Making a vision into reality

When the owner of CleanCut Tile and Flooring in Richmond, KY first met with me to discuss creating a new logo for his business, he brought this sketch of an idea his wife had:

He also knew that he wanted the logo to be yellow and gray, but he was open to seeing other design ideas. So I mocked up a variety of options using the saw concept, but threw in a couple of alternative ideas as well, just to give him a good variety to choose from:

Ultimately he decided to go with the option that most closely matched his wife’s original idea, but I since that design is very wide, I also included a more square variant, as well as a badge so that the visual identity could be as versatile as possible.

From Broken to Beautiful

Over the past few months I have partnered with Danville United Methodist Community to build a new brand identity for their church. They asked that the logo would reflect the church’s mission to “show the love of God in our community.”

So for the first round of drafts, we focused on the theme of love and community, as well as the fact that this church often partners with other United Methodist congregations in the area. So we wanted to show parts coming together to form a whole. They also wanted to use purple as a symbol of political inclusivity.

First round of logo drafts.

While this first round was well-received by the congregation, we knew we weren’t quite there. During a call we came up with the idea of a stained-glass heart. The symbolism of love along with the imagery of broken pieces being put together to make something beautiful that shines light into darkness was the perfect visual metaphor for Danville UMC itself.

The stained-glass heart represents broken people (who may have previously left or been left behind by other churches) coming together to make a beautiful community shining light into darkness.

This heart mark is incredibly versatile, giving Danville UMC plenty of options for use on collateral and promotional materials.

In addition to the logo, I also created custom patterns and mission, vision, values icons for the church to use.

I am really happy with how this project turned out, and I’m excited to continue to assist Danville United Methodist Community with the rollout of their new brand.

Headley Whitney Museum

I recently completed a project for the Headley Whitney Museum, an art museum in Lexington, KY that features a permanent exhibit of George Headley-designed jewelry, plus rotating displays, and a shell grotto.

They asked for my help in designing the promotional materials for an engraved brick fundraiser the museum is launching. Museum patrons can purchase a custom engraved brick featuring a message to memorialize a favorite pet. These bricks will be included in a walkway that is being installed around George Headley’s pet cemetery, located on the grounds of the museum.

When the museum contacted me, they had a very basic black and white printed order form they were using for purchase of the bricks, but they wanted something more eye-catching and sophisticated. So, I used imagery inspired by the museum itself, combining watercolor painting, brickwork, jewelry and some beloved pets.

Had

This is the original order form that the museum had created in house.

Wanted

These are the notes I was given for what the museum wanted for their order form.

Got

Here is the finished order form I designed for the engraved brick fundraiser.

With this imagery I created a printed order form to display in the lobby, a fillable pdf form that can be emailed out to regular donors, signage to display in the lobby and by the cemetery itself, as well as social media graphics. I also made the recommendation to include a form page on the museum’s website itself.

This was really fun project to work on, and my family and I even took a trip out to the museum and really enjoyed our experience. I highly recommend a visit if you’re in Lexington! and if you’re interested in honoring your favorite pet with an engraved brick at the museum, you can purchase one here!

My Stop Motion Animation Debut

My kids have loved making their own stop motion animated videos for years, so for this project, I decided to give it a try myself. This was a really fun little video that was played on the digital screens throughout UK HealthCare to advertise a prize giveaway to promote awareness of the new UK HealthCare brand campaign debuting at the 2025 Super Bowl. Since the commercial featured a rock climber, I decided to make all of the prize items climbing-related. So we see a branded bandana, carabiner key chain, and Clif bar climb out of a crossbody bag.

Using Generative AI for Direct Mail

I just finished up designing two direct mail pieces for Surge Screenprinting and Embroidery in Richmond, Kentucky. The first was a folded piece promoting their new custom apparel stores, and the second was a flat postcard promoting custom branded winter gear. Probably the coolest part of both of these projects was that I was able to save Surge money on photography and illustration costs by utilizing Adobe Express’s generative AI text to image tool to create the icons and photography used on both of these pieces.

Folded mailer advertising custom apparel stores with no minimum order requirements. The smartphone image and the icons were generated using Adobe Express’s text to image AI tools.

