iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The latest installment of my nature series Rare Air is now live on YouTube – featuring another quiet moment from Cherry Grove Beach captured at the dawn of 2020. More Rare Air episodes – and feature-length journeys – coming to YouTube in the months ahead. Watch Episode 65 at youtube.com/RKDarnell.

A quiet sunrise scene from Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina, captured in January 2020.

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I hope October is off to a great start for you! The latest edition of my free Big Ups newsletter publishes today: “Listen up” Please subscribe: rkdarnell.com 😊 📸: Nick Fewings via @unsplash.com #listening #living #growth

010

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Ready to acquire new skills, expand horizons, and have some serious fun? 👋🎇 Check out DWA’s Ultimate #Events Calendar for October: 101 inspiring and festive gatherings (many are #virtual) pop soon! up.darnellworks.com Please DM feedback, ideas, and tips. Let’s go? 📸: @rkdarnell.bsky.social

Photo taken on October 22, 2017, by Roger Darnell with Motorola XT1650 at the Lake Eden Arts Festival in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

#TransformationTuesday wisdom courtesy of Karl Augustus Menninger (1893-1990): “Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.” 📸: Quotefancy

Karl Augustus Menninger (July 22, 1893 – July 18, 1990) was an American psychiatrist, author, and activist. He was a member of the Menninger family of psychiatrists who founded the Menninger Foundation and the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas. He wrote many books including The Human Mind (1930), Man Against Himself (1938), Love Against Hate (1942), The Vital Balance (1963) and The Crime of Punishment (1968). During his life he advocated for a number of causes including children suffering from abuse or neglect, Native Americans, women's rights, prisoners, the elderly, the environment, wildlife, and against nuclear weapons.

001

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Now open for submissions: The Vimeo Short Film Grant Submit your short film project by 16 October for a chance to win $60,000 cash and more! Read on and apply: vimeo.com/shortfilmgrant

Lights, camera, funded. We’re supporting five filmmakers with money, mentorship, and equipment for their next short film project.

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Established in 2004 in San Francisco, the global team at award-winning creative studio Transparent House excels at creating eye-catching CGI visualizations and new realities for leading brands and businesses. New website now live at www.transparenthouse.com #cgi #visualization #storytelling

010

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Sincere congratulations to all the nominees and winners in this year’s @creativepool.bsky.social Annual global competition! creativepool.com/magazine/fea... 2026 - the biggest year in history for the creative industry’s ‘Most’ awards.

000

Reposted by Roger Darnell

Fast Company @fastcompany.com · 11/09/2026

To remember the lives of the 2,977 people killed in the 9/11 attacks 25 years ago, 2,977 drones were arranged in the shape of the original World Trade Center at full architectural scale. Here’s how it was done. f-st.co/6ZCh23v

f-st.co

It took 2,977 drones to create this stunning 9/11 memorial show. Here’s how they pulled it off

One of the biggest challenges was finding a suitable launch location.

022

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Part of integrated creative powerhouse Fivestone Studios, global, director-led production company Bella is on a roll! Bella combines exceptional craft with a strong culture to bring ambitious ideas to life at the highest level. Make something beautiful: bella.film

Courtesy of Bella: “Some BTS from our campaign with the Tennessee Titans - still riding the wave from the response on this one. There’s something different about working for your home team. Bella was born in Tennessee. This city shaped how we think about storytelling, about community, about what it means to show up for something bigger than yourself. Grateful for the trust and excited for the season ahead 💪”

001

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

In this week’s exclusive conversation with Roastbrief, Hyperquake’s VP of International Growth and Development Jose “Pepe” Gorbea discusses the shift from client to agency, the power of co-creation, and why doing good pays back twice: roastbrief.us/purpose-led-... #strategy #powerofgood

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I hope September is giving you a lot to love so far! The latest edition of my free Big Ups newsletter publishes today: “Laughing matters” Please subscribe: rkdarnell.com 😊 #wellbeing #stress #laughter

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

#WednesdayWisdom courtesy of the American professional comedy writer and magician Robert Orben (1927-2023): “If you can laugh together, you can work together.” 📸: Quotefancy

