I just finished up a half page ad that will run in SKI magazine’s november issue inside of a SkiUtah advertising insert. It is one of the simpler ads I have done for them. They tend to want to always write a novel but this time we kept the message simple and focused. I hope it works out for them.

I had the priviledge of designing a vehicle wrap for a small soccer shop here in Davis County. I have been asked a couple times of late what I enjoy most about being a graphic designer and while I still think logo development is still my favorite project, I do enjoy the challenge and change of pace that is large format design, particularly vehicle wraps. I think I have designed and produced at least five full wraps in my time and each is a unique challenge depending on the make and model of the vehicle. You not only have to create a design that works much like a billboard but you also have to take into account the contours of the vehicle, avoid placing important information over deep contours such as door handles and such and also have to deal with making sure the wrap is visually stunning to boot. Below is the concept art followed by three prictures from the shop to show you how well the concept translates into printed and applied graphics.

I have been feverishly working with one of my larger clients on the branding for a new medical clinic they are opening. We started developing the logo almost eight months ago and now the first clinic is opening up next week. I have been envloved in everything from the style and usage guidlines to the design of the clinic’s website and stationery system. One of the funnest projects was developing the environmental graphics for the clinic including the large lobby sign you see in the images below. With the help of one of my favorite vendors, fusion imaging we created a standoff sign that incorporates a brushed illuminium standoff and a layer of plexiglass with the logo printed on it. The plexi is finished with a semi-translucent pearl-essence that really creates a nice effect. This has been an incredibly stressful project but once the signage was installed it was amazing to see the instant effect it had on legitimizing the interior of the space.

My brother and his friend are developing a website they hope to launch soon. They asked me to help them with a logo and it was fun to create the logo you see below.

They were great to work with and I will keep you posted on the nature of their site when they get closer to launch. Good luck guys and thanks for letting me in on the fun!

FORTHGEAR was asked to generate some campaign creative for a pretty signifigant software company. We presented three ideas. This is the one I finished from the ideas that came out of the initial brainstrom. Click on the links to read the fine print.

Three great links today in Liquid Treat

UCLA Extension Catalog Covers
Moleskin Notebooks City Campaign
CalArts Poster Series Catalog

Epic Dental is a company we have been working with for a couple years now. Most recently we have created the look and feel for a printed card that will be going along with a marketing campaign they are doing with their existing clientel. Epic has a 100% cavity free quarantee associated with their product and they offer a cavity free challenge to new clients. If you go through the program and have no cavities, they send you a nice “party in a box” that includes a pinata, and free epic products. We also helped them rebrand their company and have offered some consulting creative development on their website www.epicdental.com

I have had the opportunity to design a number of wedding invitations for close family and friends. My cousin Tyler is getting married this weekend and I designed their invitation. They were great to work with and gave me a lot of creative license which is how I would always prefer to work. My uncle Craig Stevens did the photography.

I just my client approve the design for this years race for life logo / shirt artwork (above). It is one of the few pro-bono projects we do annually. I designed the look and feel for the event three years ago so it was nice to get back in and do this years design as well. It was an interesting process this year. I had done a design that I really liked a lot (see below). When I am designing stuff that I know is going to end up on a shirt I always ask myslef, ‘would i wear this’. The first design I really liked a lot but as is often the case, it did not resound quite as strongly with my client. It was hard to get back in and keep forcing the creative when I had something I already liked. In this case I was working really hard to modify another concept I had presented that they were mildly warm to but the more and more I tried to force it the worse it got. Finally out of almost desperation, I took some elements from a couple other ideas and started to see a design that I knew my client would probably like. Sure enough. That design was the one they chose.

This comment is from an Article intitled “Arc of the Covenant” from the March 07 issue of Computer Arts magazine:

“In some industries, staying on the job for a long time is a badge of honor, a sign of total commitment. In the cutting-edge industry of graphic design, that sort of employment history translates as being burnt out, repetitive, tired or died in the wool…”

I am approaching my fifth year of employment with the same firm. I have counted about 18 designers who have come and gone in those five years. While I don’t know if I agree with the articles comment, I often wonder if and when it will be time for me to explore the possibility of moving on. I work for a great company. Like a lot of people, I wonder if I am in the greenest pastures or if the grass may be greener on the other side. . .