Hop to a Different Beat
Interactive Strategy, Website Design & Photography
THE NEED: Emerging hip hop artist, Azizi Major, needed an innovative and engaging online mechanism to launch and sell his debut album and gain attention. The challenge was to create something that stood out from the clutter in a saturated urban music scene.
THE RESULT: Thom and his team developed an interactive Website experience that engaged visitors and invited them to linger. Users could listen to the entire album, while on the site and were able to purchase digital versions from a variety of online resellers.
Each screen provided a uniquely photographed and animated scene that represents each song. In fact, the “Let’s Get It” image was runner-up for the iStock Design of the Year award for it’s extensive compositing of custom stills with stock photography.
Mapping New Territory for a Classic Game
Strategic Creative Consultation, Conceptualization & Evangelism
THE NEED: Geocaching is a high-tech adventure game with a stash of 2 million hidden containers all around in the world. Thom was commissioned to address the complex UI and UX issues they were facing, as well as create an updated game experience for a new kind of player.
THE RESULT: Working closely with the executive and senior management team, Thom helped identify the fundamentals for the much needed expansion of the game which targets the next generation of their audience. Focusing on holistic experience design, Thom set the direction of a new mobile app and its overarching game experience. He also helped to shift the organization’s growth mindset through internal evangelism with the creative and development teams.
Mass (Data) Appeal
UX Strategy & UI Design
THE NEED: Travel software giant, TRX, created a cost analysis tool for small to mid-sized businesses. Thom was assigned to guide the user experience strategy and user interface design.
THE RESULT: Working with a talented set of business analysts, statistics experts, and a handful of innovative ASP/Flex/.Net developers, Thom focused the online application’s UX around filtering massive amounts of data in a matter of seconds. The UI design is easy, beautiful and touch-friendly, ready for tablet use, which inspired interface adjustments for lateral products.
Zoom Zoom
Poster Photography & Design
Move your mouse over image
THE NEED: Panther Racing was seeking high-impact and engaging marketing shots of JR Hildebrand, their star driver. One of the client’s desires was to deliver a movie poster featuring JR to his fans.
THE RESULT: Shooting on location at the Sonoma Raceway, Thom, along with his top-notch photography team, shot, edited, laid out and delivered a stunning movie-poster sized design.
“Panther was open to the ideas we brought to the table”, states Thom. “It’s amazing what emerges from the power of creative collaboration when you join up with smart clients and march toward a common goal.”
Presenting in Style
Presentation Strategy, Design & Photography
THE NEED: Jamarie is in the business of helping her clients make memorable first impressions. So, when speaking to a variety of large audiences and clients, she requires a presentation template that delivers a visually-rich statement.
THE RESULT: After sketching out ideas and setting a brand direction, a photo session was scheduled to capture Jamarie. Each image was strategically shot so that she can equally deliver a message to her audience and clients, while her presence remains top of mind.
The imagery flows seamlessly with the animation on each slide. The focus and attention to detail in all aspects of the deliverables, as well as Jamarie’s speaking style, helps her to win over audiences, gain clients and expand her following.
Dream Like a Kid Again
Book Cover Design & Layout
THE NEED: An up-and-coming author needed a cover design and layout for a new series of books about a young boy who lives in his dreams.
THE RESULT: Children’s book writer, Mary Gilmartin, crafted a heart-filled story for boys ages seven and up. After reading her book, the words awoken Thom’s inner child and inspired him to create an image that captured the essence of the tale.
Thom combined his photography with additional imagery to create a final design that stands out on a bookstore shelf and attracts the target market. “I bought the book because of it’s cover,” stated a happy mother of two boys. “Now, my older son can’t put it down.”
Expanding the Client’s Horizons
Marketing Photography & Retouching
THE NEED: Arry Yu, of Arry Designs, created a simple, yet innovative method for an extendable table and seating area. She needed imagery for marketing materials which explain how her designs work. Arry was elated with the results she received, which gave her an edge in the competitive furniture market and helped her gain positive attention from her industry.
THE RESULT: Thom, with his photography team, decided to shoot all of her products in their environment with Arry as the primary model assigned to play multiple roles. This direction both tells the story of the Arry table in a fun way, while keeping the emphasis on the designer. Along with her awesome designs, the images helped her win the prestigious A’ Design Award & Competition in Italy.
Adding flair into how the table works.
Making a Mark
Identity & Brand Design
Thom has designed the identity for many brands over the past two decades.
Pro Bono for a Clever PSA
Interactive Microsite & Photography
THE NEED: Did you know lung cancer is the number two killer in the United States? This shocking statistic needed a serious awareness campaign with a twist that would grab viewer’s attention. Thom teamed with top industry creatives to create an online presence which emulates the top hit club song (at that time), Hotel Room Service by Pitbull.
THE RESULT: The goal was to create a one-page microsite to raise awareness about lung cancer. The marketing geniuses at Marketzero created the Dr. Lung Love character and overarching idea, the talented Raygun shot the music video, and Thom and his team were responsible for the photography, Website design and interactive development.
1,000 Words
Photography & Retouching
From corporate to hip hop, Thom and his team provide a variety of commercial photography styles to suit the needs of all of his clients.
About Thom Milkovic ( TM )
Thom builds meaningful relationships between brands and their customers. Whether it’s for digital products or traditional media, he masterfully blends the right touchpoints into engaging integrated experiences that elevate a company’s reputation and growth.
Coming from a lineage of inventors, teachers, photographers and writers, Thom’s DNA is programmed to transform fresh, innovative ideas into practical results, wrapped in a blanket of emotional storytelling.
For two decades, Thom has guided creative groups and development teams, as well as worked hands-on with all types of design, development and photography challenges, consistently bringing one fundamental philosophical approach into all his results… every little detail communicates a critical piece of the overarching story.
Thom has helped a variety of startups pitch their presence, as well as grow many recognizable brands, such as:
Thom is also the author of The 5 Powers of Branding.
“If you work with Thom, you’ll find him to be a careful listener, an amazing translator, and an expert creative with an eye to closing the sale. He’ll expand the thinking about your own ideas and add value to them.”
- Mike Wittenstein, Founder of Storyminers
“Thom has actively and constructively participated in the dialogue that has helped us to define our path forward and his visual designs have enabled us to communicate that path to our entire company.”
- Bryan Roth, Co-Founder of Geocaching
