Open Pixel Brings Animation to the Stand Out Truck®

Holyoke, Mass. - It seems appropriate that the animated marketing agency Open Pixel would use a mobile billboard to promote their brand awareness campaign.

It’s both the first marketing campaign for Open Pixel and the first time a business has used animation on the Stand Out Truck®’s panels.

“We’re super grateful for Stand Out Truck®, to have this ability to get our name out there,” said Open Pixel Co-Founder Kathryn Taccone. “Our goal was to stand out and the truck did a great job of helping us do that.”

Open Pixel co-founders Kathryn Taccone and Will Colón (Stephanie Craig Photography)

The women-owned business creates animated digital content for national and local clients, and is hoping to build awareness with Boston agencies.

“We’re at a point now where we’re ready to grow, expand and test out new things,” Taccone said.

The targeted direction for the campaign was created with with Stand Out Truck® owner Mychal Connolly.

“Mychal helped us analyze a strategic plan,” Taccone said. “He did a good job of helping us understand how to keep it simple, to be short and sweet with the messaging.” 

Moving Medium 

Open Pixel content is used in areas like social media marketing, internal training, external messaging and websites.  

Co-founder Will Colón notes that businesses now recognize the need to compete in the digital space in a multitude of ways that haven’t always been top of mind.

“It’s folding into the fabric of our society,” he said. “Businesses are sometimes left in the dust.”

Colón came from an animation studio that began to focus efforts on tools for animators, so he – along with Taccone and Karen Webb – co-founded Open Pixel. Colón explained that animation is a medium like any other art, with many elements involved in its design. This resulting visual content and storytelling is something that Open Pixel can provide to elevate a client’s marketing programs.

Part of working with Open Pixel is to help understand when animation make sense and when another medium or live action might be preferable.

“We serve as the creators of animation itself, but we also serve as thought leaders for the best way to utilize animation for your business.” Taccone said. “We try to make sure we’re conscious of that for every business that comes through the door.”

Bringing it Home

The company founders all have educational ties to Western Massachusetts, so their goal is to build creative opportunities in the area. Recent graduates often don’t have many ways to pursue the field without leaving the region, or specifically California where most jobs can be found.

“We want to be able to support the local creative economy in Western Massachusetts and New England as a whole,” Taccone said. “(Students) want to be able to explore animation and the industry, but feel they have limited options to do so.”

Open Pixel is a fully-remote business with clients across the country and internationally, though their goal is to help those businesses who don’t always have the ability to keep up in terms of stylistic talent, creativity and speed.

Businesses may have a single individual on staff to create digital animation content, but that limits what can be done versus a studio. Even relying on apps and templates won’t provide the same professionalism that comes from using Open Pixel. Custom animation offers a higher quality and a uniqueness that can’t come from something others use.  

“It’s never going to be made with love,” Taccone said.

Visit openpixelstudios.com to learn how their animation can support business needs.

Want some help with your business’ strategic plan? Contact the Stand Out Truck® and find a way to make your own business STANDOUT. Visit standouttruck.com/contact