Studio Update: Picturing a Universe

This week I did a great deal of thinking about survival for the arts. If your town is like mine, fresh funding strategies are in short supply to keep performers on the stage, artists in the schools, and poets at the podium. Who better to provide that than an wise and affordable consultant? Let me introduce you to Ms. Kathy Barr.

I've seen Ms. Barr in action for the San Francisco Center for the Book and later for Old First Concerts. She's practical and innovative, but how to reflect that in her business stationary? I suggested an engraving of Jeanne d'Arc riding into battle dressed like Iron Man, but that was politely turned down. Kathy serves her clients interests by seeing them within a greater universe. Her description of the business made me think of maps, space, satellites, and orbits. Above is the concept I presented in three versions. Below is the final system.

Kathy chose the middle concept—not too little, not too much. I agree! It's just right. Since a consultant is not the star of the show, we chose a neutral palette of silver grey and deep red on a smooth white stock. The final pieces went to the printer this week. The set includes three stationary elements. A downloadable resume in PDF format is in the works.  

I love comments. To make a comment here, click on the Post a Comment link below, but be aware that the Submit button—labeled Create Post—sits at the top of the comments page along with a Preview Post button. Why is that? I don't know. Maybe these pesky buttons like being above it all. Some things just have a mind of their own.

Studio Update: March into April

Hup…hup…hup. Three projects on the move this week.

I'm smack in the middle of the tech edit job for Peachpit Press. Books move like glaciers compared to magazines. So many newsstand publications folded last year, but every week brings new books into the shops. Maybe slow and steady wins the race. If so, I'm riding the tortoise.

Inbetween chapter duties I've been working on an image lift for San Francisco fiber artist Andrés Nevaréz (aka CraftyAndy). Andrés designs his own line of crochet hat patterns with celestial styling. He spins and dyes his own fiber as well. Currently his business card (above) is a quiet, laser-printed design on Avery linen stock.

I proposed a bolder treatment using Rockwell Bold as a type face along with updated photos and a matching color palette. On the drawing board are hang tags for Andrés' hats and a custom ball band to wrap around skeins of his homespun. Could a PDF template for his patterns be next? That would be fun (and faster than a book).

Merry Makins (the accessories designer) now has four butterflies to choose from for her new jewelry packaging. Big, medium, small, and smaller heart motifs were presented. We'll see which one catches this client's fancy in the week to come.

I love comments. To make a comment here, be aware that the Submit button—labeled Create Post—sits at the top of the comments page along with a Preview Post button. Why is that? I don't know. Maybe they like being above it all. Some buttons just have a mind of their own.