I spy with my little eye someone who is a junior web developer/intern, hopefully lives in the Hamilton area, and has good attention to detail.

• Someone who is obsessed with HTML and CSS to pixel perfection.
• This person is on the hunt for a contract position where they’ll work on a project by project basis.
• They can rock the PHP for back-end heavy lifting.
• Can work with many open source Content Management Systems (Drupal and/or WordPress will do for now).
• Can work with Photoshop and Illustrator to take apart the design, optimize it, and put it back together in website form.
• They’re the type of person who gets seriously jazzed about JavaScript (and jQuery).
• They’re ready to start paying back debts from their higher education in a job they’re excited to roll out of bed for.
• And, they are self-disciplined enough to work independently from home while reporting to kitestring’s Director of Technology.

If you found yourself nodding to the above description, maybe we’re looking for you.

kitestring’s relaxed and fun culture might seem appealing, but trust us, it’s not for everyone.

This eight week contract starts immediately, and the lucky contestant will need to have access to Skype for daily interactions and come to the studio for the occasional meeting.

Send your resume, some samples of your work, and bit about why you’d be a perfect fit for this adventure to:
iwant2work@kitestring.ca

Want to win a  “Night Out in Westdale!”?!?!? All that you need to do to enter this contest is to fill out this short survey here. This should take only five minutes of your time.

This survey is intended for folks that live in the Greater Hamilton and surrounding areas who are either aware of the Westdale neighbourhood but have never visited, those who have visited before, and even those who live in the area.

All of the information provided will be kept confidential and will be used solely by kitestring creative branding studio to help better reflect Westdale Village’s brand.

If you have any questions, please contact meg@kitestring.ca

If you’re like us, you like to unwind at the end of the day with a (insert alcoholic beverage of your choice here).If you’re like us, we need you. We need you to talk booze. We need you to talk booze while tasting booze. Ok, maybe not at the same time. But one after the other. (Responsibly. Because you’re 19th birthday was probably a decade ago and there’s no longer an excuse for “sloppy” on Monday evening.)

This speakeasy market research is so exclusive, we can only have a certain number of people of the right demographic over to taste cool beverages and talk about them with the kitestring research team.

Want to come? Fill out this quick survey.  kitestring will contact those who apply and meet the demographic criteria. You’ll be well fed and watered. You’ll leave with swag and more booze. You’ll also end up playing a role in the rebranding process for one of kitestring’s clients.

Here’s the deets, including when you’ll need to be available:

BOOZE TALK: A Market Research Speakeasy is on a Monday evening, but we can’t say here which one because it’s a Speakeasy. And Speakeasy’s are secret.

Have a question? Email meg@kitestring.ca

Like most Canadians, I’m not really sure what to make of this week and it’s only Wednesday. Earth quakes, tornadoes and the death of an inspiring political figure  make me feel like my none-too-pleased little sister on the spinning swings at Marine Land: “Stop the world! I want to get off!”

Like most Canadians again, I wish I had more time to read. So, I know I’ve only got about five pages into Connected by Drs. Christakis and Fowler, but in that short minute it took me to get that far before I fell asleep it offered  a concept that made me want to “hold on for one more day.”

So in this book, these cool docs are suggesting that our humanistic tendencies propel the formation of social networks. Yes, yes, we’ve heard of “Pay it Forward,” but this is a little different. Here’s an example, however unrelated: If our friends, friends, friends are gaining weight, you’re more likely to get fat too. Chapter One:  “The Butterscotch Ripple Effect.” I joke, I jest. That’s not the name of chapter one.

But this notion can be applied elsewhere to other “good” activities we share with our networks. For example, I was never much of a political person, but during the last election my social networks began exposing me to all kinds of ways that my vote truly counts.So I became more educated on political parties, and I think I made my first vote that wasn’t heavily influenced by looks alone this time around. Oh, admit it. You did too! *see “Left”, literally.

Another great example of this “butterscotch ripple effect” is Stuart Thursby’s, Art Director at Proximity Canada, timely tribute to the late Jack Layton (see image at top of post). Almost instantly after the release of Jack’s message to Canadians, Stuart created and shared these posters, turning a hopeful legacy for a nation into visual beauty.

Like many of us, I too am now inspired to be a better Canadian. Maybe we could all influence one another so we don’t forget how we feel right now by sharing on our social networks. Maybe this sounds like the study of twitter communities through rose coloured glasses, but lets give it a spin!

Be loving, hopeful, and optimistic… and then don’t forget to share it.

