Change of Scenery

As this month's blog is posting, I'm on a creative retreat to tap into and foster more creativity in my work and thus my life. My business is called Studio Haus for a reason: my work spills out into every area of the world where I reside. Sometimes though, I need to break free from my walls and oftentimes it involves having nature all around me. However, for this retreat to happen, I gave myself a self-imposed deadline that "I couldn't go outside and play" until I redesigned my web site.

As you may notice, graphic development of just about any kind is a welcome experience professionally for me, so my portfolio of work can seem all over the place. The fact of the matter is that I still do a lot of the same kinds of projects I've always done: logos, books, ads, brochures/catalogs/other print, and, of course, full-on marketing campaigns including signage. The thing I've always done behind the scenes though has been art and illustration. I began sharing my work publicly after realizing how much volume I had in drawers that wasn't seeing the light of day. It was then that I decided it was time to start making more art again and marketing it. However, my site didn't leave a good first impression after trying to fit this "new" element of illustration into my portfolio. Let's just say the procrastination set in.

“Inspiration is for amateurs. I just get to work.”

After almost two years of trying to make the previous web site design work and getting a metaphorical jolt (again) from a single Chuck Close quote ("Inspiration is for amateurs. I just get to work."), I decided to go much simpler. I decided to stop trying to make something that wasn't working well into something that was easier, cleaner and more enjoyable to maintain and update. While doing these things for clients is always the objective, I'd let the attention to detail for my own marketing plan slip. So I decided to implement and prioritize my own professional deadline while maintaining my obligations to clients. That metaphorical jolt turned into a kick in the butt.

Welcome to my new web site. I can honestly say it was a joy to create. Because a web site is constantly evolving, I know I will still be finessing things along the way. In the meantime, please peruse, share, critique and hopefully enjoy.

This career I've been fostering along with my incredible roster of clients has been one I've loved from the get-go and sharing it with others is an honor. Now I'm off to work! Yay!

New States of Inspiration

This past month, I took a exploratory holiday out west followed by a research trip into the surface design world. Traveling from Nashville to New Mexico then on to New York—all very different places full of inspiration—was quite the transition.

All the textures of the New Mexico landscapes, even if they are mostly shades of brown, are simply beautiful.

New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment and a state I had once considered living in after graduating from college, has been a draw for me since I was a teenager—what looks from afar to be so arid, dead and multiple shades of brown contains such incredible surprises of beauty, life and color upon closer inspection. My friends and I spent many days hiking amidst otherworldly landscapes of canyons, cacti, cap rocks and other geological formations that look straight out of sci-fi movies.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument felt like a trip to the moon!

Mostly though, the draw of the NM visit was a couple of artists I’ve grown up admiring for their personal strength, grace, beauty and the perseverance in mastering their art. One was my high school art teacher, a major influence in my life in so many ways; and the other was of course, Georgia O’Keefe, an artist that has become somewhat synonymous with New Mexico.

As a budding artist in my youth, O’Keefe’s work had me obsessed and her inspiration feels as strong today as ever. She loved beauty and art-making and she didn't seem to let much stand in the way of her her nature to do things her way. She was strong in her convictions and drawn to the softness of nature.

I agree with Georgia.

Visiting her home and studio revealed how she designed her surroundings to nurture her talents: clean and simple décor with nature visible from every angle. Not only just an artist, she loved every act of creativity she fostered: gardening, cooking, even camping. I certainly would have loved to have known this woman personally. Visiting the places she still haunts was the next best thing I could ask for. I feel sure that I will return one day.

After a week of exploring in the high desert landscapes, I headed to NYC to assist a couple of very talented artists at a trade show called Blueprint. (What a transition of landscape, but that’s a whole other topic.) The show features artists in the world of surface design which encompasses everything from greeting cards, apparel, wall art, wall paper, home décor and so much more.

While I walked the floor of the Blueprint show last year (as well as the bigger show called SURTEX), this time I was assisting, observing and visiting with other artists as art buyers stopped by their booths to ask questions, discuss trends and interests, and negotiate future projects. Melissa Hyatt and Ine Beerten were gracious in their time, knowledge and talents and I am very honored to have been given the opportunity to observe them in action.

Melissa Hyatt was a first-time exhibitor at Blueprint so I learned a lot in the hours I spent assisting in her booth. And making a new friend was a bonus!

I spent the whole last day of the Blueprint show with Ine Beerten. She travels all the way from Belgium (can you say yummy chocolates?) for the NYC licensing shows (this was her second time at Blueprint and she has also exhinited at SURTEX). She generously shared a wealth of information on how to navigate the world of surface pattern design. Her style is cleverly whimsical and we share not only interests in art but she's also a yogini like me!

