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!