BACKGROUND: Who Will Run the Frog Hospital, originally published in 1994, was Moore’s second novel. Moore has told interviewers that “the novel was inspired by a drawing of the same name by Nancy Mladenoff.” It uses memory as a narrative device and explores the connection between memory and place. The locations in the novel, Paris and Upstate New York, serve as supporting cast members in this exploration of friendship and marriage.

TARGET AUDIENCE: The book design is targeted towards readers of literary fiction and should appeal to existing fans of Moore’s work, while also attracting new, and perhaps, younger readers as well. With its strong, female-driven narrative and focus on female friendships, the target audience will be largely female.

CHARACTER OF THE DESIGN: The book cover design should be clean, modern and, like Moore’s prose, have a bit of an edge. However, unlike the original 1994 cover, which consisted of black and grey san serif type on a white background, this design will draw upon the sense of place the novel creates, evoking references to Storyland, the themed amusement park from the characters’ childhood. in addition, the title, and the artwork which inspired it, will contribute layers of meaning to the design. The new design will create a more emotional experience, conveying the sense of nostalgia, longing and regret the characters experience.

BACKGROUND: Boneyard Barkery is a (fictional) small artisanal bakery specializing in organic dog biscuits, treats, cookies and cakes.  Located in Urbana, Illinois, Boneyard Barkery opened its doors in 2015, featuring special occasion cakes, biscuits, and cookies.  The launch of this new product marks the company’s expansion into the training biscuit arena. The company plans to launch additional training biscuit flavors by 2018. Boneyard Barkery’s products are currently only available for sale at their Urbana storefront location.

TARGET AUDIENCE:  As a demographic, this group of Champaign-Urbana dog owners is well-educated, ranges in age from 22-55, and includes both men and women. Likely to spend a significant portion of their disposable income on the care and well-being of their dogs, these “pet parents” frequent dog parks, travel with their dogs, and consider their dogs to be family members.

CHARACTER OF THE DESIGN: The packaging design will be clean and modern, with an upscale sensibility.  It will be fun and witty, yet tasteful. It will be inviting, yet somewhat exclusive. It will proudly boast its organic, locally-made nature, yet remain sophisticated.

This logo was created for Glass House Studios, a three-person Urbana-based, DIY film production collab. Inspired by the adage, “people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” and emboldened by lessons learned from a YouTube video, I stretched and shattered a bold Helvetica. After applying the logo to a black t-shirt, I found the reverse treatment equally compelling. Within the coming year I will create an animated logo which will appear at the opening of each Glass House Studio production.

BACKGROUND:  Founded in 2008, The Champaign County Stormwater Partnership is a collaboration between the City of Champaign, the City of Urbana, the University of Illinois, and the Village of Savoy that is designed to share information and resources in addressing common requirements for their  Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits. These permits address best management practices (BMPs) to improve the quality of stormwater that runs off of land and into rivers, lakes, and streams.  CCSP partners address resident and business owner concerns, and engage in two regularly scheduled public outreach programs: Boneyard Creek Community Day and the Illinois Green Infrastructure Conference.

TARGET AUDIENCE:  While the work it does impacts all residents and business owners within Champaign County, the Champaign County Stormwater Partnership’s rebranding initiative emphasizes outreach to families and to our youngest citizens, who often act as  green initiative ambassadors within their families.

CHARACTER OF THE REBRANDING CAMPAIGN: The new logo design will reflect both the innovative nature of its work and the spirit of stewardship which guides its mission and motivates its partner organizations. It will be playful, fun, energetic, and fresh. By presenting an inviting and engaging vibe, the design will breathe new life into the Champaign County Stormwater Partnership’s communications and public outreach initiatives.

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BACKGROUND: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema’s unique blend of dining, drinks, and movies has earned it accolades from Entertainment Weekly, Fandango.com, and Wired.com. From its original  DIY-format to its current high-tech franchises, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is a destination for Austin’s movie fans. Alamo’s adherence to a no-distraction policy is one of the many ways it honors its patrons love of movies. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema screens current features as well as old favorites, and is known for theme nights like “Girlie Nights” and “Quote Alongs” during which the sacred no-talking policy is happily lifted.

TARGET AUDIENCE:  From its support of local microbreweries to its creative theme nights, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is a product of Austin’s artistic and foodie cultures.  Its “distraction-free” viewing is a perfect fit for true movie lovers. Its demographic ranges from adults 21-55 years of age, including those with families.

