Archive for October, 2008

How To Create a NextGen Gallery Tag Cloud

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

Disclaimer: I am not a programmer. I know just enough about coding to get things to work, but not enough to make it pretty or even usually be able to explain it to someone else. However, I thought this might be helpful.

(more…)

Reboot.

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

I am my own worst client. I’m an indecisive, know-it-all procrastinator. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of the choices when you have no one to please but yourself. So designing, or in this case redesigning, a website is an arduous process. (more…)

Pencils.

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

When I was a kid, I had a theory that you could make more money by selling pencils for $.75 apiece than for $1.00, because more people would be attracted to the lower price and you’d sell more pencils.

Looks like I was right.
(more…)

Mad Men.

Monday, October 20th, 2008

I got to Mad Men late—missed the first season completely. AMC is one of my not my usual Sunday-night-channel-surfing stops. But after the Emmy’s, you couldn’t spit without hitting a blog post about the great period advertising drama.

At first I was unimpressed. Maybe because there was so much hype; but also, all the characters just seemed so stereotyped. Sexist men who cheated on their wives with anything that breathed. Flighty secretaries who seem perfectly happy to file their nails and nail their bosses. Everyone drinking and chain smoking because life is just so hard.

But it seemed like everybody loved this damn show. (Although I searched diligently for a review by a female, and came up empty.) So I kept watching. And after 12 of 13 episodes this season, I’m not so frustrated by the sexism as I am plain bored. (more…)

First Baptist Landrum Website

Sunday, October 19th, 2008

Church Website Design

the client: First Baptist Church, Landrum, SC

the challenge: FBC wanted a new site design that reflected their existing congregation, while inviting new members. The new site needed to make information about their activities easily accessible to all ages.

the solution: Texture and warm oranges make inviting graphics, and the sidebar prominently features important links. The pages have been restructured based on the church’s discipleship plan, which will be intuitive to church members.

Visit the site

Red Rain Business Cards

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Red Rain Environmental Store Retail Business Card Design Red Rain Environmental Store Retail Business Card Design

the client: Red Rain

the challenge: The new owner of Red Rain wanted a set of business cards that conveyed the hand-made, earthy feel of the establishment, while incorporating Art Deco elements. She also needed the card to serve not only to publicize the store, but her own endeavors as well.

the solution: A two-sided card that displays the store info on the front, and the owner’s personal talents on the back. The woodcut feel of the Red Rain logo, combined with the deco-style font suited the client perfectly. The cards were printed at twice the height of a normal business card so they don’t blend in with the crowd, but can easily be folded in half to fit in a wallet or pocket. Recycled, FCS certified paper was used.

Hospice of the Valley Tradeshow Graphics

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Hospice Hospital Tradeshow Graphic Design

the client: Hospice of the Valley

the challenge: A local hospice needed a trade show booth that showed it’s history and experience with care and compassion.

the solution: High quality photography and very little copy give that warm feel.

Parkway Medical Newspaper Ad

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Hospital Newspaper Advertising Design

the client: Parkway Medical Center

the challenge: Parkway needed to remind residents that quality heart care was at their fingertips.

the solution: Sometimes a straightforward approach works best - heart-warming photos and bold headlines convey Parkway’s concern for the community.

Scene Restaurant Magazine Ads

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Restaurant Advertising Magazine Editorial Design

the client: Monaco Pictures

the challenge: The Scene restaurant located in Monaco pictures needed to attract the lunch crowd, as well as evening movie-goers.

the solution: A series of ads that use a vintage look and clever copy combined with sumptuous food photos to make Scene stick out as a dining destination in its own right.

Monaco Pictures Ad Campaign

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Theater Theatre Advertising Design

Theater Theatre Advertising Design

Theater Theatre Advertising Design

the client: Monaco Pictures

the challenge: Monaco needed a visual and conceptual identity that could be used to in the local paper to advertise the theater, restaurant, and lounge.

the solution: Classic movie quotes are updated with clever endings. The black and white film panels coupled with rich colors convey both elegance and luxury.

The Bridge UMC Flyers

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Church Flyer Design

the client: The Bridge UMC

the challenge: An advertising campaign for a church geared towards young families, particularly men, to be placed prominently in a local mall. These flyers were to be placed alongside large backlit Duratrans displays for viewers to take home.

the solution: 4″x6″ postcard sized flyers encourage visiting The Bridge’s website.

The Bridge UMC Mall Displays

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Church Advertising Duratrans Design
Church Advertising Duratrans Design

the client: The Bridge UMC

the challenge: An advertising campaign for a church geared towards young families, particularly men, to be placed prominently in a local mall.

the solution: Photos that touch the heart convey the message of inclusion and togetherness on the two backlit Duratrans displays.

Red Cross Newsletter

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Red Cross Non-Profit Newsletter Design

Red Cross Non-Profit Newsletter Design

the client: Morgan-Lawrence County Red Cross

the challenge: The local Red Cross needed an updated look as well as quality information design for it’s quarterly newsletter.

the solution: A neutral brown makes the red pop, and clean typography allows each piece of information to be clearly read and understood.

