Creativity in Bloom
BY EMMA GEARY - APRIL 18, 2023
Today on the blog, we’re giving you a sneak peek into one of our favorite passion projects - the Spring Collective newspaper! Here at LAB, we love a good print piece — we can play with design, layouts, and writing techniques in fresh new ways. Not only is a newspaper our design playground, but it’s an incredible way to further elevate and amplify our Collective Members and businesses across the Twin Cities.
Take a sneak peek at our editors’ letter, which is not only a note to our community, but to Minnesota as a whole. Grab the full newspaper for yourself at The Collective Spring Market, or one of the many local businesses that will be distributing it all season long!
Creativity in Bloom
The first warm, sunny Saturday in Minneapolis is a day unlike any other. It might be the most hard-earned day of the entire year, especially after one of the snowiest winters on record. Gone are the hours spent digging ourselves out of snowdrifts and dodging potholes - it’s time for afternoons on local patios and making small talk with strangers. Who knew our neighbors were still there under all that snow? It’s time for golden-hour walks around the lakes and the scent of lilacs floating through our windows. Dare we say, it’s spring in Minnesota!
As we button up this newspaper in early April, it’s still snowing. But in a true Minnesotan spirit, that won’t keep us from connecting with our community, come rain, shine, sleet, or snow! To celebrate the beauty of a Minnesota spring, our cover illustration is a bouquet of local wildflowers to brighten your day by our very own designer and illustrator, Erica Gloeckler.
The Twin Cities is home to one of the most vibrant creative communities in the country, and as we continue our work of supporting small businesses through creative services, community events, The Collective, and beyond, we know that passion and hard work are crucial to bringing dreams to life. The pursuit to follow our passions and create connections is precisely why we think this is such a special community - this secret ingredient is key in helping new ideas to thrive.
Supporting Small
Running a small business can be a thrilling and terrifying endeavor. It’s like wearing your passion on your sleeve and going along for the ride. While shopping small has long been a popular phrase, it’s easy to forget about the people behind the products, especially when we’re bombarded with an algorithm of content and ads on our phones every day.
When we launched The Collective in 2016, it was as a 1-day interactive pop-up market for local artists and small businesses. We wanted to provide local creatives a chance to meet customers they wouldn’t otherwise find online, and every single year, the event amazed us with the outpouring of growth and support. Post-pandemic in 2023, we’ve expanded The Collective to not only include TWO markets in both the spring and fall, but an entire year of digital and print content to spread the word about these amazing businesses, along with a handful of ways to connect & support throughout the year - we are only a just getting started, and it’s incredible how many connections and collaborations have already occurred!
Spring Into Passion
We’ve found that while The Collective Market is a valuable sales opportunity for artists, it is equally as valuable for attendees to see the craft, expertise, and love that goes into every single handmade product.
Collective Member, Erin Duininck, of Golden Rule Gallery said it perfectly earlier this year on Instagram, writing, “I know times are precarious and strange, but I think it’s okay to remind you that if you *are* shopping, it’s always worth considering whether you can shop small or shop local or pay a couple dollars extra, knowing it’s going directly to women artists, makers, and entrepreneurs who are following their truest calling.”
At LAB, our pillars have always been “create, connect, collaborate.” Being a part of the local community is the driving force behind every project we create, brand we design, and relationship we make. If we aren’t amplifying the creators we love, we aren’t living up to our full potential as a creative agency. So, shake off those winter blues, stretch toward the treetops, and embrace another Minnesota spring. Thank you for joining us in our mission to create, collaborate, and connect with our incredible community. We truly wouldn’t be here without YOU!
Happy spring from LAB!
Psst! Want to snag our cover illustration for yourself? Get an 8x10 print and so much more in our Super Supporter Tote - on sale here!
Join us at Glass House on April 21st and 22nd to support small businesses and shop locally. Click here for more details on our Collective Spring Market.
Emma Geary
Emma is a writer living in Minneapolis. When she's not checking out a new brewery with friends or blasting Taylor Swift in her car, you can find her dreaming up ideas as the Brand + Editorial Manager at LAB.
