Consider this your invitation to join us for a beverage or two at our studio in Poncey-Highland to see the result of Florian’s explorations of distance and contrast.

We have to say, what we witnessed was both humbling and inspiring.

From A&E: “I’m Heavy is an intimate look at the remarkable journeys of individuals whose daily struggle with their weight has overtaken their lives. Viewers will get unprecedented access into the lives of participants – who come from all walks of life but share the inability to manage their escalating weight – as they go through a six month program. The process will begin with an intensive in-patient treatment and therapy program where participants will learn the knowledge and techniques necessary to inspire dramatic results and we’ll continue to follow them as they transition back to their daily lives. Two individual transformations will be told in each episode, from the points of view of both individuals, and their friends and family affected. Will these overweight individuals be able to overcome behavioral problems and food addictions to achieve true life change?”

The show is slated to premiere in 2011.

Deviant gave us an opportunity this week to revisit this territory.

The Challenge: Deviant needed a way to thank an executive at a certain well-known Atlanta-based beverage company for his partnership on a number of endeavors.

After a quick interview and some research, we proposed a modern, custom, break-out waterfall table with a laser-etched dedication. “Sounds perfect,” Deviant told us. “One problem: security at the company is tight: you can’t bring furniture in.”

To further complicate things, Deviant wanted the table to be a surprise gift. We had to install the table and get in and out of the company HQ while the recipient was to be in an hour-and-a-half long meeting.

Meh.

So, to overcome all of this, we designed the table for rapid installation and discreet transportation – utilizing the language of heavy duty portfolio cases, the table packs up to look like something a hopeful design job applicant would carry around for, oh, you know, an entry-level packaging job.

Using this excuse, we made it past security, installed the table, took some Polaroids, and made it out before the intended recipient got back to his office.

Now we’re just trying to figure out if we can get away with adding the term ‘mercenary’ somewhere on our resumes.

Our work encompasses industrial design, interior architecture, photography, film, art direction, graphic design, and interactive design. This transdisciplinary approach creates a rich, energetic studio environment and helps us to see the gamut of possibilities in a new light.

Our purpose is to work alongside our clients to dissolve their creative problems. Our commitment to doing our best possible work builds trust and reputation, transcending disciplines and categories. We are change agents and our propulsive positive attitude brings out the best in the people we work with. We share a desire to collaborate with companies, individuals, and institutions who are interested in making things better.

Located in a renovated telephone factory on the Eastside of Atlanta, People of Resource is a lean office, able to offer stronger results and accelerated schedules at highly competitive rates.

We work side-by-side with our clients to envision, research, design, prototype, and deploy experiences, products, and services.

These solutions can take the form of:

-Strategy
-Workshops
-Art Direction
-Branding
-Graphic Design for Print and Web
-Interactive Design
-Photography
-Filmmaking
-Product Design
-Furniture Design
-Interior Architecture for Offices, Retailers, and Restaurants

Our Clients

We are humbled to work with an ambitious and diverse group of leaders. Our client list includes:

-Savannah College of Art and Design
-Georgia Institute of Technology
-Malcolm Fontier
-Deviant Ventures
-Jonathan Adler
-The Jones Group
-Modern Atlanta
-Info Retail
-Armchair
-SEEDR
-Coca-Cola
-Fossil

David’s work has garnered numerous design awards and recognition from blogs, publications, and design institutions. His firms have served a wide range of clients, from giants like Coca-Cola and Fossil Inc. to innovative start-ups like the Center for the Visually Impaired and No Brakes Atlanta.

Malcolm Fontier’s eponymous modern travel accessory line was an instant darling upon its debut. Well-deserved nods from noteworthy publications like Wired, Dwell, and Lucky are a regular thing for MF’s clean, stylish, and vegan-friendly carryall line.

Nevertheless, the designer’s success begged a question: what next? How could his brand’s solid reputation translate into new products? How could the audience for MF products increase? What would those moves look like?

Solution

To answer these questions, Malcolm Fontier again turned to People of Resource. Our relationship began several years ago when Malcolm tapped People of Resource to fabricate his trade show displays. We count it as an honor that he continues to trust us as a collaborative partner.