Flat postcard mailer advertising custom branded winter gear. The photos on the front and back were generated using Adobe Express’s text to image AI tools. This allowed me to quickly and easily create a snowy Kentucky landscape photo in the middle of October when the temperatures were still in the mid 70s.

Combine Microbiology and Fantasy Literature? Say No More.

“Pages, Mages & Macrophages” is a science fiction/fantasy book club for the employees of Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals in Madison, Wisconsin. They were preparing to read book number 42 (if you understand the significance of that particular number, you are my people), and wanted a shirt to celebrate. So how do you combine microbiology and fantasy literature? With a group of macrophages having their own book club! I love the way this shirt turned out, and it was a big hit with the book club members.

Surge Small Batch revisited

Back in 2022, I collaborated on a t-shirt with Surge Screenprinting and Embroidery, which was featured in the Richmond Register newspaper (you can read more about that here.) In the two years since, Surge has asked me to design a few more shirts for their Small Batch collection, so I wanted to share those here as well. This has been such a fun series, and I love highlighting small businesses in my local community of Richmond, Kentucky.

My custom illustration highlighting all the goodness at Purdy's Coffee was used on both a t-shirt and a tote bag. 

Dreaming Creek Brewery is named for an old Daniel Boone legend, so I combined hops with the black bear that brought Boone to the creek to create "Hoppy the Bear."

Soft Shoe is a boutique shoe store that has been serving Richmond, KY since the 80's. With a large charitable presence in the city, Soft Shoe is a model small business.

Coloring isn't just for kids!

UK HealthCare recently distributed nearly 500 oversized, adhesive-backed coloring sheets to hospital units in order to help ease the stress of our frontline workers. I chose one of my favorite places in Kentucky for the illustration: Cumberland Falls, in hopes that one of the Commonwealth’s most beautiful views would offer a calming effect to our hospital staff.

I collaborated on the design with art therapists from UK HealthCare Integrative Medicine to use their expertise to maximize the stress relieving style of the illustration.

These coloring sheets were printed on uncoated adhesive wall vinyl, which is easily removable without damaging the wall surface, and prevents the markers from bleeding through as well. I was in close contact with our print vendor at Southland Printing in Lexington, Kentucky to ensure the material met the requirements for both fire safety and the Joint Commission.

Rebrand

Over a decade ago I designed the first logo for a small business named Kentuckiana Coin & Jewelry, and recently the owners contacted me to help with their rebrand as they move the business into a larger location in Clarksville, Indiana. I worked with them to create a primary logo for the coin, gold, and silver wing of the business and a secondary logo for the jewelry division. Introducing Minted and Mint Jewels!

I’m so happy with the result, and honored that the owners enjoyed their first experience with me enough to become repeat customers.

Back in the saddle again!

It was so nice jumping back in the saddle to design the two feature stories and the cover for the August/September 2023 issue of my favorite city magazine: Bloom. I learned a lot of fun facts about the town, as well as getting an overview on how ChatGPT is effecting the classroom. I got very nostalgic for my Bloomington, Indiana days and I’m in the process of planning a weekend trip to enjoy all of the amazing restaurants and shops that sweet little town has to offer! You can read the full issue here.

Team Kentucky Gallery

I was honored to be included among 38 artists selected out of 150 submissions for inclusion in the Team Kentucky Gallery photography exhibit within the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, KY. You can read more about the honor in this story from the Richmond Register. Thanks to Sierra Marling for interviewing me.

My husband and I enjoyed meeting Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear at an artist reception at the Team Kentucky Gallery inside the state capitol building in Frankfort.

Motion Graphics

Over the past few years I’ve been diving into the world of motion graphics. Many of these short videos have been displayed as digital signage throughout the hospitals and clinics at UK HealthCare, while others were used on social media or the employee intranet. You can view a small sampling of some of my favorites here.

Merch

Over the past two years I’ve designed so many t-shirts for Beshear Gear and UK, I thought it might be fun to make some of my own. The first batch is inspired by my current city of residence: Richmond, Kentucky. I did a lot of research on the town, and drew all of the illustrations on my iPad.

