Catalyst Studios has put together a team to participate in the Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge. In a nutshell, here's what it's all about. Nonprofit organizations get paired up with a team to build them a new online experience. Last year there were 12 nonprofits and 12 interactive teams participating. The kicker is that there are only 24 hours to complete the website.

We take that challenge. We put together team Rainbow Ponycakes which is made up of Catalyst Studios' employees along with the addition of a few friends (some of them past employees) to make something amazing in a day. You can meet our team and read our bio here.

The event takes place on March 20-21, 2010 and we're all looking forward to it. What a great way to help a select group of nonprofits who otherwise wouldn't be able to invest $30-$40K in a website. Kudos to The Nerdery for putting this event together.

Learn more about the Overnight Website Challenge here.

tags: catalyst studios, minneapolis, minnesota, design, graphic design, interactive, catalyst,

We have a problem at Catalyst. The problem lies in our abundance of ideas and strong connection to an awesomeness in our people, but very little time to execute the ideas the way they should be. Our clients know us as a great team with great ideas and great results, so when they ask us to do the work we love, we drop all of our internal projects and jump on the opportunity. Watching our ideas executed in other places by other people has us chomping at the bit to race to some project finishes. We need more time. Honestly, we're working hard over here and loving it. No one is complaining about the steady fun workload, but everyone wants to see the ridiculous crap that shoots from our brains hit the street and make a fuss! We need someone to help us get ridiculous. Here's what we propose:                Let's get an intern!

• This person needs to move on their own, make mistakes left and right, and then brainstorm their way out of it.
• Great design and ideas need to smack them in the face and make them dance in their seat, run to their notepad, or stare in amazement.
• We want an intern who gets it. They live smart and they love smart... smart as in ideas, challenge, growth, fun, the inane, the ridiculous, etc...
• We have some ideas and projects to start you off, so get your running shoes on. Get ready to learn, because we'll throw a bunch of techniques and skills at you. Eat a big breakfast, because we'd hate to have your blood sugar crash in the middle of an idea.

Are you ready? We're ready for you! Send us a line at careers@catalyststudios.com

On Sept 9th, I was invited to participate (along with 8 other small business owners) in a virtual forum with MPR to discuss credit for small businesses and the challenges of keeping the money flowing in this recession. We discussed many topics, from the struggle to raise capital to how credit cards are used for business to skipping on credit altogether and going strictly cash based. It didn't surprise me how difficult this economy has been on most of the businesses in the forum. What did surprise me was that without hesitation, when we were all asked if it was a good time to start a business, we all agreed that it was. I guess I'm no different than the other business owners out there with my thinking that even in a down economy, if you're passionate about your business, you can make pretty much anything work. Here are the participants: Moderated by Michael Caputo, MPR, as part of the Public Insight Network (citizen journalism). Jason Rysavy, founder Catalyst Studios Amy Goetz, founder Bramblewood Treats Michael Schaffer, president, M.A. Schaffer Accounting Services Brian Lueth - Credit Union President, Partner in Manuf. Business Crystal Pollard, owner Bellies to Babies Brady Jass, president B&H Manufacturing Mickey McCabe, owner Q. Cumbers restaurant Shawn Sheely, founder Analog Interactive Josh Blanc - owner Clay Squared You can see the entire forum here. Thanks for reading. @jasonrysavy tags: catalyst studios, minneapolis, minnesota, design, graphic design, interactive, catalyst,

We here at Catalyst believe in exposing our true selves (some call it transparency). We always have. It’s not that we’re just jumping on the bandwagon to show our trend smarts. We buy it. It feels right. We have nothing to hide (well, almost nothing). We’re now just trying to figure out where to draw the line. For instance, is it interesting to see our work in progress? Some of us think so. phase 1 website (blog format) phase 2 website (home) phase 2 website (client timeline/relationship) phase 2 website (about us) Our principal suggested that I post this. It makes me kind of queasy to throw something out there that’s so raw, so imperfect, only to solicit opinions that may very well lean negative. But I said that I’d do it. For the sake of conversation. It’s work in progress: a phased new site. The look is based on our new identity and the phases based on having a very busy development team who won’t be able to touch phase 2 for a while. And we’re trying to keep it simple. I’m told that a monkey can run phase 1 site. How much is too much? Does an agency benefit from showing their early thinking, their messy home? Do you trust us more knowing that we’re willing to expose our work in the early stages or is it just plain uninteresting. You can say what you’re thinking. We promise, you won’t hurt our feelings. We’re just curious. Thanks, Mary Follow us on Twitter: @catalyststudios or look at our old site (that's still live). tags: catalyst studios, minneapolis, minnesota, design, graphic design, interactive, catalyst,

