Madi

Many tears today, and the last several days.

Today was the funeral of a sweet little girl, Madison Kay Douglas. Madi and her family are in our church, and in the time I have known them I have seen them strengthen and uplift everyone around them. Shortly after her third birthday, and about eight months ago, Madi was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor.

Today we were among serveral hundred people wearing shades of purple (Madi's favorite color). Between purple ballons and purple decorations everywhere, lots of children singing, profoundly beautiful words shared and a deeply touching slide show put to music, I came away a changed person.

One of my favorite parts of the slide show was a video clip of Madi spashing in a puddle with her arms wide out to her sides, and her head thrown back singing in dramatic fashion "Laaaaaa, Laaaaaaaaaaaaa, Laaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!)

Madi lived every moment of life to the fullest. She ran hard. She jumped high. She smiled often and laughed hard. She gave lots of kisses and hugs to her her family. Because she lived her life with such vibrance, I feel inspired to live with more energy, gratitude and vibrance in mine. Thank you Madi.

To read Madi's story, please see these inspiring journal posts:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/Miraclemadidouglas/journal

Name Badges

Media Marketing and More! Inc.

Who'd have thought that getting name tags would take over 5 months? Not me!

The design didn't take too long. Once we had our business cards, we knew we wanted something similar. It needed to be the same colors with gradient and everything. Finding a multi-color print-complicated-image-on-plastic with magnet attachment was a challenge.

We have a strong local-business-loyalty. Unfortunately, the availability was just not there to "go local" (our several-month search). Online search brought us to a company we are very happy with.

Do you like the finished product?

Web Design and Build for Circle of Life

Circle of Life Pet Crematorium
Hemet, California
www.circleoflifepet.com

This beautiful little place is unique in many ways. My favorite thing is that they encourage people to visit them! Literally in the middle of an orange grove, the path to the building is picturesque, and the smell that greets you at the door is deep cedar.

Did I mention how sweet and thoughtful they are?

I have been assisting Circle of Life for over 5 years now with their design, print, photography and website needs. We make a good team!

Goals:
-Communicate who they are, what they do, and how they do it
-Showcase services and products provided
-Help clients and their pets feel the care and respect that Circle of Life works so hard to provide
-Provide sources of healing and comfort

Stats
-This is an ongoing project
-Free memorial posting page to any client who wants to send pictures and say something about their pet who has passed
-Full table of contents for it's many (changing) products
-A complete online catalog (also in print version) with product information (The catalog is a working design done by myself)
-Currently 62 pages and growing
-Company email services

www.circleoflifepet.com

Web Design and Build

Mackie Landscape Design
www.mackielandscapedesign.com

How do you create a site to:

Reflect quality product and workmanship?
Remind the viewer of landscaping?
Show reliability and experience?
Show breadth of skill?
Includes some flowers but still feels masculine?

Design

Colors: white (clean) blues (water, refreshing) greens (plants, growth) blacks (in small amounts here, they provide contrast, clarity)
Images: strong, with pleasant and balanced composition
Frames: organization and line of sight
Texture: water, natural landscaping materials, rock
Organization: products and results in horizontal bar, detailed company information in side bar, header (first thing you see) keeps your attention, easily locate-able contact information on every page

Build

Slide show: draws attention to strong images
Click to see more images: more visuals at command of viewer
Buttons: float over/light up water-bubble is a cool effect

10 pages
Several month planning phase
Several month build

Web Design and Build

Anna Marie Carr
Beauty

Client Requirements: main colors should be black and hot pink, design element of stars
Background: images provided (exception of headshot, done by myself), most of the copy provided
Goal: provide information and examples of Anna's work in a pleasing manner, encouraging new traffic and business growth

To see Anna's site, go to www.annacarr.com

Ad Placement Photography

Photo Shoot for Uptown Columbus Ad Campaign

Goals: Highlight what the client is about while matching the 'look' of the overall campaign "Are you 'Ready2Uptown'?"

Two final images to choose from:

We selected Option 2. Having Tanya there brought a personal warmth and friendliness that met our original goals.

To see what is going on at Uptown Columbus' facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/uptowncolumbusbid

Do you want to see the final ad all done up by KIS Creative?
TO BE POSTED!