000

Reposted by Roger Darnell

Creativepool @creativepool.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Get ready to participate in cutting-edge developments in all different realms of the creative industry in the latest Global Creative Calendar of 2026 by @rkdarnell.bsky.social. creativepool.com/magazine/fea... #creativity #events

011

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Ready to acquire new skills, expand horizons, and have some serious fun? 👋🎇 Check out DWA’s Ultimate #Events Calendar for September: 97 inspiring and festive gatherings (many are #virtual) pop soon! up.darnellworks.com Please DM feedback, ideas, and tips. Let’s go? 📸: Wolfgang Weiser via Unsplash

Photo of wind turbines on a beach with a rainbow in Hvide Sande, Denmark, taken with Sony ILCE-7M3. Published on Unsplash by Wolfgang Weiser on November 28, 2025.

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Mapping out your next strategic move? Remember this: Your story is one of your most valuable assets. I help leaders connect the dots through mindful #PR and #Marketing. Explore recent wins and long‑form case studies: darnellworks.com/client-news.... darnellworks.com/case-studies...

020

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

American film editor, producer, director, and title designer Angus Wall (and friends), thank you for the inspiring Eddie Murphy documentary: up.darnellworks.com “Watching ‘Being Eddie’ feels like sitting in the presence of greatness.” Available now on Netflix.

“There’s only one Eddie Murphy. At 17, he was already performing stand-up in New York clubs, and a year later joined Saturday Night Live straight out of high school. From Beverly Hills Cop to The Nutty Professor, Dr. Dolittle to Donkey, Murphy has done it all and done it better than anyone. For nearly 50 years, he’s ruled comedy, film, and fame itself without ever losing his center. Being Eddie, directed by two-time Oscar® winner Angus Wall (The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), brings together icons like Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kevin Hart, Jerry Seinfeld, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Brian Grazer to celebrate the man who broke barriers, reinvented genres, and inspired generations. For the first time, Eddie opens his home and his heart, revealing the drive, genius, and soul behind one of the greatest entertainers of all time.”

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

People often ask, what’s Riley up to? Now living in Nashville, when not playing music, you can find him mixing live sound at Diamond Sound Studios and at famed hot spots on Honky Tonk Highway. New LP, “A Brief Life of Toil” 👉 instagram.com/bunny.thelif... That’s our boy! 📸: Chad Morehead

010

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

ICYMI: From Here to There with AVI-SPL XTG: Traylor Woodall, Fivestone Studios tinyurl.com/FSXTG1 On this episode, AVI-SPL XTG's Director of Strategy & Markets Mark Coxon talks with the Fivestone Studios Founder and CEO about the power of context in experiential environments. #experiential

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Have you seen The Shot Chart? The Darnell Works Agency’s quintessential zine dives back into our most historic, fascinating, and impactful collaborations. Read Issue 5: “Transitions” in Custom Publications at darnellworks.com 🔃 #communications Definitely one of my favorite pastimes 😊

010

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

I hope July is wrapping up nicely for you! In case you are interested, the latest edition of my free Big Ups newsletter publishes today: “Be the dream” Please subscribe: rkdarnell.com 😊 📸: Clement Proust via Unsplash #selfesteem

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Ready to acquire new skills, expand horizons, and have some serious fun? 👋🎇 Check out DWA’s Ultimate #Events Calendar for August: 50+ inspiring and festive gatherings (many are #virtual) pop soon! up.darnellworks.com Please DM feedback, ideas, and tips. 📸: An Nguyen via @pexelsofficial.bsky.social

up.darnellworks.com

August 2026 Edition: Ultimate Events Happening Soon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJLUIw3ZPTY In the coming days, dozens of momentous events are set to arrive en force. The ever-enticing list includes some of our world’s most famous cultural and cre...

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

#TransformationTuesday wisdom courtesy of the illustrious Oprah Winfrey: “I have a lot of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fearlessly.” 📸: Quotefancy

Oprah Winfrey (born January 29, 1954, Kosciusko, Mississippi, U.S.) is an American television personality, actress, and entrepreneur whose syndicated daily talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, revolutionized the genre. That program—as well as her hugely popular book club, various magazines, OWN channel, and movies—earned Winfrey the title “Queen of All Media.” These ventures also made her one of the richest and most influential women in the United States.