I’m setting up shop through Spring (formerly TeeSpring), which is the same online vendor I used for Beshear Gear back in 2020. These shirts are super-soft! (I still wear my Beshear Gear shirts even though the pandemic is over because they are so comfortable!)

I am hoping to add designs as I get inspired. All shirts (and some coffee mugs) can be ordered here, with several styles and colors available per design: https://aesopdesignstudio.creator-spring.com.

Richmond, Kentucky shirts

Happy 60th Anniversary, Albert B. Chandler Hospital!

In honor of this very special anniversary, I created this selfie-wall installation on the ground floor of Albert B. Chandler Hospital, where employees and visitors can “Be the ‘Y’” and pose for a photo with UK HealthCare’s vision statement. I thought it would be a fun way for people to engage with the anniversary celebrations. I, personally, love a good selfie wall!

This vinyl decal is removable, non-damaging, and was installed by one of my favorite vendors, Southland Printing. #UKChandler60th

Surge Small Batch

A few weeks ago I was asked by Surge Screenprinting and Embroidery in Richmond, KY, to partner on a special line of shirts the company was unveiling: Surge Small Batch. The Surge Small Batch line features premium, limited run t-shirts highlighting iconic businesses, events and people from Madison County, KY. Each drop is hand-crafted in batches of 100 or less, using premium materials and printing processes.

I was thrilled to be asked to design the very first shirt, which features Ma Kelly’s Restaurant. Collaborating with Surge was so much fun, and the final product turned out beautifully. As an added bonus, they even let me screen print my own!

For more information on Surge Small Batch and Ma Kelly’s Restaurant, check out the Richmond Register article here.

Global Interact Excellence Awards 2021

My department’s work on UK HealthCare’s intranet site, The Loop, has been recognized for outstanding Best Launch and Best Use of Digital Media in the 11th annual Interact Excellence Awards 2021, alongside nominees such as the NBA, Checkmarx, Your Housing Group and the Institute for International Education.

The Interact Excellence Awards celebrates organizations and individuals at the forefront of digital workplace strategy, employee engagement and innovative internal communications. You can learn more about the Interact Excellence awards here.

I was heavily involved with this project, designing the layout of the site as well as all of the icons and imagery for applications and posts, and all of the promotional materials used at launch to encourage UK HealthCare employees to check out The Loop. I am very proud of our team and this international recognition of all our hard work.

The Best in Indiana Journalism Awards

I am honored that the Indiana Pro Society for Professional Journalists has chosen to recognize my 2019 work for Bloom Magazine in the following categories for their Best in Indiana Journalism Awards:

FIRST PLACE for Magazine Cover Design (all magazines or periodicals)

SECOND PLACE for Design Other Than Cover (all print media) for the story "Bloomington's Black Leaders of Tomorrow."

The full list of winners can be found at http://www.indyprospj.org/awards. And you can see the award-winning work at www.magbloom.com.

Beshear Gear

UPDATE: WE’VE RAISED OVER $100,000 AS OF MAY 28, 2020

In spite of social distancing, exciting things have been happening around here. At the beginning of April, a friend and I launched www.besheargear.com, and have been donating 100% of the profits to the Team Kentucky fund for Covid-19 relief. In less than a month, we have been able to donate over $85,000 to benefit those who have been financially impacted by the current pandemic! You can read more about the story here.

Too busy to be blogging....

Things have a been a little quiet here since I started working full-time as a Senior Graphic Designer for UK HealthCare in April. I’m still taking on freelance work, I just don’t have as much time to post it here. But I’m really enjoying my work at UK, and I’ve started learning to create motion graphics and videos in After Effects, so hopefully I’ll have some time in the future to post some of that work. In the meantime, hit the contact link up top if you need some design help.

Best of the Best in Indiana Journalism

I am thrilled to announce that for the second year in a row, I was awarded two Best of the Best in Indiana Journalism awards for my work in Bloom Magazine. I won second and third place prizes for Design Other Than Cover for all print media. I'd like to thank the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and my co-contributors at Bloom Magazine. You can read more about the awards here. The winning layouts can be seen here and here.