Print Design

Fly Card / Mailer
Mackie Landscape Design
Printed on glossy cardstock

Along with the design-to-print, I did all the image photography for these cards. These pictures were collected from several sessions, including a night shoot needed to showcase lighting.

Design Wise: What do you see first? What information is easiest to see and understand? What is the 'line of sight' you follow (if a laser could trace the path your eyes take, what shape would be left on the paper)? Are there words you skip over?

Tools used: size variation, simple lines, clean contrast, and color (I love lots of balanced color in photographs! Color brings energy, and a business wanting to grow needs to show that energy. Blue and green fonts reflect that this is a landscape company.)

Beyond Actual Words - Communication in Design

What are you communicating?

Is it what you want to say?

The words you place on an ad, on a website, in print, are all important. But they are not even HALF of all you are 'saying'.

Comparison:
Verbal communication means more than the actual words. The sound, inflection, volume, and tone can say very different things while the words remain the same. Throw in circumstance and body language and you have a very complex delivery system of meaning. How many different ways can you say the boring statement "She went to the store"...? (SHE went, and not me?) -pouty- (She WENT already- but I wanted to go!)-frustration- (WHERE did she go?) -I'm lost- (which store?) -confusion- (she went SHOPPING?) Now we are getting more interesting. -whose money is she spending?- -she is spending money AGAIN?- ... How many different ways can YOU say it?

Visual communication is just as involved! Tools used in visual design can show who you are, what you do, how you do it, where you came from, where you are going, and so much more.

Some of these tools are:
#1. fonts

#2. colors

#3. layout and composition

#4. complexity/simplicity

#5. texture

#6. amount of content

Example for Fonts

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2MX8dE/phraseologyproject.com/

http://www.freefonts.in/free-fonts-download/


How would describe these fonts? What adjectives would you use? Masculine or feminine? Straight-forward? Interesting? Complicated? If you really get into it, you could go on and on. Every choice has both positive and negative associations. Can you see both?

(Posts on Color Psychology, Color Theory, Color Combination's in the making)

(Posts on layout and composition, complexity/simplicity, texture, amount of content in the future)

Now that you are seeing more of the whole picture, tell me, what are you REALLY saying?

Design: Business Cards

A variation to Media, marketing and More! Inc.'s brand of green, everyone liked the idea of having their 'own' color of cards:

This was the final approved design. All said and done, there were over 20 designs we whittled through to get to these. Ahhh success!!!

(For further info on MMM's branding color choice and use of the sideways exclamation point, see previous blogs. Cool stuff.)

Event Photography: Ribbon Cutting

October 13, 2011
Ft. Benning Gateways
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

It was a pleasure to document this important event with such inspiring people. I support those who give their time, effort, and energies to build a lasting positive impact on the future.

Georgia Department of Transportation board member Sam Wellborn

The Ribbon Cutting

City of Columbus' Mayor Teresa Tomlinson speaks to the media

Fort Benning commander Maj. Gen. Robert Brown, John Flournoy, chairman of the Gateways Foundation, Marquette McKnight of Media, Marketing and More! Inc., Georgia Department of Transportation board member Sam Wellborn, Helena Coates also of Media, Marketing and More! Inc.

The National Infantry Museum

View the WRBL Channel 3 News Report:
http://www2.wrbl.com/news/2011/oct/13/ribbon-cutting-new-fort-benning-gateway-ar-2552331/

Read more: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/10/13/1775979/fort-benning-completes-gateway.html

Marquette assisted Hal and DJ of Pope Video Productions in making a very impressive video that ran during the ceremony. It is in high demand! As soon as it is available on YouTube or another available link, I'll let you know!

Print Design

The first element designed for Media, Marketing, and More! Inc. (MMM) was the logo. Kelley green is our basic color. The exclamation mark is an important design element we will be using in creative ways (circles, rectangles and squares).

Another local marketing company was already using the exclamation mark in their design, so we had to get creative: We turned it sideways.

Notice also the footer element, designed to be easily used in all work documents, power-points, etc.

Because all print needs to be adapted to black and white on occasion, here is a black&white design. It is simplified, without the curved gradient on top.

With the exclamation mark turned sideways, we now have a 'space' in the circle we can use to highlight what ever we choose. We like to put a keyword or client name there as it fits the purpose of the document. Unique and a bit fun.

We ordered and received the stationary from the printer. There is nothing quite like holding your own design on beautiful heavy paper. Yum.

