Most of you know I’m working full time for a “higher cause” this year and haven’t been doing much designing at all but was asked to put together some possibilities for a stake logo for church. Oklahoma City had designed one for their stake — story has it from a reliable source that the stake executive secretary just did it one day and it was quickly adopted — and it’s a great logo. 
The Bartlesville Oklahoma Stake, however, doesn’t lend itself to easily using an acronym for a logo. Pitfalls include derogatory connotations of letters similar to BOS, etc. ad nauseum. At any rate, one hasn’t been chosen so maybe they’ll pursue other options but here’s the contenders and a flyer that was created for a stake conference around the same time. Skills are rusty – it’s amazing what a year off from designing can do for that to happen! It took me twice as long as it should have to come up with these passable designs… 
Tag Archives: graphics
What I Designed Today: Inspirational Posters for Women’s Conference
Women’s Conference is Saturday. We are in the home stretch of preparations, people. Loosely translated, that means this week has been C-R-A-Z-Y busy. Because there’s nothing quite like brilliant ideas at the last minute, am I right? It’s a great theme this year — carrying with you the light of Christ. Actually, the theme is to do with everything about light including shining, shine on, carry the light of Christ, beacon of light, enlighten, lighten your load, lighten up, lighthouse, rekindle your light, and on and on! So many great aspects and tangents one could ponder. Hopefully, one of these will inspire YOU! All background images are either from my personal collection, graphics library or media.lds.org.
What I Designed Today: Billboards for Adam & Kizzie at OK Mozart’s Ambler Hall
Adam & Kizzie are coming to Bartlesville and it’s going to be a fantastic night of music at OK Mozart’s Ambler Hall. This is a new direction for OK Mozart’s music selection and this duo with their gospel, blues, rock-n-roll and jazz sound are sure to please. I can’t wait to hear how they sound in Ambler Hall. If you’re local, info & tix are at okmozart.com.
Technically I designed these billboards a little over two weeks ago. The traditional billboard goes up tomorrow and I hope to add a shot of that from the street as well.
Traditional billboard
Digital billboard
Digital billboard from the street
What I Designed Today: Billboard for Bartlesville’s Ambler Hall
So, I have a new client. A demanding, almost-full-time client. And I love it. I’m pleased to be working with OK Mozart as their marketing and public relations director. I have been freelancing for them for a couple of years and the people — and the music — are wonderful! I am so excited to be a part of such a grand tradition in the Bartlesville community. The 32nd festival June 11-18, 2016 will be my first, but the excitement isn’t waiting until then. In fact, OK Mozart is introducing it’s new Ambler Hall, an acoustic concert venue with 100 seats, with it’s first concert on August 28. Check out the billboard I ordered today.
What I Designed Today: Logo Guide for Bartlesville’s Ambler Hall
It’s not a full-on style guide but it’s a step in the right direction with a usage guide for the most common scenarios for a logo. I’m so excited about some of the concerts coming up at Ambler Hall! Check out Adam & Kizzie — they’re coming in November. For more details, visit OK Mozart on the web.
What I Designed Today: Bartlesville’s Ambler Hall Logo
Contenders:
Lots of interesting musical things going on here but I didn’t like the femininity of the lyre shape as well as having the logo associated with any single instrument, even though the trumpet is very engaging.
Final Design:
The final design incorporates something that sets Ambler Hall apart: its gorgeous chandelier, donated by a patron. It’s the first thing you see upon entering the small hall and it is the perfect icon to associate with the acoustic hall that can also be rented for receptions, weddings or meetings. It’s elegant, simple and a good choice! Next post, I’ll list the style guide variations.
What I Designed Today, err…weeks ago: Father’s Day Poster & Coupons for La Fiesta
There’s a Mexican restaurant in Bartlesville, La Fiesta, that I’ve never been to — not because it’s not popular but because when we stayed in the hotel that shares it’s parking lot (while our home was under construction), we witnessed the chef puking out back then go back in. The next night we witnessed an ambulance take away a customer. We kind of figured that was an omen and wrote the restaurant off without ever actually trying it. I found it interesting, then, that I was tempted to go when I was requested to design these coupons for Father’s Day. I was relieved it was on Sunday because that eliminated my temptation altogether since we try our best to not eat out on the Sabbath Day. I just may have to try it another time, though!
Here’s the original link to pieces of stock art by CharlieZ. I like my adaptation and his stock art did make it very easy.
What I Designed Today: Recreated a Farrier Logo
All design work isn’t fun or glamorous. Scratch that. MOST design work isn’t fun or glamorous at all because it’s the actual do-this-to-get-paid variety of work (even if it’s ugly). Take this project: I was asked to recreate a farrier’s logo for a 73″ wide banner. It wasn’t difficult to do but it took time to redraw in Illustrator and get it right. There was no using any sort of conceptual design skills — just rote recreation of a graphical element. The project used my expertise of Illustrator but I had no creative liberty whatsoever, which is fine. It pays the bills. Just like any other occupation, graphic design is work — and work I’m grateful and blessed to have! After all, there are worse ways to make a living…
What I Designed Today: Social Media Contest for Tate Boys Tire
One of Bartlesville’s finest local establishments, Tate Boys Tire, is running a social media contest and I was asked to design their promotional signs for print and online/web. If you want to enter the contest, go to the Tate Boys Facebook Page and just like and share the image!
What I Designed Today: L’Amore D’Italia Program for OK Mozart
The program for OK Mozart’s L’Amore d’Italia Ball is a smaller, 4-page, 1-fold piece. I love the interior and it printed nicely on a heavy linen stock thanks to Bartlesville’s best print shop. It turned out just lovely! Osage Casinos sponsored the event and the mask picure on the cover was taken by local artist Gary Gibson.
What I Designed Today: Print Shop Docs with Horrible Fonts
I’m loving the interesting flow of work coming from Bartlesville’s local print shop. There is, however, the problem of recreating things to print EXACTLY as a client requests — but that is ugly as all get-out. It nearly killed me the other day to save a print-ready file using the Hobo font. The project here called for Rage Italic and a graphic with lines that I absolutely do not understand (It’s so abstract, it could mean anything!). Kill me now. But, such is the life of a print shop — the client’s requests always come first! And if you are the client and you happen to read this: take it from an experienced designer — it’s time for an update on your logo and materials. You don’t even have to hire me. Just, for the love of all that’s holy, refresh your brand.
Exhibit A: Rage Italic in all its horrific 1980s glory — letterhead and envelopes. Because a small town rec center is nothing if not thorough.
What I Designed Today: 2015 OK Mozart Festival Poster
What I Designed Today (ahem, last week): OK Mozart A Really Fun Prairie Run Event Poster
I really need to do better at publishing daily so I don’t have to keep backtracking! But I’ve been working way too much and there’s no way I can post it all. That’s good, right?!
What I Designed Today: 2015 OK Mozart L’Amore d’Italia Ball Invitation & RSVP Card
What I Designed Today (a few weeks ago): Put on The Armor of God for Stake Auxiliary Training
I used the floral artwork from lenlis at BigStock for the flowers and then added the “Put on the Armor of God” text and made a few changes to use for a themed presentation at auxiliary training. It was so cute, I left it up at home for a week after the event! I’m including pics of the wonderful cookies with labels and chocolate covered strawberries served. I don’t know if anybody else liked it but the strawberries alone were worth it for me!
