Play, LLC

I was just thinking about how much of our physical environment reflects our creative growth. When in college, my work was often inspired by nature. Nature reflected my most exciting experiences, from working on an island camp in Florida, where we fished all day and built our own boats, to spending two summers surrounded by mountains and buffalo, working in Yellowstone National Park. Fast forward 10 years, I was interviewing at a large Atlanta ad agency. Seeing my work across print, digital and video with brands ranging from Cadillac to Coca-Cola, the hiring manager said to me, "your portfolio reflects a sense of fashion in almost everything you do." So why the change? I had lived and worked in NY for close to five years. Being surrounded by masses of people, buildings, patterns everywhere you looked, smells and sites unexpected... not curated, but instead bold and pushy. And maybe fashion, I don't know. One thing is for sure, experiences had changed my style of design and sensibility. I've been thinking about it lately, not sure why. Having taught part time at Portfolio Center and Miami Ad School, students have asked where they should work after graduating. I don't know, but I'd definitely consider some place new and different. It's worth the hassle. Photo below is just a snap shot I took last fall. Showcases an average observation while walking the streets. Note the patterns, colors, art, copy and more. -Brett Player, Owner + Creative Director at Play

This weekend, we faced a challenge—our client needed 25+ interview rooms inside a large ballroom. Pipe and drape was the best solution for cost and logistics, but it lacked personality. That’s where Play came in. We turned a functional setup into a branded experience by designing 4' corrugated cubes with bold numbering, incorporating city road maps from the client’s office locations for a unique visual touch. With a tight turnaround, our partners at Parallax made it happen—because great design is about solving problems *and* elevating experiences. Beyond the cubes, we handled event branding from signage and banners to light boxes, app development, and more. But those cubes? That’s what we’ll remember. #EventDesign #BrandingMatters #CreativeSolutions #PlayCreates

?? Want to Grow Your Business? Digital Marketing is the Key! ?? The right digital marketing strategy can make or break your business. Want to reach more customers, boost sales, and stay ahead of the competition? Here’s why hiring a pro can take you to the next level! ???? Read more: https://lnkd.in/gZKuK4xK

If your too busy to be kind then you’re TOO BUSY. — You always hear how competitive the #CPG industry is… ESPECIALLY the #rapidrehydration #sportsdrink category. ??”You gotta move fast!” ?? “Fight to stand out!” And ?? “Adapt or die!” But I don’t think any industry or catagory or priority is an excuse to be unkind. I’ve had to catch myself… ?? Being short in an email ????♀?Rushing through a conversation Or ?? being disengaged IMO, If your too busy to be kind then you’re too busy. ?? Happy Thirsty Thursday! ??

Press Play on Success! Your brand isn’t a one-hit wonder—it needs a solid strategy to stay in the spotlight. Whether you're launching something new or giving your business a much-needed refresh, research and brand development are the *main characters* in your success story. At Play, we don’t just guess—we Research, Analyze, and Strategize to make sure your brand hits the right notes. From understanding your audience to refining your messaging, we set the stage for long-term growth. Ready to play to win? Let’s build a brand that stands out, not one that blends in. ??? #PressPlayOnSuccess #BrandStrategy #PlayToWin

Lucky to have my great friend, Mike Marshall in my life. I chose to picture us here together rather than the image of the post he sent me late yesterday (link below). Mike and I attended undergraduate together, grad school together, and then sat side by side at a NY agency together. It's a toss up, design or soccer that we shared a greater passion for... playing pick-up ball at FSU to playing on a league at Chelsea Piers. Between this and the many pints we shared... both being a big fan of Guinness. What Mike sent me late yesterday, I had not seen before. It was John Cleese talking to a room about Creativity. How this passed by me, I'll never know because it's gold. It's possible I appreciate it more now because I'm a 20 year industry vet and have a pretty good understanding of how and when creative thoughts permeate your brain. Well... Cleese nails it in his unique way. Did I mention "play" is mentioned time and time again. Sure... a bonus. Well, if you have a bit of time, this is highly recommended by both Mike and myself. Lots of good insight from a true creative genius. John Cleese on Creativity: https://lnkd.in/e3pVf8uh

You know what... it was fun to be engaged again with advertising. For whatever reason I had zero excitement to watch the Super Bowl ads. Probably because I had heard they were focused on AI, or I've been bored with mediocre ads based on the media buy rather than the content. But in the end, I became more and more interested in the ads coming on. Less football and more advertising please. Sure, maybe b/c the game was a blowout. But for me, it brought me back to a time where Creativity mattered and was celebrated. That was the goal for these ads, be creative, try to break through and be talked about the next day. And I've heard a lot about it today. Some not liking the ads at all, another liking the more simple, film like ads, and the most searched ad on Google being, well, Seal as a seal. Something for everybody. For me... it was the creativity. People actually tried. That was refreshing.

Superman’s Best Friend Joins the Puppy Bowl! ??♂??? Get ready for the ultimate showdown between Team Ruff and Team Fluff—this year’s **Puppy Bowl XXI** is going *super*! James Gunn teases his DC Universe reboot, introduces Krypto the Superdog, and unveils a heroic new award. Plus, more partners than ever are helping rescue pups find their forever homes. Don’t miss the *paw-some* action! ???? Puppy Bowl XXI airs on Super Bowl Sunday (??: Courtesy Warner Bros. Discovery) Read more: https://bit.ly/4aUIdTV

How do you know if you’re letting your fears rule your life? Your life gets smaller, more predictable, and well… boring. When you make decisions based on what you’re afraid could go wrong, you get caught in the cycle of never trying anything new. The fear of failure, fear of being embarrassed, fear of public speaking, fear of heights, fear of disappointing those we love, are all real fears. Instead, think of what could go right. Imagine the lives you could change, the problems you could solve, the dreams you could make a reality. It takes courage. Courage is being afraid and doing it anyway- it’s not the absence of fear. The people you admire the most have all the same fears, they just do it anyway and that’s what makes magic. The world deserves (and needs) your unique talents, your wisdom… your very own personal brand of magic. Sure, you could fail. But you could also learn something new, experience something new, or become a fabulous success… you’ll never know unless you try. ???#Failure?#Entrepreneur?#MakeYourOwnMagic

Thank you Honey Hilliard and Tiffany Futch for repping Play at FSU Museum's Roaming Art & Wine Tour. Looked like a ton of fun surrounded by friends, art and dance. Glad to see another council member, friend, and sponsor, Cricket Mannheimer toting her big art palette and wine bottle. Play, LLC is proud to support College of Fine Arts at Florida State University for this event and more!