Catholic High School Brochure

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Catholic High School Brochure Design

the client: Catholic High School

the challenge: Raising $15 million is never an easy task, but that’s exactly what Catholic High School needed to do to build a new facility to accommodate their growing enrollment.

the solution: An 8.5” x 11” brochure with a tri-fold center spread that displayed the architectural renderings of the proposed building project. The school’s existing brand was updated with subdued colors and clean typography. A full day photo shoot at the existing school facility provided images of students that helps the reader connect on an emotional level to the project.

Huntsville Hospital TV Spot

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Hospital Television Ad Storyboard Design

Hospital Television Ad Commercial Storyboard Design

Hospital Television Ad Commercial Storyboard Design

the client: Huntsville Hospital

the challenge: As Huntsville’s oldest and only not-for-profit hospital, Huntsville Hospital needed to remind citizens of who they are and what makes them unique and an integral part of the community. Within their brand message, they also wanted room to highlight individual departments.

the solution: Copy that ties the past to the present and resonates with young and old in the community. Images from historical archives combined with images from a photo shoot onsite reinforce the then-and-now theme.

Huntsville Hospital Ad Campaign

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Hospital Advertising Campaign Design

the client: Huntsville Hospital

the challenge: As Huntsville’s oldest and only not-for-profit hospital, Huntsville Hospital needed to remind citizens of who they are and what makes them unique and an integral part of the community. Within their brand message, they also wanted room to highlight individual departments.

the solution: “111 years of service. 84 new ways to show we still care.” A newspaper campaign that emphasized how long Huntsville Hospital has been caring for their community. Copy that ties the past to the present and resonated with young and old in the community. Images from historical archives combined with images from a photo shoot onsite reinforce the then-and-now theme.

CityHarvest Poster

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

City Harvest Non-Profit Food Bank Poster Design

the client: CityHarvest

the challenge: A nonprofit food rescue organization needed to get the word out about the hunger problem and what they are doing to address it.

the solution: A type-based solution printed on recycled stock shows the unbalanced distribution of food. Copy about CityHarvest explains how they are trying to solve the problem.

Relish Magazine Cover

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Magazine Editorial Cover Layout Design

the client: Relish Magazine
the challenge: A new music, art and culture publication needed a cover design that was modern and hip.
the solution: The bold masthead and black and white palette allows cover photography to jump off the page.

Silent Vibe Brochure

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Silent Vibe Music Deaf Brochure Design

the client: Silent Vibe

the challenge: A unique organization needed a brochure that would stand out from the crowd.

the solution: The clean, crisp look separates this piece from the clutter. Lots of white space combine with subtle typography and a strong graphic sensibility.

TAC Enterprises Website

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Tractor Farm Equipment Website Design

the client: TAC Enterprises

the challenge: TAC wanted to harness the web to display their inventory and product details; particularly Kioti, their biggest seller.

the solution: The bright orange combined with clean layouts and whitespace perfectly display TAC’s product lines.

Planning Department Website

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

City Planning Department Web Design

the client: City of Cullman Planning Department

the challenge: The Planning Department needed a cleaner website design that was easier to navigate, and showed off their upcoming development plans for the city.

the solution: Since the city is focused on building to the future with an eye towards the past, retro-style graphics with bold colors seemed fitting.

Vision Wheel Website

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Vision Wheel Car Rim Accessories Web Design

the client: Vision Wheel

the challenge: This site needed to be more funky and graphics-heavy to cater to the auto-accessories crowd.

the solution: Details like texture and color bring this site to life from its previous black and silver existence, while allowing for all the necessary information on the interior pages.

Red Cross Chapter Website

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Red Cross Web Design

the client: Morgan-Lawrence County Red Cross

the challenge: A site that would follow the style of the national Red Cross website, but perform the specific functions required by the local chapter.

the solution: A website with the same look and feel as redcross.org, but a much cleaner layout with only two columns. The site also addresses the chapter’s e-commerce and communication needs.

Visit the site

The Bridge UMC Website

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

The Bridge Church Web Design

the client: The Bridge UMC

the challenge: A website for a new church congregation focused on reaching out to the unchurched.

the solution: A two-fold site with specific information for visitors and regulars. A splash page allows visitors to find directions, service times, etc., while regular attenders can view sermons and upcoming events at a glance.

Visit the site

Maven Retouch Website

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Photography Photo Retouching Web Design

the client: Maven Concepts

the challenge: Maven Concepts was looking for bright, fun graphics and a functional layout for an online photo retouching service. The site needed to be small, but still contain a lot of verbiage.

the solution: Bright blue and green offset by dark grey set the tone; clearly defined sections allow the user to comfortably take in all of the information on the home page. Only three other pages for paying and confirmation were needed to complete the project.

