Those who count themselves fans of AMC's hit show Mad Men will no doubt remember how the third season ends: Disgruntled and disillusioned with their new corporate reality, the principle protagonists fire themselves, only to resurface in the next frame unloading their bare essentials in a cramped hotel room that is to become the temporary headquarters of a new advertising firm.
While not nearly as dramatic or contentious, Megan Keogh and Elise Weeks were marching into their own unknown future when they left their agency jobs in 2006. After dabbling in individual pursuits as freelancers, the two then reconnected to launch a graphic design studio, Pixels & Pulp.
At first, neither Keogh nor Weeks both Rhode Island natives who studied graphic design in college knew exactly what to expect. Now, nearly three years later, both can safely say theirs was the right move at the right time.
It was more a fear of the unknown than anything, says Weeks. But at the time neither of us had children, and I didn't have a mortgage. From my perspective I had the feeling that, if I didn't bite the bullet and take the chance now, I might not ever take it.
Bite the bullet they did. In 2008, Pixels & Pulp was officially launched to specialize in branding, Web design and print materials. But the duo placed those clients with environmental and social responsibility concerns at the top of their list.
As for the alliterative name? It's simple really: Pixels are Weeks' specialty, a purview that includes everything from Web design to e-marketing and interactive design.
Pulp, meanwhile, is Keogh's biggest strength, and encompasses design for all things print-based, be it corporate materials, signage, packaging, or even wedding invitations.
We both work remotely from our homes, but it's never caused us a problem, said Keogh of her and Weeks' unconventional work dynamic. We try to have combined work days every once in a while, but for the most part we've found that our different strengths make the arrangement easier than you'd think.
Indeed, the unique approach is actually one of the duo's strength: because they're able to work independently and in the context of cutting-edge technologies, they're inherently more efficient and nimble than many of their larger, office-bound competitors.
For proof, one need look no further than Pixels & Pulp's client list, which includes businesses ranging in size from Unitil, the state utility company, to local non-profits and small business owners.
But what really makes Pixels & Pulp stand out from other design studios is their commitment to sustainable practices and approaches. Whether it's searching out the best Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper, finding printers local to the client who use vegetable-based inks and chemical-free finishing processes, or contracting with solar-powered web developers green is always given the highest priority, all while staying squarely within the client's budget.
Five or ten years ago, it would've been a lot harder to offer these green alternatives and still have it be affordable, said Weeks. Now, companies are remiss if they're not using recycled paper or at least experimenting with greener printing methods.
Far from simply filling a growing market demand, Weeks and Keogh have taken their environmental convictions into more activist arenas. Connecting for Change, a spinoff of the grass roots Bioneers conference, is one of the team's premier marketing campaigns each year.
Working with the Marion Institute-the organization that hosts Connecting for Change-is always one of the highlights of the year, said Weeks of the partnership. Not just because of the work we get to do, but also for the experience and opportunity to hear great speakers talk about issues that are important to us as an environmentally conscious company.
What's more, shortly after opening their virtual doors, Pixels & Pulp was one of the first organizations to join the Green Alliance, the Portsmouth-based green business union which certifies and promotes sustainability minded businesses throughout the region.
In fact, Pixels & Pulp designed the entirety of the Green Alliance's website, thereby helping foster the identity and brand of an organization that is now nearly 100 businesses strong.
It can't be overstated how huge it was to have Megan and Elise design our website, exclaimed Sarah Brown, founder and Director of the Green Alliance. At this point, I couldn't even imagine a GA without the look and feel that Pixels & Pulp has helped us pinpoint.
To say they're talented would be an understatement.
Still, they aren't letting it go to their head. If anything, they're only looking ahead.
What we like about wearing all the hats is that we have control over what we do and how we do it, said Keogh. But even if we end up growing, we want to make sure we do so in a way that lets us maintain the personal relationships we have with our clients. Because at the end of the day, this is what matters most and produces the best results.
To learn more about Pixels & Pulp, visit www.pixelsandpulp.com
For more information on the Green Alliance, go to www.greenalliance.biz
Current Issue - May 2024