We are proud to present to you our rebrand / refresh of the Soul Train Awards! We’d like to share some of our process in executing what has turned out to be our favorite project of the year!

Thunderdog was recently hired to completely re-design The Soul Train brand for the upcoming 2009 Soul Train Awards show airing on Viacom’s new Television network Centric this Sunday, November 29 at 9:00 PM ET/PT. This was a huge honor considering the history of the the Soul Train show. The show is a huge part of American culture and re-designing it comes with a lot of weight and high expectations. Never shy of a challenge though, we jumped right in.

Luckily, VH1 (who art directed the project) gave us a lot of freedom in creating the new logo, new train and over all look and feel of the project. The scope of the project was expansive and included: New text logo, new train, lock-ups of train and logo, ad layouts for print and outdoor campaigns, art direction and keyframes for the 20 second animated open (animated by Interspectacular), subway campaigns and design of the award statue itself.

Below, you’ll see the art that was used for the campaign and some of the behind the scenes work in progress that lead up to the final vision. Enjoy!

These are the two final lock-ups that were chosen. We tried to keep as much of the original funk in the text design as possible while making it sharp and modern. The font and rendering treatment was created by Tristan Eaton.

These are a few versions of the logo from the first round of development. All fonts in the main logos are custom made.

As we moved on to lockups with the logo, train and smoke, we realized how important the role of the smoke would be in the entire campaign. The treatment and character of the smoke would become a main feature and compositional element in all ads and animations.

We ultimately went with a black background across the board, setting the scene in space with more primary colors in the smoke. The drop shadow effect on the smoke helped to invoke a slight retro throwback.

Now at full throttle in the campaign, all the below comps were created for the Brooklyn Atlantic Avenue Terminal MTA take over. At this point, all art created for outdoor advertising was turned over to Interspectacular to simultaneously begin the animation process.

Seriously, at this point we felt like we were being spoiled. Working on The Soul Train was great enough, but we were thrilled to hear about this particular take over. Centric bought ad space through out the entire Atlantic Avenue station, taking over every single ad in the terminal. This is one of Brooklyn’s largest train junctions with the MTA converging with the LIRR, so literally millions of people are getting exposed to the campaign every day. We took a little field trip with our amazing rep from Bernstein & Andriulli Pamela Esposito. Check out the pics…

This train wrap was not actually in Brooklyn. This is in fact a MARTA train which is exclusive to the Atlanta, Georgia area. The 2009 Soul Train Awards were taped in Atlanta on November 3rd. Represent Hotlanta!

Tonight Kidrobot is opening it’s newest exhibition of customized Munny toys (designed by Thunderdog founder Tristan Eaton of course). The line up of artists is really impressive and so is the work. Check out the entry below from Thunderdog. Designed and executed by Tristan and Matt Eaton.

Also this month, Kidrobot opens the doors of their first London store! Go check it out if you’re lucky enough to be in the UK!!!

Check out the details here.

Earlier this year, The Ace Hotel was kind enough to offer up 2 rooms of it’s brand new Manhattan location to Tristan to fully customize with permanent murals. Their doors are now open and taking reservations! Tristan’s rooms are 304 & 306.

The Ace Hotel has a rich history of collaborations with such artists as Kaws, Shepard Fairey, Evan Hecox and more in all of their 4 locations across the US.

Pics courtesy of Freshness Mag.

Most of you might not of heard of Norwood. It’s a members only Arts Club on 14th street in Manhattan, reserved for New Yorkers apparently too cool for The Soho House. We’d heard rumors. Enough rumors to make us curious when we were asked to completely decorate the 4 story club for their Superhero Halloween party! Of course we obliged and set out to channel Jack Kirby in an all out explosion of comic art kitsch and glory! Check out the results…

Big thanks to Alan Lin & James Killough for making it happen!

Detroit art pioneer Jerry Vile has successfully created the worlds’ largest erotic art exhibition ever and is finally taking it to the home of porn and filth - Hollywood! We’re super excited about this for a number of reasons: Not only was Tristan born in Hollywood and has work in the show, but Jerry Vile single handedly started Tristan’s illustration career when he hired him to illustrate for Detroit’s subversive and satirical Orbit magazine way back in 1996! Thanks Jerry!!!

It’s gonna be a great show - check out the line up! And did we mention that the whole show is in a Motel? Well it is. How dirty.

Featuring over 100 artists including:

Aaron Hawkes, Alex Aviles, Alva Bernadine (UK), Annie Sprinkle, April Segedi, Ashley (UK), Astrid Kuver (DE), Barry Noland, Billy Ogawa, Billy Pacak, Brad Miller, Brian Viveros, Bruce La Bruce, Bryan Barnes, BT Charles, Bunny Yeager, Carlos Batts, Carolyn Weltman, Chad Michael Ward, Charly B, Charles Green, Chas Ray Krider, Chris Maher, Christine Kessler, Christopher Wright, Clive Barker, Colln Christian, Collin Rae, Corey Godfrey, Cory Marc, Damon Hill, Dan Armand, Dave Naz, Douglas Cason, Ed Fox, Elizabeth Stevens, Eric Kroll, Erin Frost, Eva Midgley, Francois Dubeau (CA), Fredric Fontenoy (FR), Gary Breckheimer, Gary Lee, Geza X, Gina King, Glenn Barr, Gregory de la Haba, Hans Booy and Paulus Fugers (DE), HR Giger, Harald Seiwert, Heidi Bluegirl, Hugo, J. L. Robbins, Jason Yates, Jeff Wack, Jeremy Harvey, Jeremy MF Thomson, Juan Martin Del Campo, Jill Greenberg, Jeff Faerber, John Santerineross, Julie Simone, Justice Howard, Keith Mueller, Ken Keirns, Kenny Scharf, Kurt Hernon, Lara Alport (AU), Lisa Boyle, Lisolette Gilcrest, Marc DeBauch, Marilyn Zimmerwoman, Mark Arminski, Mark Dancey, Marne Lucas, Michael Breyette, Michael Manning, Michael Rosen, Michael Siu, Mike Williams, Missy Suicide, Niagara, Nicole Steen (CA), Nina Friday, Pablo Davis, Passia Pandora, Paul Rumsey, Peter Keresztury, Pierre Radisic (BE), Ken Josephson, R. Alan Warren, Renard Garr, Richard Avery, Rick Castro, Rick Morris, Rik Garret, Robert Rosenheck, Rod McDonald (UK), Roger White, Ron Zakrin, Ronald Shelley, Ross Brownsdon, Ross Johnston, Sam Holden, Samarel (IL), Simon Barret, Stacey Lande, Stan Konowitz, Steve Diet Goedde, Sue Rynski (FR) Taurus Burns, The Pizz, Theoni Sapounas, Tom Porta (Italy), Tom Thewes, Tracee Mae Miller, Travis Jonk, Travis Shinn, Tristan Eaton, Vato, Victor Lightworship, Viva Van Story, Yonilab (FR), and more…