Our publicity director is chasing phantoms!

Well, just one phantom, I guess.

The Galison/Mudpuppy team works very hard creating, marketing, selling, publicizing our great stationery, gifts, and toys, activities, and decor for children. Sometimes we just need a treat. We used to have an annual luncheon at a wonderful elegant restaurant, but, alas, the restaurant closed. Karaoke parties just weren't the same. So we're all looking forward to a new outing: a theater party on April 15 to see...

The Phantom of The Opera. No, not the Andrew Lloyd Webber one that's been running forever. This is a new musical with book and lyrics by our own Publicity Director, the multi-talented Brenda Bell, and music composed by Michael Sgouros, who, although he doesn't work with us at Galison/Mudpuppy, is also talented!

 

Sgouros and Bell's The Phantom of the Opera, a new musical, opens to previews this Friday, April 9 at 7:30 PM at the historic Players Theater, 115 MacDougal Street in the heart of Greenwich Village, in our hometown of New York, New York, of course.  

Brenda tracked the phantom through Paris and has been writing about the story's originator, Gaston Leroux, and Phantom-related thoughts in her blog, Chasing Phantoms. You can also read about the show in her own words at the show's Phantom of the Opera website.

We're all looking forward to seeing this show and encourage you to give it a try, too. Leave that other Phantom to the tourists, and come down to Greenwich Village to see this new musical.

And by the way, here's our phantom Publicity Director herself:

Click here for ticket information

 

--Susan

Jigsaw Puzzles

There has been some intense research going on at Galison lately. We are delving deep into the world of jigsaw puzzles!

Some of you may be thinking we already do jigsaw puzzles, and you are right, but we thought we would give a fresh spin to our Galison line.

Some of our main thoughts have been, what imagery would customers like in a puzzle; a classic piece by Van Gogh or a more modern Henry Road pattern?

How many pieces should the puzzle be? Are the 500 pieces from our last jigsaw puzzles too easy/hard, or just right?

To start our research off we went with a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle of Monet's Waterlilies; a classic start.

How many pieces do you think are that perfect amount of challenging; not too hard, but not too easy? What kind of imagery makes for that perfect puzzle?

Let us know your thoughts and vote on how many pieces you think is that "perfect" number in our poll: www.facebook.com/galisonmudpuppy

And stay tuned to find out how many pieces we chose and the imagery to go along!

~Shannon

Profile: Cynthia Matthews, Creative Director of Mudpuppy

We like showing you the brilliant designers, artists, and staff that make up Galison/Mudpuppy Press.  There are only 35 of us, so it shouldn't take too long to bring you profiles of everyone. We're excited to give you a little insight to Cynthia Matthews, the Creative Director of Mudpuppy.

 Background:

According to Cynthia’s mother, she has always been receptive to identifying colors people were wearing, and it would often be the primary way she would remember them– “the lady with the purple shoes.” or, “The man with a red hat.”  Cynthia grew up attending photo shoots and press OKs for her parents’ mail-order catalog business, and her affinity for art brought her to Yale University for a B.A. in History of Art.

Galison/Mudpuppy Press:

Cynthia moved to New York in 2004 to attend Pratt where she earned her M.S. in Communications Design.  A month after she moved to the city, while taking classes, she started working here at Galison as an editorial assistant to Lorena Siminovich, the Creative Director of Galison/Mudpuppy at the time.  When Lorena left, Cynthia took over the responsibilities of Creative Director for Mudpuppy and has been doing so ever since.

Creative Director:

 When asked what the creative director does, Cynthia says, “It’s more complicated than people think.”  She’s, of course, in charge of Art Direction and the overall big-picture of where Mudpuppy is going.  However, she also manages the commissioning of illustrators, works on contracts, and negotiates with their reps.  There are lots of steps to creating a full line of puzzles and toys for kids!

Since coming on as Creative Director, Cynthia says that the Mudpuppy line has become much more graphic, using bold colors and designs; a good move that has given Mudpuppy a clear, recognizable style.

Favorite Format:

“It’s ever-changing.  I always love what we’re currently working on.”  We’d love to tell you what that is, but it’s a secret ;) 

Favorite Style:

“Well I’m not really a girly-girl, so I don’t think I would choose the princess designs…”  Her picture says otherwise…

New Trends:

“I’m surprised that Pirates is still a big trend, especially since they’re, you know, violent creatures, but they keep coming back.”

 

~Corey

Snow Day

Who says work can't be fun?
                          

Every once in a while it's good to blow off some steam and what better way than with a giant snow storm in NYC!

Our roof is covered with snow, the good packing snow at that, so we put our talents to use and "sculpted" some masterpieces. 

We created some snowmen, well one snow pirate and a snowwoman, and a frosty feline. Have we come up with our new 2010 Holiday line?

Trudging through the snow doesn't seem so bad anymore. I bet the people who took a snow day are regretting it now!

~ Shannon

Profile: Juanita Dharmazi, Creative Director

You might look at the diverse range of designs and styles in our Galison/Mudpuppy catalogs and think that they must be created by magical, design-oriented elves.  It will surprise you to learn that this is, in fact, false.  We wanted to put a face to the most talented designers working in the business, and profile the people that make our products come to life.

 

Juanita Dharmazi – Creative Director for Galison

    
 

Juanita grew up in the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta.  From an early age her creativity took its form in home-made birthday cards, various crafts, and drawing on walls (what parent would disapprove of this artistic expression!).  She spent her days watching Sesame Street and Punky Brewster, and dreamed of living in New York City.

    Growing up in a city where the primary occupations were in the business and medical fields, the idea of graphic design as a career was not even a thought in Juanita’s head. It wasn’t until high school when a friend who was in college took a course in design and opened her eyes to the possibility.

    She attended Arizona State University where she studied graphic design and landed some key summer internships in New York City.  This strengthened her desire to move here and she could feel her dream inching closer.

    After graduating in 2003, the fates aligned when, on her mother’s birthday, she saw a job posting from a New York City based company named Galison.  A believer in “signs from the universe,” she knew this was meant to be.  She was called for an interview and boarded a plane, dreams in tow, only to arrive in New York during the Blackout.     

    Not letting a little thing like a power-less island of Manhattan render her powerless, Juanita began calling the Galison offices hoping someone might be there.  Lo and behold, who should answer the phone – the big cheese himself, President Gerald Galison.  He told her that he would be there for another half hour if she wanted to meet with him.  Juanita ran to the office, cumbersome portfolio in hand, and met with Jerry.  The rest is history.

    After working her way up from junior designer, to senior designer, she eventually landed her current position as creative director.  She describes her most important task as “setting up a vision for Galison each season.  I think about the big goals – the next big thing for Galison.”             Juanita finds inspiration throughout this entire city, “New York offers so much.”  She is a big fan of flea markets, and most things vintage.  You may run into her at the Brooklyn Flea, or walking the streets of Soho, or exploring neighborhoods full of character like the West Village, Park Slope, and Carroll Garden.     

    An avid traveler, she is keen on picking up inspiration and new trends from around the world.  A recent trip to London exposed the continuing fascination with Typography, Alphabet Designs, and Monograms.  She is also seeing the popularity in Vintage Maps – “they’re like the color Black, it’s been around but it’s a timeless trend.”  

The Facts:

Favorite Galison Format:

• Accordion Organizer – “I love to travel and they are so great to hold receipts and take notes.”

• Mini Journal – “It’s the perfect size to fit in my purse!”

Favorite Galison Style:

• “I can’t choose!  I love them all.  It’s like picking a favorite child!”