Every year, kitestring chooses one deserving organization dedicated to bettering the lives of local children and committed to promoting sustainable communities, offering our roster of branding services as our annual contribution.

For 2011, kitestring chose Culture for Kids in the Arts (CKA) for their creative cause. CKA is a registered charitable organization dedicated to providing high quality arts experiences to all children and youth, regardless of their financial circumstances, in Hamilton and surrounding areas.

To begin the process, kitestring rebranded the organization beginning with goal setting, research and analysis, followed by creative conceptualization, and then executed through communication and design. Overall, CKA’s new brand is defined by feelings of hope for the future, care for a whole community, and a connecting creative spirit.

CKA is currently preparing to exhibit their Artasia project, which involves just around 500 local children who have illustrated how they would like to see their communities change for the better over photographs combined with soundscapes where these children share these ideas.

The kids’ creations for the Artasia project will be displayed at an exhibition gathering on Aug. 25 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts at 126 James St. S.

To see an article in the Spectator about CKA’s Artasia project, click here.

All of us at kitestring are excited to see what strategic directions and creative ideas will come to life in the coming months while we continue to support CKA. We’ll be sure to keep you posted with any new developments here on our blog!

This shindig’s smack dab in downtown Hamilton, just over yonder from the Locke Street district. (Corner of King and Locke streets)

There’s fun aplenty and a chance to satisfy yer hankering for some Southern fare with all the fixins!

Get three sheets to the wind with $8 mini-pitchers of beer!

As per usual, HYPE is a free event for professional young bucks where both howdya do’s and sass are welcome and business card stickups are considered real tacky-like.

Wednesday, September 7^th from 5:30 p.m. till whenever we get tuckered out!

Rolly Rockets
470 King Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8P 1B7

Ya’all better give us a head’s up on Facebook and invite yer friends, ya hear? (Check out the invite here!)

Gotta question? Email meg@kitestring.ca or tweet @Ettiekit

A big thanks to CLiC and the Art Gallery of Hamilton for throwing a wicked beach themed BBQ!

It’s great when the young professional groups across the city get together because we all get to meet new people and see friends you might not cross paths with in your work life as often as you’d like.

After an amazing day at the studio that ended with a wicked-awesome rebranding presentation with a cool client, the creative cowboy (Josh), client bedazzler (Margaret), imaginitarian (Chris) and a communications rockstar (me!) headed over to celebrate.

Thanks for the fun and we’ll see you at the next event!

Since last Thursday, June 9th, ellephysio has fostered 3 elephants on behalf of its growing Facebook fan base! A big, toppling thank you to everyone who has already spread the word about the elle-o-metre to their Facebook friends!

Want to help ellephysio, the region’s first female focused physiotherapy clinic, foster even more elephants?! “Like” ellephysio on Facebook, and share the elle-o-metre with your friends!

To learn more about the  ellephysio clinic, check out their cool new website featuring their ellephilosophy about finding confidence from within.

We’re so excited to launch the ellephysio brand, we can hardly contain our excitement! Not only is ellephysio the first physiotherapy clinic with a female focus in the region, but we’re helping ellephysio launch its innovative niche concept with an “elle-o-meter”; a pledge to foster African elephants on behalf of those who join their growing online community on Facebook. For every 50 “likes” ellephysio will foster one elephant with The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to celebrate the launch. Always thrilled to see our clients find deserving success, kitestring achieved ellephysio’s branding goals so founder Karen Neill can help local female athletes reach theirs.

Burlington based physiotherapist, Karen Neill Reg. PT, founded ellephysio in response to a growing demand for a physiotherapy clinic that caters especially to young active women and semi to professional female athletes. The brand’s foundation takes from Karen’s “ellephilosophy,” based on the premise that all of her patient’s success comes from finding confidence from within.

“Like” ellephysio on Facebook and watch the elle-o-metre climb!
Follow ellephysio on twitter @ellephysio to get acquainted with Karen

Yesterday I was part of the Cossart Exchange’s segment on Cable 14′s For The Record. I love when my job gives me a reason to see Jackie Van Dinther! She’s awesome, and she did a great job as guest host of the show!

We talked with Amanda De Freitas, Artistic Director of Live In Life, a performing arts education and entertainment company. We were joined by Stephanie Seagram from the Cossart Exchange to talk about creative ways for start-up arts based organizations can get themselves noticed and attract students.

Short and sweet, we’re the second segment in after a segment on Hamilton’s community gardens.