Ron Paul Digital Billboard Series Fundraising Thread - Des Moines, Iowa

[FBappDev]

What I would do is base the overall billboard design on this. Right now the background colors don't work too well. This one is a bit simpler. Then simply put the text you want on the billboard. However I would make the text white. Red doesn't work well on blue.

This is "static" Billboard design. There are far too many words on it. The logo is WAY too small. Everything about it is "not Digital Billboard". I pull no punches.

This is a poor design all the way around. Now, it IS a Billboard, it has HEART and the effort I applaud, but the technical parameters of Digital Billboard design cannot be realized by starting with a "TECHNICALLY" poor "static" design and polishing that into something it was never intended to be, a DIGITAL BILLBOARD.

Best Practices of "DIGITAL Billboard" design are in play here, no ifs, ands or buts.

It is not what you, or I like, it is what is best for the Ron Paul brand, and the campaign. Poor Billboard design DESTROYS brand ... not on my watch,

 

[FBappDev]

Ron Paul - Digital Billboard - IOWA - Series 02 - Board 01 - v01-03_Rough-Draft 01


RP Digital Billboard - IOWA - Series 02 - Board 01 - v01-03_Rough-Draft 01 by RonPaulBillboards, on Flickr

ROUGH DRAFT

 

[IndianaPolitico]

This is "static" Billboard design. There are far too many words on it. The logo is WAY too small. Everything about it is "not Digital Billboard". I pull no punches.

This is a poor design all the way around. Now, it IS a Billboard, it has HEART and the effort I applaud, but the technical parameters of Digital Billboard design cannot be realized by starting with a "TECHNICALLY" poor "static" design and polishing that into something it was never intended to be, a DIGITAL BILLBOARD.

Best Practices of "DIGITAL Billboard" design are in play here, no ifs, ands or buts.

It is not what you, or I like, it is what is best for the Ron Paul brand, and the campaign. Poor Billboard design DESTROYS brand ... not on my watch,

If you would read what I said. I said base the PHOTO and BACKGROUND on this billboard. NOT the text!

 

[FBappDev]

Ron Paul Digital Billboard - IOWA - Series 02 - Board 01 - v01-03_Rough-Draft 03


Ron Paul Digital Billboard - IOWA - Series 02 - Board 01 - v01-03_Rough-Draft 03 by RonPaulBillboards, on Flickr

 

[FBappDev]

If you would read what I said. I said base the PHOTO and BACKGROUND on this billboard. NOT the text!

We need to let go of this board and enjoy what it has accomplished so far. It will have its time and place in the future after significant work.

The background graphic is some custom creation that would require the original file, for that layer. To create that from scratch would take me an hour or more. If I were to research the tens of thousands of Ron Paul photos online to attempt to find that background ... I mean.

An emotional attachment to any campaign product, an artist seeking to retain some type of love for any product is the destruction of this thread.

The photo, in my opinion is nice, but I would have to find that, cut that from it's background, etc ...

If I were given the original photoshop files, and layers, I could do something with this, but to suggest that I recreate this from scratch is like cutting the tendon on the back of my heel and asking me to run.

Time is short. Release, move forward. Take what we have learned from this Billboard and apply strong Best Practices of Digital Billboard design to slogans and photos which IOWANS want to see and hear.

The debate indicated the audience poll, 64%, were concerned mostly with the budget, the budget and the debt are the keys to Iowa, among other things.

This board could be remade into a "National Level" Board when the election for President is near, but for now, these Boards must literally read the minds of the Iowa Electorate, or it's a waste of money.

The photo I am using here has strong SEO value when searching for "Ron Paul".

 

[FBappDev]

Ron Paul, unlike any Presidential candidate in recent history has a very rich set of facial expressions. You can't hide this ... so ... you make the most of it by matching the facial expression to the issue.

People are ANGRY AS HELL about the debt, the budget and the economy.
So we present the proposed solution with the "warrior face" first.

As this issue matures, so does then the facial expression to something less angry or forceful, something more pleasant and presidential.

Digital Billboards are NOT one shot deals, they are stories, they are "series", they literally tell the story of the Campaign and have great cumulative media crossover value.

