It was late 2008 and we had just gotten the final sign-off on our 72nd issue of Hog Tales, an important piece of business, to say the least. We’d been producing the official magazine of Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) since 1996. Out of the blue, our client, editor Matt King, says: “Well, I guess now is as good a time as any to give you the news … you just completed your last issue of the magazine.”
Stunned silence … knot in stomach … gulp … what does that mean!?
Then he continues, with a slight smile: “Harley-Davidson has decided to eliminate Hog Tales and Enthusiast magazines and create a new one that will replace both. And we want you to bring this new one to life.” The range of emotions and thoughts running through my mind during this nine-second conversation hopefully won’t be a frequent occurrence. It can’t be good for the heart.
Leap ahead to February 2010 as we put to bed our 5th issue of the all-new HOG magazine. At just over a year into the project, the magazine has been very well received by Harley Owners Group members (its primary readership), Harley riders at large, stakeholders within the Motor Company, and, most recently, HOW magazine.
» Read the HOW Magazine article (PDF).
We are quite proud of the work we do on HOG and to have our peers in the design industry – such as the editors of HOW, perhaps the premier design journal in the business – give us some props confirms that we do, in fact, have something to be proud of.
Of course, it’s our relationship with H.O.G. and Harley-Davidson – which began some 16 years ago – that we’re most proud of. Great clients inspire great work, and we have one of the best in Harley-Davidson.
Even when they try to induce a heart attack before handing us choice new projects.