001

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Cutters Studios President/Managing Director Craig Duncan: “40% tax credit for commercials shot in Illinois: Pretty tough to beat. And if you keep your Post in Illinois, say like with Cutters Studios, you and your clients get 40% off Post as well.” Read on: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

AICP Midwest presented “The 40% Frontier” on Wednesday, May 27, at the Chicago Cultural Center, bringing together leaders from advertising, production, government, and finance to educate the creative community on Illinois’ expanded Film Production Tax Credit program and its implications for commercial advertising production.

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Via Artwork Archive: Located in Mt. Adams, Cincinnati, GALLERY jENSEITS invites you to submit your artwork for consideration by 15 September 2026. Selected works will be featured in upcoming exhibitions, which typically run 6-10 weeks. Learn more and apply: bit.ly/GjOC27 #art #artists #callforart

GALLERY jENSEITS is a contemporary art gallery and community gathering space in Mount Adams, Cincinnati, dedicated to showcasing diverse artistic voices – from emerging creators to internationally recognized figures. Through thoughtfully curated exhibitions, rotating programs, and exclusive resident artists, GALLERY jENSEITS fosters dialogue, discovery, and meaningful engagement with art. Learn more at https://galleryjenseits.com.

020

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

ICYMI: Last September, former leaders from Thorne HealthTech and Tempus teamed up to launch brain health and wellness company BEVIMI as part of the inaugural CG Well Summit. Its unique approach is getting attention: thegreatentrepreneurs.com?s=bevimi #innovation #PR #brainhealth

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Are you ready for the biggest night in sports? Here come The ESPYS! The 2026 ESPYS will feature the world’s premier athletes, the sports world’s biggest stars, and the very best sports stories of the year. More details here: up.darnellworks.com?p=7945 #ESPN #ESPYS #DontEverGiveUp

Celebrated nationwide as the biggest night in sports, the ESPYs will once again feature the world’s premier athletes, the sports world’s biggest stars, and the very best sports stories of the year.

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Big ups to Bella roster director Anthony Pellino - and award-winning, Estonia-based visual effects studio FrostFX - for delivering “Cole’d by Gopuff & Cole Palmer” to dramatically introduce the world’s first electrolyte ice: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ1v... #storytelling #commercials #vfx

youtube.com

Cole'd by Gopuff & Cole Palmer | The World's First Electrolyte Ice

YouTube video by Gopuff

000

Reposted by Roger Darnell

Creativepool @creativepool.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

011

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Ready or not 😅, the latest installment of my original travel series “Rare Air” is live at rkdarnell.com, featuring another fun scene from Cherry Grove Beach captured at the tail end of 2019. #RareAir #originalseries #filmmaking

Another fun scene from Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina, captured back in December, 2019.

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

I hope July is off to a lovely start for you! In case you are interested, the latest edition of my free Big Ups newsletter publishes today: “On the move” Please subscribe: rkdarnell.com 😊 📸: Roger Darnell #writerslife

010

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Ready to acquire new skills, expand horizons, and have some serious fun? 👋🎇 Check out DWA’s Ultimate #Events Calendar for July: 67 inspiring and festive gatherings (many are #virtual) pop soon! up.darnellworks.com Please DM feedback, ideas, and tips. Let’s go? 📸: Todd Kent via @unsplash.com

Sunflower field under blue sky during sunset photo by Todd Kent: Captured with Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and published on 4 September 2020.

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

#TransformationTuesday wisdom courtesy of celebrated chef, author, and travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain (1956 - 2018): “We all carry different experiences inside us. We see things differently, don't we?”

Anthony Michael Bourdain was a celebrated chef, author, and TV personality who combined his love of food with cultural exploration. His 2000 memoir Kitchen Confidential offered a humorous and unfiltered look at the restaurant industry, propelling him to television fame. He hosted the popular shows No Reservations (2005–2012) and the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning Parts Unknown (2013–2018).

