SpringBoard is now accepting applications for the summer sessions of its small business course for creative entrepreneurs. Registration for summer classes runs April 22 to May 10.

APPLY HERE

Due to increased demand, SpringBoard will be offering two summer sessions:

When: June Session I: Tuesdays, June 11 through Aug. 6; June Session II: Wednesdays, June 19 – Aug. 14
Where: ArtWorks (20 E Central Pkwy, Over-The-Rhine)
Time: 6-9 p.m
Cost: $250

SpringBoard is committed to maintaining a small class size made up of both established businesses and start-up concepts that represent a range of sectors and backgrounds. Applicants will be selected by a Review Committee consisting of the SpringBoard program administration and ArtWorks staff.

Applicants are also required to submit a business description that includes the following:

• The product or service you offer (or plan on offering)
• Your consumer, client, or target audience
• Clear description of your business (or idea) in less than eight sentences

Questions can be directed to Caitlin Behle, SpringBoard Coordinator at caitlin@artworkscincinnati.org

The founders of Hazel Brown Photography share two major characteristics: hazel and brown eyes, and a knack for telling stories through photographs. Specializing in shooting anything from weddings to documentaries, Hazel Brown Photography “seeks to honor the timeless nature of the human spirit through images.”

Contact Hazel Brown Photography at:

info@hazelbrownphotography.com

513.518.7092

Laura Elaine Photography was founded by SpringBoarder Laura Ghory. Laura’s ability to “capture timeless, emotion-filled memories through the delivery of high quality images, which can be shared and enjoyed for generations” makes her a great choice for photographing newborns, engagements and weddings, and family portraits.

Contact Laura Elaine Photography at:

laura.ghory@lauraelainephotography.com

513.307.6594

Julianna Boehm  has been photographing people and everyday life since elementary school. Capturing the elements of her youth – friends, sunsets, boys she liked – developed into an intrigue for sociology and desire to make “images that are relaxed and natural, as an honest representation of family, tradition, and the everyday.”

Contact Julianna Boehme Photography at:

http://www.juliannaboehm.com/contact/

Crystal Ridge established A Well Made Photograph to provide the world with just that: well-made photographs. Her dedication to truth in art can be seen in her work, and is articulated perfectly in her bio: “A Well Made Photograph seeks to pull images from the world as it is, not to manufacture images of a world that we think should be.”Contact A Well Made Photograph at:

Crystal.l.ridge@gmail.com

To help prepare for this season of freshness and rebirth, we’ve assembled a list of rejuvenating home décor pieces offered by our awesome collection of SpringBoard businesses! Let’s just say they’re putting the “Spring” back in SpringBoard.

It was difficult to spotlight only one piece per business, so we suggest checking out their websites for even more locally-designed awesomeness. Click through links in the titles and pictures to find more information or ways to purchase these and a number of other products from SpringBoard graduates and their businesses. Enjoy!

1. VisuaLingual Flourishing Pillows:

Our first item on the list comes from SpringBoarders Maya Drozdz and partner Michael Stout of VisuaLingual. Among the multitude of wonderfully-crafted items offered by VisuaLingual is their line of Flourishing Pillows, which seek to reinterpret the ornamentation found on the 19^th century buildings of Over-The-Rhine. Each of the three color options features a different pattern configuration screen-printed by hand in chocolate brown ink onto medium-weight Belgian linen. The bright colors and floral printing are guaranteed to give any room or couch a necessary touch of spring.

2. E13′s Birch Tables:

E13 (E-one-three) is a design workshop based in OTR, consisting of self-proclaimed explorers. Their designs embody their shared love of travel, hiking, drawing, making, eating, drinking, reading, listening, talking and learning. This made-to-order birch table is the perfect example of their interest in both natural and urban landscapes—a passion that allows them to “experience the world from multiple perspectives and at different scales.”

3. Cincinnati-Inspired Ceramic Tiles by Sara Horn Ceramics:

In keeping with the OTR aesthetic, these decorative tiles by Sara Horn Ceramics are inspired by local gardens, parks and architecture around our favorite neighborhood – Over-The-Rhine. The subtlety of the pastel hues and artfully-selected depictions of Cincinnati landmarks will not only convince your house guests that you love your city, but that you know a thing or two about decorating a room.