"PRESENT MOMENT"

 

[Len Larson]

I like the angry expression in the photo. I agree with the focus on the budget.
I don't like the use of a URL and the outline font for trillion. It's too busy and takes too long to process.
How about: First line "RON PAUL"; Second line "WE'RE BROKE"; Third line "STOP SPENDING"

ETA: You could use "RONPAUL2012" as the first line and IMHO the quickest font to scan is Arial rounded bold.

 

[FBappDev]

I like the angry expression in the photo. I agree with the focus on the budget.
I don't like the use of a URL and the outline font for trillion. It's too busy and takes too long to process.
How about: First line "RON PAUL"; Second line "WE'RE BROKE"; Third line "STOP SPENDING"

1. The use of a URL is crucial, it is a critical part of modern, political campaign design.
2. It is a big part of best practices of Digital Billboard design.
3. The URL drives people to the MoneyBOMB ... happening at this very moment at the national website, and to future MoneyBombs.
4. We want to drive people to the website for thousands of reasons.

The primary "business" of the entire billboard, the focus element is "TRILLION", so the longest amount of time available for the person who is in a moving vehicle, who is distracted ... is spent on the processing of the word "TRILLION", it is in red on a slightly ochred background, it pops HARD, it has maximum contrast and is actually extremely readable at speed and distance. It is curious looking and has great subliminal impact. It is a "symbol" as well as a word.

*** This is "Currency Outline" font, the same font that is used on Dr. Ron Paul's bestselling book.

This is the same outline we find on our currency, it is instantly processed without being read at all. It smacks of Federal Reserve, Treasury Bills, everything economic, it is has very powerful symbolism.

=================================

Type the phrase "we're broke" into google ... and then "Stop Spending"

Type the phrase "Cut the budget" into google ...

Look at both the "Web" results and the "Image" results.

Please do the same for the phrase the phrase "1 Trillion".

Now search with "Ron Paul Trillion".

Digital Billboards use "Keyword Clouds" that rank highly in search engines :

1. Debt
2. Budget
3. Deficit
4. etc ...

And I don't categorize this as an "angry" expression. It is a "forceful" expression on a Leader's face, it has a touch of questioning flavor to it is well, it exudes some level of "disbelief", which Ron Paul is becoming famous for.

If you want to see an angry expression by Ron Paul, there are plenty out there, most of which I would not want to be the recipient of, and we will use these as well when appropriate. Think "WAR", and put an expression you find to that context, and post the image link in the thread.

A HUGE part of Digital Billboard, and Billboard design for political campaigns is research and finding out what OTHER people need to hear and see.

 

[FBappDev]

If you have NOT read the Opening Post in this thread you are NOT a Digital Billboard designer and will hinder the development of this thread with almost any comment you make.

Please, READ the Opening Post before commenting.

We appreciate your pledges of support, but we cannot give lessons on our Digital Billboard designs and defend our designs to the likability of every person.

Dr. Congressman Ron Paul often finds himself in the position of giving a lesson on whatever topic he is approaching before he can ever begin to describe a solution, we don't have time for that in here, this should be obvious.

Highly technical comments, firmly grounded in good campaign media development, good present campaign knowledge and knowledge, good knowledge of not only Billboard design, but especially "Digital Billboard" design is required to make a comment.

Don't force me into a corner to defend these designs, this is NOT a thread to make arguments to explore what you do not know.

WE MUST get a Digital Billboard up at the Des Moines mall location or we will be locked out as the other candidates may book the board. In Iowa, we may be too late already. Let us turn our thoughts to New Hampsire.

Do your research on New Hampshire and know the electorate there before you make ANY posts in this thread. We are not "creating" with brainstorming here, we are PRODUCING with knowledge.

1. Research
2. Identification of critical issues for that state
3. Development of slogans, (NOT TO EXCEED 8 words!)

When developing Billboards in general you do NOT use all 8 words available to you, you only push to 8 words if the idea is so totally brilliant, so incredible that the 8th word must be used to complete the Board. The "Trillions Board" uses 5.5 to 6 words at this time, it is a ROUGH DRAFT.

Now I'm serious here folks, this is a production thread for those with knowledge of both Billboard creation for political campaigns and good research on the present moment in the campaign.

