TBTB and Rhubarb Media  – Season 2023

TBTB and Rhubarb Media – Season 2023

The strategy was to develop a robust marketing plan that features high-visibility and unique approaches targeting and engaging new people while inspiring and making proud the Theatre By the Bay (TBTB) patrons.

We always embrace the TBTB season with an expectancy and creative energy.  The arts have always been what motivates and moves us to make a difference and challenge ourselves to be better.

This was year two of the Simcoe County Theatre Festival, which we branded and marketed in 2022. As we did last year, we branded the 6 local shows accepted into the festival and created all promotional materials including, printed and interactive digital programs, posters, flyers, digital billboards, stickers, etc.  We designed the 20th Anniversary Film promo. We also took on the challenge of directing and producing the photography for the two season shows, Bobbie and Iceman.

Rhubarb conceived the idea of the 2 solo images for the promotion of “Bobbie” and “Iceman.”  We were on set directing the photoshoot,(lighting, fog, positioning, poses, etc.) and spent over 45 hours editing the images. This included sourcing props like the block of ice for IceMan and seeking authentic trophies/medals for Bobbie.

The intended outcome for all work was to grab your attention, create curiosity and make you want to see the shows.  The poses, the props, and the black and white photos with the subtle colour highlights engaged the audience as they saw the full banner posters and then encountered the giant full window posters at 5-Point Theatre. (11 feet tall and 4 feet wide.)  The outcome was the promotion that seemed like it should be part of a professional Toronto or Stratford show!

The OUTCOME

Develop a robust marketing plan that features high-visibility and unique approaches.

Success! Rhubarb created high-visibility art with months of coverage. The images and designs created, drew people in and helped solidify not only each show as a dramatic story you just can’t miss, but also allowed it to express a common theme, of “Breaking Barriers.”

Generate exceptional marketing materials.

Success! Rhubarb Media created high-quality, professional materials that artists and audiences were excited to engage with. Their images and overall creative designs raised the calibre of our marketing to unseen levels in Barrie!

Increase engagement.

Success! 2023 saw the return of audiences to pre-pandemic levels, and they saw sold-out shows, and a 15% increase in newsletter and social media signups due to the engaging materials. For their newsletter, signage and social media, it was using their teams’ efforts plus high-quality images and creative designs by Rhubarb that brought it all together!

Client Statements

Rhubarb Rhebrand

Rhubarb Rhebrand

Rhubarb Rhebrands

 

After 16 years we decided it was time to rebrand our mark.

When I first embarked on this journey in 2006 as an entrepreneur having to provide for my family in a moment of necessity, I launched a design company and our design focus offering was mostly logos.  Branding was where we started.  I eventually picked up some skills, gear and staff and started doing video production, photography, websites, marketing plans, etc.  We did it all. But over the years we’ve slowly re-focused our offerings, letting go of some of the other “media” forms and got back to our roots – naming and branding.  We also seemed to be getting back to our origin story with the birth of the name Rhubarb.

When we were looking for a name for the company that wasn’t “Ballantyne Design”, I had certain criteria in mind.
We wanted it to be one word.

We wanted it to evoke emotion and story, which, at the time I didn’t understand, are the pillars of any great brand.  
(I never went to school for this…Shhh)

We wanted it to be simple and memorable.

We wanted it to be personal, to mean something to me and my family.

I had pages of sample names I tested out but nothing rose to the surface.  One day while browsing in a kitchenware shop downtown Barrie, we came across a plain white set of dishes and we loved them.  We turned over the plate and saw the name of the company… Rhubarb. 🙂

It jumped out at me and Sandra said, “What about calling our company ‘Rhubarb’”.  I agreed.  I tested the name out with my bank teller, random strangers, friends and family.  Since I didn’t want to taint anyone’s response as to what the name was for, I asked a very specific question.

What comes to mind when you hear the word, “rhubarb?”

The response?
Some started to salivate on the spot, eyes went big and they gushed, “I love, love, love rhubarb!” and they rattle off their faves… “Rhubarb pie, strawberry rhubarb jam, rhubarb crisp, cobbler, raw rhubarb with a glass of sugar to dip it in, rhubarb on ice cream, fritters, squares, rhubread, coffee cake, chutney, tea and so on.  My grandma, my mom, my auntie made this and that…I remember the taste just thinking of it… sour, sweet, stringy, smooth, yum!”

Others were very quick and direct.

“Terrible stuff!  Gross. Too sour. Hate it.”

Some referenced golf! “I lost my ball in the rhubarb!”

Others mentioned, baseball. A “rhubarb” is a fight between coaches and umpires.

In theatre, it’s a word actors say when they are pretending to speak in the background of a scene “rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb…”

It’s a verb, a noun an adjective.

It’s a fruit… no a vegetable… a stock? a plant? Bah!

We knew found something special.  One word that evoked so much emotion, story and memory, tied to moments in time with family and friends, celebrations, events, etc.  Even the negative response was emotional and strong.  Memories of torture of having to not upset grandma and eat the entire piece of disgusting rhubarb pie!  Rhubarb seems to have created a soul tattoo on so many!

The rhubarb on top of it all (cherries are over-rated) is that Sandra makes jams and jellies and we thought we could make Strawberry Rhubarb jam and give it to our clients.

We found our word.  We found our name.  And the design followed soon after.

Fast forward: It was on my mind for a few years to consider a re-boot on the logo, but it seems the pandemic and a return to the basics of our work created enough momentum to finally take the leap.  Although we do this with client work, I didn’t do a bunch of research, poll our clients or do any competitive analysis.  As with much of my work and creative expressions, it just felt right.  To be honest, the new brand mark was going to be a one-off logo for a new sports sponsorship; something fun and recognizable from a distance, but as we started working with it, I sort of fell in love with it.

