, rafters at SOC are smiling, all the way down. Thanks to John and Co. for making this summer's Trampoline picnic a memorable one. We definitely Enjoyed The Ride.


At the shop, Johnny D and Jess Duncan—known on the river as No Fear and Sneak, respectively—reassure Julia and Ben Slayton that they're about to have the time of their lives.

Several minutes later, at the put-in, Julia and Ben are still wary, and Raeanne appears to be having second thoughts, too.

Turns out, they had good reason for concern.

The Magees stayed on dry land with a crew too young to take to the rapids.

It was, ah, less exciting than rafting...

But the scenery was nice, and the Hadley railroad trestle is always picturesque.

It's a special group here at Trampoline.

Creativity: Not well applied to rafting.

Nice earrings.

Briar and Raeanne meet over strawberries.

Thanks to the staff for a great time, and a marvelous third quarter. Go Team Trampoline!

Babies & Baskets and BEARS- oh my!

In anticipation of a big industry tradeshow event in Las Vegas, Trampoline has been working hard on packaging for SaraBear Baskets’ flagship product the SaraBear Basket Diaper Caddy. Sounds simple, but according to feedback from industry experts, hitting the retail shops could be a major step toward making this simple-yet-effective product a household name. Relying on first-hand experience, we donned bibs (over lunch) and got creative designing the packaging for the product. With autumn on the way, we’re expecting big things from this small package.

The Ego Has Landed

Trampoline Design bounced away from the 2007 Nori Awards with 8 victories—proving that Glens Falls is a city to watch. Going head to head against mammoth Albany agencies, Trampoline Design's 14 finalists were exceeded only by Zone5, a 30-person outfit headquartered in the Capital District.

The award ceremony, put on by the Albany Ad Club, took place on Friday May 5th. The awards are part of a regional competition, judged by the leading talent and minds behind advertising in New York State.

Victories of note within the eight awards were: the 2006 Explore What's Next Campaign, featuring a rendition of the Falls on t-shirts and event signage, used by the merchants of Downtown Glens Falls and funded by the Glens Falls Business Improvement District; the integrated marketing campaign for DackerAuthentic Adirondack Ale, which included vehicle graphics, packaging, website, blog, radio spots, glasses, tshirts and caps; and several awards for exhibit and campaign work done on behalf of the Berkshire Museum.