4. BaserMatter Star City Clocks:

These clocks, from BaserMatter, are awesome; they can literally fill you with awe. Made from a sheet of durable but flexible polypropylene plastic, the clocks are comprised of 24 easily assembled pieces. The star design also can be hung in any orientation, and will have everyone complimenting your taste for complex, but graceful design.

5. Moon Forest Studio’s plush collections: 

If your tastes are a little softer, Moon Forest Studio has several lines of decorative plush creations perfect for seasonal home décor. These needle felted mushroom fairy houses stand at just over 7”, and compliment any nature-inspired table scape, child’s room or nursery. The quality felt on each piece also makes them suitable for gentle play for children with an imagination.

6.Happy Groundhog Studios:
On a similar note, Happy Groundhog Studios is offering spring-themed plush critters, monsters, and sugar skulls. All items are hand-stitched and crafted from eco-friendly, up-cycled fabrics, and quite frankly, live up to their maker’s moniker. Happy Groundhog Studios also offers custom painted wall murals for your home or small business if you’re really looking to alter a space!

The many designers of Losantiville LTD: Design collective Losantiville is “a place where a diverse group of people share space, tools and a storefront showroom,” where designers “share creative energy as well as collaborate on larger projects.” These naturally-inspired pieces exemplify the designers’ obvious grasp of modernity, originality, function and form – and we highly recommend you peruse their site for a full list of products.

7. Dixon Branded – Hook Bar:

8. Such + Such – Maple Clocks:

9. Ampersand – Bundle Side Tables:

April guest speakers: 

• Ran Mullins, Allegori
• David Le and Bao Nguyen, owners of Pho Lang Thang and Quan Hapa

Ran Mullins of Allegori will discuss the four aspects of branding - Brand Positioning, Brand Personality, Brand Visualization, and Brand Expression – and how understanding those aspects will help your business.

David Le and Bao Nguyen, owners of Pho Lang Thang and Quan Hapa, will talk about they translate their branding, image, and messaging across their many businesses – Pho Lang Thang, Quan Hapa, Asian Food Fest, and Daspo.

This event is free to past and current SpringBoarders, and $10 for non-SpringBoard participants. Please RSVP to reserve your space

Check out the Round Table page, under the Events tab above for more information on our monthly Round Tables!

BEST OF ARTS & NIGHTLIFE

*Readers Picks*

Best Local Artist
#3: Robin Ewers (tied with Jesse Fox)

Best New Bar (Since March 2012)
#5: Pike Street Lounge (co-owned by SpringBoard graduate Katie Meyer)

*Staff Picks*

Best Hometown Hero Design Duo
VisuaLingual (owned by SpringBoard graduates Maya Drodz and Michael Stout)

Best Drunken Band Caricatures
Drunk Music Reviews (by SpringBoard graduates Caitlin Behle and John Sebastian)

BEST OF EATS

*Staff Picks*

Best Now-Above-Ground Underground Dinner Series Turned Into A Residency
Please (co-owned by SpringBoard graduate John Hogan)

BEST OF SHOPS & SERVICES

*Readers Picks*

Best New Store (Since March 2012)
#10: The Spotted Magpie (owned by SpringBoard graduate Shannan Schmitt)

*Staff Picks*

Best Resident Dog in a Shop
Atomic Number Ten (owned by SpringBoard graduate Katie Garber)

Best Creative Event Design
Margot Madison Creative (owned by SpringBoard graduate Margot Madison)

Best Dudes Making Stuff
Losantiville (includes SpringBoard graduates from Such and Such, Dixon Branded, The Launch Werks, and Ampersand)

Plus…

A few other ArtWorks projects won awards too!

Reader’s Pick: Best Local Cause
#3: ArtWorks

Best Artful Bike Racks
Queen City Art Racks

Best Gonna-Be Public Art Project
Pendleton Public Art Project

Best Fest Sideshow
Midpoint Midway (featuring the ArtWorks Box Truck Carnival)

SpringBoard graduate Katie Meyer and partner Bonnie McGinnis just celebrated a business milestone: The one year anniversary of their bar/coffee shop hybrid, Pike Street Lounge in Covington!

