Groupon and Living Social tried to coupons cool, and it was working… for a little while  But at some point we all just got stick of it. I’m sure someone has pointed the reason for the fall but for me was I just got sick of keeping tracking of coupons. I’m all for saving money but when it becomes a chore to deal with, well it’s not worth it.

It’s the same thing that happens when you think you’re going to pick up the Sunday paper and start clipping coupons. You do it for a little while and start to save money but some it’s a hassle it’s more work and you realize pulling out a bunch of coupons at the store is lame. Plus when you go to the store or restaurant and you forget your coupon.

That’s why I’m loving services like Belly, LevelUp and Foursquare that offer a deal not a coupon when you are at the location. You’re already at the location, you likely didn’t make a special trip and it’s a bonus you’re saving money. We’ve seen Groupon and Yelp start to offer deals when you check in or are nearby and that’s great. The less work I have to do to save money makes me more likely to use the service and come back to the location. Foursquare is really smart with the last couple moves with American Express and now Visa. They are offering discounts if you check-in and use the credit card you have linked with your Foursquare account. Talk about easy! I was already go to check-in with Foursquare and since I was to use my card too since I almost never have cash.

Everyone wants to save money it’s simply figuring out how to make it work simply and without have to luge around a coupon organizer and looking like a totally nerd. 

I’ve been having the feeling of déjà vu this past month. At LooseKeys we’ve been working on making the same video again… well not exactly the same video. I know last month I mentioned that a client wasn’t happy and we were re-doing the video to make sure they loved the video we were giving them. This challenge was a bit different. 

Recently I was approached by a business who was a competitor of another company that LooseKeys created a video for. 

I went back and forth on this for a bit, wondering if we should take it on. The original video we did was now public and had been for months, that’s how this new potential client found us. So there weren’t any issues with an NDA or giving away information about the business. Even when I do sign an NDA I know very little of how the business is being run. So right there, I wasn’t concerned that if I took on this new client I would be giving away any information about my other one. 

For me I didn’t see this as being any different than doing a commercial for McDonalds and then next month doing one for Burger King. Both businesses approached me and LooseKeys because of our skills with explaining a complicated subject in a simple manner.

Instead I saw this new project as a challenge. How could we make a video for a similar company but do it differently… this is the same question I think about when someone asks me to make them the Groupon video. Although I would have no trouble executing the same illustration and animation in the Groupon video since I did the original ones, I don’t want to repeat myself and make the same video twice. That doesn’t challenge me creatively. For me I try to figure out how I can deliver something different. Something better, something all it’s own that stands out.

Knowing that there are many explainer video businesses out there, I had a feeling that if I didn’t take on the project then this company would likely hire someone else and that company would just make a carbon copy of my original video and just swap out the logo. I’m sure there is someone who would have no trouble in just getting paid and be happy that they won’t have to think about the animation or script. Like I said, I saw this as a challenge. I wanted to make sure this was a video I was proud to show off and add to the LooseKeys portfolio. I know every project can’t be a winner but I try to make sure it’s something I’m proud of and that there’s something different or unique in every video. 

So everyone at LooseKeys put their heads together and re-worked the script and came up with a new design that pulled from the other video for inspiration but stood on its own. We then animated the new video without trying to be influenced by the original and overall we put together something that we were very happy with. Because the subject matter is so similar, when you see the two videos next to each other they do look like brother and sister but this isn’t a video we’re just going to hide under the rug. As soon as we have the ok, I’ll be posting the video. 

I have the opportunity to work with a lot of great businesses and startups. It’s incredible to see how many amazing ideas people have and how many of them take off. Sometimes they grow into huge giants like Groupon. 

Being part of Groupon before it took off is really neat to look back on. At the time, it was just another job. Daily Planet Productions ltd. was asked to create a series of videos that explained to other businesses how Groupon worked, I was one of the designers who created those videos. We had no idea how valuable those videos would be to Groupon and other businesses. Those videos helped the business grow and so did the need for these explainer videos. Explainer videos have now become an important element for startups to get their message across. 