CHARACTER OF THE DESIGN: The poster design will reflect Alamo’s (and Austin’s) hipster vibe. Employing a minimal, yet thought-provoking design, a la Jason Munn, the poster will be smart, modern, knowing, and witty. Like the Alamo itself, the poster design will speak to the serious movie fan.

BACKGROUND: The American Institute of Graphic Arts is the design profession’s oldest and largest professional membership organization. With a total of 70 chapters and more than 25,000 members, AIGA is committed to the advancement of the graphic design profession.  Through its programs, events, and fund-raising, AIGA works to connect and inspire designers and design students, and to impact business and society on a global scale. As advocates for a better understanding of the value of design, the members of AIGA work to define standards and ethical practices, make resources available to all, and to enhance professional development through a wide variety of learning opportunities.

TARGET AUDIENCE: The target audience for this t-shirt will be professional graphic designers and design students.

CHARACTER OF THE DESIGN: As befitting a product geared towards graphic designers, the t-shirt design will be eye-catching, clever, and will make a bold statement.  As in years past, the t-shirt design will pay homage to one of AIGA’s most celebrated designers and his or her most iconic work. This year’s chosen designer is Paula Scher. Scher has been described as the “master conjurer of the instantly familiar,” [who] straddles the line between pop culture and fine art in her work. Iconic, smart, and accessible, her images have entered into the American vernacular.  This year’s t-shirt design will reflect these elements of Scher’s design legacy.

BACKGROUND: Fleurish is a full-service florist known for its diverse stock and creative, modern arrangements. It originally opened in downtown Urbana in February 2009, and moved to the old Ric Orr Florist location in downtown Champaign in September 2011. While Fleurish has regularly been  hired to provide arrangements for weddings, anniversaries, bar mitzvahs and corporate functions, the goal of the move to downtown Champaign was to expand the number of bouquets Fleurish sells for everyday occasions.

TARGET AUDIENCE: For the most part, the main consumer base consists of men and women in the Champaign-Urbana area ranging in age from 25-55. Fleurish’s modern sensibility lends itself well to members of the University of Illinois faculty and C-U’s creative professionals.

CHARACTER OF THE CAMPAIGN: The campaign seeks to promote Fleurish’s brand to consumers who may currently purchase their flowers online, at supermarkets, or from other, more traditional florists in the area. It also seeks to grow the number of bouquets sold for everyday occasions.  In keeping with Fleurish’s boutique sensibility, the campaign will be modern, clean, witty, and unique.

BACKGROUND: International Galleries in Urbana, Illinois, was established over 35 years ago with a location in the heart of the University of Illinois campus. Now an anchor store at Urbana’s Lincoln Square Mall, International Galleries provides custom framing of diplomas, certificates, photographs, prints and original artwork, in addition to offering a wide selection of ready-made frames at a variety of price points. A strong supporter of local artists and artisans, International Galleries also sells jewelry, pottery, fine art prints, as well as candles, statuary, greeting cards, incense, and Tarot decks. It proudly offers the largest selection of stones in Urbana-Champaign, including polished and rough, carved and natural, lab-grown and mined.

TARGET AUDIENCE:  International Galleries has a long history of providing framing services to the University  of Illinois, Parkland College, and various local businesses, while also serving the framing needs of individual Champaign-Urbana consumers ranging widely in age from 22-75. The lines of artwork, cards, pottery and jewelry are geared towards a subset of this audience: Champaign-Urbana consumers ranging in age from 22-60 who enjoy and support the work of local artists and artisans. The majority of this audience is female. Lastly, the selection of Tarot decks, candles, incense, stones, and statuary draw a more niche audience of Champaign-Urbana men and women ranging in age from 16-55.

CHARACTER OF THE DESIGN: The overall goal of this web site design should be to attract consumer interest in your expert custom framing services. While including information about the selection of local art,  jewelry and other product lines, the design will be heavily weighted towards the sensibility of discriminating art buyers, photographers, artists and interior designers who appreciate the beauty of well-chosen and well-made frames. It should also appeal to professionals who appreciate the added value of expertly framed diplomas and certificates  The design should be established, warm, modern, and a bit luxurious. While International Galleries’ range of products and services may appear eclectic and diverse, the web site design should not be overstuffed or appear cluttered. The overall look and feel of the design should avoid “New Age-y” visual tropes and should stress quality craftsmanship, range of frame style, and an artistic sensibility.

A poster for a 2018 Pens to Lens student-written short animated film in which clouds are filled with ducks playing games of tag.