Next: My several-month-adventure in Nametags

Ad Campaign

Dr. Duffin is a fantastic dentist! Glad I could help out with some of their advertising and marketing. The picture of their office building is one I took.



More videos featuring images I did for Dr. Duffin can be found here:
http://youtu.be/4xdSxgZEmh0
http://youtu.be/P-PaGnHI5_M

Logo Re-Design

One of the first projects I got to do when I began work at Media, Marketing and More! Inc. was to give them a new 'brand'. A long-standing and well known business here in Columbus, GA, MMM is a reflection of it's founder, Marquette McKnight.

Observations: Colorful office, modern art (including Andy Worhol), laughter, red-head with Irish heritage, intensity, (not to mention great experience and know-how).

Here is the logo that MMM had for the last 10+ years.

I did quality research and then presented our new look and feel.

COLOR is very important to me. It says so much. This green is not only a favorite color of Marquette's, it shows the energy and vibrance that she has in her work.

It is a bit unusual to have an exclamation mark as part of a legal business name, so I began my mission to use it well.

Here is our new logo:

A logo needs to be adaptable to both color and black and white printing. It also needs to be legible in both large and small sizes. Here is the logo in black&white:

Next adventure: Stationary and Envelopes...

Okay Columbus Georgia: Guess this Place!

The prettiest things can be found in small, regular places.

This picture could any one of many gates... but red roses, next to the high contrast of black and creme. Mmmmmmmmmm!

This could also be any one of many columns found in the city. Still amazes me though: someone planned and carved every detail with their own hands.

Here are the columns on the other side of the building. This shows so much more... have you guessed the building yet?

Here is a dead giveaway: No other place I've seen around has this distinctive fence!

Do you know this place?

Drawing in Graphite

December 2010

A couple years ago my husband asked me to draw him a picture of this image:

So for Christmas, I surprised him with the completed drawing:

This is a multi media piece. The paper is Windsor&Newton coldpress watercolor paper, and I painted a subtle layer of water color before I began the drawing.

Inspired by my art professor Ms. Black, I made every line count. She often said "draw each line with complete purpose". Since then I shade much differently: I rarely blend in lines, but rather let each show, as you see in these details:

You can even see 'every' leaf. I just think that's cool.

Stats:
-roughly 14x17 inches(to fit in a 16x20 frame)
-watercolor and graphite on cold press paper
-hours worked: unknown (but very carefully so that it would be a surprise!)

Feedback and Reviews

Wanted to share a note from Helena:
_________________________________________________________
"You are a genious! The pictures on this CD are amazing from when Cully came to hospital! Thanks so much for coming over and doing that. They truly are wonderful and I can't wait to scrapbook them one day. Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!!!!!!! You rock."

Helena Coates
_________________________________________________________
Thanks Helena!

One Day Old

May 2011

I was so excited to hear the twins were born! So when I was asked to grab my camera and capture a few moments on their first day, I was ecstatic, honored and bubbling over. I adore these babies!

Here are the sweeties, Kayle and Coryn.

Here is big brother giving his new baby brother and sister kisses.

Tiny hands...

Cute from head...

...to darling toes!

Congratulations, Helena and Stephen, and big brother Culley!

Drum roll please...

Thank you to those who posted here and on facebook! Gold star stickers for you.

Yes, this is the church on 5th Avenue near the Chamber of Commerce Building.

It is currently without occupants - and it looks so lonely! I will be happy to see this place busy and being enjoyed!

Okay Columbus Georgia: Guess this place!

I find beautiful architecture all around me, and the details are amazing! Artists created each curve and line with their own hands. I love it.

I want to share some of these beautiful details with you. Do you recognize this place? How many pictures do you need to see before you know which building it is? Or, are you stumped and want more hints?

Stained glass through stained glass. How cool are those colors?

Even the lightning rod is decorated. And YES, lightning rods are a MUST here .(WOW Thunderstorms!)

Another double view of stained glass

Springtime. These photos were taken a couple months ago.

Now this one might be a big give-away. Do you recognize this building yet? I will wait for you to weigh in here before I post the name and location of this place. Have fun guessing!

Maternity Session

Steven & Helena, Culley and the Twins-To-Be
April 2011

I had a wonderful time doing this photo session for you guys! Congratulations on the twins!