Visit the site

Astwood Dickinson Website

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Department Store Bermuda Web Design

the client: Maven Concepts

the challenge: Astwood Dickinson, an upscale department store in Bermuda, needed a facelift for their existing site to make it cleaner and more organized.

the solution: The modular format and bright colors allow for a dynamic site that reflects the exuberance of the islands.

Visit the site

The Maven Collection Website

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Exclusive Online Magazine Web Design

the client: Maven Concepts

the challenge: A high-end, upscale design was needed for a new online magazine.

the solution: The clean, simple design allows the magazine to shine.

Visit the site

Father Nature Landscapes Website

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Landscaping Nursery Web Design

the client: Father Nature Landscapes

the challenge: Andrew McCurry needed to educate potential clients about his landscaping business without spending hours on portfolio presentations.

the solution: A site that walks clients through Father Nature’s capabilities and displays finished projects for inspiration, and copywriting that reflects the down-to-earth, friendly personality of Father Nature’s staff.

Visit the site

AVO Wedding Videography Website

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Wedding Photography Videography Web Design

the client: AVO Wedding Videography

\

the challenge: Another freelancer needed a flexible framework for a site he had originally designed within a rigid template. When the client’s copy grew, the site didn’t.
the solution: I provided the overall design, site graphics and an HTML/CSS framework to my freelancing friend.

EnviraKleen Logo

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Environmental Mold Moisture Control Logo Design

the client: EnviraKleen

the challenge: Designing a logo for a new company specializing in environmental waterproofing and airtight crawlspaces.

the solution: A globe made out of either soap bubbles or mold spores, depending on how you look at it.

FaithQuest UMC Logo

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Methodist Church Logo Design

the client: FaithQuest UMC

the challenge: Making disciples is the goal of a new United Methodist congregation; they needed a mark that conveyed their mission.

the solution: A simple, clean circle surrounds a path representing the Christian journey. The hills represent the geographical area in which the church is located. The reversed out cross is the focus of the mark.

Kenny Mango’s Coffee Labels

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Coffee Shop Cafe Label Package Design

the client: Kenny Mango’s Coffee Shop

the challenge: Kenny needed an identity that took his current tropical theme upscale.

the solution: An island color palette combined with rustic texture convey the shop’s tagline: “Relax Under the Palms.”

Kenny Mango’s Coffee Logo

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Coffee Shop Cafe Bakery Logo Design

the client: Kenny Mango’s Coffee Shop

the challenge: Kenny needed an identity that took his current tropical theme upscale.

the solution: An ornate logo that conveys a relaxed island atmosphere, and coffee labels that integrate the tagline “Relax Under the Palms.”

The Bridge UMC Logo

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Methodist Church Logo Design

the client: The Bridge United Methodist Church

the challenge: With no congregation and no building, Rev. John Hill needed a strong logo for his new church plant. His vision was a simple, clean mark specifically targeting men who might be put off by the frequently feminine language and rituals of the traditional church.

the solution: A simple, strong mark that represents movement from one way of life to another. Colors that feel more like an outdoor sports company than a church.

Blue Lake Camp Logo

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Camp Retreat Center Logo Design

the client: Blue Lake United Methodist Assembly

the challenge: A United Methodist camping facility needed a new look to attract both investors and campers.

the solution: A sporty, bright, fun new logo that can be used for the facilities corporate materials or for the camp program materials.

Bayside Gardens Logo

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Nursery Landscaping Affordable Logo Design

the client: Bayside Gardens

the challenge: The owner needed a unique identity to set his landscaping company apart from the rest in the artsy community of Fairhope, AL.

the solution: An artsy, hand-drawn feel with colors that reflect the coastal community.

Hunter Construction Logo

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Construction Builder Freelance Logo Design
the client: Hunter Construction

the challenge: An established construction company needed a new brand to reflect both their stability and their dedication to problem-solving.

the solution: An abstract hammer inside a solid square with bold colors accomplishes both goals.

Silent Vibe Logo

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Logo design for teaching music to the deaf

the client: Silent Vibe

the challenge: The organization needed a logo that stood out to represent it’s mission of teaching music to the deaf.

the solution: A mark that represents both a sound-maker, the guitar, and the sound-reciever, the ear. The loose illustration conveys the relaxed spirit of the music lessons.

Arbor Acres Newsletter

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Newsletter Design by Ginny Shope Fowler

Newsletter Design by Ginny Shope Fowler

the client: Arbor Acres

the challenge: Arbor Acres needed an updated look for their newsletter and accompanying literature.

the solution: Incorporating a dark grey into their existing red and blue color scheme gave the newsletter a more technical feel appropriate to the information. Smooth color blocks and rounded corners also gave a more interesting, less corporate feel.

ChristGarden UMC

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

ChristGarden United Methodist Church

the client: Christ Garden UMC

the challenge: The pastor’s church vision was analogous to a grandfather’s vegetable garden with dirty hands and the fruit of hard labor.

the solution: Vibrant jewel tones set off a monotone header photo that conveys the main idea of the church: getting your hands dirty. Because the church is just getting started, we created large buttons in the middle of the page with pertinent information to curious visitors.

Visit the site