Hand-Made Art In Design

In this age of computers, it is refreshing (read; different, eye-catching) to see design that incorporates hand-made art. I try to implement some hand-made art into my design work when I can and when it's appropriate. It can really make a design stand out from the crowd.

Project: Fahrenheit 451 Movie Showing Poster
Client: Washoe County Library

Project: Washoe County Library Annual Report

Project: Rhythm & Rawhide Invitation
Description: Invitation to an annual event that combines Cowboy Culture with Classical Music

Project: Sierra Neurosurgery Logo
 

Project: Food For Thought Logo
Description: Logo for event - guests sat at a table that had a discussion topic for the evening. A moderator helped keep the discussion on topic.

iPhone Mobile Portfolio

Many creative types know about this but I thought I'd post this just in case. You can use your iPhone as a mobile portfolio. I haven't had a printed portfolio in years. With my web site and pdf's, there hasn't been a need for one. Now I have a portfolio on my iPhone which I use to show my work when I meet the old school way, "face-to-face".
Sure you could dial up your web site on your iPhone but what if you are not in reach of a wi-fi zone and don't want to wait for the Edge Network to load your site. Having a portfolio on your iPhone is fast.

Here is how to put one together: first, get all your images together, rasterize them (72dpi and I made mine at 400px wide) using your favorite image editing software. Next, open iPhoto and make a new album and title it whatever you like. Next, drag all the images that you prepped for your porfolio into this album. You can rearrange the images to your hearts content. Plug your phone into your computer, click to select your phone in iTunes, go to the photos tab and make sure that your new album is selected to sync. Now sync. Your new portfolio will be an album under the photos section. You can even play it as a slideshow. Impressive.

Logos For Non-Profit Businesses

Logos created for various non-profit businesses:
Arts For Nevada
Client: Nevada Arts Council
Location: Reno, NV

Northern Nevada Reads
Client: Washoe County Library
Location: Reno, NV
Logo for event

ONE Online Nevada Encyclopedia
Client: Nevada Humanities
Location: Reno, NV

Food For Thought
Client: Nevada Humanities
Location: Reno, NV
Logo for event.

photography

I love sign graphics. There are some great old signs here in Reno. Development hasn't eliminated all of them yet. I took these photos with a Holga lens on my Canon 30D. I wanted to abstract the signs just a bit by throwing them out of focus reducing them to shapes and colors. These photos will look great blown up big in the living room.

Strata Design Logo - Interior Design

Strata Design Logo
Client: Strata Design
Location: Reno, NV

Logo for an interior design company. The logo had to look sleek and modern to represent my client's design style. I also named the company. The circles represent the many elements that come together in the design process.

iPhone as CAD (Creative Assistance Device)

Out on the town I snapped these pics. You never know what will inspire you or what these pics will inspire in the future. At the very least it's an exercise in "seeing" or spontaneous creativity. Plus, I love signs, especially old ones.

Decks and More Logo

Decks and More Logo

Client: Decks and More
Location: Reno, NV

Final logo for Decks and More. The client wanted to not only convey the idea that they build and repair decks but also that they are a young and modern company. I wanted to show the representation of a home and a deck since it was at the center of this companies business but I also wanted it to be very minimal, modern and easily read. This logo would appear on a sign on the side of the clients truck, yard signs and business cards. Here is how the project started. I always work in black and white until the client picks a design. Then I do color studies. This image gives an idea of how many ideas I come up with. This is also one step after the sketch phase where there are even more logo ideas. In this phase, I refine my hand-done sketches and then choose 3 or so for client presentation.

The client was extremely pleased with their new logo and later remarked at home many people liked the new logo. Step one of branding complete.