A "Teacher with a budget friendly closet" wanted a website overhaul. After using tumblr for a bit, she decided she had to make the move to Wordpress. Hallways Are My Runways is operated by a fashionista from Chicago, originally from Greece. She has a personal style blog that shines with beautiful images of her daily wares. Unfortunately tumblr wasn't doing any justice to her images, by researching and finding a theme that was predominantly image focused and easy to use, we were able to give her already great style a bit of a sophisticated boost and set her apart from her competitors. With her fun fashion tastes being showcased, the background blog elements take a backseat. 

Managing this project was also a delight, working with a team to meet deliverables dates was key to this project's success. Taking on the administrative roles as well as designing proved to be rewarding. 

Roles: Sourcing, Layout, Production, Project Management

Client: Hallways Are My Runways

Designing and producing graphics for a Fortune 100 company's mobile division proved to be rewarding. I was able to embrace the chaos and put some structure in place. The organization of graphics, assets, release version, client changes and industry standards were part of my role. Not to mention keeping a style guide with pixel measurements for the developers to have on hand off. Yea...literally pixel pushing for days. It was amazing, not being sarcastic. I'm not sure what it was but I felt completely engaged and fulfilled during this project. 

Taking lead of knowing industry standards of how to produce graphics for the various mobile devices was definitely a new realm. I figured out how to create 9 patch graphics and test them, very important. I also streamlined my process for creating the individual graphics on each screen which took minutes as opposed to hours. Creating an asset inventory sheet, which coordinated with the file directory, which went with the UX, really helped to manage all the different graphics and where they were to go on what screen. I like to call it graphic mapping. I was on this project for a year, it went through many different transitions before its release.

Role: Design, Production, Asset Management
Client: Allstate, Mobile Division
Agency: Reach Creative

Adam Patrick Painting is a small painting business serving the Chicago-land area. This home grown painter needed a straightforward, but striking, identity to market to his customers. Feelings to convey: respectable, dependable and consistent. By keeping the logotype simple, it allowed for a little bit more play with some elements. The 2 part estimate sheet also followed suit in the branding. 

Role: Logo Design, Layout, Production

Client: Adam Patrick Painting

A press kit for a movie, yes please! This project was great, not only was it about Rodeo Queens but I was able to use my, all so important, crafting skills to construct the kit. This kit was made for the movie’s owner to send out to film festivals.

The Press Kit Box included the dvd, soundtrack, small informational booklet and to add some cowgirl flair—a mini cowboy hat, blue eye shadow and ruby red lipstick. The outside of the box was adorned with some leather fringe, a small embellishment of cowboy boots and a horseshoe along with the title tag. The inside of the box was lined with sparkly denim fabric. That same fabric pattern we used on the disc covers.

Role: Sourcing, Construction, Production

Client: Luca Shapiro

Agency: Birkdesign Inc.

I was approached to create a logo for a soon to be non-profit in Chicago. Project Give Dreams, is a missionary and philanthropic effort created to aid and support in alleviating the challenging problem of hunger and homelessness.

The design brief was pretty simple, it needed to feel young, vibrant, innovative and fresh; the logo mark should represent give or dream, ideas given: angels, clouds, dreamy, stars. 

Keeping the logo as simple as possible for it to be easily recognized and easy to reproduce on multiple surfaces/products is the main focal point. It was going to be applied to a variety of items, from bags to envelopes to promotional giveaways. The option shown has the flexibility wanted by having the ability to use on different end products. Achieving a hopeful feeling with the vibrant colors that compliment the logomark, this option responds to the client's need.  

Role: Branding, Production
Client: Tori Collins, Project Give Dreams

Branding a library is a bit trickier than you may think. You're not just dealing with the marketing person that brought you on, but you also have to deal with all of the staff, the board of directors and the towns people making decisions.

At first the library wanted something abstract, I was inspired by the architecture on the outside of the building. However when options were given it was commented that "my teenager could do a better job." At this moment I learned a valuable lesson as a designer, there are people who understand the hard work that goes into design and there are those that underestimate it. 

Although I had such difficulties, I am very proud of the work that came out of this project and the amount of people that responded so positively to its unveiling: the staff, the board and the townspeople.  

Role: Logo Design, Identity System, Marketing Collateral
Client: Cannon Consulting for Stickney-Forest View Library

R+R Transit is a senior and medical patient transportation service that drives people to and from their destinations throughout the greater Cook County area. 

Feelings to convey: courteous, caring, safe, and dependable. By taking these key words, the logo mark was created. Easily recognizable, the heart wrapping the logotype represents transporting patients from point A to point B with care. 

Creating brand guidelines was crucial for this small business as there were many mediums to apply the brand. The important touch points are the shirts the employees wear and the vehicle the customers would be transported in. 

Role: Logo Design, Layout
Client: R+R Transit
Agency: The Scientist Marketing

Williams Interactive is a subsidiary of Scientific Gaming Corporation. They provide solutions for the iGaming industry, including white label products and marketing platforms for real-money gaming sites.

How I understand it, they provide specific packages to Casinos that allow them to host their own brand online and mobile gaming. That is obviously the simple version, I would encourage you to stop by their site to for further information.

Williams is relatively new, it was a small division of WMS gaming but has expanded in the last several years. They launch new items at G2E, which is a gaming tradeshow, every year. Part of my role required communication through various parties including the print vendor, booth contractor and licensing bodies. The licensed images from the games were given to us to use for the various tradeshow graphics. We were responsible for making sure they were produced at the correct spec accompanied by the appropriate copyright. 

Role: Design, Layout, Production
Client: Williams Interactive
Agency: Reach Creative

Kealah Parkinson is a Northwest Indiana Communications Coach working with many business professionals helping them hone in on their confidence, self-acceptance and communicating properly.

Keeping her fresh perspective, the organic feel of mindfulness and the professionalism of her practice; her brand has been awakened. A sophisticated, earthy feel really helps exude the persona that Coach Kiki is communicating to her clients.

Coach Kiki represents authentic, confident open-mindedness.  Keeping the logo mark simple allows for the application in a number of ways across a variety of mediums. An enclosed shape gives a more substantial stance, which reinforces Kiki's power stances, one of her many lessons. Pairing this mark with a simple warm color palette creates an accessible, familiar personality.

Imagery helps define Coach Kiki's brand story. As a main component of the brand, images speak more then words or even a logo. Through imagery Coach Kiki will define her inner voice and continually gain national appeal from her audience. When a client or prospect can relate to the brand through images, an instant bond is created, always attracting various demographics through well curated images.