I had the pleasure of meeting a local composer in 2020. Her name is Nann Steffens, and she has become a mentor of mine. Not only is she incredibly creative, but she was also an educator and has a passion for teaching. Nann contacted me to discuss the possibility of designing for her a branding suite for her label, Tutti Bridgeworks. After sharing my design portfolio with her – we had a design consultation and we have been meeting ever since.
To start drawing, I listened to Nann’s music to get inspired by the melodies and to get a feeling for her work. For Nann’s logo (Tutti Bridgeworks), I sketched and created word lists that would help to generate multiple options and ideas for her label’s logo. In the presentation stage, Nann connected with the idea of using musical symbols for her logo. The type in her logo flows like her sheet music, the characters connecting to one another in a unit. In the brand assets (posters, cards, etc.) I used an illustrated mandolin as it’s one of Nann’s favorite instruments. Also represented in her branding are the black keys from a piano, another one of Nann’s many musical skills. I was lucky to have such wonderful music to work with, it fueled each and every design decision.
Project: Branding, Logo, Thank You Cards, Website, and More.
Role: Creative Director and Designer
Composer, Nann Steffens: Tutti Bridgeworks
S.H. Block is one of the leading tax problem resolution law firms in the greater Baltimore, Maryland area. I worked under the direction of LaFleur Marketing to help them brand their firm and highlight their many services and expertise.
Project: Branding, Brand Guidelines, Logo
Role: Art Director and Designer
Agency: La Fleur Marketing
The Gallery at Truax provides wonderful opportunities for artists at Madison College and Beyond to show their work. I was asked to design the branding for a show called, 2020 Vision. The pieces in the gallery would be created through photography, jewelry design, ceramics, and more. I used the art materials themselves to create a typographic approach for this poster series.
Project: Posters Design, Flyers
Role: Art Director and Designer
The Gallery at Truax: Madison College Fine Arts Transfer Department
Indie LIC is an all day cafe with a simple and fun menu of beautiful meals made from scratch. With a stunning interior and a vibrant location, I knew that I wanted their logo and assets to feel welcoming, fun, and to make their space the ‘place to be.’ It was amazing to work on this project with my life-long friend. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Project: Branding, Logo, Packaging, Menu Design
Role: Art Director and Designer
Restaurateur, Shaunna Sargent: Indie LIC
In the Print and Digital production class, we had the opportunity to help with the marketing of a Pop-Up Sale that was to happen on campus. I designed one screen, and each student added a second color/screen to the design. The result was on full display in the halls of campus, students created such a variety of styles to make this poster series pop!
See more work from the class here
Project: 2-Color Screen Print Set-Up
Role: Instructor / Designer
Organization: Madison College
LaFleur is an agency with expertise in digital marketing. They partner with clients to create innovative, data-driven marketing strategies and beautiful design assets. I worked with them on a journal that they could gift to clients after a meeting. The journal features more information on their team, their services, and what they stand for as a forward-thinking agency.
Project: Branding, Print Design
Role: Art Director and Designer
Agency: La Fleur Marketing
One of my favorite spaces on planet earth is the Print Lab at Madison College. I have been lucky enough to have been mentored from some of the industry’s experts. Through hours spent mixing ink, chopping paper, and brainstorming - I have learned so much from Deb Vogt, Nick Loveland, and Beth Grimm - 3 of the in-house experts. These are a few of the cards that I have had the pleasure of making on the presses.
See Beth’s Printed Goods at Lead Feather Press
Project: Letterpress Cards
Role: Art Director, Designer, Student, and Printer
Organization: Center for the Printing Arts, Madison College
The Creative Arts Collective is a club in the Design Program at Madison College. Some of the awesome perks of being involved with the club are the exciting field trips. For this poster series, I used typography to pair playful pixels and a delicate serif (representing the variety of design that we would be studying on the field trip to Milwaukee).
Project: Poster Design
Role: Art Director and Designer
Organization: The Creative Arts Collective, Madison College
2020 brought some really unique challenges to the students at Madison College. As instructors we all wanted to find a creative way to express our feelings and let them know that we were all cheering them on. I made students this collage-style poster from the supplies that we had at school, our beautiful Truax Campus, and elements used in design.
Project: Poster Design
Role: Art Director and Designer
Organization: Madison College
I consider myself lucky to have seen some beautiful parts of the world. My love for photography comes with me as I travel, and documenting these memories has been so important to me.
