This strategic plan summary was designed as a visually engaging executive summary for Achieving Excellence on the World Stage, Western University's 4-year strategic plan. The goal was to engage key stakeholders and inspire the campus community to work together to achieve the university’s ambitious goals and ultimately enhance its national and international reputation and profile
In 2014 I had the pleasure of working with a new local non-profit, Firehorse Leadership Organization, to create a full branding solution to bring their services to the public. The package included the brand design, stationary, website, promotional video and photography. The organization, it's mission and it's brand were very well received - they are now thriving.
The Courting Cannabis cover and spreads use a bold, illustration-based design to capture audience attention, drawing readers into a story profiling Western Law alumni involved in the burgeoning cannabis industry. In many ways still a taboo topic, we were faced with the question of how to approach the subject, especially as a historically safe and traditional publication. We decided to forgo subtlety and address the reality, cannabis is now a part of Canadian life and our alumni are playing a key role in developing the legitimate sector. The negative space and colour choice of the background are a loose nod to the Canadian maple leaf, emphasizing this reality. This is the magazine’s first illustrated cover, with the playful design and clean, bright colours aimed at making the content approachable, looking to the bright future of the industry, not its shady past.
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2020 CASE Circle of Excellence Bronze Medal Recipient for Editorial Design
With Covid-19 putting in person events on hold, Western faced the challenge of promoting a virtual Homecoming in 2020. Historically, materials used photography that captured the energy and emotion of the weekend, but with on campus social gatherings off the table, we needed a new approach. The solution – a virtual graphic created by the collective global Western community coming together online.
Designed in 3D and rendered with Blender. Retouching in Photoshop.
Roles:
Art Direction
Design
Minor Copywriting
Even today, nearly 6,000 miles from his home, Shakespeare is never far from mind for those at Western University. From the Stratford stage, to nearly half of network television plots, to random quotations and quips on coffee mugs, T-shirts and newspaper headlines, The Bard has been all pervasive in lives for ages.
On April 23, 2016, we again took note as the world marked the 400th anniversary of the death of its most celebrated English language playwright. This year, the totality of his works have been revived on stages, screens and pages in special performances and editions commemorating his life and contributions. Of course, it is not like they ever left, mind you. Shakespeare’s work is continually playing somewhere for as long as anyone can remember.
Western News joined the celebration. We recruited this institution’s finest Shakespeare scholars to share their insights into The Bard – and play a little dress-up.
A special thanks to the authors (and actors) for their contributions, as well as to Jo Jennings and Helga Ruppe, from Western's Faculty of Arts & Humanities, who gave not only space, but placed in our hands a vast collection of costumes and props with which to play.
And now, we lift the curtain on Shakespeare 400.
See the photos in more detail here.
This typographic illustration was done to celebrate Western’s 140th birthday during Founders Day. It featured iconic figures, buildings and symbols that reflect a 140 years of research and teaching excellence. The graphic was used extensively in various print and web applications.
This skull illustration was created out of jelly beans to draw readers into a research story about the potentially harmful affects of eating too much black licorice.
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Read the full story here.
This visual was developed to accompany a Western News story about the creation of a bee garden on campus to house 300,000 bees for the production of honey to be used by Great Hall Catering.
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Read the story here.
During a time when articles about Trump permeated almost every publication, the challenge for this Western News oped was to stand out. This illustration and layout was the answer, designed to grab reader’s attention and address the question in everyone’s mind.
Western News layout for an article celebrating Words, London’s literary and creative arts festival.
This catalogue was created to promote Alumni Western’s educational travel program.
As the first in-person Homecoming after Covid, Western wanted to focus on and elevate the student fan experience for the 2022 Homecoming. This campaign was developed to convey the excitement of the in person event.
Roles:
Art Direction
Design
Photography