A year ago, Katie told Soapbox a few of her hopes for Pike Street; she wanted to “focus on creativity, community and strong social values.” They set out to establish a socially conscious business, and a year later, it is safe to say they have done just that. With a “Women’s Songwriter Night,” a bike-friendly environment, and educator-appreciation drink specials on Fridays, Pike Street has become a favorite for Covingtonians and Cincinnatians of all demographics.

To show Pike Street just how proud we are, our first Quarterly Happy Hour of the year will be held at Pike Street Lounge March 27th. All past and current Springboarders are welcome to catch up, meet fellow SpringBoarders, and enjoy a few SpringBoard-exclusive drink specials!

SpringBoard Quarterly Happy Hour
Pike Street Lounge (266 W. Pike Street, Covington, KY)
6-8 PM
RSVP here

As an independent toy designer with 16 patents, over 60 licensed toys and a reputation for creativity and entrepreneurship, Sean Mullaney embodies the SpringBoard Cincinnati mentality. SpringBoard has asked Mullaney to facilitate the March and April classes — his second session as a facilitator — and we thought a little introduction was in order:

Since age 12, Mullaney has been almost entirely self-employed, gaining his earliest “small business” experience from miscellaneous jobs ranging from cutting grass to selling hiking boots out of his car. It was not until Mullaney graduated from DAAP (’89) for Industrial Design that he began designing toys, games and products for names like Hasbro, Mattel and OXO. In 1992, Mullaney and partner Mike Hoeting went on to found Bang Zoom Design, a successful toy design company based here in the Queen City.

In 2003, Mullaney opened Toy Lab in Northside, a workshop where children and adults can exercise their creativity by designing and assembling original toys from recycled parts. Then, after a bout of travel, Mullaney returned to Cincinnati to found his current company, Quiggie Design, a think tank for toy and game design.

At Quiggie Design, Mullaney is responsible for the creative as well as the business side of the operation. Although he lacks any formal business training, he credits good mentors for his success and admits that most of his businesses were started without a business plan, or one simply scribbled on a piece of paper.

“Even though I studied the [SpringBoard] material extensively before class, there was a learning curve for me,” Mullaney confessed.

But what Mullaney may lack in formal business training, he can easily replace with experience.

Mullaney is tangible proof that business “know-how” isn’t all it takes to start or run a profitable business. Recalling the night he heard the founders of Kitchen 452 announce they had put in their notices to leave their “real jobs” in order to pursue their dreams, he noted, “that excitement and that nervous start-up energy is what SpringBoard is all about.”

We are pleased to welcome back Mr. Mullaney, and we cannot agree more with his excitement about working with what he called “the next group of wild eyed entrepreneurs who are going to help transform Cincinnati and our region.”

A panel of indie craft show organizers and craft show veterans will discuss what you need to know in order to gear up for craft show season by covering everything from the application and submission process to your final preparations for the day of the show.

The March 18 event is free to past and current SpringBoarders, and $10 for non-SpringBoard participants. Please RSVP at EventBrite to reserve your spot!

Pick up your coffee and a healthy dose of inspiration from Valerie as she discusses how thinking like a fashion designer can elevate design, improve brands and pragmatically improve business with unique tools for connecting to your WHO. She will introduce how Fashion Thinking can help you develop inspiration, harness trends and generate concepts, commercial innovation and design expression!

Classes are every second Wednesday, beginning Feb. 13, 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. And like the coffee, the workshops are free!

Click Here for Registration and Additional Information

AIGA, the professional association for design, believes designers serve a critical role as communicators, educators and innovators. AIGA sets the national agenda for the role of design in economic, social, political, cultural and creative contexts.

SpringBoard has made a few important updates to our schedule.

First, due to unforeseen circumstances, SpringBoard’s March session has been moved to Tuesday evenings from 6-9pm.

But wait! There’s good news for those applicants who still want to take the class on Wednesdays - to accommodate increased demand, we are adding a second summer session! We are now offering two June sessions so that applicants have the option to take class on either Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

June Session I: June 11 – August 6 (Tuesdays)
June Session II: June 19 – August 14 (Wednesdays)

Registration for our June sessions will be open April 22 – May 10. Applicants will be notified by May 17. More information will be available through the SpringBoard registration page.