We made it. Our creative team pushed out 30 different creative designs for Facebook’s Timeline in just 30 days. 30 days of scratching pencil drafts, snapping shots, scanning illustrations, and coloring inside (and outside) the lines at 4O1! HQ. And don’t think we had time to build an arsenal… our boss came in just two days before the project would launch and presented the challenge.

4O1! Co-founder and Lead Designer Curtis Johnson explained, “We had already decided to hold 4O1! Day in August instead of the usual April 1st date.  However, I felt a need to do something creative on our unofficial company holiday.  I came into the office on March 30 with the idea for 30 Days of Timeline and luckily the team was excited for the challenge.” That challenge included matching logo designs for each of the 30 pieces.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! Well, what do you expect form a bunch of pencil-weilding geeks? This project was especially loved by our lead developer, Devon Beck, who said ”I had so much fun creating 5 of the 30 timelines, although maybe I went a little too crazy with some of them (all the 4O1! employees as Simpsons characters – really?!?!?) but it was totally worth it! I am über-proud of how they all turned out and I can’t wait to do it again… as long as we wait a year… or two…”

Just about everyone at 4O1! got involved with a timeline… even if only to suggest a tiny design element. You can visit our archive to see all of the amazing designs created by our talented team. And, hey, while you’re here… Let us know what you think!

]]> http://fourohone.us/2012/05/30-creative-pieces-in-30-days/feed/ 0 http://fourohone.us/2011/03/spotlight-aedcs-urban-made/ http://fourohone.us/2011/03/spotlight-aedcs-urban-made/#comments Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:10:51 +0000 Curtis http://fourohone.us/?p=543

What is URBAN MADE?  Only the reIndustrialization of the Modern Metropolis of course!

4O1! recently helped our friend, Matt Tuerk from the Allentown Development Corporation, brand and develop artwork for a new initiative to promote repurposing of old urban factories and buildings for smaller manufacturers.  Or as they put it:

“Cities gave rise to industry, housed manufacturing in its prime, and watched as jobs left, first moving to rural areas and then out of the country entirely. In 2010, we believe that cities like Allentown will witness manufacturing and industry begin its return to the metropolis.”

Our artwork took inspiration from the sawtoothed roof of the old Mac assembly plant where the event was held and propaganda posters from the 1920′s (also see Shepard Fairey).  A clean and crisp version was utilized in a direct mailer and online newsletters. We also created a “vintage” version for alternative uses.

View both below:

Vintage

Clean

And you can bet that the website will be equally as sweet!

Stay tuned for more,

Team 4O1!

In todays world it’s no secret that every business no matter how big or small can benefit from a professional and informative website. What most business owners don’t quite get is how to turn their businesses website into a powerful sales and marketing tool and that is precisely why 4O1! exists ;)

It is our job to understand the intricacies of the art of web design, development, and marketing so you don’t have to. Throughout the process we are continuously informing and educating our clients so together we can make the best decisions for the project.

Over the past 5+ years we have helped dozens of businesses gain control of their online presence. Our list of happy clients ranges from small local start ups like Burrito Grille to international Non-Profits like YWCA. With a proven, yet ever evolving 16 step web design process and an continually expanding team of specialists at hand 4O1! is certainly worth considering if you looking to develop a website for your business.

Below are several examples of Pennsylvania based businesses that have trusted us with their website development and are now reaping the benefits.

Over the last few years 4O1! and Lehigh Valley Style have developed a strong relationship working in tandem to build a web based publishing platform that compliments Style’s already successful print publication.

Although we have worked together on a monthly basis on the web side of things we had never collaborated on any photography, that was until we received a last minute call a few months ago to help cover an upcoming decadent dish editorial spread. The shoot was at a local family owned Greek restaurant called Yanni’s Taverna, which I had never heard of until that day. It turned out to be quite a nice local spot with an airy Mediterranean atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious ethnic food.

Since that shoot we have had the pleasure of shooting several events and editorials spreads for the great staff of the Valley’s favorite lifestyle magazine, Lehigh Valley Style. One of the most noteworthy were covering several locations for “Our Favorite Things” in which I got to shoot the Style girls at Edge in Bethlehem. Shooting several lovely ladies in a classy local environment sounds right up my alley until the day came and I was bed ridden and felt deathly ill all week. Nonetheless I sucked it up, packed up my gear and shoved off to Bethlehem, cold sweats, spins and all.

Fortunately Pam and Lisa had been on a few shoots in their day and managed to help me pull everything together to capture the fun image you see below. Thanks ladies =)

Additional noteworthy locations I discovered while shooting this editorial spread were Fogelsville Inn off route 100 and Tilghman St. where we are now regulars and Tranquil Tea House in downtown Easton. Images from both places can be seen in the carousel.

After all was said and done we also got a call back to cover the White Party at Steve Tobin’s Studio in Quakertown. This event was put together by ArtsQuest to benefit Musikfest. Although it was hot inside it turned out to be quite a nice event and I was turned onto a brilliant local artist who had surreal life-sized garden environments made out nothing but metal letters, rooms full of mannequin arms and dinosaur sized steel sculptures that decorated the immense lawn. If your looking for a quick and artistic escape from reality I’d recommend getting yourself over to Tobin’s studio asap.

