Tilt Studio, Inc.

Click here to download my presentation

This past weekend, NACS, the Association for Convenience and Petroleum Retailing had their Chicago tradeshow. 400 vendors showcased their latest products and inventions.

I was invited by my client at Kwik Trip Stores to speak at the conference on Marketing and Merchandising. This was an interesting opportunity since I am not an expert on Convenience stores, but it was an excellent experience to learn about this industry.

Two of the elements that stood out to me were the Green Toolkit and the “Congreenience Store” created by NACS. This is the first year that smoking was not allowed on their showroom floor and also the first year that eco-friendly was really addressed as an element of importance. Times are changing so fast and this is an industry that impacts a very wide % of people. They have the ability to make big change instantly… and with 20k people at the convention, they certainly had a captive audience.

Here is a quick look at what we saw at the convention:

This fuel pump has Biodiesel, 85% Ethanol and Unleaded all wrapped up into one tight package. This is the wave of the future with alternative energy.

While the shows vendors still lacked healthy options, they had some truly innovative and unique products that were launched. I am looking forward to what comes out next year! This was certainly a weekend to remember.

Here at Tilt, we talk a lot about being green and having sustainable practices.  But officially, what are we as an office doing to be more environmentally friendly?  Here’s a look at what we’re already doing and planning to do in the coming months.

What we’re doing already:

• 100% wind powered

• Minimize paper and use only recycled paper products

• Use only natural detergents and cleaning products

• Recycle paper, plastic, glass and metal

• Use low wattage and compact fluorescent light bulbs wherever possible

Things we’re planning to do:

• Compost food and yard waste

• Install solar panels on roof

• Reuse greywater for indoor garden

If you have any other sustainable practices to suggest for us, please leave some comments.

It’s official! Our Tilt Team has officially designed and launched the Kwikade product line, which is our first exclusive line. Featured at all 350+ Kwik Trip Stores, Kwikade is flying off the shelves. It is a reasonably priced in-house brand that is the alternative to Gatorade. With 4 yummy flavors, everyone can quench their thirst their way!

Read the rest of this entry »

diy kyoto is a small design group from London. They make Watson, a home power monitor and Holmes, its complementary monitoring software. Watson hooks up to your home power line and displays power usage. Blue for below average consumption, purple for normal and red for above average use. Holmes is the software that hooks up with Watson to let you track power consumption over time. It’s cool looking and it can save you up to 25% on your power usage. What’s not to like?

Finding design inspiration on the web.

More than likely if you read this blog regularly you are a “Creative Type”, or someone who appreciates creativity. And from time to time us “Creative Types” (yes even us here at Tilt ) need to step outside of our own imagination and experience for a little divine intervention inspiration.

So with out further ado…Here are my top Five websites to look to for creative inspiration:

QBN (Formerly Newstoday) My top stop for design news and inspiration.

Read the rest of this entry »