RUSTY HILL + CAPTAIN D's
February 1, 2023
Photographer/Director Rusty Hill
is starting his 11th year shooting for Captain D's. It has been a wonderful partnership, strengthened by the fact that it doesn't feel like work when you thoroughly enjoy the people you're working with.
Captain D's has carried Rusty from agency to agency over the years. Their loyalty to us runs deep, as does ours with them. We’ve watched this brand evolve over the years, from point of sale and direct mail to shooting more assets for social channels by capturing stop motion and gifs.
Their fun and creative shot list pairs well with Rusty’s creativity and professional eye. Rusty understands the nuances and expectations for their brand and delivers on that while providing a good balance between work and fun that his clients can enjoy.
🪄 Bringing Our Brand to Life with Freshly Cooked Creative 🪄 When we set out to celebrate our 36-year journey - and communicate who we are today - we partnered with Freshly Cooked Creative to help us tell that story visually and memorably. The result is a stunning animated piece that begins with our sapling logo and grows into a vibrant, flourishing tree. It’s more than a beautiful metaphor. The animation reflects our evolution: deep roots in the industry, decades-long relationships, and a future full of growth and possibility. Every frame is intentional, designed to reflect our expanding capabilities and continued relevance in the creative space. But Freshly Cooked didn’t stop at animation. They delivered a complete brand package built to meet today’s marketing demands. We now have: Four optimized formats of the animation for use across digital platforms Custom-designed web icons, Zoom backgrounds, and event signage Branded social media assets and sticker graphics for both digital and in-person impact Thanks to Freshly Cooked Creative , we now have a dynamic, versatile visual system that honors our past while positioning us for what’s next. Curious how Freshly Cooked can help bring your next campaign, pitch, or brand refresh to life? Check out their latest work and reach out to us if you want to see more!
✨ Why Custom Illustration Matter ✨ Why icons deserve a second look! Icons are often treated like a checkbox - something to grab from a stock library or pull from an existing UI kit. But when they’re built intentionally, they become one of the most quietly powerful tools in your creative arsenal. Custom icons do more than reinforce a brand. They clarify communication. They guide users. They bring visual consistency to even the most complex projects - across digital, print, packaging, environments, and campaigns. Illustrator James Nelson approaches icon work with that kind of purpose. His sets are clean, strategic, and built to flex—whether they’re solving for user experience, packaging hierarchies, internal comms, or large-scale marketing systems.
✨ Lincoln Durham - 3D Character Design + Animation - Rolling Loud Music Festival ✨ Lincoln Durham created this dynamic sizzle reel showcasing some of the 2D and 3D animations he developed for the Rolling Loud Music Festival across various cities, in collaboration with Zellus. These animations were primarily used for social media promotions and as NFTs to further engage festival fans. The original artwork, provided by an undisclosed artist, served as still illustrations that Lincoln brought to life by adding motion and sound. For the 3D scenes, he sculpted and rigged characters inspired by the 2D illustrations, using them as a foundation to build out a story line based on direction from Zellus. Lincoln’s ability to seamlessly blend 2D and 3D animation, along with his expertise in motion and sound design, brings energy and depth to every project. His work for Rolling Loud is just one example of how he transforms static illustrations into immersive, high-impact visuals. Looking to elevate your next project with dynamic animation? Consider Lincoln for your upcoming creative needs!