See more of our professional photography portfolio 4O1! Photography in Lehigh Valley! ]]> http://fourohone.us/2010/08/shooting-with-style/feed/ 0 http://fourohone.us/2010/06/look-look-look/ http://fourohone.us/2010/06/look-look-look/#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:11:49 +0000 http://fourohone.us/?p=744

Spring just got hotter with the unveiling of Image International’s Spring/Summer 2010 LOOK-BOOK. This micro publication of beauty and illustrator of success for the agencies past and present models was conceptualized by Images management team and brought to life by the graphic design team at 4O1! Creative.

Inside you can find familiar faces such as Amanda Seyfried – star of Mama Mia! and this year’s Letters to Juliet and Micheala Conlin, Allentown native and cast member of Fox’s hit show Bones. The cover is graced by Lehigh Valley Style’s own Jana Hoffman, shot by Lori Smith and conveys a classic yet edgy image that is carried throughout the Book.

To kick start your modeling career visit www.imageintl.com.

Looking to spruce up your marketing collateral? Then visit www.401creative.com or contact a 4O1! rep today at 610.871.0490. ]]> http://fourohone.us/2010/06/look-look-look/feed/ 0 http://fourohone.us/2010/05/spotlight-perkasie-container/ http://fourohone.us/2010/05/spotlight-perkasie-container/#comments Mon, 10 May 2010 08:25:31 +0000 http://fourohone.us/?p=530

For those of you who frequent the 4O1! Facebook page, you might notice we have a few regulars. One in particular – Patti Virtue – can be scene chatting and ‘liking’ up a storm – daily.  Who is this Patti Virtue you ask?

“Crazy Aunt Patti” as we affectionately call her, is one half of the ownership team at Perkisie Container – a local family owned and operated business; producing, you guessed it, containers.

While Perkesie Container may not be the largest or most glamorous company – their website isn’t indicative of that. But www.perkasiecontainer.com does give you a sense of family and attention to detail.  The viewer gets a glimpse into where their potential product is coming from – and the smiling faces working hard to ensure quality materials.

Patti and her husband Brad played host to resident photo guru Boca B! (a.k.a. Brian Wcislo) and his assistant for the Day – Liz Hunt, to capture images of the equipment, owners, and grounds.  All in all – Brian and Liz learned more than the needed to about boxes and Patti & Brad walked away with some pretty high quality shots of their company.

Perkesie Container also shattered the myth that your company has to be a fortune 500 company to look like one online. Great websites don’t have to cost a fortune! With high-resolution images and a history of both the company and the building that Perkesie Container occupies – Perkesie’s site is a brief intro to the people behind the containers, a luxury that the business world has only been given (or overlooked the benefits of) over the past ten years.

While cardboard boxes and making them may seem archaic to some, Perkesie Container was smart enough to know that the Internet is an epicenter to business and sales  - both of which can start and end on the web.

Note:  Thanks to our friends at Moxie House for the Penn Dutch icon! ]]> http://fourohone.us/2010/05/spotlight-perkasie-container/feed/ 0 http://fourohone.us/2010/05/photography-fun-4o1/ http://fourohone.us/2010/05/photography-fun-4o1/#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 16:03:42 +0000 Brian http://fourohone.us/?p=478

Hello friends of 4O1! it’s our resident photographer Brian Wcislo a.k.a. boca =b just sharing a little photo shoot love.

A few weeks ago we assembled a team (photographer, mua, hair stylist & models of course) with the intentions of capturing 2 looks for 3 lucky girls. Our goal was to get a few beauty & commercial shots as well as capture a few funky ones while we were at it.

Below are a few images from our shoot!

Our Models were Angelica & Zakiya from Image International and Medina.

Here are some Beauty Tips for Models before a shoot courtesy of our MUA, Trish Solis. See more of Trish’s work here: www.elegantxpressions.net

72 hours before your photo shoot, avoid the following items (these items can give you oily skin and swelling).
- Red meat
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Spicy foods
- Retin A and Alpha Hydroxy creams

Drink lots of water, carry it with you everywhere you go, and keep sipping.

Exfoliate your skin at least once a week and also the morning of the shoot.

Have your brows professionally shaped and then keep them up by plucking the strays every few days. Pluck strays the day of the shoot.

Refresh your hair color a few days before your shoot. If you do not color your hair, try shades or a toner just a shade lighter then your hair to make it shine. If you need a trim, do it before the shoot.

Fingernails and toenails should be one length, well manicured, and the polish should be colorless or French.

All traces of makeup should be gone from your skin. All eyeliner and mascara should be gone. Your face should be clean and product free when you arrive.

Do not over condition your hair before a shoot. Do use your regular styling products to make your hair behave, as chances are the hair stylist will not be wetting your hair and not be able to use gels, etc. Your hair must be dry before you arrive at the shoot.

Avoid dry lips by putting Vaseline on your lips before bed and the morning of your shoot.

