#9cloudsu

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Graduation Day!

It's time for Michael and I to say farewell to 9 Clouds U. and our amazing mentors at both 9 Clouds and Lemonly. The summer has been a whirlwind of learning and we are certainly sad to see it end so quickly. Michael will be heading north for his senior year at South Dakota State University while I will be finishing up my last year of school at Augustana College.

A huge thanks to all the clients we worked with and our coworkers for being amazing teachers this summer! Good luck to next year's 9 Clouds U. interns! In true graduation style, we leave you with some words of wisdom alongside our "senior" portraits.  

Class of 2013

Michael - Enjoy your time working and learning with this amazing team because they are truly an energetic group of talented people. 

Sara - Let "yes" be your new favorite word and take advantage of every opportunity. 

  -Sara, 9 Clouds U. 

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All Eyes on South Dakota

Continuing the 9 Clouds U. tradition, Michael and I designed a South Dakota themed infographic. We updated the Top 10 Facebook Brands and added our own twist by tossing Twitter into the mix. Combining the two social media platforms proved to be harder in execution than we planned. Instead of letting ourselves get bogged down with overwhelming amounts of SoDak data, we put our creative powers to use and approached the Twitter data with an entirely different concept than Facebook. Instead of ranking people and places, we categorized some of the state's top "socialites" and gave them a classic yearbook makeover. 

As pending college graduates, we found the school comparisons to be one of the most relevant sections for us. Michael's Jackrabbit pride was in full swing as SDSU proved to be the most social school. 

Take a peek at our full infographic to see who edged their way to the top as South Dakota's number one Facebook brand. Will Keloland take the cake once again? Or will a cinderella story enter the race? See for yourself.

-Sara, 9 Clouds U.

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Friday Funday

Fridays at the office consist of tons of productivity, right? This morning Michael and I mixed work with play and designed a photo shoot for the Lemonly staff. Our second conference room, aka the ping pong room, was lacking character so we designed a project to add some color to the otherwise bare walls. Take a look at the behind the scenes action!

The Inspiration: Nike + Balls of Fury

 Getting the Perfect Shot

Thanks to our lovely photographer Amy T.

Happy Friday! 

-Sara, 9 Clouds U.

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Virtual Workday

If you have ever been to the 9 Clouds headquarters, you know the office space has some bragging rights. From the table tennis room to its prime location in historic downtown Sioux Falls, the 9 Clouds office has been a great home away from home this summer for Michael and I. Last week I broke our normal routine and worked virtually from the lovely lake country of northern Minnesota. 

Not too shabby of a view, eh? I put away my fishing pole and packed up some essential items to successfully work off-site. 

Virtual Workday Checklist:

My MacBook and iPhone - Go Apple!

Laptop charger - Because I always run out of juice when traveling sans charger

Headphones - Just in case a school of teenage girls park themselves next to my table

Reliable Wifi - Coffee shops are usually my bread and butter but the JiWire app came in handy when looking for access in parks and museums 

Working virtually has its advantages and drawbacks, but there are countless ways to make it work. Michael and I used several communication platforms such as Skype, Basecamp and Google Docs. Our typical humor and sarcasm were a bit harder to convey when working hundreds of miles apart, but pictures served as a pretty good replacement. 

I successfully made Michael hungry even while on the road. (above)

Michael kept me up to date on the most essential news in the office (above) "Look what just came in! It's like wearing a cloud it's so soft."

-Sara, 9 Clouds U. 

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HEATing Up

This week's 9 Clouds U. infographic is hot off the press. Michael and I teamed up with the Development League's Sioux Falls Skyforce to announce their new partnership with the NBA's Miami HEAT. This infographic stands out in comparison to our prior work through both style and content. We certainly learned a fair share about professional basketball and were able to adjust our design approach according to the sports theme. Michael used more pictures than usual to give the graphic a realistic style and added textures to keep the design cohesive with the Skyforce and HEAT brands. Take a look at the full infographic on the Skyforce website. 

- 9 Clouds U. 

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Happy (Almost) 4th of July

With the 4th of July holiday looming in the near future, the work clock moves a little slower, our eyes feel heavier, and staying on task becomes next to impossible. Combat the holiday distractions with a few tricks we have picked up in the first month on the job.

Our 5 Tips for Staying on Task 

1. Music

Whether you prefer some office friendly music like Jack Johnson or plug your headphones in to blast some Justin Timberlake, music is a great way to stimulate productivity and create a more pleasing work environment. 

2. Inspiration

Take a few minutes to explore websites that spark your interest. A few of our favorites include design sites like Behance and Dribble. For non-designers Mashable and Fast Company are sure to awaken your creativity. 

3. Sustenance

Productivity requires fuel (consisting of more than just coffee) so stop looking at lunch breaks as an option and make them a requirement. Also your co-workers will appreciate the absence of distracting stomach growling.  

4. Fresh Air

Step away from your desk and enjoy some quality time with mother nature. Whether you prefer taking a walk around the block or just opting for the stairs, fresh air and exercise are easy ways to get creative juices flowing. 

5. Pencil and Paper

When you start feeling as though your fingers are glued to the keyboard, reach for some paper and a pencil. We frequently revert back to the basics during the ideation phase of our projects in order to record our fleeting thoughts quickly. The tactility of using paper and pencil also gives us a greater sense of control rather than being at the mercy of a computer screen.

We wish you a swift and productive next 36 hours.                        Happy (Almost) 4th of July!

-9 Clouds U.

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Rise of the Bikes

Summer has finally hit Sioux Falls and bicycles are taking advantage of the prime weather. As more bike lanes appear and the 20-mile bike trail is completed, commuting and recreational bike usage is becoming more popular in Sioux Falls, which inspired us to delve a little deeper into the world of bicycles. Our new infographic Rise of the Bikes reflects the country's increasing preference to grab life by the handlebars rather than the steering wheel. The health and financial benefits are certainly enticing but diving into the world of bicycle commuting can be daunting for any novice. Part of the graphic gives an overview of the gear needed and the key hand signals to keep riders safe and comfortable on the pavement. If you are not a current bike commuter, don't be shy to join the rise! As for the avid bikers, be sure to share your wealth of knowledge and send us your tips and tricks for safe and enjoyable rides. 

-9 Clouds U.

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Where 5th Grader Meets 9 Clouds U. Intern

Hi, this is Michael! I want to share with you my ambition for design that all started in my younger years when I discovered my passion for art. I remember the first time I knew I wanted to be an artist was in the first grade. As I was drawing King Kong on a building, everyone in my class thought it was the coolest thing ever. My elementary-self wanted to draw more and so started my journey to the field of graphic design. 

I remember first seeing some of Lemon.ly's artwork a couple years ago and thinking, "Wow, if only I could make something that awesome," and here I am today at 9 Clouds U. working with the Lemon.ly crew! Everyday and project has been a blast so far. I feel that I have already grown as a designer though my first month at this internship, and I am very hopeful for the projects to come.

-Michael, 9 Clouds U. Intern