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

ICYMI: In conversation with Roastbrief, Hyperquake’s Director of Growth Marketing, Media, and Analytics Gabrielle Schweickart on growth strategy that transforms storytelling into a measurable engine for business outcomes: roastbrief.us/hyperquake-b... #growth #strategy #storytelling

roastbrief.us

Hyperquake: Breaking the Silo Between Brand and Performance with Gabrielle Schweickart

May, 2026.- In the 2026 marketing landscape, the age-old dispute between brand building and performance marketing has become obsolete. Gabrielle

010

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Honoring and celebrating the importance of #Juneteenth: up.darnellworks.com?p=7918 A profound lesson from Karlos K. Hill and Soraya Field Fiorio, directed by Rémi Cans of Atypicalist, and presented by TED-Ed.

Sharing a lesson from Karlos K. Hill and Soraya Field Fiorio, directed by Rémi Cans of Atypicalist and presented by TED-Ed. “Today, Juneteenth holds profound significance as a celebration of the demise of slavery, the righteous pursuit of true freedom for all, and a continued pledge to remember the past and dream the future.”

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Seizing this day to congratulate our Amelia. Earlier this year, she landed her dream job, and is now senior sales consultant at luxury bridal boutique White of Raleigh (whiteofraleigh.com). Lovely, brilliant, and wonderful: That's our girl!

White Bridal Boutiques was founded in 2011 out of a sincere desire to provide every bride a luxury experience that’s personal, relaxed, and truly special. We believe choosing your wedding gown should be as memorable as the day you wear it. Our first boutique opened in Dublin, Ohio, and in 2019, we brought the same experience to Raleigh, North Carolina, in the heart of City Market. Both locations offer hand-picked gowns from top couture designers in a calm, welcoming space. We see each appointment as a chance to celebrate you. That’s why we work by appointment only—to give every bride our full attention, no matter her budget. When you find your dress with us, you become part of our bridal family. Step into the world of bridal with White Bridal Boutiques. Let your experience be comfortable, personal, and all about you!

010

Reposted by Roger Darnell

Creativepool @creativepool.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Get ready to participate in cutting-edge developments in all different realms of the creative industry in the latest Global Creative Calendar of 2026 by @rkdarnell.bsky.social creativepool.com/magazine/fea... #creativity #events

011

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

📣 Big ups to Illumina and its project partners including Hyperquake, ZGF, MC2, Pixel Fiction, Real Art, Kubik, Emil Kara, and Ray King! 🏆 Illumina San Diego: 2026 World Class Center Award and Center Innovation Award 👏 👉 www.gacep.com/worldclassre... 📸: Emil Kara

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

I hope May is wrapping up nicely for you! In case you are interested, the latest edition of my free Big Ups newsletter publishes today: “Carolina soulshine” Subscribe: rkdarnell.com 😊 📸: Roger Darnell #writerslife #inspiration #movingon

030

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Ready to acquire new skills, expand horizons, and have some serious fun? 👋🎇 Check out DWA’s Ultimate #Events Calendar for June: 78 inspiring and festive gatherings (many are #virtual) pop soon! up.darnellworks.com Please DM feedback, ideas, and tips. Let’s go? 📸: Greyson Joralemon @unsplash.com

Grayscale photography of disco ball by Greyson Joralemon: Taken in Rancho Santa Fe, United States of America. Captured with Sony ILCE-7SM2 on 7 January 2017.

000

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

#TransformationTuesday wisdom courtesy of Scottish-born American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, and scientist John Muir (1838-1914): “The mountains are calling and I must go.” 📸: BrainyQuote

John Muir (April 21, 1838 – December 24, 1914), also known as "John of the Mountains" and "Father of the National Parks" was a Scottish-born American, naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, botanist, zoologist, glaciologist, and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States.

100

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Honoring and remembering our fallen heroes on #MemorialDay: up.darnellworks.com?p=1603 Patrick Pittman: “We don’t live in America: America lives in us.” Image: Disabled American Veterans

Image courtesy of Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the nonprofit charity providing a lifetime of support for veterans of all generations. Learn more at https://www.dav.org.

010

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

❤️ this campaign from Bella and Director Will Holland for Dallas-based Children’s Health, one of the largest and most prestigious pediatric health care providers in the country, and the leading pediatric health care system in North Texas: www.linkedin.com/posts/weareb... Well done, friends!