Location: 4O1! Head quarters.
3736 Broadway, Allentown, PA 18104

Photographer: Brian Wcislo
portfolio: www.fotosbyboca.com

MUA: Trish Solis
portfolio: www.elegantxpressions.net

Hair: Liz Perez
portfolio: www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/1231643

If your looking to add to some quality photography to your modeling portfolio, get head shots to launch your acting career or want to put a comp card together contact 4O1! now. ]]> http://fourohone.us/2010/05/photography-fun-4o1/feed/ 3 http://fourohone.us/2010/03/4o1-launches-network/ http://fourohone.us/2010/03/4o1-launches-network/#comments Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:48:31 +0000 Curtis http://blog.401creative.com/?p=216

Now in our 5th year of business, 4O1! Day 2010 sets the stage for Team 4O1! to reveal a project that has been in the works for over a year: The 4O1! Network

This Network replaces our previous website, Ver 4.O1, and acts as a centralized hub to a series of websites that showcases different aspects of our business with the ability to maintain a consistent look through themes and an emphasis on flexibility. Each property has a unique navigation scheme and showcases the use of different web technologies and strategies.

The Network (aka 4O1creative.com)
A simple carousel site that directs users to the different properties within the network. Additional content is hidden within an expandable footer navigation that houses about, service, and contact information. This content is shared on our “blog” site in the expandable header navigation and is controlled by the same content management system.

The Portfolio (Ver. 4.O1… um… Part 2)
Taking the frame work of our previous FLASH based website, Ver. 4.O1, the site now serves as a portfolio showcase of our favorite projects. The site has been aesthetically updated and it’s content is now managed through the same CMS that the other sites in the Network run off of.

“I didn’t want to totally abandon FLASH. The iPhone has been a major factor in the reduced use of Flash in the industry. This is disappointing because as a medium FLASH opens up so many more creative options. We feel it is important to maintain a FLASH presence as there are many practical uses for it in the form of micro-sites, kiosk displays, and interactive games. I can’t wait for our next FLASH project!” – Devon Beck – Lead Developer / Partner

The Blog (aka fourOHone.us)

“Our growing need to provide SEO services for our clients required us to have a playground of our own to test optimization strategies.” – Brian Wcislo, 4O1! Co-Founder

That playground became four OH! one, our new HTML based blog. Originally the brand of our photography services, now fotos by BOCA, the site will serve as showcase of a wealth of content and provide greater connectivity with our social outlets.

The Fotos (aka fotosbyBOCA.com)
Learning about “sustainability” from our friends at Renu Home Builders we realized not everything needed a major overhaul. A new name and a paint job gave our photography website the flexibility to attract new types of clients while maintaining a thematic look that worked with the Network.

A great add on to our core service of web design but also a starting point to enter a new market of revenue.

The Network is so much more than a new site design. With a new theme scheduled every season the site will re-invent itself with a fresh look and implementation of new functionality.

“We’ve always maintained a flexible brand strategy. The Network is just an extension of that. Is it ambitious? Overly ambitious even? Sure. But why not?” – Curtis Johnson, 4O1! Co-Founder

5 years! Wowy wowy wowzers!

While the benefits of social networking are many – social networking has reached new heights in virtual promiscuity. Has the mantra of “If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all” still exists.

As your friend counts continue to tally – stop and ask yourself – just who the hell are these people I call ‘friends’? Business acquaintances lost family members, former neighbors – all given the same access to your private world. It seems these days anyone you pass on the street will find you on facebook within the next twenty-four hours, entering your life and invading your personal web bubble. We tweet and update with random quid-pro-quos and funny antic dotes to pass the time, to feel less alone, to amuse ourselves, to pass it off as “work”. While the era of social networking has blessed generations to come with easier and quicker forms of communication – it appears every blessing can also be seen as a curse.

That being said. See if we practice what we preach on Facebook or Twitter. ]]> http://fourohone.us/2010/03/careful-what-you-tweet/feed/ 0 http://fourohone.us/2010/03/project-cinco-retrospective/ http://fourohone.us/2010/03/project-cinco-retrospective/#comments Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:05:21 +0000 Curtis http://blog.401creative.com/?p=104

Shortly after 4O1! Day 2009 the wheels started turning in our collective brains on what 4O1!’s next step should be. As motivation we dubbed this unknown entity as Project Cinco. A logo was created and teased throughout the year in our LV Style ads and our newsletters. Most never even noticed while others assumed it hinted at 4O1!’s fifth site. However, a new website was only one of the many ideas thrown around as “cinco” actually referred to 4O1!’s upcoming fifth anniversary of business.

In the end Project Cinco evolved into the strategy behind the 4O1! Network, a series of websites that showcased different aspects of our business with the ability to maintain a consistent look through themes and an emphasis on flexibility.

What were some of the other ideas in the mix? Maybe you’ll find out next year. ; )

Below is a showcase of how we teased Project Cinco throughout the year:

Fun Fact: Halfway through the year we flipped the “i” in Cinco upside down to keep consistent with our patented over usage of exclamation points!!!! ]]> http://fourohone.us/2010/03/project-cinco-retrospective/feed/ 0