The Midway!

Texas State Fair Midway

The first poster was supposed to emphasize the uniqueness and rare fun of eating "fair foods" most especially the unique fried specialties. The second poster design should center on the marvelous "MIDWAY". The carnival atmosphere of the Midway is energized and very exciting, especially at night. All of the bright lights, colors, and colorful characters make the Midway what it is. How can you show the Midway to be a fun and exciting place to be?

The poster should reflect the fun of the Midway and also communicate why being at the TEXAS STATE FAIR Midway is particularly special.

http://www.bigtex.com/sft/Entertainment/Attractions.asp

Next piece due: State Fair Foods poster design

Please look at this poster design:
http://www.nysfair.org/uploads/images/artwork/NYSF_poster2011_1.jpg

This poster was designed to promote the NY State Fair. One aspect of their poster is the "restaurant row", where "FRIED IS AN OFFICIAL FOOD GROUP". I like that tag line, and so I think that I would like to have you all include that somewhere on your poster design.

Also, look at THESE: http://www.kystatefair.org/geninfo/posters.aspx

What do you think of the branding that this state fair has done? Can you figure out a way to use your ideas in a similarly successful way?

Discussion to occur during class...

State Fair of Texas project deadlines: Part one.

Rebrand Big Tex.
What would you do to make Big Tex more "updated" in image? We will turn in sketches and also new Big Tex logos to compliment the new image of Big Tex. The due date for this update is Friday Oct. 21 for the PM class, and Monday, October 24 for the PM class.

Bye, bye old Big Tex!

State Fair Rebranding Project Questionaire Results for Wednesday, October 5.

Today we will go over the results of the survey that the majority of you did in class. I will discuss these results with you and then we will discuss how to go about the re-branding of the State Fair.

The Richards Group: portfolio

We are going to have an intense session on what it means to successfully re-brand a product or an event. Buckle your seatbelt! It's college lecture day.

Questionnaire about the State Fair

To start, would you all individually please complete this survey for me?

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/X6MLBFD

To finish providing the information that I need, please answer the following questions with your partner.

What kinds of innovations could you think of to bring to the State Fair experience that would bring more people of your own demographic?

How could the State Fair experience be used to promote the museums that are within Fair Park?

Write these answers down to the best of your ability and turn them in to my desk...

That is all for today on this project!

Let's Get Started!

Note: For this project, you will work in the same teams that you are in for the food styling project. This will be a long term project with a presentation at the end, so the work will be coming at you for the next few weeks. Today we are going to crack open the egg on this project!


The Topic: The Great State Fair of Texas.

A few basic State Fair of Texas FACTS:

1. SFT is the largest State Fair in the country and the largest annual exposition in North America.
2. The SFT is a 24-day exposition (no other U.S. state fair runs longer).
3. Fair Park, site of the annual state fair since 1886, is a National Historic Landmark. The park boasts the largest collection of art deco exposition buildings in the world.
4. SFT is the only state fair to feature a major automobile show as an annual attraction. (More than 400 new cars and trucks are debuted by manufacturers. First presented in 1904, the show is a top SFT visitor attraction.)
5. SFT is the only state fair to host a legendary college football rivalry as an annual event. (The Texas vs. Oklahoma game has been played during the SFT every year since 1929.)
6. SFT offers patrons a chance to ride one of the tallest Ferris wheels in North America (212-ft. Texas Star).
7. SFT's estimated annual economic impact of the D/FW economy is $350 million.
8. SFT is a private, non-profit corporation that receives no funding from federal, state or local government. SFT not only pays its own way, but also contributes significant dollars to: Renovation, improvements and preservation of city-owned Fair Park, Underwriting for museum programs and community events, College scholarships for inner city youth and students pursuing agricultural careers
9. Big Tex, symbol of the SFT, is the world's tallest talking cowboy figure and a widely-recognized Texas icon. He is 52 feet tall and has been a fixture at the SFT since 1952.
10. SFT attracts a staggering amount of national & local media coverage year after year (USA Today, Newsweek, CNN, "ESPN Gameday," "CBS Evening News").
11. SFT attracts a heavily urban audience by virtue of its location in the heart of a major metropolitan area. Approximately 80% of SFT visitors come from a 50-mile radius of the D/FW market.

The official State Fair website:

http://www.bigtex.com/sft/



Big Tex has been around for a long time and has become a Texas icon.



The current logo for

the State Fair of Texas:

Creative Arts Contests at the State Fair: ART

FAIR FOOD: In recent years the fair has emphasized its reputation as an event featuring unique, albeit high-fat foods. The fair has been known for years for Fletcher's brand corny dogs. Recent years have seen the introduction of new unusual deep-[fried items, including deep-fried Oreo cookies; deep-fried Twinkies; deep-fried pork ribs; fried cheesecake; deep-fried butter; deep-fried peanut butter, jelly, and banana sandwiches; and most recently a batter-based fried Coke. Other foods have included chicken fried bacon and fried banana splits. This year's winner for new fried delicacy? Fried bubble gum! Other foods making their 2011 debut are: 

• Deep Fried Biscuits and Gravy are the comfort food du jour
• Texas Steak Cone, a fajita relative
• Heavenly Deep Fried Brownie speaks for itself. 
• Fried Naked Tamales – seriously, we run a family-friendly Fair – are not so naughty as they are deep fried and delicious.
• Deep Fried Southern Hospitality, a gentile combination of pork, collard greens and hot water cornbread, the likes of which are only available this side of the Mason-Dixon.
• Double Fried Chicken Breast Taco with its cream gravy or jalapeno ranch dressing, se habla “Viva el taco!”
• Praline Sweet Potato Poppers gingerly coax the taste buds to beg for more.
• Fernie’s Deep Fried Whole Lotta Chocolatta is a triple threat fried chocolate sandwich, with a side of chocolate-drizzled russet potato chips and a glass of chocolate wine (for the grown ups in the crowd age 21 and older).
• Fried Pecan Caramel Candy is a dental dream and a Fairgoer’s fantasy.

The constant essential question in branding...

What is more important? Tradition or updating image? 

Using the Virginia Tech Hokies as an example, let's discuss the need for looking at old traditions if they are "outmoded". When you talk with your partner, you will need to ask: what parts of the state fair tradition are important to keep and which could be updated to make the State Fair more fun and relevant to a larger audience than those who come for the Texas - OU game (read link: about considerations for change) and the competitions associated with the fair, auto show, etc.

Personal Enrichment Challenge

To read more information about branding strategies:

http://www.brandingstrategyinsider.com/