We’ll be working out the bugs over the next few days, but it is functional. I am really enjoying the work for Tri Sigma, they are great people!

Client: Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority

This Ecard was sent to all of the members and partners of the sorority. There will be more of these to come (hopefully). I am also designing their blog page, which will most likely be pretty to look at by the end of the year.

I have been struggling to find employment, with no luck. I have been struggling to find clients and do freelance work, with very little success. I have been struggling to “get out there” both virtually and physically, and just can’t seem to make any headway. So, I’ve decided to take the plunge and go back to school.

If you are anything like me, it is a hard decision to go back to school. I know, this is my second time doing it.

Going back to school can feel like a step back, or admitting defeat. I already have a Bachelor’s degree, and I also completed a program at an art school. I shouldn’t have to go back to school, I already went back to school! It is easy to think that going back could be repeating the same action that didn’t work the first time, so why would it work this time?

Here are some reasons:

1. If something isn’t working, you go get what you need to make it work. It was clear to me that I didn’t have the connections, credentials, or years of experience to compete — even for the entry level jobs! — with the other applicants. Getting more education (at the right place!) puts you in contact with current industry professionals and tightens up your knowledge and skills.
2. The expectations of the industry keep changing, and you need to keep up with them. Creative fields are evolving every day. When I first graduated 10 years ago, the idea of a graphic designer also being fully capable of web design and an expert in social marketing was highly unrealistic. (Did the term “social marketing” even exist back then? I can’t remember.) Today, it is expected of designers getting entry level jobs. (That is not to say they are entry level designers. Entry level designers don’t have the skills and experience to get an entry level job right now. But, if you want to get a job, that’s what you need.)
3. The way you find a job is different, yet the same, as it used to be. I wish I could get help from a career placement expert to tell me what I’m doing wrong, how I can make my resume have more impact, where to look for the best jobs, and about a million other things. Those experts usually work at universities with graduating seniors — for free.
4. Even though you have no money, student loans can cover a multitude. I am still doing research on this, but with access to scholarships and grants, it is possible that you can afford to live as a student, but even if you can’t as a freelance graphic designer.
5. You learn something every time you educate yourself. Well, duh. That sounds really obvious, but it is true. You have more experience than you had the last time you were in school. You hopefully understand a little bit what you need to work on, and you can look for a school that will help you with that. Also, there is always new stuff to learn, and more knowledge in your field is never a bad thing.
6. Change your scenery, change your perspective. Working from home, having all digital friendships, and never going anywhere is a sure ticket to a big huge rut. How can you do your best work while in a rut?? Changing gears can do more than just give your career a shot in the arm, but change your attitude and help you feel better about life.

I’m not claiming to be an expert on anything, but I am convinced that doing something bold and different can put you on a better road, and hopefully start to make life turn in your favor. I know that the economy has hit us where we live (literally) but I, for one, refuse to be defeated by it. Ultimately, I’d rather be a student again and have another run at the job market in 2 years, than spend those years stumbling around hoping for the scraps left over after all the jobs are taken. Life doesn’t stop because you don’t have any work. Life is what happens while you’re looking for it, whether you find it or not.

I wish you success on the hunt, wherever it takes you.

Prime Management is a company that owns several nursing care facilities in the Lake Martin, Alabama area. They were looking for a way to unify their facilities, taking advantage of the excellent reputation of  some of their facilities and applying it to all of them. We decided that a more prominent “umbrella” brand was the best approach. My role was to develop the new brand and create an identity guide which they could use to develop marketing in the future.

We decided to change the name slightly from Prime Management to Prime Living Communities. The new name maintains part of the old identity but changes the tone, so they aren’t administrators of health care but community developers. We wanted the name to communicate that assisted living and extended care communities are not “the end of the road”, but can be a great benefit to residents and their families. Prime living stands for vitality, energy, and joy.

This proposed “open door” icon touches on themes like hospitality, family, and home. It also copies the look of the actual front door of the newest building to be renovated, further tying the themes to the actual places they represent.