To gain increased control over interaction with his customer base, we initiated a two-pronged video campaign that would demonstrate the products’ usefulness and also convey Malcolm’s modern explorer brand message.

To reward loyal retailers and, again, tighten control over direct communication with customers, we developed retail displays that use high-quality materials in creative ways to keep production costs low.

Through a series of creative workshops, we worked alongside Malcolm’s team to research, understand, and expand upon the opportunities that laid in front of the company.

Results

As a result of our video and retail display work, we were able to deliver more meaningful connections between the Malcolm Fontier brand and its fanbase.

As a result of our product design workshops, we were able to expand Malcolm’s audience by creating new bag designs that increase his product offering variety. Further, our design for a new, lower-priced bag, delivers a broader audience while maintaining his reputation for top notch quality.

Roots Atlanta provides an encouraging and challenging support system to enable young people to flourish from the inside out. The heart of this organization and its desire to serve in a meaningful way attracted the People of Resource to run alongside its pursuits and actions.

After creating an identity and web site for Roots Atlanta, we approached them with a program of fun and interactive custom furnishings. When the unexpected difficulties that come with every start-up effort appeared, the time and budget demands tightened significantly.

Solution

We responded to the situation by calling on local organizations for donated materials, and using some clever design details to deliver an exciting, modern, and functional space.

With the help of the local school system surplus and Mohawk carpets, we were able to obtain old art tables, work tables, chairs, and carpet tiles.

We fabricated a shelving system out of a single piece of reclaimed walnut to showcase the best children’s books. By retrofitting affordable Ikea shelving with a mason jar storage system, craft supplies became easy to find and organize. We also utilized extra legs from school desks to make a maple reading table and a twelve-foot, solid, heart-pine bench.

Results

The space is now brimming with fun and excitement. Just from walking in, kids can feel the energy and intent of Roots’ energetic founder, Nicki Keys.

Dex is a leading provider of sustainable product using responsible practices. The firm is dedicated to exploring, pursuing, and executing creative applications of concrete and terrazzo.

When Craig Smith and Lauriel Leonard started Dex in 1999, their manufacturing of beautiful, original finishes made with recycled material and found objects pre-dated today’s green building movement by half a decade.

Having proven our agility by executing both displays and product photography for Dex, People of Resource was Craig and Lauriel’s chosen partner when it became obvious that Dex needed a more robust website to display their prodigious product offerings.

Solution

Dex has an expansive portfolio of materials, products, and custom projects. We began by researching and cataloguing the company’s output throughout its history – we were struck by the many exciting custom projects that, in the steady flow of day-to-day business, simply hadn’t been shown off to the degree that their quality demanded.

By tightly structuring a consistent layout, creating feature pages to highlight partnerships, designing icons for material types, and articulating descriptions of their projects, we primed Dex’s work to be viewed at its best.

Results

We created a clean environment that requires minimal cognitive load to navigate and effectively communicates a commitment to craft and exploration.

Since the relaunch, their visits and exposure improved and exceeded the previous site’s rates.

David Daniels is an Atlanta-based architect with an extensive portfolio that includes restaurant interiors, private residences, and modern live-work spaces. With experience at nationally-recognized firms like Cooper Carry and Ai Group under his belt, David approached us ready to accelerate his private practice.

People of Resource’s relationship with David goes back – we’ve designed and fabricated furniture for a variety of his interior architecture projects. This history allowed People of Resource the luxury of already being familiar with David’s distinct style. The longevity of our relationship with David is something we take great pleasure in.

Solution

David’s work features distinctive contemporary forms. We approached the identity for David Daniels Design particularly inspired by his local residential projects. We elected to represent this work through a form that resides in the area between two- and three-dimensionality.

By developing an architecture based on project type, creating project pages that focus on imagery, and highlighting his best work through a rolling feature page, we established the breadth and variety of his portfolio.

Results

We created a clean environment that allows David’s work to be viewed at a high resolution, highlighting the striking character and precise details of his spaces and exteriors. The identity we created for David aligns with the aesthetics and quality of his architecture to reinforce his brand and build awareness of his practice in the marketplace.