The Evolution of T.O.M.T.
This whole platform began as a passion project that evolved as I personally grew and changed but also because of changes in the world around us. Our original mission was to inspire people to consider the things they throw out. The purpose was to reduce waste in creative ways. Ultimately my work has become something very different today where mixed-media technology is merging with the garage weekend warrior. I believe we are finally reaching the destination we were always headed towards. Take a look below for the design evolution of this life brand.
There is plenty of work here, but for a full dedicated site click here
The Evolution of The Brand Identity: T.O.M.T. (The Other Man’s Treasures)
The initial launch of my vision was called T.O.M.T. Which stood for (The Other Man’s Treasures). The first evolution was very much about re-envisioning common and playful forgotten objects to have a new life. Much of the press I received suggested that my skills with repurposing were beyond what most were capable of.
As this work continued to evolve a market began to rise. This initially stimulated a very friendly optimistic identity that connected and related to some of the fun design styles of the industrial, tool or construction world. We looked at tool company branding as well as the branding of contractors and developers.
T.O.M.T. was a fun start that gained a lot of accolades and press but as our realization that the rising market were almost completely DIYers themselves, the brand had to take a distinctly different direction. This audience was going to figure out how to do these projects themselves and not pay what I needed to charge to cover costs and turn a profit.
The Evolution of T.O.M.T. into REFITTING THE PLANET
The idea of this creative venture becoming a business required that we consider very carefully what/who this growing market was. Our research along with my extensive experience in media brought us to the conclusion that creating a TV pitch for a series to teach people how to reimagine their world was our best path forward. T.O.M.T. evolved into a TV pilot called REFITTING THE PLANET.
This TV pitch did everything you could hope a pitch could. Within weeks I landed an agent in New York City who began to shop the TV pitch to production companies in NYC and Los Angeles. Three production companies took significant interest and one began to do test shooting in their office and began contract negotiations. The dilemma that prevented any contracts from being signed was the soft economic standing of T.O.M.T. without my media income supporting it. Ultimately this was an obstacle that seemed insurmountable until we began to reconsider our ultimate mission and we leaned into the arts a bit harder. The next evolution took a step back towards the original T.O.M.T., redefining it as an artistic expression and beginning to explore the possibilities of building a content machine where artists could create and produce their own regular series to help them define their work for the public and get it out where people could experience it.
REFITTING THE PLANET Takes An Aggressive Turn And Becomes REFIT OR DIE
REFIT OR DIE begins as an experiment exploring the possibilities that artists can create a completely open and unedited type of platform for American artistic expression to unify. Something with the same desire to educate the masses as PBS, but much more lively, vibrant, rebellious and free spirited, bringing the artists to greater and more refined aesthetics. Through this media outlet we hope to make the benefits of the arts in society even more apparent.
REFIT OR DIE Changes It’s Mission
Of course if you are on this site then you know that the most recent evolution of REFIT OR DIE has taken even greater steps away from repurposing found materials into a much deeper and more influential place. Finally merging the skills of mass media design and creation along with the built 3D world (now digital and virtual) we believe this is the place where REFIT OR DIE has been going for a long time. We are finally here where our impact can and will be felt in a fresher and even bigger way.