What happens when two Italians marry the perfect blend of ingredients, with the goal of leaving an everlasting impression? The end-result is an award-winning brand for Mother Mary’s Market. Mike Seip, founder of Mother Mary’s Market, and Keith Rizzi, partner of  local design firm, Rizco Design, recently were awarded two gold medals by the Art Director’s Club of NJ at their gala event on April 23rd at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany. The Manasquan-based team won two out of ten gold medals that were awarded for the Mother Mary’s Market Logo and Business Identity System.

Mother Mary’s Market, located on Main Street in Manasquan, is a unique Italian market where “Mary” is the chef. With 60 years of experience cooking in New York, Mary inspired her son, Michael to open up the market in early 2010 and has been sharing generations of old style Italian recipes with local customers. Rizco Design was enlisted to develop the identity and brand architecture that was implemented on bags, menus, business cards, web site and environmental graphics for the market.

“The experience of having a local brand come to life, was really rewarding,” said Keith Rizzi, Partner of Rizco Design. “The Mother’s Mary’s Market brand brings New York chic to Manasquan’s doorstep with a touch of mom’s home cooking … Not to mention that the food is fantastic!”

Founded in 1961, the ADCNJ is a statewide, non-profit organization of art directors, graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, art educators, and other creative professionals whose talent and services contribute to excellence in the design and production of advertising, promotion, and publishing. The 47th Annual ADCNJ Awards were judged by a panel of experts from the New York area, and the ADCNJ entries that received the highest scores were given either a Gold,  Silver or Bronze medal.

For more information on Mother Mary’s Market visit MotherMarysMarket.com or Art Directors Club of NJ, ADCNJ.org

Mohawk Fine Papers was one of the many amazing sponsors of last night’s, charity: water 2009 Charity: Ball, where 1,200 people gathered at the Metropolitan Pavilion in NYC with host, Adrian Grenier, to raise funds to provide clean drinking water to villages within Uganda, Sierra Leone and Ethiopia. One of many highlights is the “Water Catwalk” where attendees were encourage to walk 52 feet carrying two jerry cans that weight 40 pounds each. Africans walk 300 times that distance daily (3 miles) to gather enough water for cooking, cleaning and drinking. Time spent on this daily task would prevent you from earning an income or getting an education. If you are a woman, it puts you at greater risk of rape and assault.

… So yes, I joined my Mohawk rep, Cindy Salant, in handing over our drinks, shoes and handbags, and walking barefoot in our semi-formal dresses – a minimal effort in comparison to the journey that Africans make. Our reward was to learn and experience how fortunate we are to have clean drinking water.

High compliments to Viktoria Alexeeva Harrison, Director of Design & Branding, for the incredible visual displays and to Founder, Scott Harrison for turning big ideas into actions that touch so many lives … and for being so humble along the way.

For more information and to donate visit www.charitywater.org.

Pantone Goe SystemDesigners often describe their work as “innovative concepts” that can “push the envelope,” so breaking with tradition should be instinctual. This makes it surprising that ad agencies and design studios have failed to embrace Pantone’s GOE color specification system.

Introduced in September 2007, GOE offers an expanded gamut of 2,058 spot colors (up from 1,114 colors in the previous PMS system) in a redesigned swatchbook, organized by a new numbering system. Press operators will appreciate that all GOE colors are coating-friendly, and the entire color range is formulated to print uniform ink film thickness. With more colors presented in a more logical sequence, this 21st-century replacement for the 46-year-old Pantone Matching System is a “no-brainer” that has turned out to be a non-starter.

“I have not had one customer ask for it,” explains Raphael Horvath, owner of commercial printer Action Graphics. “A good portion of our client base is very specific about their brand appearance, and they always use the Pantone Matching System.”

Resistance to change may be part of the problem, but a contributing factor is the absence of GOE within industry-standard layout applications. Fortunately, the Pantone website offers a free installer that will insert GOE swatchbooks into either current or older versions of Adobe Creative Suite as well as QuarkXPress 7 and 8. Printed fan GOEGuides (on coated or uncoated stocks) and GOEBridge guides (for spot-to-process conversions) can be purchased online for $99 each, or users can opt for the GOE System package that contains a swatchbook, GOESticks adhesive-backed reusable color chips and a CD containing the GOE digital libraries for both QuarkXPress and the Adobe Creative Suite.