The new mark is a nod to three things we see as classic Rhubarb style:

Simplicity. As Steve Jobs said, “Simple can be harder than complex.” But it’s always the simple marks that last.

Logotypes.  If you look through our archive of brands, you will notice a strong bent on font-based branding.

Space. I love white space.  And the rm displays this in the spacing of the letters and the single space in the corner of the “m” that leaves room for something… it offers a window to new things and is the space for the “r” to snap into…. or did it break free? 🙂 I liked the artistic tension of this simple space element.

I also wanted to enhance a few things we thought the original logo was missing. I wanted something to symbolize our namesake.  So the red “r” is the rhubarb. 🙂

I wanted the RM to be recognizable and for the word Rhubarb to stand out on its own since most people call us “Rhubarb.” We were batting around the idea of losing “media” in the brand name use but decided against it for now.

It does have a slightly retro vibe which adds nostalgic energy I tend to lean towards, as well as a sporty boldness which symbolizes how I feel coming out of these last 16 years and especially these past few years of business and life wonkiness. We’re ready to play! We’re ready to have fun!

With any rebrand, there’ll be lovers and haters.  We get that, but whether you like, love, hate or are ambiguous, what doesn’t change is our overall brand philosophy to tell great stories through creative design, never compromise on quality and care for our clients. We care deeply about our clients because we know that the effects of our work go beyond the project. It impacts your company’s well-being and we want you to be able to live well and be stress-free. That’s why we’re always looking for new and better ways to treat our clients right.

We hope you like the new look, but more so we hope this re-vibe of the logo signifies a new chapter in our own story and we look forward to helping you tell yours.

Rhubarb (Media)
Your story. Well told.

Graphic Designer Position

Seeking New Artists for Lead Graphic Design Position

 The Graphic Designer is the team leader for all in-house graphic design execution, including pieces for publications, packaging, website, trade shows, and special events. 

The Details…

  • Oversee and manage the approval process for all graphic design pieces
  • Design for various types of projects including branding and identity, POS, print, websites, under the guidance of the Creative Director
  • Schedule, manage and prioritize graphic design work
  • Maintain and continuously improve brand guidelines
  • Create graphic design pieces as required for publications, packaging, website, web ads, trade shows, and special events, ensuring the expression of the “Rhubarb Look”
  • Must live in the Barrie area

 

Desired Skills and Experience Post-secondary degree or diploma in Graphic Design

  • Minimum of 5 years of work experience in a Graphic Design department or studio or life expereince
  • Proficiency in Adobe Suite with some skills in HTML and CSS
  • Experience directing photography work, especially styling and creative direction
  • Experience working within brand guidelines
  • Experience supervising junior graphic designers would be considered an asset
  • Must be extremely well organized, work well under pressure and be a strong problem solver
  • Must have good communication skills and be comfortable interacting directly with the client, if needed
  • Self-motivated with good initiative
  • Experience meeting multiple deadlines
  • Have a good sense of humour

Apply below

 

Designer Position

  • Max. file size: 30 MB.

Merry Christmas from Rhubarb

Merry Christmas from Rhubarb

As we look back on the start of a new decade, none of us could have predicted there would be so many changes in store. In fact, we are witnessing a time in history unlike any other. And although it has been challenging in many ways, it has been encouraging to see the resilience, creativity, and care for one another that so many people have shown.

While we at Rhubarb Media have not been unaffected by these changes, we are so grateful for the many people in our lives, both professionally and personally, who have reached out to encourage us and to allow us to help you continue to run your businesses and ministries. We feel privileged to have been able to help you rise above the obstacles of 2020 and see you press forward to keep doing what you love.

We are sad to not have our annual creative team Christmas card this year.  Yes, COVID hit us hard and so we await the rebuilding of the team for the biggest and best card for 2021.

More than ever, we wish you and your families peace, rest and joy this season, and a prosperous and blessed 2021.

Chad & Sandra

Rhubarb Media Lands the Plane on New Site For LSRA

Rhubarb Media Lands the Plane on New Site For LSRA

Taking an airport to new heights

Background

The Lake Simcoe Regional Airport is one of the newest and best positioned regional airport facilities in Canada. Located in one of the fastest growing regions of Ontario directly serving a population base of over 450,000, the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport serves the County of Simcoe including the municipalities of Barrie and the Township of Oro-Medonte. The Airport offers these users a convenient location in close proximity to both the Greater Toronto Area as well as pristine Central Ontario Cottage Country. With its modern airport facilities and 6,001 ft runway, the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport is able to serve a wide variety of aircraft ranging from small recreational and flight training aircraft to larger corporate, regional and commercial aircraft.

How we helped:

In 2007 we met with Mike Drumm from Lake Simcoe Regional Airport to begin one of our long-standing client relationships. We created a new modern logo and custom CMS website built in Adobe Flash. (We did say 2007!) In 2012 we re-launched a new design, fresh content and refocused on new opportunities at the airport. And in 2019, redeveloped it again to allow for more content management abilities.  They love the new CMS, built on one of our favourite platforms,Word Press and DIVI.

 

See the website

Things we worked on:

  • Branding
  • Web
  • Drupal
  • Design
The Lake Simcoe Regional Airport through its parent, the City of Barrie, undertook to completely re-brand the regional airport’s image with a new corporate logo and web site as the core projects. The diverse nature and fast pace of the aviation business demanded a product that would define the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport as contender in the global market – Rhubarb Media was able to provide such a product. Not only did the creative and dynamic team at Rhubarb deliver a professional image of the airport, but were able to do so with the initial parameters evolving into a larger product. I would highly recommend the services of this group.
Mike Drumm

General Manager, Lake Simcoe Regional Airport

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