I don't want a lot of clutter talk and argument in here, I want designs posted, good technical analysis based on strong, demonstrated knowledge of the target political market.

 

[Len Larson]

Well, that's my two cents. I don't want to waste our time arguing about details. Let's just make it happen!

 

[FBappDev]

Ron Paul Digital Billboard - IOWA - Series 02 - Board 01 - v01-05_Rough-Product 01


RP Digital Billboard - IOWA - Series 02 - Board 01 - v01-05_Rough-Product 01 by RonPaulBillboards, on Flickr

ROUGH PRODUCT

1. The background is hemp paper, what the Constitution of The United States was written upon. It's the same hemp scroll paper used in the current MoneyBOMB avatars and at teaparty11.com, it's lightened a bit and will lighten a bit more on a Digital Billboard of the extremely high quality and high luminescence values that Clear Channel provides at the Des Moines, Iowa shopping mall complex.

2. Currency OUTLINE, has been changed to a solid font.

3. Borders around text have been added. "www." and ".com" have no border because they are a "system font". We see this in our browser address bar when we look up at the URL of the page we are on. "RONPAUL" has no border because it would affect current "branding" as displayed on the national site.

4. A dark green border has been added to the Billboard.

5. Dr. Paul's portrait photograph was cut from the dark background and the blur lighten tool was used in a tight radius on the edges to combat the last bit of dark pixels left in his hair, the "fringe".

6. The "mouse hand" over the signature "font-ornament" on the "A" in "Ron Paul" is a "visceral" call to click on the URL.

7. BRANDING for0 and a promotional configuration of the "Paid for:", for "revPAC" was added.

8. "Cut The Budget" was smushed to give it mass and weight and to make room for the "Paid for:" and the border around the Board.

9. Dr. Paul's photo was multi-layered as resource, Auto-Leveled, and sharpened. AL and Sharp level transparencies were adjusted to give the photo life and to assist in matching the color tones in his face with the color scheme of the Board.

10. The "Message Box", (A Billboard within a Billboard), was given a drop-shadow and bevel on the edges.

REMEMBER !

Once the Digital Billboard is posted, (in the cycle), it can be updated daily to "tweak" issues. The Board final maturity MUST, MUST be done by viewing it on a digital webcam that is attached to the Digital Billboard, of which I will have access, and Bruno and I will post photos of the Billboard actually running in the wild.

I can see then, how my design reacts to "Blue Skies", Overcast conditions, night time ... and I can see what other advertisers are running on the Board and make any adjustments to our advantage ... or to avoid conflict with the other designs.

The ENTIRE Digital Billboard paradigm from start to finish is very, very powerful.

ALL of the Digital Billboards that will be designed for ALL 50 State caucuses and primaries can be used as stock, as grist for the final Election push when Dr. Congressman Ron Paul is on the national ballot for President of The United States of America.

The knowledge we all can gain through the development of these digital Billboards for all 50 states will put us in a GREAT position to then launch the "national" campaign after the caucuses and primaries are complete.

I welcome, constructive comments based on knowledge of Digital Billboard design, the campaign and most importantly ... WHY YOU do what you do.

 

[FBappDev]

A study of New Hampshire Digital Billboard "pre-design", to understand Iowa's.

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----------------- THIS IS AN INFORMATIVE POSTING. ------------------
------------------- Please DO NOT quote this post ---------------------

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If you wish to reply to some content in this post, please, EDIT your (reply with quote)
so that only the information you wish to reply to is in the reply, (quote).
Don't blow the thread up ... but do ... blow your head up.
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Let us stay completely focused on Iowa, that is our ACTION ITEM for Digital Billboard design.

Let's get the board funded, and get it running, at least one, YESTERDAY, before the other candidates beat us to the Boards in Des Moines, Iowa and lock us out of the IOWA Digital Boards.

Placing additional Digital Billboard designs, on the SAME board, does NOT cost additional money. Once the "slot" has been booked, (the slot, the time is what we are paying for), one can submit 100's of designs, (theoretically), to Clear Channel or Lamar and all of those designs, run one after another, (one each minute for 10 seconds). So each hour, yields 60 minutes times 6 slots in each minute. 360 "Slot-Slices" per hour, total, for all advertisers on that Board. If you have 6 boards in a series, (not advised it is an over saturation of slogan copy), then each board in your 6 board series displays 10 times in a one hour period, 240 times in a 24 hour period. (Approximately).