Main brand, plus an example of one of the facilities under that brand

A dark background alternative

A grayscale version

TCR is a new, non-profit venture that provides a service to other non-profit organizations. Based on the web, TCR features a collection of card designs suitable for any organization’s cause. The cards are meant to fit in any standard printer so that the organization can customize them, but are also of high quality and not “home made” looking on the outside. Many non-profit organizations don’t have the resources to design and produce their own high quality materials, so TCR would help them to increase their contact with the community and stretch their budgets a little further.

Since it is completely web based, branding and identity is needed before the site goes live for the first time. My role was to develop the “official” logo and identity for TCR so that the website could be developed, taking style cues from that identity.

The tree concept came about as we began to understand TCR’s role in the non-profit community, which is primarily to support other non-profits. So, TCR can be a trunk that other organizations use to branch out and prosper.

Logo for Tribute Card Resources

Like many volunteer organizations, PPFD had more than one message to communicate to the community, with limited resources to do it. Above all, PPFD wanted to show the residents of Pace’s Point how important it is to have a well trained and well equipped department, and to encourage people to volunteer. From this desire, the FirePlus campaign was created. The message of the campaign is “We fight fire, plus a whole lot more.”

The first piece in the FirePlus campaign was a direct mail piece, sent to all residents along with the invoice for yearly dues required by law. Seeing the brochure information right next to the invoice created a very strong call to action, and the treasurer saw a significant increase in the amount of dues received as a result. There was also an increase in volunteerism and community cooperation as a result of the mailing.

The second piece in the campaign is the newsletter. PPFD already published a newsletter twice a year, but it was re-designed to be included in the FirePlus campaign. This piece was sent to the residents with the next round of invoices (after the first piece).

Logo brand for the PPFD FirePlus campaign

FirePlus Direct Mail Piece, side 1 (14 x 8.5)

FirePlus Direct Mail Piece, Side 2

PPFD Newsletter, Side 1 (11 x 8.5)

PPFD Newsletter, Side 2

The success of the trade show in 2008 encouraged the expansion to a website. The original intention of the site was to be a library of articles on building airplanes. The site features a section of build articles, detailing the process of building specific models and kits. There is also a section of tips and tricks that could be applied to any kit.

By far the most popular part of the site is the workshop. The workshop is where daily updates are posted, along with pictures, of whatever is currently being built. Customers enjoy being able to “visit” their airplane each day while it is being built, especially customers that are not in the local area. These blogs (that is essentially what they are) are added to the archive of build articles once the planes are finished.

To visit the site on the web, go to www.dream-rc-airplanes.com. A link at the bottom of each page will bring you back here.

Screen shot at www.dream-rc-airplanes.com

This “hobby-turned-business” was in need of a brand and some marketing materials in order to grow. The strategy started with a very visible presence at the Georgia Aircraft Modelers Association’s southeastern model show in Perry, Georgia. The booth featured airplanes for sale, and the opportunity to order a custom made airplane, which is the main focus of the business.

The planes were big enough to attract a lot of attention on their own (from 30% to 50% scale), so simplicity was key. The big sign, 3 ft x 3 ft, was big enough to be seen from a long distance, while the “spec sheets” described each plane in detail for a close-up view. Business cards were the only other necessity, as expected.

In 2008, Dream RC’s presence at this show yielded some promising results. 2009 brought the same success, and today there is a waiting list of client orders from all over the country.

Trade show sign. Original dimensions: 3ft x 3ft

A Spec Sheet for an Airplane

Business Card Design

This website was developed to give full coverage to the MTCS Cougar Football team. Features include weekly updates and commentary on games during the season, photos and audio clips from past events and games, and information about the upcoming games (the schedule, directions to away games, etc). Audio CDs of the 2009 season are available for purchase through the site as well.

The information is constantly changing, so you can visit the actual site at www.thisiscougarfootball.com. (If you do go, please come back! There is a link at the bottom of each page that will bring you back here.)

Screen shot from ThisisCougarFootball.com