“We’re committed to making GOE work,” says Andy Hatkoff, Pantone VP OEM and technology licensing. “But we didn’t discontinue PMS; the two continue to live in a concurrent universe.” Hatkoff knows unseating a product with the longevity of PMS will not occur overnight. “It’s like pushing a big rock up a hill,” he admits, “but we’ve done the right things, technically speaking. Now, it’s about helping people understand GOE’s many advantages.”

As this nascent color system attains wider adoption, ink vendors will be required to support both the classic PMS formulations, as well as the new GOE inks. Fortunately, that job is made easy by GOE’s smaller base set: only 10 inks (plus clear) are required, versus 16 base colors used for PMS inks. Pantone also improved the stability of its new offering by eliminating the use of Reflex Blue (incompatible with coatings, subject to bronzing) and Rhodamine Red (tends to burn out quickly). These attributes make GOE attractive to ink vendors, who welcome a transition to this modern ink set.

One designer who favors GOE is Debra Rizzi, partner at RizCo Design. “It’s more streamlined, its smarter,” says Rizzi. “I’m constantly trying to find a different palette to work with that is fresh, so the fact that it’s organized better definitely helps.”

Rizzi is implementing GOE on a number of projects, including a 100+ page manual to celebrate the UN’s International World Water Week. “For eco-conscious clients, the elimination of Rhodamine Red and Reflex Blue is a big plus,” she says.

This new color specification system’s benefits are substantial, but as yet print providers have failed to encourage clients to abandon PMS books. Pantone may feel that the time for change has come, but apparently the designers will have to GOE first.

Posted By Debra Rizzi

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“Graphics Gone Green: Ways to Go Green Without Losing Your Shirt” is an eBook and Print-on-Demand Book for Creative Professionals

MANASQUAN, N.J. (November 16, 2009) – Rizco Design is committed to marking their commitment to the environment. As designers they take responsibility for environmentally sound decisions made on a daily basis and for the past two-and-a half years, the award-winning, green design firm has been continually dedicated to inspiring others to make one small change that can make one big impact on the environment.

So it’s no wonder the firm was chosen to be featured in the new Rods and Cones, Inc. eBook (PDF) and print-on-demand book, “Graphics Gone Green: Ways to Go Green Without Losing Your Shirt,” launching online on November 15. The book highlights sustainable workflows for creative professionals, including graphic designers, product designers, web designers, print buyers, and production staff. At a time when the printing industry is in a period of deep transition, and the design industry is fundamentally rethinking standard ways of doing business, consumers and companies are beginning to embrace the idea of becoming more environmentally sustainable. “Graphics Gone Green” showcases the new technologies, ideas, and spotlights people with innovative ideas who have steered their company toward sustainable green practices.

Debra Rizzi, founding partner of Rizco Design, knows first-hand of the challenges and solutions for becoming more efficient and environmentally friendly, not only in the creative process, but in the office. In May 2007, Rizzi led her firm in the launch of Beleaf, an eco-educational mission and measurable plan of action, and in a one-on-one interview, she tells of her own experiences for how the company became accountable for their actions and the steps taken for reducing the firm’s carbon footprint. From recycling (the company donates their computers every two years) and using only recycled products in the office, to switching to 100 percent green power, going all digital and mandating that all of the offset printers be FSC-certified, she discusses the specific steps for how her company took responsibility and transformed their offices, and how they conduct business, into an eco-friendly operation. Additionally, Rizco Design’s Beleaf Report Card, an online report card which grades the sustainability of their clients’ projects once they are completed, is prominently featured in the book.

“We are proud to be a part of ‘Graphics Gone Green,’” says Rizzi. “As a company that is dedicated to educating clients and other designers about the positive impact that ‘green’ design, paper purchases and printing can directly have on the environment, we felt strongly that this book was in-line with our beliefs and was just one more way that we can influence a positive change.”