Thanks to our friends at Sevnthsin for putting on the 2009 Mpls. Ping Pong Championships last Friday. A good time was had by all. While we may not have made it through double elimination, our pride remains intact. Ping Pong artisans? Maybe not. But we’d like to think that not everyone can sport short shorts and white after Labor Day. Congrats to the other winners. check out the photo recap on flickr tags: catalyst studios, minneapolis, minnesota, design, graphic design, interactive, catalyst,

On Friday, August 28th, we, Catalyst Studios will be pedaling around town on a portable beer garden, heckling other agencies who have to work. We've got 5 or 6 open seats and want you to join us. Drinks, lunch and shenanigans are on us from 11-1pm. Just tell us why we should take you. Want to interview for one of our open positions? Looking for feedback on your new logo? Or do you simply need to get away from your co-workers for a while? Come on, it's a great time to Not-work! Check it out and apply! tags: catalyst studios, minneapolis, minnesota, design, graphic design, interactive, catalyst,

After nearly 10 years, we're changing up our look. I guess the starkness of the green, white and grey just finally got to us. This stuff is all just work in progress, but it gives you an idea where Catalyst is going. A lot more modern with more personality. Not quite sure where it will all land, so stay tuned. What do you think? Let us know. These images are pulled from a leave behind piece for new prospects. Compared to the old leave behind, which was nothing, these are awesome! This is our first stab, by the way. Final stuff is much lighter on the cutesy eyeball characters...at least that's what we thought a couple weeks ago anyway. Good quote. Pretty much sums up our work. Although I have to admit, we never really feel like we're going out on a limb. We're just doing what works. And clients like that. Cheesy? Well, it's true. There's nothing wrong with enjoying what you do and the clients you work with. And we can tell if you don't want to be hugged. Jason Rysavy @jasonrysavy @catalyststudios tags: catalyst studios, minneapolis, minnesota, design, graphic design, interactive, catalyst,

Not to be confused with Howitzer, Bryce is still a force to be reckoned with. What can we say, Bryce came in and we liked what we saw, it's that simple. Sticking to our core values of being an idea shop first and producers of great work second, we feel that Bryce fits perfectly. His hybrid nature will augment our extremely dynamic interactive team perfectly. Bryce comes to us from Antidote X where he worked on accounts such as Allianz Life, American Standard, Eljer, CH Robinson Worldwide, Jennie-O Turkey, Guidant, AdFed Minnesota, Mima and more. He also teaches at Miami Ad School and writes for the Evanto Tutorial Network (flashtuts). Wow, huh? Welcome aboard Bryce. @howitson's not tweeting much, but if he gets 100s of followers, I'm sure he'll start. In his own words, "Evil rainbow gradients beware." You can also all help Bryce answer this question. tags: catalyst studios, minneapolis, minnesota, design, graphic design, interactive, catalyst,

AdWeek just published an article about how agencies are adapting to leverage the best ways to connect with consumers while saving money. Sounds crazy/impossible but it's happening. You can read more, but the thing we think is most important about all of this is that it brings more focus on the strategic, thinking part of design. If more of the clients (within our profession) begin to view our greatest value at the strategic, thinking level, everyone benefits. Clients engage us sooner, at the right stage and the results will be much stronger. Agencies will have the information they need to do their best thinking and work, as well as the motivation that stems from feeling like a true partner. Short term, budgets might be incrementally smaller, but the long term benefits of a deeper, more strategic relationship will be a tide that "raises all the boats." tags: catalyst studios, minneapolis, minnesota, design, graphic design, interactive, catalyst,

Recently, I discovered a pretty common branding problem that really surprised me. While researching corporate job boards for a project (we recently launched kohlscareers.com, Kohl's recruiting site), I noticed that the majority of the sites were well-branded until you hit the jobs/career section. Once you arrive, the brand becomes almost invisible. It’s as if you’ve left the site you were on. The reason for this is simple. So many companies buy and integrate one of the ‘candidate application’ tools. These tools are great for putting a solid, online application process in place. But unless these process tools are appropriately branded, a candidate is going to feel a shift away from the brand and everything it represents. I understand why this happens – it’s much easier and much less expensive to let the software company apply your logo and some other simple elements of your brand to the “job search” section. But if great candidates are turned off or turn away, that’s going to cost that company handsomely, in terms of HR resources. Does it really save money to let the branding fall down in the area of employment? Feel free to search the Kohl's Careers site for a job. It's super easy. And who knows, maybe you'll find your next career. @catalyststudios tags: catalyst studios, minneapolis, minnesota, design, graphic design, interactive, catalyst,