Thinking Design — Ian Collins, Simple

Charles Nelson, Andy Nelson’s great, great, great grandfather (we may be missing a great) was born on July 4, 1835. Around the time of the Civil War, Charles Nelson started up what was then and now known as Nelson's Green Brier Distillery. A few generations passed, and a few years back, Andy and his brother brought back the family tradition, re-opening and re-establishing the distillery as a Nashville staple with international distribution. On this episode we talk to Andy about the history of the brand and how they put their history in focus with every sip, neat of course.

On this episode, we’re chatting with Lauren Egge, the founder and brains behind Noka Supply Company. Lauren is a very bright mind with an engineering background and together, we discuss her drive to create an everyday medical product that is as sexy as it is smart. We laugh, we cry (we don’t cry) and we’ll enjoy a local Wit Beer with Lauren as we discuss the drive to create Noka as well as why brand and messaging is equally as important as the product.

Fat Bottom Brewing established itself early on during the craft beer renaissance in Nashville. Since then, they’ve grown exponentially, moving to a new, much larger location and expanding their product line and distribution within the state of Tennessee and throughout the Southeast. Zach Easterwood, a good friend, client, and all around GGTK, sat down with us to chat about how the brewery has evolved and grown over the years, obstacles they’ve faced along the way, and most importantly, how doubling down on quality and placing more importance on their brand image has been integral to their success both now, and as they continue to grow.

Five Points Pizza has been slinging and serving the best (pizza pies) in Nashville since 2010. They’ve established local, regional, and national recognition as one of the best pizza parlors around, and on this episode we talk to Cody, one of the guys who’s helped make the magic happen for years. Now the Bar Manager of Five Point’s newest West Nashville location, we discuss the growth of the company, and the importance of building and maintaining the kind of business culture that feels like a family.

On this episode of Finely Crafted, we’re speaking with Brian Hickman, Creative Director of Education and all-around awesome hair stylist with Local Honey. He talks to us about how the brand evolved from a retail shop to a hair salon, and how currently having a hybrid of the two are working out wonderfully. That, and we discuss the importance of ongoing education at any age and how positive messaging is a key factor to making a brand stand out.

Black 13 Tattoo Parlor has become a landmark destination for world travelers seeking some of the best tattoo artists in a myriad of different styles. Black 13 was a leader in shifting the perception (particularly in the Bible Belt) that tattooing is a true artform and a brand is much bigger than the actual, final product. On this episode, we speak to Black 13 owner, Doy Gardner about how he got started, the trials therin, and how a truly great brand is built on the backs of excellent and intentional people.

I Saw the Sign is more than a catchy Ace of Base song. On this episode of Finely Crafted, we’re chatting with Megan and Gabi from I Saw the Sign, a Nashville-based creative agency that specializes in traditional hand-painted signage and design. Megan and Gabi (aka Stinky) have been tag-teaming some of the most impressive and beautiful painted sign work in town, and on this episode, we talk to them about how they got started, the turning point of when a trade became a career, and where that career in craftsmanship is taking them into the future.

Finely Crafted has returned after nearly a three year hiatus. Where have we been? Where are we going this season? Why should you care? We’ll try to answer all of these very important questions and introduce you to what’s in store for Season 3. It’s good to be back, and we’re glad you’re here with us.

What did you think? This season we took a deep dive into the branding process. We put more emphasis on how great brands are built and given you some specific actions to grow your own brand. How'd we do? Granted, we weren't able to land R. Kelly for an interview. But in this episode, we rehash some of the highlights and best lessons from Season 2.

How much thought does your logo deserve? Simple has become their own category of online banking, far outmatching their competitors in brand consistency. Every customer interaction reaches their high bar of excellence. But how has this start-up sustained that standard through growth? Today we're interviewing Ian Collins, the creative director at Simple. You'll hear how an emphasis on thoughtful design has differentiated the company, and the crazy three-hour deadline that kickstarted it all.