As a print designer for much of my life, seeing another side of a design industry that is quite different from what I've been used to has been incredibly inspiring and admittedly a little intimidating. I will always be a designer and the challenge to expand my potential as an artist is exciting to say the least.

If you're interested in watching my growth in this realm, please sign up for my e-newsletter (link in the bar at the top of this page) and/or stay connected through social media by clicking the gray icon of your choice below. My work can be found on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Behance. And if you feel inspired to work together on any projects, please reach out!

Oh, and that trip to NYC: it ended on a very synchronistic note. The Brooklyn Museum had an exhibit that I stopped in to see on my way to the airport featuring Georgia O’Keefe’s artwork and images that photographers captured of her alongside bits of her wardrobe. She may well be the American artist who best branded herself in modern-day history as an independent woman with her sharp features, loose black dresses, and wide-rimmed black hats. The photos that captured her reflective, distant gazes to the gorgeous horizons of her creative inspiration showed she was an artist in every sense of the word.

What a treat it was to end my NYC trip standing in front of this famous image by Yosuf Karsh (right) of Ms. O'Keefe standing in front of the famous door that captured her imagination for years until she was able to purchase the property that became her home. The week before, I stood in that entryway and took my own picture of the skull she lovingly hung there in her New Mexico home.

It’s clear to me that O’Keefe really loved the work she was gifted to create which in turn was and continues to be loved by others. Thanks to Ms. O’Keefe and of course to my high school art teacher, Ms. Fritts, for sharing your truth with the world. Your influence lives on in so many inexpressible ways. I am grateful for it all.

Wet Noses, Great Doctors & Metrics

The thing I love most about being a graphic designer/art director and artist is the myriad directions the projects that I work on can take me. Projects range from the legal realm, healthcare, festivals and events, the arts, small business branding, economic development, non-profits and last but certainly not least, books.

I love books and have had collections all over my living spaces throughout my life. It's incredible how the reading of a book can change the fabric of one’s mind with just one paragraph. To play a small part in that with book design is an honor.

Books have played a role in the design projects I have undertaken from the beginning. Oftentimes it was only the covers I worked on. The good fortune of designing covers for an author who went on to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, winners of the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference Bakeless Prize, a New York Times reviewed book, and an entire series about essays has been exciting to say the least. I've also been fortunate to design the entire contents for a blind golfer’s memoir, a book about leadership, and the first edition of a children's book, as well as some magazine redesigns, a whole other topic of discussion.

A recently completed book project, Every Nose Counts: Using Metrics in Animal Shelters, holds a very special place for me. Not only did this design project come to me under incredible circumstances but it also has the potential to enrich many lives that don't even pick up books to read:

My clients requested a cover that was simple and uncluttered while conveying the seemingly complex content of metrics collection and analysis. Since the topic of the book deals with feline and canine populations, they were of course included in the graphic.

After doing pro bono work for the Pet Community Center for several months, one of its board members, who also happens to be a dear friend, recommended my services to a couple of veterinarians (Drs. J.M. Scarlett and M. Greenberg) who were writing a book to help animal shelters, veterinarians and their staff “improve their operations and enhance the welfare of their animals if they collect, summarize and interpret data wisely.” This was and is a huge but worthwhile endeavor that has the potential to improve the lives of many animals and the people who serve them. And yet the important subject matter can be a bit dry upon reading.

Therein lay the challenge I was eager to undertake: make the information not only something people could comprehend well upon reading but also more interesting than it might be with just basic and sometimes boring bar charts and bullet points. It was an exciting undertaking and the process couldn't have gone more smoothly from my perspective.

Charts of numbers can look pretty bland and homogenized without the use of prioritized emphasis in the graphics. Color and type treatments were used to not only differentiate the importance of information but also create interest in order to keep the reader reading.

The project called for many types of charts and figures to be created and utilized throughout the book which I initially knew only a little about. The research and learning process was only part of the fun in creating various graphics which will ultimately keep viewers interested. The greater challenge was keeping these graphics on the same page and/or spreads where they were referred to in the text without big gaps left in the pages. Photos made this challenge a bit easier.

Info-graphics were also used sporadically in the book along with adorable photos of pups and kitties. How can anyone resist the cuteness?

The working relationship with a project that lasts for a year-and-a-half can definitely feel like a never-ending challenge to the finish line but I can honestly say that I am sad to see this project come to its completion because I enjoyed the working relationship and design process so much. It’s a joy to work with people who are just so darned smart! We each brought our unique talents to the table and the end result is something to be proud of. I beamed from head to toe when a veterinarian (not involved in the project) said this was the kind of book design she wishes she'd had in her academic studies. We can finally say, “We did it!” Now the bigger work begins.