It is suggested that a "Digital Billboard media Campaign" include not more than 4 different Boards, all created to look, and feel like one another ... with different slogans, and different portraits. Those 4 boards run in a 24 hour period in the parameters that have been discussed. A theme is created for that physical location, that target Board represents a demographic and political market analysis must be made for that specific location in order to "begin design".

Bruno and I have a firm grasp and a plan of action, Steps of Production, and account executives in holding patterns at the Digital Billboard companies ... all waiting, for money. There are heavyweight Digital Billboard designers, real pros at the top of their game ... and some of those ... support Ron Paul, we want them in here, designing boards with U.S.. and they will come. I will get them. I study them. When they get here, you will see big magic, this is my goal.

Bruno literally lives 1/2 mile from the mall in Des Moines and is the boot on the ground in Iowa for the Digital Billboard campaign there. I have a several boots on the ground in development in New Hampshire who are very knowledgeable of the New Hampshire electorate, here are some slogans they and I have been working on. I will appreciate your input on slogans specifically for New Hampshire, so ... please ... do your research, your campaign due diligence on New Hampshire is expected in order to participate in this thread with criticism, ideas and Billboard Designs.

Our ACTION ITEM is IOWA ! (We want to get a head-start on New Hampshire, FOR THE WIN, in New Hampshire!)

I want those who wish to participate in the design and construction of the Digital Billboards in this thread to just start thinking about New Hampshire, and this will assist you in processing what we are going to do with Digital Billboards in Iowa before the Caucus there, and of course after in Iowa, before the general election. So let's take a look at some of our research on New Hampshire as it relates to the Ron Paul presidential campaign.

=================================================
(Standard New Hampshire Political Slogans)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Live Free or Die - Liberty in Our Lifetime - Liberty in Your Lifetime
=================================================
INFO:
------------------------------------------------
- On a NH auto DL it says Live Free or Die 10 times
- 40% undeclared Electorate.
- socially liberal, fiscally conservative
- 80% Catholic
- 4 Term Dem Gov - (more conservative ...)
- GOP controlled Congress
- First state to leglize gay marriage.
------------------------------------------------

======================================
40% undeclared electorate (Slogan SERIES grist)
======================================

Declared for New Hampshire
A (The) New Hampshire Declaration
Declared for Ron Paul
Declared by Ron Paul
Declare for Liberty
Declare (and it's conjugations)

==========================
POTENTIAL "SLOGAN STRUCTURES"
==========================

======================================
------- www.RONPAUL2012.com --------

---------------- OPT out of WAR ---------------
------- OPT Into PAUL ------------------------

---------- OPEN for SUGGESTION --------------- (Multi-Board Series Tag Line?)
======================================

======================================
-------------- RONPAUL2012.com ---------------

---------------------- WAR ? -------------------
----------------------- or ----------------------
-------------------- RON PAUL? -----------------

--------------- DECLARE for PEACE --------------
======================================

[Ron Paul : Peace, Prosperity & President]

======================================
-------- www.RONPAUL2012.com -------

--------- Social Liberal (tarian) ------------------
--------------- Fiscal Conservative --------------

-------- Declaring for NEW HAMPSHIRE -----------
======================================

======================================
-------- www.RONPAUL2012.com -------

--------------------- LIBERTY ------------------

------------------ Too big to fail ----------------
======================================

======================================
--------- www.RONPAUL2012.com ------

-------------------- LIVE FREE ------------------
-------------------- or Obama -------------------

-------------- Declare for RON PAUL -------------
======================================


======================================
--------- www.RONPAUL2012.com ----------

----------------- RON PAUL or DIE --------------
-------------------- LIVE FREE -----------------

------------- RON PAUL R3VOLUTION ------------
======================================

======================================
---------------- RONPAUL2012.com --------------

--------------- ! DEFEATS OBAMA ! --------------

----------- Declaration for New Hamshire ---------
======================================

======================================
------------- www.RONPAUL2012.com -----------

----------------Pick your President --------------
--------------- (Not THEIR-A) Party -------------