“Graphics Gone Green” was created and designed with a minimal carbon footprint. It is one of a very small number of ebooks that was designed to be read digitally, with a unique interface, vibrant design, and multimedia functions. It can be purchased and read online at www.graphicsgonegreen.com and www.blurb.com, where books are printed on-demand, one at a time, so there’s no spoilage, overages or warehouse costs.

Posted by Patrick Kesler

Thursday, November 5th – Art Directors Club NYC

Rizco Design attended Sappi’s “The Storytellers Art” with Kit Hinrichs, a look a 40 years of narrative design. With light fare and potent wine in-hand, we were guided through Kit’s many years of experience and brilliance – ranging from the evolution of the “Design Within Reach” and “Gymboree” brands, to the full tour of the @Issues … which many of us refuse to get rid of. It seems that designers always have their own pet project on the side and for Kit it’s collecting and documenting American Flags.

Designers, test your brand awareness skills. @Issue has relaunched Alphabet Soup – where one letter of distinctive logotypes define a brand. How many can you decipher? Visit: http://www.atissuejournal.com/quizes/ and select Alphabet Soup, third one down in the column on the right.

Additional, highlights included the distribution of “The Standard”, which is Sappi’s new guide for designing for print. Tips, techniques and methods for achieving optimum printing results. While some designers expressed dismay about the distribution of such a high-end print piece in a down market, we applaud Sappi’s effort to educate designers on how to stretch their dollars. The combination of in-line varnish treatments on quality paper readily replace the need for costly foil stamping and embossing. The end-result is added depth and dimension with minimal increase to the bottom line. Contact Eloise Martinez, eloise.martinez@sappi.com, to get your own copy.

A tradition in Manasquan! The children and adults alike have fun while toilet papering Parker Avenue. Below are some images from last nights mischief!

Posted by Keith Rizzi

We recently had the privilege to develop and design environmental graphics for the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Trasnportation at Rutgers University.

Infrastructure is all around us, interwoven with our daily lives in ways we take for granted. From tap water, to your daily commute, to moving millions of tons of products coast to coast—it all relies on infrastructure.

Inspired by this theme, the CAIT lobby addresses what CAIT does through applied graphics which reinforce safety, security, environmental impacts, sustainability and mobility.

Posted by Keith Rizzi

On a recent road trip to Bucknell University for their celebration of 125 Years of Co-education I found myself amongst the beautiful rolling hills of Pennsylvania and was quickly reminded of how unique it is to live and grow up in the northeast. It truly is an amazing time of year! So I leave you with a short poem to get in the mood!

O hushed October morning mild, Thy leaves have ripened to the fall; Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild, Should waste them all. The crows above the forest call; Tomorrow they may form and go. O hushed October morning mild, Begin the hours of this day slow. Make the day seem to us less brief. Hearts not averse to being beguiled, Beguile us in the way you know. Release one leaf at break of day; At noon release another leaf; one from our trees, one far away. Retard the sun with gentle mist; Enchant the land with amethyst. Slow, slow! For the grapes’ sake, if the were all, Whose elaves already are burnt with frost, Whose clustered fruit must else be lost– For the grapes’ sake along the all.

– Robert Frost

Posted by Keith Rizzi

On Friday, October 23rd, Debra Zapotocky Rizzi returned to Bucknell University for the Celebration of 125 Years of Co-Education and participate on the “Paving Their Own Way: Entrepreneurship”panel discussion. Debra joined Susan Penecale Zolla ‘68, Owner/Operator, Hotels/Apartment Complexes, Frank Davis ‘82, President & C.E.O., Horizon Services Corporation; Bucknell Alumni Board and Anne Seibold Drapeau ‘88, Managing Partner, Center for Leading Organizations.

It is difficult to imagine a Bucknell in which men and women are not only learning side-by-side, but also working closely together both inside and outside the classroom. Bucknell has a rich tradition of valuing its female students and was the fourteenth university in the United States to become co-educational. What makes this milestone especially remarkable is that Bucknell was first school in the Patriot League to admit women and was nearly 90 years ahead of many colleges and universities in the United States.

To read more www.bucknell.edu

Posted by Keith Rizzi