This isn't the first time I've worked closely with someone who I'd never met face-to-face. J.M. Scarlett, DVM, MPH, PhD (far right) and I only met at our celebratory dinner after the job was approved and ready to go. M. Greenberg, DVM (center) and I met only rarely in person. Most of our work was done via the internet. How convenient is that?! (I've even had clients that I've never met in person!)

None of this would have been possible without the brilliant and incredibly generous work of Maddie’s Fund. Their mission is “to revolutionize the status and well-being of companion animals.” They are “a family foundation created in 1994 by Workday® co-founder Dave Duffield and his wife, Cheryl, who have endowed the Foundation with more than $300 million. Since then, the Foundation has awarded more than $187.8 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, shelter medicine education, and pet adoptions across the U.S. The Duffields named Maddie's Fund after their Miniature Schnauzer Maddie, who always made them laugh and gave them much joy. Maddie was with Dave and Cheryl from 1987 - 1997 and continues to inspire them today.

“Maddie's Fund is the fulfillment of a promise to an inspirational dog, investing its resources to create a no-kill nation where every dog and cat is guaranteed a healthy home or habitat.”

Wow. Isn't it amazing the impact one life can have on the collective? Those furry creatures many of us allow into our hearts really do make the world a better place. So a very big thank you to Maddie and her very special humans, the Duffields; to Maddie’s Fund; Cornell University; co-authors and Drs. J.M. Scarlett, M. Greenberg, T. Hoshizaki; and all of the animal shelters and the people who keep them running. And a personal and heart-felt thank you to Kelly for that extra-special heart and the referral that made this special connection happen. It's truly a gift in so many ways to love what we do.

Signs Everywhere

It's finally spring and the signs are everywhere with blossoms sprouting from their buds and leaves unfurling from their branches. As I finalize work on this next Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival's graphics for my fifth year of it's 9-year history, I'm proud to know that the brand we have built together over these years is growing in its recognition among attendees old and new alike, as does its sponsorship, the number of exhibitors, performances and of course attendance to the Festival and its special events like the Cosplay Contest. The Festival, "celebrating spring and Japanese culture," is my first taste of this longed-for season's blossoming after the cold, gray winter.

When people ask me what I do for a living, my quick response is that I'm a designer. Many are often not sure what that actually means at which point I go into my little elevator speech. I've come to say that if something is printed, there is often a designer who put the graphics and copy together and saw it through to completion. I often mention brochures, catalogs, book covers, logos and stationery, packaging, etc. One of the things I've started to mention more and more though is signage.

Event name signs. Directional signs. Sponsorship signs. Location signs. Informational signs. It's often what makes an event stand out and help attendees not only easily find an event but also all that it has to offer. They come in many varieties and sizes: digital signs, canvas banners, flag banners, simple signs staked into the ground, sandwich signs, booth signage, even outdoor boards, bus benches and more. Below is just a small sampling from some of my design work for clients.

So whether you need a single sign or an entire marketing campaign that includes signage in its plan, contact me so we can discuss. I love the diversity of the design world I represent and would be honored to bring my skills to meet your needs. And I hope you'll join us for this year's Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday, April 8th. (Shuttle parking is available for a mere $1.) Happy spring!

The Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival needs to not only have signs at the event but also well before the event to spread the word about its date and location. This is a digital sign from 2013 which was displayed on a multi-story building near the event. The graphics are largely the same today as we continue to build brand awareness for this annual one-day event.

Pole banners help attendees find the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival in all the rush of downtown activity, especially if they don't take advantage of the easy and inexpensive shuttle.

Once attendees arrive at the Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival, the locations of all the sections of the event are marked with flag banners which are easily visible above the crowd.

A networking luncheon which included a garden tour after the meal used directional signs with the same graphics as the marketing materials, program, name tags, etc. making it clear for guests to find their way.

THA – Tennessee Hospital Association needed booth graphics to match all their marketing materials for their annual meeting in order to help attendees easily know where to go.

My musician friend, Jerry Vandiver, needed a sign for festivals and shows where he performs so that, while he plays his paddle songs, viewers can get basic information about who he is and who sponsors him: Northstar Canoes in this case.

Informational signs for Pedestal Foods helped students learn more about their specialty of providing healthy food choices in schools.

The Belmont United Methodist Church needed to promote a fundraiser on a bulletin board in addition to a poster for congregants to learn more about their campaign.