Th3 Wood || Yes the 3 should be backwards…

We just wrapped up the design phase for a new project we’ve been working on for the last few months. It’s called Riding Resource, and it’s a response to the equestrian community’s need for a better search engine. Our friends in Atlanta, Erik and Ainsley, got it started, and we designed a new logo and website/application for them. In addition, we’re helping them out with promoting the site with social media. We’re big fans of the social web, and while our efforts with Obama Baton were not quite as successful as we’d hoped, the lessons we took from that project are paying off big-time for Riding Resource. Already, they’ve built an active community around their idea, using a few tips and tricks from our bag.

The big payoff will be at the beta and gold releases of their site, in December and January. We’re excited to see how it all works out.

Ahh, so the Obama Baton. As you might know, we went from a 160-line chat to a wireframe, to a live site in under 10 days. I won’t get into the how, but instead into the why.

Seth reached out to me about two weeks ago with an idea: running the NYC marathon with a blue baton to represent his support for Obama. The blue baton (and the act of passing it along to other runners) would be a symbol of the way Obama brings people together.

Seth’s question: what should be done about it online?

The answer? Talk it up. Get people to support. Get people to download the baton image and slap it on their blogs. Get people to buy a button and wear it on their book bags, jerseys, race numbers, and shorts. Get people to watch out for the baton as it goes by on race day.

So now, fair reader, what can you do?

1. Follow us on twitter, where you can find out when and where the baton will be running every day.
2. Check us out on Flickr
3. Buy a button and wear it around to show your support for us, and for the idea that we are stronger when we stick together and run toward a common goal
4. Help us out by commenting on our site
5. Join the Chicago team, even if you’re not running
6. Join the NYC team, again… even if you’re not running
7. Blog about it!

Thanks, y’all, for reading and offering support.