451 - David Stowe

The time has come for another adventure with David Stowe of Vannen Watches through the world of product creation, artist management, and customer engagement. Vannen sits at the intersection of so many intersecting avenues of the industry and for the last years David has made it through fueled by his love of art, music, and the experiences they create. With each piece Vannen has the opportunity to engage with a whole new clientele and that responds to the art he is creating in completely different ways making every watch a unique challenge. David supports the community of artists by drawing from a large pool of talent to try and match the right designer with the right property to get the most out of the entire packaging process. Business can be a complicated world even when everybody involved wants the outcome to be the best possible and David Stowe returns to share what he has learned since his first timepiece.

Talking Points

• The market and the purpose of analog watches eight years later.

• The litmus test for making a product.

• Why Vannen won't be making a Lil' Wayne watch anytime soon.

• Finding relevance in the message and the beginning of a journey.

• The art that sticks with you to adulthood and giving back the same experience.

• The synergy of a skateboard wheel.

• Conveying personality through branding and keeping a clear focus.

• Drawing inspiration from Swatch and defining your creative vision.

• The importance in handling your product with sincerity.

• Creating a limited edition mindset and viral marketing in your own community.

• What's keeping Vannen Watches out of the skateboard world.

• Bands, artists, and creating dream teams that are a win win for everyone.

• Four different levels of possibilities as you design three steps ahead of yourself twice over.

• Finding the narrative for your client.

• Knowing when to use your tools and when not to.

• Analyzing the merch climate and piggybacking on IP's that resonate.

• Disposable culture and missing the mascots.

• Designing as a fan and fixing Descendents cover art.

• Visualizing the composition and art directing designers.

• Maximizing the spectrum across a project.

• Bumming out in Client Purgatory.

• Comparing what could have been and the Olly Moss Clone Wars.

• The hunt for content and sharing an experience.

• Is there any advertising that still works?

• Bumping up your line.

• Whats coming down the pipeline at Vannen?

• Distributor deals and supporting the growth of every aspect of your community.

• Getting the pit going.