Traction

10/27/2025

Looking forward to welcoming the crawlers Wednesday!

The long-awaited Lansing Studio Crawl is finally here this week! Get ready to explore 10 incredible local agencies, meet creative pros, and get inspired!🎨

Agency Visits: 1–5pm
Afterparty at Midtown Brewing: 5–7pm

✨Pick up your punch card at your first agency stop (each agency has them)
Complete your punch card to get a free drink ticket at the after-party!
🍻Celebrate your crawl! Join us at Midtown Brewing to unwind, connect, and toast to Lansing’s creative community, open to everyone, but must be 21+ to drink!

07/14/2025

We’ve been getting a few questions about today’s news regarding our neighbor (City Rescue Mission of Lansing) moving—and whether it means we sold our buildings. We didn’t. And in fact, we’re excited for the future of our block and for what this move means for the Mission and the people it serves.

We’ve been neighbors since 1998 and have witnessed firsthand the growing need for their services. Their current space limits what they can offer—but this move changes that. It means more room, more resources, and more support for men, women, and children in need.

Gillespie Group looks to redevelopment the City Rescue Mission buildings on Michigan Avenue across from the Lugnuts stadium.

06/26/2025

Camron was featured on the Symplicity Conversations podcast, joining Catherine Ripley for an inspiring conversation about building brands with purpose that make a difference.

Grateful for the opportunity to share our perspective! If you're passionate about purpose-driven work, this episode is well worth the listen.

You can find it on your favorite platform --> https://symplicityconversations.transistor.fm/

In today's saturated market, standing out requires more than just a unique product or service—it demands a purpose-driven brand. In this episode with Camron Gnass of Traction Brands, we talk strategies that help brands resonate deeply with their audiences by aligning business goals with meaningful missions.

Whether you're a marketing professional, brand strategist, or business leader, this conversation offers valuable perspectives to elevate your brand's impact.

Check out all of our episodes, however you watch or listen, here: https://hubs.la/Q03qnRTH0

Check out the pod! https://hubs.la/Q03qnSRv0

02/18/2025

Back-to-back 'BEST IN SHOW' at the 2025 ADDYs®!

This year, we took home the top honor once again, along with two Golds and three Silvers in the AAF Lansing competition (the first step toward nationals). We've lost count of how many years we've won for Lansing Symphony Orchestra & Capital City Film Festival creative—always feel lucky to work with them!

Every year, we have the privilege of collaborating with remarkable organizations, helping to shape and share their stories. Grateful for the partnerships that make this possible—here’s a look at the award-winning creative!

01/05/2025

Super proud of Traction team alum Bugsy and the incredible exposure his watchmoresunrises.com project is getting! ICYMI, CBS Sunday Morning featured him today. A few of us have had the great opportunity to get up super early and watch with him, sometimes bundled up and frozen, sometimes with our feet in the sand, but ALWAYS a great journey. So, this is your reminder to take the pledge and watch more sunrises.

10/04/2024

Every once in a while, a couple worlds collide. Then sometimes three of them do (that's officially more than a couple right?). In this project, we were able to design a limited edition label for the Mucky Duck Mustard collaboration with Stormy Kromer in celebration of Plaidurday (which started here in our studio) to bring you 'Yooper Plaid Mustard'! We asked what does Plaid taste like, and this is the result. A spicy stone ground, perfect for fall flavors. Give it a try. Snag in person at the Upper Peninsula Supply Co. in Marquette, other select retailers around the state or online from Stormy Kromer --> https://www.stormykromer.com/mucky-duck-yooper-plaid-mustard/

09/13/2024

Here’s a peek at an original painting by Irina on our team. It is the first of many pieces we've created for this 95th season of Lansing Symphony Orchestra! See you when the season kicks off October 3rd. 👀

Curious about the thought process behind our Enigma Variations design? The artist shared some insights:

“Elgar's Enigma Variations represent his friends, each one portrayed uniquely through the music. He left clues for us to interpret who each variation represents, but there's a deeper meaning too—Elgar spoke of the Enigma as a reflection of loneliness.

In the artwork, Elgar is depicted in the fourteenth and final variation. He's rendered in a darker color, symbolizing the theme of isolation. His arms embrace the figures that represent his friends, the subjects of the other thirteen variations, showing his enduring connection to them. Above him is the figure of his wife, shaded similarly but more muted, symbolizing her passing. While the other figures are bright and vibrant, her muted tones emphasize her absence, yet her presence still hovers above him.”

We love how this design captures the emotion and mystery behind Enigma Variations! What do you think? https://bit.ly/4ecJp5C

05/23/2024

For several years, we've had the honor of sponsoring this event and crafting the brand assets. Year 20 brought yet another amazing group of entrepreneurs to the stage to be celebrated from every corner of this great state. A recognition unlike anywhere else in the country, the Michigan Celebrates Small Business brings around 800 energized folks to the floor of the Breslin Center to cheer on companies doing incredible things for their employees, communities and customers!

04/19/2024

14 years in, wouldn't have it any other way!

Big thanks, bigger impact! A heartfelt thank you to our founding sponsors - Lansing Public Media Center, Traction, and the City of Lansing, Michigan. Your unwavering support has been the cornerstone of our success, bringing the community together through the power of storytelling. Cheers!

04/16/2024

We are so honored to have a recent brand & packaging identity share a spot on this coveted list with brands like Coca-Cola, Stella Artois, & OLIPOP from hero agencies across the globe. The Dieline Awards are one of the most prestigious awards for food packaging design and is the world’s most visited packaging design website. It's a well-established competition with a large international audience that specifically celebrates creative and innovative packaging across many categories! Mucky Duck Mustard is a beloved 40 year old Michigan heritage product. Winners are announced in May. Peek at the list here --> https://thedieline.com/blog/2024/4/8/short-list-2024

Strategic ideas brought to life through meaningful design. Brand strategy and activation that is brave and creative.

04/09/2024

Hear from Terrance Weinzierl - Creative Type Director in-house at Monotype on why he chose Cut & Run Brand Identity Campaign as his Judge's Choice awards at the ADDYs.

04/09/2024

Hear from Allie Geise - Senior Art Director at Whirlpool Corporation on why she chose Cut & Run Brand Identity Campaign as her Judge's Choice awards at the ADDYs.