Much of the work I do for Google Cloud is to help partner organizations help their learners successfully become Google Cloud certified. I actually designed this during Q4 2022 which always seems to be crunch time for taking certification exams — both for achieving KPIs for Google AND for achieving personal career goals before year-end. If you want to download a PDF of this Google Cloud Certification Exam Tips packet, here’s the official Google linked PDF for you.
Author Archives: Sparkbark
Book Recommendation: Pitch Perfect by Bill McGowan
“The one thing you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.” — Neil Gaiman
Highly recommend this quick read written by Bill McGowan, former host of the TV show “A Current Affair.” It debunks a few prevailing communication tactics – the same ones that often left me a little nauseous! [The Gaiman quote above opens chapter 4.] #amreading #recommend #ad #amazon #communication #words
What I Designed Today: Farmers Market Business Cards
I have always been somewhat proud — that’s not quite the right word — of the fact that over 25 years of designing marketing materials for clients, I have NEVER advertised. I think it’s less pride than it is reassurance that my skills and talents are valued and worthwhile and not having to advertise is just a key performance indicator (KPI in the business world).
During my 6 years of consulting and humanitarian work, I didn’t design much of anything (although those skills did come in handy many times – particularly using MailChimp to send a regional newsletter but I digress…). Occasionally random strangers would still approach me via email or my website about design work. Most of the time, I’ve had to ignore those requests but I had some free time yesterday when an easy request arrived in my in-box and I learned a few things about myself:
- I was giddily happy to be doing any kind of design work again. I just love to CREATE whether it’s a small business card or an entire marketing plan or confidence in a colleague or friend…creation is my “thing.”
- Software is the same, but with wonderful upgrades — and believe it or not I kept up my Adobe subscription for 6 years while barely using it (now that’s a commitment to software you love).
- I’ll never get used to switching from Mac to PC back to Mac again — muscle memory from years of shortcuts and keyboard strokes do NOT translate to the right buttons! I’ll get there…still loving my new MacBook…but probably just in time to get back to Windows 10 and a PC (which I despised at first but quickly came to love). I joke that we’re a non-denominational platform family — we like to use ALLLLLLL the devices available to improve our lives.
This new client found me via a simple Google search for “ticket business card” and came across this old post from 2013. Wow! That’s reassuring because even though I thought my skills were a bit rusty — and I’m sure they are — good design is timeless. I may not have the drawing skills I’d like but I can set up a typographical hierarchy like nobody’s business…and it was good to know I’ve still got it, it just takes a little longer than six years ago!
What I’m Reading (and loving!): Calling Bullshit
Educational AND interesting! Kids…you’re getting this one for Christmas. In many ways we are more manipulated than we really ever realize and have forgotten how to think critically.
“Misinformation, disinformation, and fake news…media environment has become hyperpartisan. Science is conducted by press release. Startup culture elevates bullshit to high art. We are fairly well equipped to spot the sort of old-school bullshit that is based in fancy rhetoric and weasel words, but most of us don’t feel qualified to challenge the avalanche of new-school bullshit presented in the language of math, science, or statistics. In Calling Bullshit, Professors Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West give us a set of powerful tools to cut through the most intimidating data.”
#amreading #books #recommend #highlyrecommend #bullshit #bsmeter #amazon #ad #reading
What I designed today (November, actually) – it’s been a busy year!
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… 
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: 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: 2015 Bartlesville Oklahoma Stake Women’s Conference Invitations
These invitations use some lovely artwork of a young woman in armor originally created by Judy Cooley. She graciously gave us permission to use them for our stake events (auxiliary conference and women’s conference) this year. I love the ENLISTED adaptation of her work. You can find more of her work if you search for Judy Cooley Deseret Book and Altus Fine Art.
I’m excited that the service project this year is collecting or creating slippers for women at the Claremore Safenet Shelter (for women who suffer from domestic abuse or sexual assault). 
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.
Quotes about the Holy Ghost
I had used these quotes a few years ago for a youth conference talk and I resurrected them (Ha! See what I did there?!) for a Relief Society lesson this past Sunday. Just thought I’d share them online, mostly so I don’t have to hunt them down on my hard drive if I ever want to use them again.
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.
