Guerilla Tactics…that stick!

I hope our last weblog on…the Internet helped inspire you to further explore the endless medium. Although I must admit, as an active user and creator of content on the Internet, I need time away from the computer screen. I find the best way to soothe the eyes and refresh the mind is to step outside. Observe the reality…

Living in such a culturally rich region as the Twin Cities, walking along the city sidewalks provides as much if not more stimulation as surfing the web. Just a walk around a couple blocks can provide what the Internet can’t:

-The smell of walking by your favorite local food spot can make your mouth water.

-The feeling of the breeze while skating or cycling makes you want to move faster.

-The sound of birds singing in the trees seems to balance the rumble of cars.

-The sight of the street signs at each corner reminds you where you are.

But wait! What’s that?!

You walk by this sign everyday but you’ve never seen this before. Something has changed. Street signs, stoplights, and light poles are not just for the safety of drivers, but also serve as a potential experience for pedestrians. Just as a user surfs the Internet site to site, the pedestrian roams the sidewalk corner to corner. And on each corner, there is something created by pedestrians just like you…(maybe even you!) Whether you consider this information as a form of branding, vandalism, graffiti, or art, the idea of posting information on light posts and street signs has been around much longer than the Internet; but the purpose is clear.

I see these streetlights and telephone poles as the guerilla advertiser’s bulletin board. From Uptown to Dinkytown, Midway to Northeast, stickers and flyers can be seen on nearly every street corner. My favorite part of this branding technique is the strictly DIY skill it requires. Someone has to physically go to each street corner (sometimes unnoticed), post his or her flyer/sticker/poster of anything! A club event, a concert, an album release or even just an appealing logo.

I love walking the streets of Midway, St. Paul and seeing the very same sticker I saw in Uptown, Minneapolis the day before. Knowing that someone has been to the very same location with the same interests is very intriguing. These corners are also constantly changing. With the city repainting cable boxes, people covering up or tearing off other posters, or the MN weather taking its toll, these stickers don’t last forever…

Staples from decades ago are still embedded in the wooden light poles.

Even if they do wear away, this form of advertising will STICK around.

We here at Studiiyo23 encourage the sticky fingers of all the guerillas out there bringing their brand to the street. Just take a look around and you might find many of our posters and stickers around town.