Utah's Two Leading Shops Merge to Launch Struck Nationally
MAR 14_2007New Creative Powerhouse Names Former Fallon Group Creative Director Steve Driggs Executive Creative Director
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Leading advertising agency W Communications and cutting-edge digital and design firm Struck Design have merged effective today to form STRUCK, a new creative hotshop that marries Salt Lake City’s two leading marketing agencies.The new Struck, a full-service creative resource with expertise in digital and design among other diversified services, will continue its relationships with existing clients (including Sweet’s Candy, Utah Office of Tourism, XanGo) and agency partners (including Goodby, Fallon, Toy NY, Arnold and Strawberry Frog) and others. The new Struck Web site, www.struckcreative.com, will also launch today.
As part of the same overhaul, creative star Steve Driggs has joined Struck as partner and executive creative director. Driggs joins from Fallon Worldwide in Minneapolis, where as group creative director he created the award winning Citi Identity Theft commercials and oversaw the Citi's “Live richly� campaign. He also created campaigns for United Airlines, BMW, Sports Illustrated, Nordstrom and Bahamas Tourism.
STRUCK’s newly appointed executive team will be comprised of leadership from the two merged companies:
- Jason Bangerter, President and CEO
- Steve Driggs, Executive Creative Director
- Ryan Goodwin, Executive Design Director
“The yin-and-yang marriage at Struck between the top-rate traditional marketing work at W and the innovative design work at Struck Design is a real-life example of how agencies in the future will blend the best of both worlds to create a nimbler, smarter, hyper-creative shop that is better equipped to meet the changing needs of clients and partners,� said Driggs.
Jason Bangerter has worked as a design director on the client side, in numerous design studios and as an art director in an ad agency. After more than a decade of helping companies like Novell, TKO Advertising and Enrich realize their vision, Bangerter decided to get into the game for himself. In 2003, he and partner Ryan Goodwin officially opened the doors of Struck, leading it into the black from day one. Within two years, Bangerter’s entrepreneurial approach quickly earned Struck the title of “Fastest Growing Design Firm in Utah.� As President and cofounder, he now leads the entire operation in the constant pursuit of progression and excellence. He holds a BFA in graphic design and currently resides with his wife and two daughters in Sandy, Utah.
“The economy in Salt Lake City is blazing. It's time that a creative shop kept up with that pace. We aim to be that shop,� said Bangerter.
Ryan Goodwin is Executive Design Director and co-founder of Struck. After graduating from BYU with a BFA in graphic design, he began his business take-over. With a background in both print and interactive, he holds a unique ability to successfully direct the highest caliber teams in both disciplines. He has been responsible for overseeing the entire visual brands for numerous companies, helping them to grow and compete on an international level. Goodwin’s work has attracted accolades from the most significant publishers and organizations in both design and interactive industries including: CA, Print, ID, Step, and the AIGA. He has served on the local chapter board of the AIGA.
“There is power in great design,� said Goodwin. “Great design can become part of our culture. It can become something people seek out. Something they talk about. There is also power in advertising to engage and break through the clutter. Struck's mission is to always keep the best ideas and the best design together. When that happens, something legendary is possible.�
STRUCK partners have also endorsed the new agency. “Steve has proven himself to be one of the best art directors in the country,� said Ari Merkin, founding partner and creative director at Toy NY, and former Chief Creative Officer at Fallon NY. “He's well respected in the creative community and just so happens to be one of the nicest, most sincere people you'll meet. I think its time to pay attention to the work coming out of Salt Lake City.