#lemon.ly

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. 

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.

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! 

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. 

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.

We are happy to unveil a new infographic from 9 Clouds U. Sara and Michael scoured the long list of summer music festivals and narrowed it down to the elite eight. Besides from the great artists headlining this year, they were also impressed by the charity contributions and eco-friendly initiatives from many of the festivals. We would love to hear your feedback about the infographic, and if you are one of the lucky concertgoers this summer we wish you a safe trip! 

We are happy to announce the beginning of our 2013 9 Clouds U intern session! This week we welcomed Sara and Michael to the office, let's have them introduce themselves. 

 (Above: Enjoying tacos on the first day!)

Ice Breaker Q&A with the 2013 9CloudsU Interns   

Sara  Hometown: Crofton, NE ~ School: Augustana College                

Happy Thursday! My name is Sara Kohles and I will be the Project Manager intern for 9CloudsU. This summer should be an exciting adventure working with the wonderful Lemon.ly staff! 

1. What has been your most memorable Halloween costume?

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. When I was six, my parents dressed me up as a Cornhusker cheerleader. From the pom poms to the braided pigtails, I was one happy trick-or-treater!

2. Where is your go-to study spot?

Queen City Bakery in Sioux Falls has been the perfect place to fulfill my sugar and caffeine cravings during test days.

3. Are you a cat or dog type of person?

As much as I love college, I miss having pets. Counting the days until I am done with classes? More like counting down the days until I can have a dog.

4. Have you traveled recently or looking to travel anywhere in the future?

I have been lucky enough to spend some time in Japan and Ireland. This next January I am planning on traveling to India!

5. Last but not least, what is your favorite Lemon.ly infographic?

The Healthy Farm interactive infographic is my most recent favorite. It showcases the breadth of Lemon.ly’s talent by pushing the borders of traditional infographics.

  Michael  Hometown: Lennox, SD ~ School: SDSU                                    

Hi my name is Michael Jordan Mazourek and I am the new design intern at 9Clouds. I am extremely excited for this summer and what design opportunities it holds. When my friends would tell me their dreams of playing for the NBA or NFL, I dreamt about making their logos and designs for their jerseys and helmets. I love sports too, but art has always been my passion.

1. What has been your most memorable Halloween costume?

As a kid, I always had it in the back of my mind that I was preparing to someday become a pirate. I spent four consecutive Halloweens dressed with a parrot, hook, hat, beard, eye patch, and all!

2. Where is your go-to study spot?

Einsteins Bagels in the Union at SDSU for sure.

3. Are you a cat or dog type of person?

Normally I would say I have a dog preference, but within the past couple years my family has acquired a cat (she jumped out of the engine of my mom’s car). She plays fetch, rolls around on her back, and chases us around so she vaguely resembles a dog anyway.

4. Have you traveled recently or looking to travel anywhere in the future?

I am excited to head over to California in a couple weeks, but in the far future I would like to witness the beauty dispersed through Europe’s many countries!

5. Last but not least, what is your favorite Lemon.ly infographic?

That’s a tough question. If I had to pick a favorite, I would have to choose the “Prevent Your Extinction” graphic about BIM. The color scheme, texture, and illustration style all work together powerfully to create a great visual. The comparison between BIM and dinosaurs is a really awesome concept as well!