When I work on new videos with LooseKeys, it’s always great to see one of the brands I built a video for thrive and become successful. When you play an important role in the beginning stages of a company, you can’t help but root for that company and be happy for their success. When their business does well, that also means more people are going to see your video. I’ve seen this happen first hand with a couple videos I’ve done lately. Both Lemon and Belly are services I’m a huge fan of and they’ve recently taken off. Since they’re becoming more well known, more people have seen the videos I’ve done for these companies. Which in turn, helps the LooseKeys name get out there even more, helping people become exposed to the work we do. And that leads to more work for LooseKeys and more opportunities to create videos for new and innovative businesses. 

I’m always interested to hear why people started to build their business. Sometimes its a passion, sometimes its an accident and often it’s for the money. I knew in college that I wanted to start a design or motion graphics business. I loved the craft then just as much as I do now, it’s inspiring to see what people can create with a computer and time. In college, Nik Madalinski and I tried to get something going but with the lack of experience and clients, it sort of fizzled away. Which was probably a good thing since we had no idea what we were doing at the time and we had a lot to learn. Flash forward to four years later at Daily Planet Productions ltd., Vanida Vae and I had the chance to work on a number of animated explainer videos for the Chicago startup, Groupon. At the time, we were both fans of Groupon and had no idea how big they were going to get or how our videos were going to help drive that success. At that time there were a few businesses doing explainer and demo videos but I wasn’t as familiar with them as I am now. My focus was much more on the top tier post production studios and the work they were creating. Holding my work and the work we did at Daily Planet to that same level. Vanida and I both saw the Groupon video as a great motion graphics piece we could build. We wanted to make an awesome and clever video. Without knowing it our video became a part of Groupon, people all over the internet saw the piece and many wanted something like it for their product or startup.

A year ago, after seeing the success of the Groupon video and receiving emails everyday asking if I could create a similar video for other startups, I knew that I needed to start my own company. The demand for startup videos was there and somebody needed to do them. I know the motion graphics business and what it takes to get something designed and animated. I’ve been doing it for seven years, behind the keyboard and screen almost everyday. I knew that I could create some pretty awesome explainer videos for start ups and other businesses. Helping tell their story or explain their product just like I did with Groupon. And so LooseKeys was born.

I’m not just another business owner who has money and is hiding behind the scenes letting other people do the animating and designing. I’m here working on every project at some stage of its creation. Right now I believe this is what makes LooseKeys unique. Startups and businesses know they are working with me. I might have help in order to make deadlines or pick up slack where my skills are lacking but you know if you are talking to me you can bet I’m leading the crew or doing much of the work myself. That team of people are very important to me and coming from the motion graphics world, I know how important sharing work and being credited for your time is to someone. That’s why on every project I post or LooseKeys posts, I make sure to credit the people that worked on the project. I want them to get the same amount of recognition as I did for making sure the project came together. And I’m not worried about a client or competitor stealing away these awesome people in the credits either. These talented people want to design and create as much as I do, so more power to them if they can get additional work by working with me. Having your name out there has value and I would have never been able to start LooseKeys if I couldn’t of shared the Groupon video almost two years ago. Someone asked me if I was worried that a startup who was on a budget would just try to contact the people I’ve credited instead of approaching LooseKeys for the job? Especially since you can see the name right there in the credits.

My response is no. I know that people are coming to me and LooseKeys for my work and my knowledge not just because I know good people to work with. Anyone can find great talent to work with and build a team. I understand what it takes to make a well thought out, uniquely designed, successful product. I know I have the skill set to head up a project, to coordinate with clients, to craft a script, design style frames and storyboards, animate, and do sound design. And when I don’t have the time to do it all, I know many talented people who can help me with all the aspects needed to get the job done.

Each day there are more and more explainer video businesses and motion graphics shops popping up. It’s easier everyday to get started. But it’s the businesses that are run by the creative person first and not just the guy with the money that succeeds in making the most creative and enduring work.

This week Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) launched their new sustainability plan which sets out their ambitious vision of a low-carbon, zero-waste business. Salterbaxter created an engaging look and feel for the communication of the plan which we rolled out across the launch materials, including a dedicated microsite, video and printed material.

I have to think that someone at Salterbaxter was inspired by the Groupon videos that Vanida Vae and I created. Either way did a great job and I love the bright color palette.

The winner of the 31st Telly Awards were recently announced. It turns out that Daily Planet ltd. won two 2010 Bronze Telly Awards. The first one was in the “Online Music Video” category for Headlights “Love Song for Buddy” and the second one was for Groupon “How It Works” in the ” Online How-To / Instructional category.