011

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

New from BEVIMI: Meet Uno Protect, a patent-pending liquid brain health formulation with 10 clinically studied actives: prn.to/48Sp4Cw Available now 👉 mybevimi.com #brainhealth #wellness

BEVIMI is a brain health and wellness platform company founded in 2025 by leaders in nutritional science, precision medicine, and clinical research. The company develops liquid-delivered, science-based nutritional products with novel formulations, supported by clinical evidence and full ingredient transparency. BEVIMI is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut. Learn more at https://www.mybevimi.com.

020

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

GALLERY jENSEITS is a new contemporary art and community gathering space in the heart of Cincinnati’s historic Mount Adams neighborhood. Its inaugural exhibitions open next Saturday, May 16. 10% of all exhibition sales benefit ArtWorks Cincinnati. 👉 galleryjenseits.com

020

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

📣 Big ups to Dimensional Innovations, its clients at Accenture Federal Services, and its project partners including Electrosonic, HITT, HOK, and Fivestone Studios! 🏆 The Forge®, Gold Winner, 2026 International Architecture & Design Awards 👏 👉 ad-c.org/winner/accen... 📸: Dimensional Innovations

Kate Schmidt, Experience Designer II, Dimensional Innovations: "Dimensional Innovations' work on The Forge® for Accenture Federal Services underscores 'how spatial design can accelerate trust, clarity, and momentum' for stakeholders in the federal market. Way to go Corporate team!!"

081

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

I hope April is wrapping up nicely for you! In case you are interested, the latest edition of my free Big Ups newsletter publishes today: “Making happy” Subscribe: rkdarnell.com 😊 📸: Carolyn Christine via @Unsplash #writerslife #innovation #inspiration

082

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Ready to acquire new knowledge and skills, and have some serious fun? 👋🎇 Check out DWA’s Ultimate #Events Calendar for May: 70+ inspiring and festive gatherings (many are #virtual) are starting soon! 👉 up.darnellworks.com 📸: Rani Sahu via @pexelsofficial.bsky.social

Photo by Rani Sahu: Color fabrics tied on a pole in Baluspur, CT, India. Captured with Nikon D5300 on 10 November 2019.

010

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

#TransformationTuesday wisdom courtesy of Austrian graphic designer, storyteller, and typographer Stefan Sagmeister (b. 1962): “The question I wanted to answer was, could I train my mind to be happy the same way one trains one's body?” 📸: Quotefancy

Stefan Sagmeister formed the New York based Sagmeister Inc. in 1993 and has since designed for clients as diverse as the Rolling Stones, HBO and the Guggenheim Museum. Having been nominated eight times, he finally won two Grammy Awards for the Talking Heads and Brian Eno & David Byrne package designs. He has also earned practically every important international design award. Stefan teaches in the graduate department of the School of Visual Art in New York and lectures extensively on all continents. In 2012 young designer Jessica Walsh became a partner and the company was renamed into Sagmeister & Walsh. A native of Austria, he received his MFA from the University of Applied Arts in Vienna and, as a Fulbright Scholar, a master’s degree from Pratt Institute in New York. After his studies he worked as a Creative Director for Leo Burnett in Hong Kong and for M&Co. in New York.

010

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

April 27, 2026 is International #Design Day, hosted by SEGD with the ICoD live on YouTube and in-person locally. Streaming throughout the day, join an extraordinary group of designers exploring how design shapes invisible forces that bring people together. 👉 youtube.com/@SEGDchannel #IDD2026

Official International Design Day 2026 theme designed by London-based Holmes Studio. “During International Design Day, look beyond objects and outcomes and toward the shared experiences that shape how we belong, communicate, and coexist. Design lives in the in-between, the thresholds where ideas become experiences and strangers become communities.”

020

Roger Darnell @rkdarnell.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

ICYMI: Jeep® Brand’s “Billy Goes to the River” wins Clio Silver (Film: 61 Seconds to Five Minutes) ~ and hearts across America 😊 Also a top automotive spot on YouTube’s AdBlitz Leaderboard prn.to/4u8QQ5U Sound Design & Music Mix Company: Another Country Well done, friends!

Stellantis, Feb. 17, 2026: All-new 2026 Jeep® Cherokee hybrid commercial "Billy Goes to the River" takes No. 1 automotive spot on YouTube AdBlitz Leaderboard.

030