It’s going to take hours upon hours to work through all of the hundreds of photos that I have saved, but here are a few favorites that always warm my heart.
Project: Travel Photography
Role: Photographer
Passion Project
Photography has always been a passion of mine. While obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree, I enjoyed my many photography classes and hours spent in the dark room. In our digital photography class I gained tips and skills for shooting portraits and my husband James has been my muse ever since! I love taking pictures of him when he looks peaceful and ‘in the moment’.
Project: Life-Long Portrait Session:)
Role: Art Director and Photographer
Passion Project
Social Media can be a beautiful wonderland for designers! I participated in a design challenge with my Design Students to create a daily exploration for Instagram. My goals were to play with new typefaces, textures, and have fun! Each post revolved around the subjects of Faith, Hope, and Love.
Project: Social Media Content
Role: Art Director, Designer, Design Challenge Participant
Organization: Madison College, Course Development
Carry on was a solo show featuring local artist Quenten Brown’s two-dimensional abstract work. The show was a commentary of our disposable culture. The forms in his pieces are often stacked on or squeezed into the picture plane to mimic the notion of massive amounts of information we receive on a minute by minute basis. It was a pleasure to work on this piece and use his gorgeous art as the inspiration.
Project: Poster Design
Role: Art Director and Designer
Organization: Truax Gallery at Madison College
Madison College has really great Pop Up Shops from time to time and it’s a complete blast to work on some of the marketing. Since the sales come and go, we try to get the word out. My goal for the Valentine’s Sale was to make eye-catching graphics for Social Media that people would notice!
Project: Social Media Content
Role: Art Director, Designer
Organization: Madison College, Pop Up Sales
Baudville is an employee recognition company that knows the value of appreciation. My design career started there in 2005, and I will always remember those 10 years as some of the BEST times in my life. There was the coffee, the deadlines, many laughs, and a beautiful list of life-long friendships that happened because of the ‘place for daily recognition’. I learned so much from the leadership team and from my design peers. I will forever be grateful.
These are a sampling of some of my favorite campaigns.
Project: Catalog Design, Editorial Design
Role: Creative Manager, Designer
Agency: Baudville, In-House Design Team
Trying new things, yes that can be scary. It’s hard to not feel like you ‘know what you are doing’. In the last few years I have had the creative space to try different styles, and see what happens when I try to create an illustration (classes that I didn’t have the chance to squeeze in during undergrad studies). Here are just a few that made me smile among the many explorations - the journey is the best part!
*Drawing prompts from my amazing colleague, Courtney Dicmas. See all of her work @ courtneydicmas.com
Project: Exploring Illustration Styles
Role: Student!:)
Organization: Madison College
Citrin Law serves injured victims and families in Alabama and Mississippi. I worked under the direction of LaFleur Marketing to help them design an eBook about the important steps that you need to take after an accident. With such crucial information enclosed, it was important to highlight steps and convey important tips with type and color as a driver for the viewer.
Project: eBook Design and Layout
Role: Art Director and Designer
Agency: La Fleur Marketing
Baudville is the Place for Daily Recognition, and they work hard to make engaging employee gifts. In my 10 years with the Company, I had the pleasure of working with the product team to design pieces from drinkware to greeting cards. It was great to see clients and customers interact with the products. Our goal was always to bring a smile to an employee and make their day!
Project: Product Design
Role: Creative Manager, Art Director, Designer, Production
Organization: Baudville, In-House Design Department
I started my design career in Print Design, and paper goods will always hold a very special place in my heart. The sound of a running press, the feel of your project in your hands after it’s been freshly trimmed - it’s such a great moment. When I teach Print and Digital Production I love to join my students in making a 2-Color design. We always work as a team with our Pantone Colors and the color story helps me to begin concepting. Here are a few favorites.
Project: 2-Color Postcard Series
Role: Design Instructor
Organization: Madison College, Course Development
I have always enjoyed styling spaces. I think that it is one of the reasons why I love going on photo shoots so much. By no means am I a professional in this realm, but I would say that in the late evening hours - I research trends, emerging stylists in the field, and I get such joy out of seeing energizing spaces. Here a few spaces that I have styled over the years, photographed by me on a day when they were tidy:)
Project: Styling
Role: Stylist-in-Training
Passion Project