-------------- RON PAUL for LIBERTY ------------
======================================

======================================
------------- www.RONPAUL2012.com -----------

-------------- It's OK to like Ron Paul ------------

--------------- ????????????????? ----------------

======================================

======================================
------------ www.RONPAUL2012.com ------------

------------------ DEBT SLAVE? -----------------

------------ Vote for Liberty : Ron Paul! ----------
======================================

======================================
------------- www.RONPAUL2012.com -----------

------------- Liberty YES - Taxes NOl ------------

(Pick one of the two below or make up your own)

--------- Declare Liberty - New Hampshire --------

----------------- ABOLISH the IRS ---------------

======================================

======================================
------------- www.RONPAUL2012.com -----------

---------------- TAXES are DEATH --------------

--------------- LIVE FREE : RON PAUL -----------
======================================



======================================
------------- www.RONPAUL2012.com -----------

---------- Get Real, Get Ron - Ron Paul ----------

-------------------- Ron Paul -------------------
======================================

======================================
------------ www.RONPAUL2012.com ------------

------------ Oneth by Ron, Twoeth by Paul ------

--------- Declare Liberty - New Hampshire -------
======================================

====================================================
TAXES SLOGANS - (Incorporate with "End the FED" - Abolish The IRS)
=====================================================

[Youth for Ron Paul's logo slogan is "Live Free"]

"Taxes are a disease" "Liberty is the cure"

"Taxes Kill Liberties" "Live with Ron Paul"

"Taxes Kill Liberty" - Live Ron Paul

"State's Rights" "Right for New Hampshire"

"Live Free, Live Ron Paul"

"Live Free, Elect Ron Paul"

==========================
MORE MISC.
==========================

"First in Liberty - First with Ron Paul" (appeal to their "we're the first primary ...")

"First with Ron Paul" = "tag line for Board Series"

"Live Free, Live Ron Paul"
"Live Free and Live Ron Paul"
"Live Free with Ron Paul"
"Live Free Elect Ron Paul"

"Vaccinate the IRS with a President Paul"

"Liberty Yes - Taxes No - Ron Paul Yes"
"Taxes Kill Liberty" "Live with Ron Paul"
"Taxes Kill Liberty" "END the FED"
"Taxes are a disease" "Dr. Ron Paul Lives for Liberty"

=============================================================
KICKER BOARD: (Board that raps up a series of Boards with common "Tag Lines")
=============================================================

"Champion of Liberty"
"Champion of the Constitution"
"First in Constitution - First with Ron Paul"

"Amos Tuck rEVOLution"
"Ron Paul rEVOLution"

(Route 128 to Prosperity)
"Route Ron Paul for the Presidency"

"Taxes are Death, Live with Ron Paul"

======================================
MORE MISC. (from facebook New Hampshire groups)
======================================

I like that Restore Our Nation contains the letters of his first name. Have seen that on some bumper stickers and shirts.

================================================
GOOD Design concepts for transfer to DIGITAL BILLBOARDS
================================================

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[FBappDev]

Ron Paul on Leno - Cut Spending by $1 Trillion dollars

At the 5:00 mark, just a hair before it, Ron Paul says he wants to cut "Spending" by $1 Trillion dollars in the first year.

This "Trillion Dollar Digital Billboard" can easily be a "national level" Billboard and have a place in all of the state's caucus/primary's as well. It's a huge issue. In Iowa it is the primary concern of the majority of the electorate, both Dem, Independent AND GOP.

And he said this on the LENO show.



===========================================================

 

[Keith and stuff]

(Standard New Hampshire Political Slogans)

Since there may be some things that I disagree with in here and I may be partially responsible for what in my opinion is your misunderstanding of them, I'll comment on them.

--------------------------------------------------------------
Live Free or Die - Liberty in Our Lifetime - Liberty in Your Lifetime
=================================================

The last two sayings are only common with FSP folks and libertarians that are friends with FSP folks. I don't think it is a sizable section of the electorate, especially in NH where one of the largest, if not the largest percentage of the population votes.

INFO:
------------------------------------------------
- 80% Catholic
- First state to leglize gay marriage.
------------------------------------------------

NH isn't 80% Catholic, not even close.
NH was the first state where the legislature legalized gay government marriage. However, courts in other states did the same thing before the NH legislature did it in NH.

