Digital Media
Just as proper grammar and punctuation are vital in written materials, cohesive graphic design increases the professional appearance of an organization. These design elements may be the first thing a resident, local business, or visitor sees when interacting with us. Knowing how to incorporate typography, color and layout can bring ideas to life, maintain a strong brand identity, and build credibility and trust.
From social media graphics, to print publications . . . and everything in between, digital media and graphic design are a critical part of my daily job. Below are a small sample of some of my work in this area.
Social Media Graphics
It's a fact: social media posts have more engagement and better reach when they contain an image! Therefore, when planning out social media content, I make sure that equal attention is placed on the text and the associated graphic. I found this strategy to be especially effective during 2020, when COVID-19 education posts were such an important means of sharing critical information - even when done with a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor! These posts and graphics earned us some of our greatest reach - with several reaching "viral" status.
Logo Design
Maintaining a cohesive and recognizable brand identity is crucial, especially when creating new logos for events and other purposes within the framework of an already established brand. Oak Creek's primary brand identity is characterized by flat-style art, a limited three-color palette, and a sans-serif font.
As the brand manager, I design logos for city events, newsletters, and other publications that adhere to the same overall feel while incorporating an expanded color palette and dynamic fonts to capture the distinct energy of each element they represent. This approach ensures that all branding elements, despite variations, contribute to a unified and cohesive brand image. Residents, visitors, and city staff alike recognize a city-branded event at first glance, no matter where they encounter it.
Digital Signage
Meet them Where They Are! Government organizations, like businesses and universities before them, are now using digital signage technology to enhance communications and improve visitor experiences. With video screens in public and staff areas of city buildings, creating timely, on-brand messaging is one tool in our communications toolbox. Visitors to city buildings and the library can learn about programs, services, happenings, and other messaging, as they stop in to check out books, apply for a permit, or participate in an event!
In-House Print Publications
Although I am a contributing writer to our contracted magazine, the Current, Oak Creek's other print publication, the Acorn, has been mine to design and produce since 2015! With a move into a brand-new Civic Center, the time was right to give our legacy city newsletter and a complete overhaul. (Sidenote: if you want to learn how to use InDesign, I highly recommend taking on a complicated, multi-page document as a starter project! Perhaps not my best idea, but a great way to learn about master pages, character and paragraph styles, and commercial printing requirements - on a deadline!)
Thankfully, the new Acorn was well-received by the community, and creating publications for print has become second nature! Check out a couple of these more in-depth projects below.
[Note: These links will open in a new window as a digital magazine.]
