The Ozomatli Logo Design: From College Project to Cultural Phenomenon
A Story of Culture, Community, and Creative Beginnings As a student at Art Center College of Design back in 1995, I found myself surrounded by talented people, all focused on their own work. In a place like Art Center, socializing didn’t come easily, especially across different majors. With a few friends, Rafael Esquer, Pablo Aguilar, […]
We Turned Our Website Into A Playlist For Cannes
Introduction:Websites are boring—even the good ones. So for #Cannes, we did something no agency (that we know of) has done before. We turned our website into a playlist and named it Hot URL Summer. Because if people aren’t reading, let’s give them something they want to listen to. Challenge:Getting noticed during Cannes is no small […]
No Compromise Gaming: Cyber Week
Explore Cast Iron LA’s Cyber Week campaign for NCG, featuring 25 engaging short-form videos that captivated gamers on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. See the results!
Giving Up: How To Let Go Of Hustle Culture
I give up. All the time. And I’m ok with it. Am I a quitter? Well, I hate labels, but if you must, yeah, I am. If I find myself on the wrong path, I’ll turn around. And I’m totally ok with giving up. Because you know who else gave up? Reed Hastings. He co-founded a […]
In a creative relationship? 9 tips to keep your partner happy.
Valentine’s Day is a great time to take stock of all relationships in your life, especially the creative ones. Why? Well because like romantic relationships, creative ones can thrive only when there are agreed-upon boundaries, mutual respect, open conversation, and trust. It’s also a good time to connect with your creative partner, outside of the […]
The Art of Letting Go: Embracing Creativity in 2024
Here’s the thing about creativity, the faster you chase it, the faster it tries to escape. In some ways, it’s like your schoolyard crush. You know, the one who never loved you back, until you lost interest and stopped chasing. That’s when she showed some interest with a compliment on your Garanimals. Creativity is pretty […]
The Decline Of Brand Storytelling
In the early days of digital branding, stories were everything. Thanks to emerging platforms like YouTube and the newfound luxury of generous bandwidth, storytellers had a sprawling canvas to work upon. We would gleefully peer into the lives of their customers, magnifying their daily routines, challenges, and dreams. We showcased these tales in short-and-long form […]
Forging A New Ad Agency: The Meaning Behind Cast Iron LA
Cast Iron LA? Bit of an odd name for a marketing agency, right? Do you sell, like, kitchen equipment? Oh wait, do you specialize in like restaurant ads? Yep, we get that all the time. And quite honestly, we love to tell the story as our name has meaning for us. And just like anything […]
It’s Time To End The End Card
Ah, the ubiquitous end card. That five-second relic slapped without question in nearly every commercial. The mere existence is a nod to marketing’s past life, grounded in the dusty idea that without it, people will be scratching their heads about where to go next. Yet, today’s customer journey is more fragmented and less predictable than […]
Website Redesign: Empowering East West Bank’s Growth
Introduction: Cast Iron LA partnered with East West Bank, an international financial institution, on a year-long, multi-phase website redesign project that included multiple stakeholder and business units. We conducted a brand session and out of it found our focus by enhancing user experience, increasing lead capture efficiency, and promoting a culturally relevant brand image. By […]