--------- Social Liberal (tarian) ------------------
--------------- Fiscal Conservative --------------

Mentioning war or saying socially liberal may be a turn off to some voters in the NH GOP Primary. I think it is best when saying things like that in NH, to only do it to target undeclared voters. Targeting it to the general NH GOP Primary population (NH is a semi-closed primary and it is too late for Democrats to change parties to vote in it) may cost Ron Paul more voters than it gains him.

--------- Declare Liberty - New Hampshire --------

----------------- ABOLISH the IRS ---------------

Ron Paul isn't about abolishing the IRS. Since this would scare some voters and is something Ron Paul would not even try to do in his first 4 years, I think it's a very bad issue to push.

================================================== ==
TAXES SLOGANS - (Incorporate with "End the FED" - Abolish The IRS)
================================================== ===

Again, since Ron Paul doesn't call for Ending the Fed or Abolish the IRS, I think it is unnecessary and confusing to voters to mention things like this.

Thank you again for all of your efforts!

 

[FBappDev]

Thank you again for all of your efforts!

Thank YOU Keith for your extended conversation with me in Ron Paul chat and this further clarification on matters Ron Paul, New Hampshire and slogan creation for Digital Bilboards.

Could you please in the coming weeks, pull what you think is best, that could be a strong "candidate" for slogan material as we move forward with New Hampshire slogan creation, "pre-design" ... and of course fund the Iowa Boards and finish their final production.

 

[trey4sports]

i like it.

I think if we hammer home the message of "cut 1 trillion dollars" we can't go wrong. Im afraid if we venture too far off into more stances of Ron's that are less known we could actually hurt the campaigns ability to micro-target groups and present a certain message to them.

The fact that Ron's plan is to cut 1T and that is really the cornerstone of his run for office so that should be what we really push hard. While something like "socially liberal, fiscally conservative" sounds great and it's probably true it might offend some of the groups we want to vote for ron. what about folks who are single issue pro life voters? What about homeschooler groups?

Just my thoughts. Great work.

 

[Bruno]

Great suggestions above. Now any other designers want to submit theirs? Any more pledges of donations? We are in for $500, and another pledge above of $100 This can happen on Wednesday!

 

[notanks52]

Make this happen! I'm brand new to Ron Paul and I will pledge $100

 

[FBappDev]

Aw now, you all got da tears fillin' up the corners of my eyes with the Christmas and the Ron Paul spirit, I'm so proud of all of you for WHY you do what you do.

If you own physical SILVER this is of great interest to you. Digital and "electronic" equipment we know contains silver in a form that cannot be cost effectively removed, smelted and reused.

Digital Billboards use a lot of silver in their manufacture. Some "pounds" of silver are used in each Digital Billboard that is constructed.

When the Ron Paul grassroots campaign uses Digital Billboards through Lamar or Clear Channel or any vendor we can provide an increase in the value of their DigiBoard units by displaying Digital Billboards that meet the guidelines of "Best Practices" for Digital Billboard development listed in the Opening Post of this thread.

When Clear Channel and Lamar Digital Billboards display good, great and fantastic Digital Billboard designs, their product units look good and they can then promote and feature that strong design. The more inline with Best Practices of Digital Billboard design we submit to these companies for display the more amenable they will be to providing the Ron Paul grassroots campaign with a lower pricing structure.

The more Digital Billboards that Lamar and Clear Channel commission for construction, (currently numbering in the 1,000's of units online), the more Silver is used that can never be recovered. Thus, the supply of available, physical silver above ground, already mined ... is reduced. This puts pressure on the price of Silver, sustains it and pushes it upward.

The person that wrote the "Best Practices" of Digital Billboard design, listed in the Opening Post of this thread is one of the finest Digital Billboard designers in the world. He make dat BIG, BIG money yeah. We will follow his guidelines and impress upon him that the Ron Paul grassroots campaign respects and supports his hard won knowledge and his work to improve the Digital Billboard paradigm, and Ron Paul will win the election for President of The United States of America in 2012 through all of our efforts within every member of our team.

 

[Eric21ND]

Isn't the Jordan Creek mall busier? Not to mention its located in West Des Moines in an area with higher property values and assuming more republican voters.